Todd and Debbie – Royal Plantation September 8 – 15, 2008j

September 8, 2008

Well, we checked out of Dunns at 11 am, and David Campbell took us over to Royal Plantation. He was glad to see us. I am glad he was our driver because he noticed our camera fell out of the bag and was in the car. We had dissected our luggage and were really struggling.

I had been over to the resort two days earlier and had lunch with Geoff, June, Cyndi, Randy, and Peter. We had lobster, veal, and pumpkin soup, along with chocolate soufflé and then the next day to get pictures of the new colors of the Governor’s General suite and the villa. I like the new colors in both a lot.

All rooms now have iHome docking stations and Samsung flat screen TVs. We requested a loaner DVD player and had it set up in minutes. TV reception is good on the lcd.

Our royal preferences were there except for our pillows, and housekeeping was there with those in a couple of minutes.

Even the IT guy knew it was Todd's birthday.

We had said we would decide on room service or the bbq for Todd's birthday.

We had lunch at the Terrace. The menu is totally new since July. They do still have the wiener schnitzel. I had that, and it was excellent. Todd had a steak. The mento band was outstanding and had an audience of 14. Their repertoire has vasty expanded. They even sang country western. Don't worry, it was one song. They did a Bob Dylan also.

In the afternoon, we hung out in the room and worked on our pcs, and we were "testing" the new internet. The IT guy is great and checked with us on placement of towers and discussed boosters with Todd. I am pleased enough now to recommend the wifi. Also, the TV reception is incredible on the new TVs. I love the iHome. I have never docked my iPod before. They still have the CD players.

We were in a luxury double room (at my request). It was great because we had a full sized table and separate shower and jet tub, and the beds were big. The room was spacious. We were very happy there.

Marcia called to ask if we were coming to the cocktail party. She said that I needed to get Todd down there for some surprises. We stood around and chatted with Suzanne, Marcia, Christine, and Jodie and then when most of the guests were going to dinner, Marcia said we needed to go upstairs for a birthday call from Peter Fraser (the general manager). Instead, we were taken into the drawing room for a personal dinner.

The table was decorated with flowers and candles. Tracey, the photographer took several pictures. I had selected the entrée and dessert, but they surprised us with the appetizer, soup, and salad.

We had a mussels and clams appetizer, a spinach soup (we were not too sure when we saw it, but it was very good), a nice salad and then I had veal marsala (I had mine made with no mushrooms) and Todd had beef marsala. We ate every single bite. I had asked for strawberry shortcake, and we thought they didn't do it, but the strawberries were inside.
Afterward, we went downstairs to see what was going on with the entertainment, and they had Rush playing in the Appleton. There were people dancing, and they got better and better and did such a variety. Eventually 18 people were dancing. Also, Geoff and June put on a dance show for everyone with a lot of steps too fancy for me as I did not know the name. They looked great.

After that, Todd went to the room, and I chatted with a Canadian couple for about an hour.

September 9

The breakfast menu on the terrace is now including all the traditional favorites plus other things like huevos rancheros and a nice variety of waffles. Todd had an omelet. The omelet menu has expanded with lovely things like asparagus in addition to the usual. Gone was the stuff like pineapple boats and half papaya, but I ordered a half papaya, and they brought it right out.

I worked all morning in the room.

For lunch, we ate at the beach. I had gazpacho and pasta pomodoro. I was a bit disappointed in that pasta. The pasta was al dente, but there was no zest to the sauce. I also prefer the gazpacho to have chunks of green pepper floating on top so that I can mix it in. They used to do it that way. Todd had shrimp Caesar and jerk ribs. They still have things like coconut shrimp and seafood salad. Also jerk chicken. There is a sub of the day. Todd had his eye on a burger with cheddar. They still have buffalo wings I noticed. I like the menu better upstairs, but I always do no matter who is here. They still do chips and salsa downstairs.

I chatted all afternoon around the pool and just hung out there. Todd joined me for some time.

The returning guest party started in the drawing room at 7 p.m. There were 4 couples, but one was quite late due to being on the phone with a family problem at home. There were cocktails and canapés up here. We were taken down to La Terrace to dine outside. We had the amuse bouche, a wonderful chicken curry tortellini, a deconstructed Caesar with monte cristo, an artichoke soup, a raspberry sorbet, and then some had the pork loin but Todd had a steak, and I had a great sea bass. For dessert, they had Tia Maria ice cream and a warm chocolate pudding.

The band and a cabaret singer entertained. It was very nice.

September 10

We skipped breakfast. For lunch, they prepared fish n chips for us, and we had a great soup. This offering was always popular on the menu, so I am not sure why they took it off. Todd had fruits, and I had a feta salad.

We spent some time at the pool in the afternoon, and I did the flower arranging with Vivian, and I made an arrangement for my room. There was a lot of sun that day, and the pool was really nice, much warmer than the previous day (as it had rained off and on then).

We had dinner with Butch and Sally, at LePapillon, and we had such a good time. I had soup, salad and veal medallions. Todd had a great seafood appetizer that he loved, soup, and a nice tenderloin. Sally had crab cakes, soup, and lobster and then silky chocolate mousse. Butch had soup, salad, the veal and a lemon tart with ice cream. There were a few lapses with the wrong dessert, appetizer or wine, but the service was attentive, and they fixed everything.

The entertainment was jazz.

September 11

For breakfast, I had a tortilla wrap with bacon, egg, and cheese and half a papaya. The same ingredients that are available for omelets are available for wraps. I really enjoyed the wrap. It was enormous, and I just had half.

I had the C to Shining Sea. My therapist was Claudette. She is one of the 4 remaining therapists from when the hotel opened as Royal Plantation. It was very relaxing.

Todd golfed with TTOers Keith and Jolynn, and then I went over to Dunns River to meet all of them. We had a good time there over a short lunch at Café Arno, and I picked up the photo of our group.

Other than eating, I worked most of the afternoon and half the morning but did get an hour at the pool and hot tub. Later in mid afternoon, we had the fish tea at the Royal Cafe, and it was a wonderful soup.

For dinner, we dined at The Terrace. I had shrimp cocktail, lobster spring roll, a sweet pepper soup, and seafood pescatore. Todd had shrimp cocktail, lobster spring roll, a breadfruit soup, and an Angus steak.

I chatted in Appleton until 11.

September 12

This day was darkly clouded by the news of Hurricane Ike headed to the Houston area where we live.

I had papaya and some eggs and toast for breakfast. Todd slept in.

I had to work in the morning but got to say goodbye to Butch and Sally. They are so nice, and we had such a good time with them. I was sad for them to go. As Butch said, you have to leave to come back.

At the Royal Cafe, Todd had a fabulous Angus burger with cheddar and bacon, and I had cream of carrot soup. It was so good, I came back for a bowl later.

We went up to Mystic Mountain. It was great. We did the Sky Explorer and the bobsled. We did not do the zipline. You can buy just the Sky Explorer, just the Sky Explorer and the Bobsled or the Tranopy, which is all 3. Once you have rode anything, you can then buy a package of 3 more Bobsled rides while onsite. Wear your bathing suit and do the waterslide down into the cyclone pool and have a camera for the infinity pool that looks out over the cruise ship port. You can get a tour in the Royal Plantation gift shop. At the time of our trip, it was $72 per person for the Sky Explorer and bobsled.

The Sky Explorer ride is about 25 minutes up (don't hold me to that). And you can take loads of pics while on. Not for those with fear of heights. This goes all thru the rain forest, and you can see the entire bay the whole time.

The drop you at the top where there is a restaurant. I'd say prices are slightly less than Margaritaville.

There are windows all around where you can see the bay on one side and the mountains on the other.

You can go outside from there and hop on the waterslide (not extra) as many times s you want. We were told it wasn't done so we didn't come prepared but went down in our shorts and tees.

After that, you board the bobsled. You have your own car, and there is a handle on each side, and you push them forward and just pull back when time to brake. It is like a combo of a go-kart and roller coaster. It is on a metal track. We loved it.

You control it going down, and it controls you (something like a water log ride) going back up. After you are back up, you take the Sky Explorer back if you did not get the canopy tour. If you did the canopy, you go to the other side, zip across and down part way and then join the Sky Explorer on a platform about halfway down to the bottom.

At the water slide, there are a couple of picnic tables, too.

There is a natural river/rapids flowing through.

Pictures are $8, no pressure, and they sell wood carvings at the top (no pressure). Also there is an extensive gift shop.

They also have a lot of interesting displays up at the top.

We took a lot of pictures, and they are in the TTO gallery in the Jamaica section.

I went to the pool when we got back. Todd had to work.

After that, I had a Pedi on the Rocks Pedicure. That was nice. It was getting a bit late and was time for dinner. Todd was at the martini night (though not having martinis) talking to Peter. I joined there and we had the peach nectar thing. Some that have been to RP the last couple of years will remember that they have these really good baked coconut chips that they serve at the bar. Well, now they have added baked breadfruit strips. They also were serving fried fish fingers.

For dinner, they did not have the market dinner we had been hearing of for some months, but it is seasonal, and this was the off season.

For dinner, I had crab cakes, a nice salad, sea bass, and banana crème Brule in phyllo (nice presentation). Todd had that same seafood appetizer he liked before (the coquille one), seafood chowder, Caesar salad and a steak. For dessert, he had vanilla ice cream. We dined downstairs since I was wearing shoes that would not ruin my pedicure.

The entertainer was a singer doing 60s music. Some the traditional way and some to reggae beat. I really enjoyed it.

The crowd on this stay was quite young, the youngest I had ever seen. Many of the guests were in their 20s. They were all having a great time. All ages mingle really well at Royal Plantation like you are at a casual country club.


September 13

We had breakfast in the room. Everything came prepared as ordered. They did call twice for the tray when we hadn't even started eating, so I was getting a bit testy. That was the only time we signed for anything, and nothing was on our bill. Royal Plan guests no longer have to do that signing all around the resort. Now and then someone asks your suite number. Everything else is cashless at the spa and gift shop, and it goes on your bill to your suite. We ordered eggs, bacon and fruit.

We watched the news at the hurricane follow up for a long time in our room. We did come out for lunch and for the pool once.

For lunch, I ordered the grilled snapper from the new spa menu. It was prepared in a tangy sauce, along with a fruit salad that was in a banana dressing and a green salad (I requested balsamic). I also had the soup. Wonderful lunch.

For dinner, we dined outside at Le Papillon. We had great service, and it was a quiet night for us. For the entrée, I had curried lobster, and Todd had a tenderloin. He had ice cream, and I had a sorbet trio with mango, strawberry, and lemon. We also had soups and appetizers. I was disappointed to see the frogs legs go. I hope they bring them back and wish they would get the recipe from Le Petit Chateau at Beaches Turks. Theirs are the best I’ve had anywhere.

September 14

I had grapefruit juice up at La Terrace. Today it was “regular”. Another time, it was pink. It was always fresh squeezed. We tried the sausage patty today on the American breakfast.

I rounded out my spa experience with a West Indian massage. This was just GREAT. This one incorporates the stones. They use a lot of scents to relax the atmosphere in the room, and I really enjoyed that. With all the stress of worrying about our house in Houston and getting home, it helped.

At Le Terrace, they are changing the menu every day, so it is like a luxury cruise ship, however, they need to add a simplicity menu where every day they have steak, a chicken breast, salmon, a vegetarian pasta, a "staple" favorite salad and appetizer. Also, steak and lobster need to be on the Terrace menu every night in season. For the first time that I ever remember here, they are not. At least the lobster should be there in high season, and perhaps it will be. They can be ordered every night, but lamb seems to be the staple on every menu everywhere, and that should not be replacing a steak. Try some of the unique creations and give Yannis, the new Food and Beverage manager your feedback. He comes around every meal and asks for feedback, and for about 3 months, they are going to try various ideas and see what is popular.

I had a strawberry delight for dessert here. It was similar to a mousse.

I didn’t keep good records of the last two days after that hurricane hit home, so let me wrap up with some general comments.

Comments

The breakfast menu has all the American traditional favorites, along with gourmet European treats. They have the waffle menu and an omelet or wrap menu with traditional American breakfast items plus things like asparagus, broccoli, goat cheese, tomato, etc. While no longer on the menu for the first time since the resort opened, I ordered a half papaya every day. Grapefruit and orange juice were fresh squeezed. Pastries are brought around daily. One day at breakfast, the hot chocolate presentation was around.

On the manager's cocktail night, they still do the cigar rolling demo, and I saw one guest attending that.

For lunch upstairs, they have added a spa menu, and you are shown the nutrition information. Royal Plan guests can mix and max these items or order in combo with the regular menu. I loved this, and I wish they would add a spa option to the dinner menu.

Other days at lunch, I have been having weiner schnitzel upstairs. It is a lunch portion. Very good. Todd has had a steak upstairs a few times. Also, one day they fixed chicken alfredo for himWe dined downstairs at the beach twice. I had gazpacho and market salad one day and just cream of carrot soup the other. One day, Todd had jerk ribs and the other day a bacon cheese burger. I would like to see the bits of green pepper and baby croutons back in the soup. Also, the salsa with the chips was missing a bit of peppers a changed a bit from the past, but it was still spicy like I like.

Returning guests will find the waitstaff that you remember from several years to be serving breakfast and lunch (Michael and Iverone). Dinner staff is all pretty new. There are a number of mixups at dinner both up and down, but they are all corrected immediately. The only other thing I know of that anyone has really pointed out was that Geoff reported that the coconut shrimp downstairs still had on the shell before fried in the batter.

Service at the beach is outstanding. Like clockwork they come out with the mangosas and later fruit. They still have the blue flags, but Cleon is everywhere, and he is serving drinks and food upon request wherever guests want.

At the west beach, I think they had two many chairs set up. I like the old way where they bring one out when a guest comes. They need to at least take a few out according to occupancy so guests get a more exclusive feeling. A number of people commented on this. Oh, it is exclusive and luxurious. I would just like to see a bit more of the empty beach feeling of days past. These heavier loungers probably are not conducive to that. There is plenty of sun or shade.

Up at the pool, they do come around frequently for drink service once they know people are out there. It is easy to stop by and say you want to start service down there, and once you do that, everyday they are down there every few minutes with friendly and accurate service.

Up at Appleton, you will no longer find Siboney. I believe he is at Riu Ocho Rios. No original bar staff are left. There are some that have been around about 3 years, and they are very friendly and anxious to please. Gary is now in Canada, so no more card tricks.

At the martini night on Friday, they had fried fish strips and grilled chicken strips, and Peter attends and mingles with the guests. Every night, you will find managers checking on guests everywhere, also this happens all day long. If any guest has a question or concern, they have the Royal Touch people on "0" on their phone, the front desk and the whole management team at their disposal. No is not usually in the mix unless something cannot be done. Still then an alternative or two is offered, and usually there is no issue anyway. We found the resort to be a very hands on operation as usual.

Sean Moses and Christine Moore have taken the place of David Reid and Andre Reid for sales and weddings. They are doing a wonderful job and are very enthusiastic about creating unique life memories for people. Every wedding has been very personalized down to the last detail. Unfortunately, so many guests pick 4 pm in spite of their advice on rain and clouds. One had to reschedule. Others, they had to somehow work with the lighting on the photos for the clouds. What they do is amazing.

Most brides (I think there were 4 that we saw) have worn the traditional gowns, an the guys have worn the newer island look with the rolled up pants, linen or cotton shirt, etc. One couple wore Jamaican colors - hers was like a beach sarong, and his was capri pants and Jamaican colors in a shirt. They had put a magical looking green netting (don't shoot me anyone that I don't know what it is called) around the borders of the pier gazebo. Vivian did a wonderful job with the flowers. They let out doves, too. One wedding was in an archway of flowers on the east beach. Their flowers came out beautiful. Last night they lit up the pier with rows and rows of candles.

For dinners, we went to Le Papillon twice and dined once inside and once outside. Usually, the larger groups are inside, but this time, it was the reverse. One night at La Terrace, we had the Le Papillon menu. Another night, we had the returning guest dinner with 5 couples. There was the most delicious surprises except we did do our own entree choice because we do not eat pork loin.

Todd had a steak every night no matter where we dined. They have all been incredible for him and beautifully prepared. I have had either veal or fresh fish or lobster every night, always with a nice presentation and sides. We don’t dine like this at home but won’t miss these things at our favorite resort.

Pastas were al dente, though I miss the Italian spices and herbs now that the Italian chef and theme are gone. Soups were delightful. We had one at most lunches and dinners and tried a few we were not too sure of (breadfruit was one), and they were all WONDERFUL.

Though there are plenty of healthy choices at dinner, in addition to a daily simplicity menu, I would like to see a spa menu at night, too. This would give a perfect experience. Also, if the menu downstairs is changing daily, they should give the menu in our rooms or have it at the concierge desk the night before so it is easier to make a decision.

The rooms are in great shape. The new TVs are good, and as mentioned before, you can borrow a DVD player, and all the rooms have an iHome. Ours was not in here when we arrived, but they brought it in minutes.

Daily, the beverage concierge comes around, and if you advise him of your tastes, he will catch on the first time.

There are still several at the spa that have been here since 2001.

The beds remain at a heavenly comfort level, and it is easy to sleep peacefully even though not in your own bed. If you have a jet tub, they still have the bath salts.

Departure

They packed us some sandwiches, fruit and drinks, and at 1 p.m., we were off to Sandals Whitehouse. We went into downtown Ocho Rios and bought the cheapest phone at Digicel. The driver took us there. We got a sim card with 1000 minutes for calling the U.S., U.K (land line), China and Canada for about $15 U.S. We can add 200 minutes at a time once a month to keep the Jamaican number if we like.

We went across the mountain and then through Middle Quarters (famous for the people sitting by the road with the spicy shrimp).

We arrived at Whitehouse right at 6 p.m.