How big is Portofino's, by the way? As I remember Don Vito's, it probably only held about 30 people?? Is it about that size?

Karen, my precious !
I think that one night in Portofino's would be just grand for the SANDies. Maybe, in your infinite do-ability, you could either make this happen, or find someone to help you. The Sheik
is always ready to assist. Just let me know what
night everybody wants to eat at Portofino's.

(I'm lifting weights to get my arms ready for your
hug!!!! You have been warned...)

<img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" />

Any night except the Captain's dinner would be good for us. How about the Wednesday, the 3rd night out? It's a sea day so long shore excursions won't be a problem.

Karen, that is good reasoning. Count us in.

Karen,
2 Ressas
2 Knights
1 Moskos
2 Collettes
2 friends of Charlotte Ressa (Lucky and Joan) - dont know their last names.

Count all 9 of us in for Wed. night at Portofino's.

4 of us as well

Tina

Count me in too.

We prefer to eat there the first night, when we can, so we will miss the group dinner.

Can anyone answer the question about how big Portofino's is? I count 25 in the group, counting friends, and leaving out Kathy and Frank. Is this close to filling the room?

I'm on the fence at the moment, will let you know if we're in or not.

I read that it seats 80, which sounds right to me as I remember it. When I was on Navigator last, they had not started the Don Vito's type of thing - it was just Italian Steakhouse. They can accomodate larger parties there becaue the tables are close together. One reason I like to go there the first night is that the other passengers haven't discovered it yet - but by 2nd-7th nights it's full

If we can get a group together for the 3rd night, Larry and I would like to be included. I actually think, it is much more fun to do Portofino, with a group of people.

There is no entertainmment the first night usually - just a "popcorn" movie.

Okay, we're in for the big night (just the 2 of us). What do we do, do a head-count and then all book at the same time? Or do we get Ngaire to arrange it?

When Ngaire returns, I will ask her what the best way of doing the reservation would be. I don't think the ship is full so we probably won't have any problem getting three tables of 8 or so.

Yeh, I see they still have the 2-fer up--I wonder if the 2-category upgrade is still available (hmm, could I persuade my friends to come along, probably not.) I guess the itinerary isn't exactly exciting, but that I don't really care about. If I wanted to see an island, I'd visit it.

When you are able to book on line restaurant reservations, go in and make your reservation for those in your party and in the note you can add the names of those you want to dine with.

Didn't someone say that Portofinos isn't bookable online?

Is only Signatures and Latitudes on-line?

Then I would say for certain not to go the 3rd night unless everyone races up there together to reserve when they board. The 1st night is always best in the alternative restaurants by my experience and service is excellent.

Karen: Didn't we decide which night we wanted for DV's on the Diamond, mid week, and made our reservations the first day? Seemed to work out just fine - but you have better memory?

Kathy, why would service be excellent on the first night? And we would have to all race up together to reserve the first night as well.

I, for one, would rather experience the main dining room on the first night.

I too enjoy eating in CR the first night but to each his own. Joanna, I think Ngaire handled the res in D.V. on DDD.

Yes you are right, I think - as I had to switch the one I made - sooo long ago and foggy memory

I think it would be very strange if you could not book online at Portofino's, why would it be any different than another specialty resto on another ship? Anyways, I'm betting Ngaire can sort us out, no problem.

I find that on the first night there are more people who want to dine in CR and then there are less people in the specialty restaurants so I find service at it's peak. Just my preference for us. We've done that on our last 4 cruises and unless we have dinner plans with others in CR, what we prefer. Last two cruises - WAVE and MUSH - we dined wtih friends in Signatures and it was perfection.

If Portofinos is like Don Vitos, the more people, the merrier :) That is one venue that wouldn't be any fun it it's not busy!

That's cool, I will have to try that on some cruise. Of course, on the Gauguin, the specialty restaurants aren't open the first night, at least they weren't the times we've been on her.

The other reason I like the first night is that you know there are no conflicts with the SSS, Amex or officer invites.

We did Portofino first night, I am sure, on the Bermuda Navigator cruise and they did have a strolling guitarist - which was a lot of fun. There were enough people to still be fun, but not to compromise service.

Well Kathy, with the SANDies going on the third night, you will probably have the best of service on the first night ;)

The only thing that I look forward to is Captain's night in the main dining room. I am sure we can pick a time that is after the SSS party or the AMEX party, if they fall on the third night.

No offense to the other SANDies, but, it's just what we like to do. I am sure we'll all be able to gather and have fun at some point.

I think I hear Leslie Gore singing, "It's my cruise and I'll play if I want too, you would play too, if it happened to you"

Frankly, the SSS parties are getting pretty "old" for me. This summer on Voyager about half the ship were there. I always avoid the reception line anyways, don't want my photo with the captain, so it's kind of a bug shrug for me. Champagne and caviar is good, but not that good.

No offense taken, Kathy! You can try Portofinos on any day you like!!

Wendy, I am so with you on the SSS receptions.

Jackie

They do photos with the captain? Well, ya live and ya learn. I go for the caviar (I get Mark's too) and the shrimp.

Those photos with the Captain are on the Captain's Welcome party - not the SSS party. I've always had fun at the SSS party. Love the Caviar - although on MUSH they ran out and I did not get any - just shared some of Frank's.

Speaking of having photos taken, Mark and I are have been on a mission for years to have a picture taken of us that isn't awful. The photographer on MUSH didn't have any luck, either. One of our favorite things to do is to find our pix on the wall each night and we usually end up laughing so hard that we are crying.

One night, the photographer said for me to lay down and prop my head up with one arm. I told him he was nuts but we did let him pose me on Mark's knee. We were laughing so hard that we were hyperventilating. The pictures the next night were just priceless. You could tell that we were hysterically laughing in the pictures :)

Karen...do you mean professionally taken? I could have sworn I saw some great photos of you two in our photo collection.

Yes Andrea. We think they are all awful. You know how you look at a picture of yourself and you think it's terrible but everyone else doesn't think so? We think they are all terrible :)

Now Kimmi on the other hand, you can put a bag on her head and it would still be a beautiful picture!

Karen,

Just ask. I am just back from 4 days of photo workshop on People - portaits and candids. Wait until you see my people shots. I will have all my gear on SAND. Been working on my website. Uploading some tonight.

Oh Karen - I know, I know. There were some really bad photos of me in the MUSH collection. I am definitely not photogenic!

OTOH, I thought the pictures of were you wondeful!

Karen: You look MAHHHvelous just the way you are - (Andrea she is wayyy to hard on herself) no need to "enhance" you and Mark - Tony loves to fool with "enhancements" too - you won't recognize yourself - :rolleyes: :rolleyes: <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />