Christine Ruszkay, Author at Fairytales and Sunsets Travel, LLC

MIDDAY MANGIA

Specialty dining on a cruise ship typically takes place at dinner, right? Well, that is what I thought, but sometimes you get greater availability at lunch then you do at dinner. So, when our concierge suggested having lunch on an “At Sea” day, we decided to try it out.

I’m not one for a big lunch, but isn’t vacation (especially a cruise) typically 10 meals a day anyway? We slept in, skipped breakfast, and headed straight to lunch at Jamie’s Italian Kitchen by Jamie Oliver onboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas.

The restaurant was empty when we arrived but slowly started to fill as we began to eat. I will admit, it felt like we had the entire restaurant to ourselves, which to be honest, was nice! Our waiter was attentive and accommodating to any dietary needs, as well as substitutions.

Our waiter came out automatically with this huge meat plank. The Cured Meat Plank size was unbelievable, but 7 of us managed to finish it all. We then were asked to choose some more appetizers, which included Squid Fritti, Truffle Arancini, Truffle Burrata, Tomato Bruschetta and Ultimate Garlic Buns (which we kept as a side).

If we weren’t full enough already from the amazing appetizers, now we needed to choose our Main Course. My daughter is picky when it comes to sauces, so our waiter was more than happy to accommodate her with “buttered” pasta, as well as a single piece of salmon. The Super Salmon dish comes with a lot of things she would not eat, so our waiter suggested the salmon without it. She enjoyed every bite!

Most of us went with pasta, except my husband. We had a friendly wager of what he would order before he joined us at the table. (He LOVES lasagna!). He did not disappoint and chose accordingly. Our youngest member ordered yet another burger (not pictured).

The portions were appropriate in size. Pasta was fresh and savory in flavor. We all wanted to try some of the sides as well and ordered Polenta Chips, Charred Broccoli, Rocket Salad and the leftover appetizer Ultimate Garlic Buns. These sides were a miss for us. The salad and broccoli were too bitter for our taste. The polenta chips were just “ok”. However, the garlic buns were a homerun!

In typical fashion, we all ate too much and still had to fit dessert in. You must try it right? Those that did order went with the Banana split, Tiramisu and the Gelato/Sorbet. The flavor of the day for the Gelato/Sorbet was Mango, and we did not choose any toppings. Also, cappuccinos to help not put us to sleep after this huge meal.

This lunch delivered on its portion sizes, flavor and the flexibility for even the pickiest of eaters. Everyone enjoyed their meals and were very satisfied with this dining experience. I would definitely visit again!

CHOP IT LIKE IT’S HOT

CHOPS Grille onboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas is a popular specialty dining restaurant. Honestly, because who doesn’t love a piece of steak?

We were met with an amazing waiter, David, who went above and beyond. He stood out with his attentiveness, energy, and made sure everyone was taken care of. A real “hustler” in the best way. This made our experience outstanding.

The table started out with Lobster Bisque, Wild Mushroom Soup and Colossal Shrimp Cocktail. All were incredibly tasty.

For the main course, almost everyone got the filet mignon with choices from a 9 oz or 6 oz portion. My mom chose the NY Strip steak. All found the steaks to be flavorful and cooked to their liking. We had one that was a little more on the rare side than medium, we spoke up and they immediately provided a new steak cooked to perfection. Our youngest family member chose a hamburger from the kid’s menu.

Sides came out in individual portions but were shared among the table. We ordered Truffle fries

Gruyère tater tots, Mac ‘n’ cheese with bacon, Mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms. All were savory and gave that “just like home” feeling.

Most of us were super full but a few chose to partake in dessert. We did celebrate a couple of birthdays, and the wait staff made it memorable for sure.

Overall, a positive experience, our server David was top notch and made the meal shine. Meal was spot-on with presentation, generous portions and something for everyone. From indulgent to savory, CHOPS Grille will be on our itinerary when sailing again with Royal Caribbean.

Wonderland aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas

Chasing Rabbits AND Flavors at Wonderland

Are you not an adventurous person when it comes to dining? I am not, I need to know what I am eating and if it sounds unappetizing, no thank you!

Prior to dining, I was extremely hesitant of how much I’d like dining in this specialty dining restaurant aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. Wonderland, themed after Alice and Wonderland, I was afraid of where this rabbit hole was exactly going to take me. However, I was pleasantly surprised!

And We’re Off…

Upon entering, our waiter David, built our trust by guiding us through the menu and selections. He assured us that he would not steer us wrong, turning our apprehension into curiosity and thus began our journey.

You begin the experience by “painting” the menu. You are provided with a frame and menu that is activated by water. They provide a paintbrush, and you paint your way to seeing the menu appear.

The menu is categorized into five elements – Sun, Ice, Fire, Earth, and Sea. Sun had radiant vegetables playfully reinvented, Ice is to chill and exhilarate the palette, Fire to emanate warmth, Earth to ground you whimsically and Sea to inspire you with the tide of imagination.

Cocktails and Appetizers

We began our culinary journey with Cocktails and Appetizers. We were met right away with theatrical presentation and whimsical theming.

I ordered the Cheshire Cat Cosmo, a glass brought to me filled with cotton candy. The drink was then poured over the cotton candy and magically melted away leaving the flavor behind. Others enjoyed the White Rabbit-rita for their cocktail of choice.

We ordered one appetizer from the Sun, Earth and Sea, two from the Ice and 3 from the Fire elements. The Bird’s nest and Mad Hatter’s Purple Potted shrimp were by far our most favorite dishes, ordering several times before the main course.

Main Course

Our main course consisted of the Earth and Sea elements. The Branzino, Chicken and Burger were hits. The pork was a little too fatty and the halibut needed a little more flavor. Most of us ate so many appetizers, we had trouble finishing the main course. With dessert ahead, we chose to leave some room for that!

Desserts

Presentation and theming were beyond measure here! Not a drop was left behind on any of these delicious plates. The kid’s banana split came out with a pile of cotton candy on top, only to lift the cotton candy to find the ice cream in a chocolate shell dish. The World – was exactly that, presented as a globe, to which they poured a hot fudge over top that instantly melted the world into an amazing shell of chocolatey goodness. The Mushroom Garden was the most colorful and cute dessert, made mostly of meringue. The Forbidden Apple was described by my daughter as tasting like raspberry pudding – can’t go wrong there!

Overall, the feeling before I walked into the restaurant and when I left were complete opposites. The immersive dining and the surprise factor at trying things I would not normally try won me over. I would highly recommend to my clients to TRY this experience. Traditional dining it is not, however, if you are in for an artistic, unique, creative and imaginative experience – it’s a home run!

My Top 5 Activities at Atlantis in The Bahamas

Are you thinking about traveling to The Bahamas and staying at the ever-popular Atlantis resort? Here are my Top 5 Activities to do while vacationing at this amazing resort!

Swim like the Fish – There are 14 unique pools at this resort including a 141-acre waterpark. There is something for guests of all ages to enjoy!
Beach Hair, Don’t Care – 5 miles of white sand beaches along the beautiful, turquoise water. There are 6 accessible beaches, each with its own special feature. Whether it’s swimming, lounging, playing volleyball, strolling, dining, or drinking, you will find it all here.
Under the Sea – If you love sea life, you can explore Atlantis’ very own Dolphin Cay & Marina. Great educational experience for both kids and adults alike, you can swim, paddleboard, and kayak with Dolphins. You can even campout overnight or learn how to be a trainer with Marine Life. Walk with the Sharks, swim with Sting Rays, or hang with Sea Lions, so many activities to keep the family enthralled with the fascinating world of these amazing creatures.
Tee It Up – Golf alongside the Atlantic Ocean and Nassau Harbor at this Tom Weiskopf designed course. This 18-hole, Par 72 course also has club rentals, Golf Academy with private lessons, group clinics and Golf Shop.
Work it Out – Atlantis’ Mandara Spa & Fitness – whether you are a hard-core fitness fanatic, craver of all thing’s spa related or are a little bit of both, this is the perfect place! The Fitness center boasts state of the art equipment, free weights, spin studio, yoga, and a lap pool. Spa amenities such as cold & warm plunge pools, steam rooms, saunas, and therapies unique to The Bahamas will soothe the sorest of muscles and knots of stress.

I would love to help you plan your visit to this incredible resort!

The Disney Cruise Line Difference

What is the “Disney difference” when it comes to cruising?

My family and I took an 8-day Southern Caribbean cruise visiting Aruba, Curacao & Grand Turk back in 2018. We did not cruise with Disney but joined our neighbors on a cruise they had already planned and had the GREATEST time!

We sailed with another cruise line, “OTHER”, as it will be known going forward and it was an amazing time had by all! This was our very first cruise and I have to say – I’m hooked!

However, being a Travel Designer with most of my work associating with Disney, I had to compare based on what I know, to the experience I had with “OTHER” cruise line.

The most common statement I hear when talking about a Disney cruise is – “it’s SO expensive!” While cruising, I planned to research and try and find out “why is Disney priced higher than other cruise lines, what makes them different?”

During my research, I spoke with another couple on the ship who were avid cruisers with many different cruise lines. I asked “what is your favorite cruise line that you have sailed on and why?” They did not know what I did for a living, so it was just a few people talking. Their response “Hands down, Disney, no other line beats them, you pay a higher price, but you get what you pay for, their service is absolutely amazing.”

So, what makes Disney different from the cruise lines that offer better pricing? Here are my observations sailing with “OTHER” cruise line and how they compare to Disney.

STATEROOMS
• OTHER – We stayed in a room with a verandah – 1 bathroom – 185 sq ft
• DISNEY– Room w/ verandah – split bathrooms (2 toilets) – 268 sq ft (BIGGER)

DINING – Do you like options when dining?
• OTHER – You have other options but they were an additional cost and you have different servers
• DISNEY – Rotational Dining w/ the same servers – 3 different restaurants

ATMOSPHERE
• OTHER – Towel creatures appeared out of nowhere overnight – pretty cool!
• DISNEY – Characters appear during special moments on the ship – even cooler!

BEVERAGES – Thirsty for soda?
• OTHER – Soda was an additional cost
• DISNEY – Soda is FREE

ENTERTAINMENT
• OTHER – Comedy shows, musical groups, dance parties

DISNEY– Broadway-style Disney musicals found only on board

CINEMA
• OTHER – we had theme nights with movies that had already been released
• DISNEY – 1st run movies at sea – some even in 3D

FIREWORKS
• OTHER – None
• DISNEY – Yes!!

SERVICE
• OTHER – Everyone was so friendly, always a “hello” no matter where we were, and always willing to help
• DISNEY – Stated by my friend on the ship “They really go above and beyond, it is great for the kids as well as the adults. Whatever you need, they’re on it and catering to your every need, we absolutely love it!”

In conclusion, you are going to pay more to cruise with Disney. But Disney is different, it is their job to make things magical for you. Did I feel magic with “OTHER” cruise lines? No, but I guess I’m going to need to experience a cruise with Disney to feel that “difference”. Who’s coming with me????

Travel Day or Park Day?

Should we visit a Theme Park on the day we arrive and/or the day we travel home? It’s a question we are asked quite frequently. We understand you want to get the most of out of your money and your trip. So, do you hit the ground running or do you pace yourself?

I have found through both personal experience and listening to my client’s testimonials, unless you are local to Walt Disney World Resort or Universal Orlando, I would recommend declaring both your first and last days at the destination, a travel day.

To put it simply, travel days are hard at any age. In most circumstances, you have an early flight to catch. Then you have the hustle and bustle of getting through TSA and your flight to your destination. With family in tow you know that someone is bound to be hungry as well. What should the plan be when you finally arrive at your resort?

I find this is the best time to take a rest, then explore your resort and see all they have to offer. Take a swim in the pool to refresh and rejuvenate the tired eyes, grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants on site to keep yourself and your family full and happy. Perhaps enjoy a movie under the stars to unwind and relax from your day of travel if your resort has that feature.

You can also choose to visit Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort or CityWalk at Universal Orlando. Both of these are shopping/dining districts where you do not need a ticket to visit. There are many entertainment venues built in as well that you can visit to keep the family happy.

Once your trip is over, most everyone in the family is exhausted. You will have walked what will seem like a million miles. You may just be looking forward to getting back home and seeing your family pet that you’ve had to leave behind. Some choose to make this last day a travel day so that they can slowly begin the “back to reality” routine.

However, there are many of you that still want to squeeze in those last-minute items that you either didn’t get to or would like to revisit. If you decide to make a go of it, please be sure you factor in the following things. Your transportation to the airport from your resort will pick you up anywhere between 2-3 hours before your flight home. Also, think of everything after you land at home, grabbing bags, getting home and settled.

In conclusion, you as a family have to decide what is right for you. Only you know your family and what they can handle. If you are rockstars and can keep going without skipping a beat – more power to you! If you’re the average family, like mine, I think leaving your travel days as such are the way to go!

Christine Ruszkay has over 3 + years specializing in all Disney destinations, Cruises, and Universal Orlando. Her joy of planning your vacation comes from her passion to help others experience the happiness and excitement while making memories on your AMAZING trip! Her concierge services offer insider tips and tricks, plus helping you maximize your time with your family to experience what matters most to you!

Rainy Day at Disney

One of the commonly asked questions when it comes to Disney is “What do you do when it rains at Disney?” The answer is quite simple, “you still go to the park!” Rain drives many people away from the parks, so this is a prime window for you, The Rain Warrior, to suit up and enjoy the short wait times.

This exact scenario happened to me and my family last December, only it wasn’t just rain, it was a Tornado warning!! Luckily, we were still at the resort and waited the warning out but it left us to think – what do we do? We put some bags over our socks, stuffed them in our sneakers (to keep our feet dry), put on our rain ponchos and made our way to Epcot.

Was it not the ideal weather conditions to be walking around outside? Of course not, but did it ruin our fun?