Monday, October 1, 2018

Yummy Monday - The Smoking Rooster in St. Thomas

We've been to St. Thomas several times before. Sometimes we take a tour, sometimes we head over to St. John, and sometimes we just stay on the ship. This time we were ready to just walk around the port area and maybe find something to eat. After we docked I did a quick Internet search for "food and drinks Havensight" and The Smoking Rooster popped up.

So wander, walk, and end the day at Smoking Rooster was the plan. I didn't expect The Smoking Rooster to be that close. Down the sidewalk just outside the gate and BAM you're there. No need to wander. Might as well eat and drink first.
BBQ is their specialty. They use cherry, oak, and hickory and the smell is amazing. If you're lucky, the guys will be working right near your seats. You might get to see them doing their daily batch of chicken or brisket.
Or if you're really lucky, you'll get to watch them spray the ribs with apple cider and rum. Then they'll pull the racks of ribs out and wrap them in foil. They will be tucked away until the next day, where they'll be finished off for 20 minutes. But if you're really, really, lucky (and you ask nicely) they will cut off the end of one of the racks and pass it through to you.
On one visit we had their rib and brisket combo with beans, macaroni potato salad, pickles, and a biscuit. 
On another visit we had their Italian beef sandwich.
On another visit we went with a double order of ribs with fries, pickles, and biscuits. We found it was actually cheaper to do this combo platter than to order ribs and sides separately.
Hubby loves mac n cheese so he also ordered mac n cheese with jalapenos added to it. 
Let's not forget their variety of sauces. 
And let's really not forget about their drinks. 

Just look at the Blue Parrot tail drink Lily the bartender made me. Oh, my.

They have live music at night and sometimes during the day, too. On this particular visit we spent the day listening to St. Groovus. 
Tish, the server, is the best. We met her on the first visit, she remembered us on the second visit, and had our drink order in before we even sat down on the third visit.

After three visits we know for sure that The Smoking Rooster is our to-go place in St. Thomas. 




Saturday, September 29, 2018

World Fresh Marketplace Buffet on the Caribbean Princess


It's Cruise Ship Saturday and today we're talking about one of the updated buffets on on a Princess cruise ship. There has been lots of chatter about the new buffet on the Caribbean Princess. While it's not as amazing as the Royal and Regal Princess, the menu is still pretty innovative. Having spent a month on the ship it was nice to have something new and different to eat. It was also nice to have several food stations to choose from. Being able to avoid the cafeteria-type line on a cruise ship is always a plus for us!

Chicken, lamb, soups and hot sandwiches, chips and quesadillas.
Pasta bar, Ramen station, salads and smores.
Cold sandwiches and a section just for cheeses.
They also have cereal and milk 24/7 for those folks (like hubby) who likes it for a before-bedtime snack.

Seating areas have been updated. If we could climb onto those tall chairs we'd be picking those seats all the time. Who wouldn't want a straight view out to the ocean?
World Fresh Marketplace is currently only available on the Caribbean Princess.

Ocean Medallion™ on Princess Cruises

Check out the progress of the Ocean Medallion™ on Princess Cruises here. Click on the photos or videos to find out more!

Here are the newest updates from 2020:

2019:


Looking for more cruising information? 
Take a look at what else you can find here at Deb's Days!

From 2018:

Friday, September 28, 2018

The Friday 15

15 more out the door! Can't wait until the end of the year when I can add up all the things we've gotten rid of since January. It's a lot. Not as much as I would like to get rid of, but it looks like another good year for downsizing.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Maho Beach, St. Maarten

It's Wanderlust Wednesday and today we're talking about Maho Beach on the island of St. Maarten.


You may have seen photos and videos of people standing on a beach with planes flying right overhead. That beach would be Maho Beach. Princess Juliana International Airport, on the Dutch side of the island of St. Maarten, borders the beach. Only a narrow two-lane road separates the beach from the runway.
The end of the runway comes with a warning.

Unfortunately, not everyone listens. There are plenty of people who purposely run underneath the planes. If you are standing on the beach when a large plane arrives or departs, you're guaranteed to be sandblasted. We prefer keeping at a safe distance. Our preference is to hang out at a nearby bar with food and drink while we watch both planes and people.

It's difficult to tell how low the plane will be flying.
Until it gets closer. 
And is right on top of you. 

And the smaller planes? Scary close.  

After Hurricane Irma the flights have been greatly diminished. However, afternoon is still the best time to arrive if you want to watch the airport's coming and goings. If you hang out at the Sunset Beach Bar you can check their surfboard for arrival times so you aren't spending all afternoon searching the skies.
Maho Beach is about a 20 minute taxi ride away from the cruise port. Plan on spending your morning elsewhere and be sure to hit Maho in the afternoon.

Just be sure to stay out of the jet blast.