We went back to the room to shower and get ready for dinner. It was Casual night on the ship.
We had enjoyed two very heavy (albeit delicious) and formal dinners the previous nights, so we were in the mood for something lighter. We first tried the Windjammer. Sanitized our hands (I haven't mentioned that the dispensers are at every food venue entrance, as well as before boarding the ship at embarkation and in port) and toured the "pods". There seemed to be nothing that caught either of our eyes or made our mouths water, so we left the Windjammer, in search of something else.
Izumi is right outside Windjammer (in this case, across the ship, since only the starboard side Windjammer was open at the time). Let's talk about Izumi for a minute. It's a sushi restaurant on a ship that stocks supplies once a week (the ship, and thus also the sushi restaurant). We love sushi and eat quite often at a great sushi restaurant near our home. They have their fish flown in daily and it is always fresh, so that is what we are accustomed to. Before the cruise, we contemplated an evening at Izumi. We decided that we weren't really interested in it since it's an upcharge, and since we get great sushi at home, so we didn't think it would be a very different experience from what we can do at home. We were also concerned about how they get their fish and keep it fresh. We thought, if we don't eat at Izumi on Day 1 or Day 2, we're not gonna risk it.
I've read mixed reviews for Izumi, so we didn't feel that we were missing anything. But at the flowrider that day, one gentleman in line told us he had eaten at Izumi the night before and it was great. Well, after seeing the WJ offerings, we decided to give it a try.
We didn't have reservations, but it was early (maybe 6:30pm?) and not crowded. The restaurant itself is nicely laid out, with the sushi bar and chefs behind the host stand and tables to the right. There are just a handful of tables against the window that look over the ocean. We knew others probably had reservations, so we chose not to take a table and instead sat at the sushi bar.
There were two girls already at the bar, in animated conversation, really enjoying their meal. We later noticed their name badges and realized they are crew (or entertainment staff, or something). To our left, another couple was seated shortly after us. We had some polite conversation with them during our meal. They were just having a sushi appetizer before dinner, and had reservations later in the week for Izumi.
Edamame comes complimentary (well, part of the cover charge, which is $5 if I remember). We both got miso soup, and I ordered the tenderloin hot rock, while Chris ordered Box Yellowtail in Garlic Ponzu. We each ordered some nigiri. Chris probably got a Japanese beer and I probably had the Danzante Pinot Grigio.
I had read reviews of the hot rock that it wasn't flavorful enough. I thought it was just fine, and it came with 2-3 sauces for dipping, which really helped. The rock was very large, compared to hot rocks I have had at other restaurants on land. It was about 6 inches by 6 inches.
We had never had a "box roll" before. It is an interesting shape, and the roll was very good. We shared everything.
Our review? We were impressed with Izumi. The menu had just enough variety, and it hit the spot for our tastebuds and appetites that night. We were surprised at how fresh the nigiri was, and I asked our server about it. He said it is "frozen fresh". Well, that explains it. Not 100% flown-in-daily fresh, but it was good.
If you like sushi, but aren't necessarily a foodie who is picky about sushi being excellent, I would recommend Izumi. It's a great alternative to the MDR, and you can spend as much or as little extra money as you like.
After we finished dinner, we realized that it was a little after 8pm. We had reservations for the Comedy Show that night, but they were at 10:30, which conflicted with the Love & Marriage Game Show, which Chris didn't really care about, but I wanted to see, so he obliged me. A quick check of the touch screen near the elevators told us that the early Comedy Show was to begin at 8:30, so we decided to try to go standby. Down to Deck 4 we went.
We arrived about 10 after 8 and were in line, when the people in front of us turned and asked "how was your sushi?" It was the couple who sat at the sushi bar with us! They had decided (or maybe it was their plan all along) to hit the comedy show before heading to dinner.
We were about 25 and 26 in line and had no idea whether we would get into the show or not. The venue is very small. I estimate it holds about 100 people. At 8:20 they called "last call for reservations", then let the first 10 people in line into the theater. Five minutes later, another "last call" (really?), then 10 more people. That left a couple in front of the couple in front of us, so we were 5th and 6th in line now. We all joked about whether we would get in, and then they called the next EIGHT! We were in.
Our comedians were Stephen Thomas and Mike Wilson. They were funny enough and entertaining. At the same time, they made the same jokes we have heard before about light switches outside the bathrooms in the staterooms, small staterooms, joining the "balcony club", etc. We are glad we went, but we can check that off our list. If we are looking for entertainment on a future cruise, we'll consider it, but generally we stay busy without.
The show is an hour long, so we walked around the ship for a bit afterward, then headed to the Amber Theater (site of Love & Marriage) at a little after 10. We found nice seats in the middle of the theater and watched as they finished up a Jackpot Bingo game.
Then Zac (the activities director) did the ritual selecting-of-the-couples. They started with the couple married the shortest time. They had to be less than 2 years (I think). They did the Tarzan routine and the audience selected a couple by applause.
The next couple selected was the one who had been married the longest. I think that was the selection process. Our couple had been married over 50 years (I can't remember - this is the Most Disorganized Review Ever!). They were great.
The middle couple was selected some other funny acting-out way. Again, I can't remember. I think you had to be married 5 to 15 years, maybe? Ok, someone is going to have to correct me. Maybe I mis-named this review and it should have been the Short-Term Memory Review.
So the show went on and it was great, and similar to others we have seen. It was rebroadcast several times for the rest of the week on our stateroom TVs. So, if you miss it (or it conflicts with the Comedy Show reservation you have), you can catch it on TV later.
After the show, we went to the Solarium for the Malibu Escape Party. We had a cocktail or two there, but actually got a little bored.
Here's where I will comment on these DJs from the Scratch DJ Academy. I am sure they are good DJs and do a great job at what they do, but things must have changed over the years. Chris and I talked about "the old days" of clubbing, when you sat on the sidelines sipping your cocktail until the DJ played that song. You know, that song that makes you want to dance. That song that has a special meaning to you. Then you would get up and drag your partner out to the dance floor (or head out on your own in your spandex mini skirt and bra-top with black pumps - but I digress). And you would dance and dance to your heart's content for the next 3-1/2 minutes to every single beat of that song.
On Allure of the Seas with the Scratch DJ Academy DJs? Notsomuch. The minute you hear that song and make your way to the dance floor, the song changes. And more often than not, it's a song that is very different from that song. So we just lost interest in it at the Malibu Escape party and retired to our stateroom.
Let's check the Cruise Plan:
9am - 5pm open flowrider Done.
10:30am - Meet & Mingle Done (at new time).
10:30pm - Comedy Show Done (at earlier time).
Late - Escape by Malibu party Done.
So, it may not have been in the planned order, but we accomplished everything planned for the day.
Tomorrow, we will be in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., where I will pick up a couple of special, meaningful souvenirs and we will meet the Big Kahuna!
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