If I'm honest, one of the things I look forward to during travels is the FOOD! If you're honest, you'd probably say the same. The Chichagof Dream provided a culinary dream. The galley, albeit small, was mighty! There were four chefs working together in this small space to plate up inventive, delicious, & varied creations ALL three sit down meals (and three snack times) EACH and every day. My respect and gratitude were expressed many times throughout the trip to Sheldon, Lemech, Chris, and Marshawn.
The two chefs on our galley tour on the Chichagof Dream. Impressive meals came out of this small space each day! (Jenny Johnston)
As if our schedules weren't full enough of wildlife sightings, hiking, kayaking, or beach combing, there were six, that's correct...SIX, assigned eating times throughout each day. Passengers can opt out of any of these, but why would you? Here is what a day's eating looked like:
6:00AM: Pre-game breakfast in the lounge. Coffee & hot beverages, house-baked pastries, fresh fruit
7:30AM: Sit down breakfast in the dining room. Eggs, pancakes, bacon, custom omelettes, French toast, oatmeal, granola & fruit, yogurt, bagels & lox, gravy & biscuits, breakfast potatoes, reindeer sausage...the list could go on and on. There were always the staple dishes available, as well as different specials each morning.
12:30PM: Sit down lunch in the dining room. Always a four-course meal including soup, salad, entree, & dessert....AND a basket of fresh bread with butter on the table! Daily specials were different with a few entrees that were always available (like the burger or turkey & brie panini)
3:00PM: Cookie time in the lounge! Lemech, the baker, is a cookie genius. For no other reason than because I say so.
5:30PM: Happy hour hor d'oeuvres in the lounge - catch up with fellow passengers and eat more because it's there and it's tasty.
7:00PM: Sit down dinner in the dining room. Salmon, halibut, & chicken entrees were always available with exciting specials nightly!
Unfortunately, I don't have photos to make your mouth water...I took a few, but they are not great quality. (Why aren't dining rooms equipped with lighting that makes the food shine?!?) And honestly, I didn't take many. I was too busy savoring each bite.
Seafood paella for dinner on the Chichagof Dream (Jenny Johnston) Apple dumpling to end our daily 5-course dinner (Jenny Johnston)
Some of my favorite dishes onboard (this is ONLY a portion of what I consumed, mind you):
- BREADS: Walnut Cranberry Bread, Blue Cheese Onion Bread, Rosemary Focaccia
- SOUPS: Butternut Squash Apple Soup, Beer Cheese Soup, Clam Chowder (must add Tabasco Sauce like the Alaskans do it!), Corn Chowder with Green Chile & Chorizo, Ginger Carrot
- SALADS: Cranberry Quinoa Bacon Spinach, Walnut Salmonberry, Brie Apple Pecan
- APPETIZERS: Smoked Black Cod with Blueberries, Sun-dried Tomato & Browned Butter Ravioli, Scallop Ceviche, Dungeness Crab Cakes with Pea Cream, Mushroom Crepe
- ENTREES: Dungeness Crab Shrimp & Rockfish Paella, Bacon Gouda Pesto "Grown Up Grilled Cheese", Smoked Salmon B.L.T., Pork Tenderloin with Apple Butter & Sweet Potato Mash, Blackened Cod Tostadas with Salsa Verde, Alaskan Halibut Cheeks
- DESSERTS: Chocolate Panna Cotta with Marion Berry Sorbet, Maple Walnut Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Caramel Apple Rum Dumpling with Cardamom Cream, Personal Coconut Cream Pies, Lemon White Chocolate Cheesecake
*DISCLAIMER: I happened to be pregnant during this cruise. However, I still take full responsibility for a bit of gluttony...the whole "eating for two" excuse isn't really valid.
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
