Royal Plantation 7/1 – 7/5/2006 (9^th stay, 10^th visit)

Getting from Houston to Montego Bay

Our first trip to Jamaica was long ago when Funjet had non-stop charters from Houston. Next, we had the Air Jamaica non-stops. Air Jamaica dumped Houston a couple of years ago, leaving a lot of Texans searching for alternative transportation. We have had many a trip connecting through Miami (American), Atlanta (Delta) and Charlotte (US Airways). Continental did start non-stops, but the arrival times were so late, we had been resisting. This time, we decided to give it a whirl since all of the above were only going to arrive an hour earlier anyway, and we figured they would be at chief immigration times and that customs would make up the difference when we arrived last.

I booked the non-stop that departs at 1:10 to arrive at 4:47. I figured with most planes coming at 11 or 2 we would get out of the airport about as quickly. Return departs at 1:10 also. Tickets were $1398 for 2, including first class going down.

I was able to get boarding passes in advance and Todd called to see what terminal. We parked at the terminal E daily parking.

We arrived at the Continental EliteAccess at about 11:10. We checked golf clubs and 2 other bags. The security line was short. but those in front of us had issues. E2 was about as far as you could go in E terminal, but they had moving walkways. Everything over there is spanking new.

We boarded well in advance and the flight did not leave till 2 due to waiting on some people's bags. We had chilled towels and refreshments and listened to stories from our Hawaiin attendant.

I had my video ipod and watched part of Casanova while Todd worked a puzzle and then we listened to. Music after lunch. They did not have in flight entertainment for some reason.

For lunch they offered chicken calzone or salmon salad. We had the chicken. The soup was mushroom and they also had a bowl of mushrooms and we got a bag of cashews and a yummy almond chocolate. I am terribly allergic to mushrooms and thought I could eat around them in the delicious soup and the yummy veggies. Without graphic details, let's say it was good I was mighty close to the lavatory and that the flight attendant did not mind bringing lots of Diet Coke.

Never thought I would see 4 hrs for a direct flight but we got in at 5:10. We walked the distance to immigration and were 2nd in line. By 6 we had used the restroom and got drinks at the Sandals lounge and had been found by our driver and sped on our way.

We got to the resort driveway at 8 on the dot even with a short stop and lots of traffic. Almost the entire road is done all the way to Braco (halfway to Ocho Rios), and it goes downhill from there.

Trip to Royal Plantation and Arrival at Resort

We were taken outside after visiting the Sandals lounge and met up with our driver. The driver was in a Toyota SUV and had a small cooler of soda, water and beer. We shared a Diet Coke, and Todd had a ball engaging the guy in conversation about the World Cup and about cricket and the new prime minister.

It had been a long day, and we were tired, but we were happy we’d be having time for a nice dinner before going to bed.

Peter Frasier, the general manager greeted us himself and got our registration and welcome drink going. Next we saw Tracey, the photographer and then Vincenzo, the food and beverage manager and sommelier and then Suzanne, the hotel manager.

As usual, we got the feeling we were home. It was dark, so we didn’t see the ocean as our first glimpse, but we were still relaxed and ready to melt.

Our Room Arrival

We booked luxury, the highest category available at our time of booking. We knew we wouldn’t get an upgrade since the rooms were booked and that some stars would be there for a movie filming and were occupying those rooms.

We were taken to room 156. We generally haven’t been in love with the first floor, as we’ve had a lot of mosquitoes there, but we got some mosquito candles from the staff, and we were set.

We received our bags almost as soon as we shut the room door and I was still taking pictures of the room. On our previous stay in December, they only had the sample room done with the new colors. We do love the dark colors, but the new light/soft colors are wonderful, too.

We’d had a lot of trouble in the past with our Royal Club preferences. I wrote everyone I could think of in advance, and I am delighted to say, we had our welcome whole fruit, fruit and cheese plate, pretzels and nuts, and customized fridge contents.

We had the down and the foam pillows I asked for. Missing was the extra blanket, and that all seemed to be a misunderstanding that I was allergic to the regular coverlet, and they put a skimpy blanket on instead. I missed the nice coverlet, but they were trying to do what they thought I wanted.

I nibbled on the fruit while we waited the 2 minutes for our bag and for some ice. In that time, we already had a call from Peter wanting to know where we’d like to dine. He was ready to let anywhere know to accept us. We just wanted something casual and delicious, so we told him we’d dine at Bayside.

First Evening

We sat down to dinner at 8:30. I ordered 4 courses and Todd ordered 3. He said he didn't want an appetizer and then said where is mine when mine came.

I had mussels, garden salad, pumpkin soup (divine), and veal. Todd had Caesar, pumpkin soup and grilled steak with a grilled lobster tail. He loved the steak so much he almost inhaled it (tenderloin). We shared the lobster. Veal was so tender but bland (as were the mussels). The mango dressing changed for the first time in 9 stays and not for the better. I can’t imagine they’d change a signature thing so drastically. This reduced my salad consumption throughout the stay, and I kept feeling like I was missing something. All in all, It was a fabulous gourmet meal, and the steel band played 2 sets while we were there, and we continued to enjoy them from the room.

Todd got in the jet tub in the room while I watched the rest of the entertainment with the French balcony open from our room.

July 2

It was daylight by 4:45 a.m. That is the disadvantage of Jamaica not doing daylight savings time, as it is dark by 7 pm, also. I got in the tub and nibbled on the whole fruits and cheese from our welcome. The papaya was so fresh you would have thought I went and picked it. Other fruits were grapes, kiwi, nectarines, mango, pears, apples, plums.

Around 8 am, the power went out and came right back on. We found out later it was the city of Ocho Rios and that the power was out all day. The resort was running on generators.

We skipped breakfast, as Todd slept in and I nibbled in the room on the lovely fruit. For lunch, we went to Royal Café at the beach, so close to our room. I had a lobster blt w/ no mayo and a salad w/ balsamic and also pepperpot soup for lunch. Todd had some pepperpot and jerk ribs and a steak sandwich. He thought the ribs were spicy, but I didn’t! We didn’t dine there again because of the movie and because we love Bayside.

They had half the beach roped off for the movie. Lots of people were mad. Many of the scenes were done outside of our room, and we enjoyed watching.

I spent many hours in the pool, and we found it to be bathwater warm. We really did nothing all day.

The maid came about 10 a.m. and was to come back in 15 minutes, she never did come back until almost 5 to make up the room and then was back in a couple of hours to turn it down! Our room neighbors were props, clothes, flowers, etc. along our row of rooms, except on one side, and the ones on that side were connected with the movie.

Vince filmed a scene for the movie this day but they wanted him to come back the next day, and he didn’t want to. We will see if he is in the film. Some other staff were involved.

We saw Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krisinski, Peter Strauss, Eric Christian Olsen, and the girl that is Ben Stiller’s wife, among others. There were also scenes out at the pier, and this was quite interesting. Some of the people at the west beach were squeezed over a bit, but they were getting fruit, drinks and food on a regular basis.

We spent hours in the pool. It was bathwater warm. We did nothing much all day (or any other day). I headed over to the east beach to watch some of the sunset and take pics of crabs! I love to watch them just before dark. Todd sat happily with his puzzle book. We don't get much free time, and it is the simple things we enjoy at RP—simple but upscale.

We went to dinner right at 7 at Bayside. We were the 2nd couple there, so we got a lovely table by the ocean. We had pumpkin soup again and then Todd had lobster and calliloo ravioli. For entree, Todd had tenderloin and lobster tail again, and I asked for half snapper and a small lobster tail. It was served with delicious rice and vegetables.

The flutist accompanied other music, and it was a quiet evening under the stars. We finished before 9 and relaxed in the room to a little TV before going to bed early.

July 3

We were up at 6 a.m. so that Todd could get ready for golf. He left on the 7 a.m. shuttle after getting juice and milk at the continental breakfast on the tea terrace.

I relaxed in the room before going to the spa. My facial was awesome. I had Marva, I have had her a number of times. I had the C to Shining Sea facial. It is one of the 2 really long ones. She used many things on my skin, including the steam, and I also received the hot mittens. I bought a couple of the different body scrubs that are new from Red Line and I also bought some Pevonia stuff.

Todd finished golf and was back at 10:25. Todd enjoyed golf, he always does. He manages to get there and play and be back in 3 ½ hours most of the time.

We had breakfast. Todd had a ham and cheese omelet with home fries and bacon. I had scrambled eggs and toast. It was so nice to not be on a schedule/

I got in the pool for hours and watched the movie a lot and chatted with others, and Todd got in the tub in the room and laid around.

We had lunch at Bayside at around 2 p.m. or so. For lunch, I had fish soup, lobster feta salad, fish and chips and strawberry sorbet. Todd had jerk quesadillas, melon in port, and mixed seafood grill skewer.

After lunch, we laid around the room watching the Twilight Zone marathon before heading out to the hot tub. We laid around there and in the bathwater warm pool. The sunset was visible from both. Eric Christian Olsen, Mandy Moore and John Krasinski hopped in the pool just after sunset. They were headed to the gym after that. I chatted a few sentences w/ them about sunset and such.

We headed to the bbq for the tail end of the manager's cocktail just to be there, and most people were inside or on the tea terrace listening to the mento band. Peter got us and took us to a great table and then he and some waiters dragged a table to the front for the wedding couple that have really been having a nice honeymoon. They are a 50ish couple clearly in love.

The spread included pasta to order, fajitas to order, jerk pork, grilled lobster, mahi mahi, grilled steaks, beef stroganoff, grilled veggies, rice and peas, several salads, smoked salmon and marlon, cheeses, fruits, caesar, mixed greens w/ either mango or balsamic, lots of desserts including bananas foster and crème Brule. We both had soup and then went to the buffet. I had some great risotto and salad w/ balsamic so good I had a 2nd helping. I also had fruits and crème Brule. I wasn't in a meat or seafood mood. I did taste Todd's steak, and it was SOOOO tender. Todd had steak, lobster, veggies, potatoes, cherry cheesecake, pineapple upside down cake and vanilla ice cream.

We were 2 tables from Robin Williams and 2 others from the movie. He seemed to be hot and was guzzling water. We ever saw him eat.

We enjoyed a little of the entertainment but headed to our room well before 9. Todd got in the jet tub again (I had never seen this man in the tub so much). I laid around and went to bed early.

July 4

I woke up at 7 after the longest night's sleep I have had in ages. I decided it was my turn for the jet tub. I enjoyed the lovely bath salts (the sign about a refill costing $6 is now gone). We always sleep so well at RP. I love custom picking pillows and always pick 2 types. I did hear 2 people complain no buckwheat was to be found.

Also, I told Vince the new chef (Basil Dean) has lovely dishes but they are all BLAND. Todd doesn't share that opinion. I thought the same on Silversea. This doesn't mean I don't love it. Vince said that most Caribbean chefs do bland. He also said Hugo will be back for 3 months starting mid-July!! I don't know how we miss him everywhere by a few days.

We had a nice breakfast. I had 1 egg over easy, toast, home fries and half a papaya. Todd had a ham and cheese omelet and bacon. I had grapefruit juice, and he had orange. We dined late, about 10 after both enjoying the room - tub, TV, etc.

At 11, we had the 4 handed massage. We arrived at 10:45 in time for the steam room. That was heavenly. Then we joined each other and then our FOUR therapists in a massage treatment room. We each picked our aromatherapy oil (we did not pick the same one). The beds were wrapped with beautiful floral sheets and were adorned with ginger lilies (as was my facial table). I was amazed how the two therapists did the treatment in a choreographed manner. It was amazing. Whereas you usually get one leg massaged at a time, etc., with this it is both at the same time. At one point, one person was rubbing my shoulders while the other did a reflexology on my feet. Imagine double sensations for almost an hour. Then at the end they joined Todd's and my hands and left water for us. Our room was lit with soft candles. This was quite a nice treatment.

Speaking of the spa, the reception area now has very soft lighting, and it works well with the soft candles. They had kiwi along w/ the apples there. I saw Tanya, the spa manager, and it was great to see her.

In the afternoon then we had lunch-shared fish and chips and Todd had a steak sandwich. I had a salad with balsamic. We both had cream of squash soup. I also had peach sorbet, and Todd had vanilla ice cream.

The filming was to move over to the main pool, and there was a sign up about if you decided to stay there you were giving them permission to use you, including your conversation in the film. They set up the villa for guests to swim in. I checked out the villa pool scene, but I decided to just go to the regular one and the hot tub since no equipment was there and other guests were there. I brought my own water over there and then after that sat out on the terrace chatting with other guests and listening to the stars and guests rave about Italy and scream to the World Cup.

Todd came out for tea where we had one star playing cards and Robin and John having tea. I got a couple of pics with Robin Williams (very exciting, and he joked with me a bit). After that, I spent a long time talking to Jamie Stewart, Butch Stewart's daughter. She told me even her book isn't autographed by Butch, so I don't feel so bad that I lugged those books for 8 hours!

Next were the repeat guest cocktails. I received orchids there, and we looked at a photo album from past visits. They had a dinner, but I am not sure if anyone attended. Two couples were with non-repeaters, and they were going to Le Papillon. We also reserved there. We saw our pic from December, 2005. We never received it, and Suzanne was supposed to send that one and the one from this night over to Dunns, but we never got either, and I went home without pics yet again. Don’t know why they offer to do something and then it doesn’t happen. Suzanne tried while we were still at the resort, but Tracey didn’t have them ready.

We had reservations at Le Papillon for this evening. We had a lovely table on the patio for the evening. A light rain came, and they took Bayside dining inside, but we were not affected. We had seafood soup. We had salads and then Todd had steak and lobster, and I had veal in a lovely wine sauce. Everything was delicious. Service was impeccable.

July 5

I got in the hot tub and pool and we packed at the last minute, giving up our room at 12:30.

We had a very nice lunch with more star sightings.

I had the gazpacho (passed the test!), salad with balsamic, grilled snapper and raspberry sorbet. I am happy to report that I believe the gazpacho was THE BEST I have ever had. Todd had chicken and vegetable soup, melon in port, Fish and chips and sorbet.

There was some confusion about our departure. I had written Royal Club, Dunns River butlers and all the RP managers that we wanted to leave at 2:15 so that we could have a nice lunch. For some reason, they thought we were leaving at 12:30 (the time we had to leave our room). We had said over and over we wanted to enjoy a nice lunch. Surely, we did have a fabulous lunch. We were stuck in a plain old van to go to our Dunns River butler room (not real thrilled by that van to go to our $1100 a night room). We arrived at Dunns to be chewed out about not arriving sooner as they had waited “all day”. After 8 notifications we were coming at 2:15, that was a rocky start…we weren’t in Kansas, and we weren’t at RP.

Conclusion

Our first experience with Royal Plantation was for a whole day there right after they were opened as Beaches Royal Plantation in 2001. We loved it so much that we have gone back 9 times in 5 years. We’ve seen a couple of times with high occupancy where service wavered, but this time, that did not happen at all. We had only one or two tiny glitches, and all were solved quickly and to our high satisfaction. We can’t wait to return.