Early Riser On Cruise Ship Asks For Help

Above, the Norwegian Sky buffet restaurant before opening. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

No matter where I'm at, I am an early riser.

This has never been a problem for me. I have adapted to it by going to bed early, around eight o'clock so I get enough sleep.

This also goes for when I am on a cruise. I generally wake up around four o'clock. During my cruise to the Bahamas last summer, I would go to the top deck where the main buffet restaurant is located. It was not open, but I did manage to get coffee, a small box of cereal (usually Raisin Bran) and milk each morning at a smaller buffet restaurant next to it. I have to take my heart medications with food.

Cruise Fever posted an article on another early riser on board a cruise.

It begins with:

Personally, the very thought of getting up at 5:00 in the morning while on a cruise ship feels like treason to my body and soul.  It would take quite the cup of coffee to even get me to force my eyelids open.

But for one early riser, military life had programmed them to get up early, even when on vacation at sea.  And at just 5 hours after the stroke of midnight, they found a cruise ship with little to do and not enough to eat, or so the post on Reddit explained.

The post on r/CarnivalCruiseFans from a self-described military cruiser sparked an outpouring of support and advice, revealing a community of fellow early-risers—who knew!

The original poster, cruising on Carnival Paradise, took to the social media site to explain their situation. “I’m bored and starving,” they wrote. “There is literally nothing to eat or do here right now. The continental breakfast doesn’t open till 0630.”

They added that even the casino was closed, and no hours were posted, a frustration they shared so their “fellow early risers can prepare better than I did!”

To read more, go here. 

Foods To Avoid On A Cruise

Above, touring the galley of the Majesty of the Seas during a cruise. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is one thing that people who are on a cruise ship can count on: they won't starve.

Practically around the clock, most cruises have an open restaurant or buffet for those who want to pig out.

However, there are some things that people should not eat while on a cruise. Some foods can actually bring on seasickness. 

Travel + Leisure has posted an article on what foods not to eat and what ones that passengers should eat while cruising.

They begin it with:

Cruising has come a long way when it comes to its culinary offerings. There are ships with Michelin-starred chefs, others highlighting local cuisine, and even vessels with a dozen or more restaurants to choose from.

While all of this sounds divine, there are few things passengers may want to skip. Here are the foods experts say you should avoid on your next cruise.

To read more, go here. 

Buffet 66 and James Bond Games

Above, the new Buffet 66 restaurant in Route 66 Casino Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I knew I should have eaten either at Thunder Road Steakhouse & Cantina or somewhere in Albuquerque.

Instead, I took a chance (appropriate, since I am at a casino) and tried Buffet 66, a new buffet restaurant that opened at the Route 66 Casino Hotel this past year. Normally, whenever I am staying at their RV resort, I'll dine at Thunder Road.

To say that the food at Buffet 66 was bland would be an accurate description. The shrimp cocktail sauce was tasteless, as was the blue cheese salad dressing. The chili rellenos were fair, but on the dry side. The only thing that tasted halfway decent were the enchiladas (with red sauce).

At $18.00 per person, I would have expected better. Well, I'm crossing this eatery off my list. Hospital and courthouse restaurants serve better food.

My grade: C-.

Above, the James Bond 007 gambling machines. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After eating, wandered around the casino a bit. There was one new (actually two games at the same spot) giant gambling machines  with a James Bond theme. They seemed to have been added since my last visit in July. On the left was a game with a Casino Royale theme. On the right, was one with a Thunderball theme. Each featured those movies's respective James Bonds (Daniel Craig in Casino Royale and Sean Connery in Thunderball) on video.

Personally, I wouldn't play either, but they were fun to watch as others were playing.

Dinner and Jesse James

Above, the Route 66 Casino. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For dinner tonight, I eventually decided to go to the Hungry Cowboy buffet in the Route 66 Casino.

Before actually deciding on it, I walked around to check out their offerings. It as after this that I decided to eat there.

The food items I selected were heavily on the veggie side. I did try out a spicy pork dish, a little bit more that a taste. Along with the meal, I had a glass of white zinfandel wine.

For dessert, I had to skip the elaborate desert section and had instead a half of a peach.

Above, a Jesse James wanted poster. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Hungry Cowboy buffet is in a large room in the casino and decorated with western memorabilia. There are a couple of large video screens showing old (as in 1930s) westerns. I saw one vintage wanted poster for Jesse James, which got me remembering the line from an old folk song about James:

But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave.

It looks like we're going to have some thunderstorms tonight.