Hello from Castaway Cay! There are no ships in sight today, but I’m here (with some Disney friends!) getting a taste of what private island life is like.
We arrived this morning and were greeted by an old friend…
You may recall that I first met him on the island a few years ago, and now he’s back! We’ll be live tweeting about his experience on Castaway Cay all day today from Disney Cruise Line’s Twitter account @DisneyCruise. Be sure to follow us and join the conversation by using the hashtag #CastawayCay!
I’ll share more about our time on the island with you when I return home. Until then, tell me…if you could have Castaway Cay to yourself, what would you do?
For more posts highlighting Castaway Cay, see below:
One of the many Disney Cruise Line dishes that guests are always raving about is Palo’s grilled tuna. Served with truffle-infused potato risotto, garlic-marinated artichokes and tarragon-veal jus, it’s pretty easy to understand why.
Today, not only am I sharing the at-home recipe with you, I also thought you might like a demonstration of how to make this mouth-watering dish. Take a look at this video with Palo’s Executive Chef Silvio as he shows you how we at Disney Cruise Line prepare and serve this entrée onboard.
Grilled Tuna with Truffle-Infused Potato Risotto, Garlic-Marinated Artichokes, and Tarragon-Veal Jus Serves 4
Potato Risotto
1/2 pound russet potato, peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup dry white wine (such as chardonnay)
1 cup heavy cream
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon white truffle oil
Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste
Tarragon Veal Jus
1 1/4 cups veal stock
1 cup dry red wine (such as merlot)
3 stalks fresh tarragon
Marinated Artichokes
1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 shallot, sliced
4 artichokes packed in oil,* drained, cut into thirds
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Grilled Tuna
4 (1/2-pound) ahi tuna steaks
Extra virgin olive oil, for grilling
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For marinated artichokes:
Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat until it shimmers. Add shallot and garlic, cooking until fragrant and golden.
Add artichokes, tomatoes, and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sauté until tomatoes just begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside until ready to serve.
For tarragon veal jus:
Combine red wine and tarragon stalks in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until reduced by 1/3, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Add veal stock and simmer until reduced by 1/3, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and set aside until ready to serve.
For potato risotto:
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook potatoes until tender but not falling apart, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add shallot, cooking until translucent. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds, or until very fragrant and golden.
Add white wine, simmering until reduced, about 3 minutes. Add cream, simmering until reduced and slightly thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Drain potatoes and return to hot saucepan to allow excess water to evaporate.
Gently fold cooked potatoes into cream mixture. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and fold in truffle oil and parmesan cheese.
For grilled tuna:
Preheat grill to 400°F.
Rinse tuna steaks and pat dry. Brush both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper.
Place tuna on hot grill and sear each side 2 minutes for rare. If you prefer well done, cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes per side.
To serve:
Evenly divide potato risotto among 4 serving plates. Cut tuna steaks in half and place over potatoes. Evenly divide artichoke mixture among plates and drizzle with tarragon veal jus.
*Note: Artichokes packed in oil can be found in specialty grocery stores, some supermarkets, and online at www.williams-sonoma.com.
Some of my most cherished memories from when my children were young are quiet times spent together reading a good book. Reading aloud gave us a chance to bond over favorite stories, while instilling a love of reading that continues today.
Crew members from Disney Cruise Line ships recently made memories of their own, saluting National Literacy Month with special visits to schoolchildren in our ports of call. Taking place as part of the Disney Reading Together program, these visits brought Disney VoluntEARS to read with children in Grand Cayman, St. Thomas and Nassau. And while the efforts were designed to promote literacy and inspire children to enjoy reading, I really think that our crew most enjoyed getting to spend quality time sharing stories with young readers.
Since launching 10 years ago, our Reading Together program has taken crew members into schools to read aloud, inspired cast and crew members to make personal donations through book drives, and has helped to distribute more than 7,000 books to children in communities across the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Taking time out to read together can make a big impact – both on the children and the adults that share the story.
I’m sure the crew can’t wait to return to read with the schoolchildren again. Do you have a favorite Disney story you enjoy sharing with your family?
To read more about other ways Disney VoluntEARS and Disney Cruise Line give back, see the posts below:
Disney Cruise Line also offered a look ahead at some of the amazing sights cruisers on their Alaskan itineraries can expect to see later this summer. Looks like an amazing trip!
It is no secret by now that our voyages to Alaska offer some of the most amazing Port Adventures available in our entire portfolio, worldwide. Every year we search for new ways to excite our guests and help them discover the rich culture and diversity of our ports of call.
For our 2013 summer season, we’ve added two new Port Adventures from Ketchikan to Annette Island, home to the only native reservation in Alaska. These excursions, which offer a rare glimpse of a working village, will immerse guests in the culture of the Tsimshian people, whose ancestors followed Anglican missionary William Duncan in ocean-going canoes to settle on this rugged uninhabited island in 1887. Disney Cruise Line guests on the Exclusive Annette Island Native Discovery will tour Father Duncan’s Church and Cottage (a museum), hear interesting stories of the village’s totem poles, explore local arts and crafts, and see a local native dance group perform traditional and contemporary dance ceremonies in their clan house.
The Annette Island Cultural Celebration with Family Activity excursion offers guests even more immersion with a unique hands-on experience. Families will construct their very own drum and learn how Tsimshian people teach youngsters about their ancestors using drum beats, song and dance.
What’s more, on the catamaran cruise to Annette Island, guests have yet another opportunity to view some of Alaska’s wildlife, like seals, eagles and dolphins, just to name a few. Hidden gems such as Annette Island are yet another reason why when the ship is in port, you must venture ashore!
Check out these posts to learn more about voyages to Alaska with Disney Cruise Line:
Wildlife exploration is one of the top activities in Alaska, so for this summer Disney Cruise Line has added brand new tours in Juneau that allow guests to witness the very best of the Inside Passage’s marine and coastal wildlife.
The new Wilderness Safari & Beach Exploration excursion starts out on a high-speed, water-jet powered vessel that can venture to areas unreachable by conventional boat. Whales, sea lions and brown bears are just a few of the species guests may spot that thrive in this pristine environment. The tour also includes a visit to the remote coast of Admiralty Island, where guests can relax or explore while enjoying the area’s stunning beauty.
Also in Juneau, like most Disney Cruise Line destinations, guests have the option to explore the port of call privately through our Signature Port Adventure Collection. Our private arrangements are a great option for large parties traveling together, families who want to create their own itineraries, or those would like a more in-depth experience with a private guide.
New this year in Juneau is the Private Whales, Fishing and Wildlife Adventure, where guests can enjoy Alaska’s coast up close and personal, customizing their experience with iconic activities such as whale watching and fishing. Groups have their very own captain and private vessel with several amenities like snacks and beverages, binoculars and fishing gear, plus other VIP options that can be added upon request!
Whether you do it with a group or on a private port adventure, when the ship’s in port, venture shore!
Thinking about sailing to Alaska with Disney Cruise Line? Learn more in these posts:
A guest favorite for the past two seasons, this Port Adventure returns this summer to tell the story of the prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. Guests will visit a trail camp complete with gold panning, great family entertainment and an all-you-can-eat outdoor feast featuring Alaskan salmon. Visiting the camp and in full local attire is Donald Duck, bringing along a few surprises.
After all this, guests will still have time to explore Skagway or take part in the many other options in this quaint and pristine corner of the Alaskan inside passage.
As I always say, when the ship’s in port (especially in Alaska!), venture ashore!
Check out these posts to learn more about voyages to Alaska with Disney Cruise Line:
Whales, glaciers and bears, oh my! Things got a little wild when Donald Duck faced Alaska’s rugged frontier during his summer voyage with Disney Cruise Line. See for yourself…
If you want to see more of Donald’s adventures in Alaska, follow @DisneyCruise on Twitter as we show you photographs all this week. Which Disney character would your family most like by their side as you venture into the great Alaskan frontier?
Excitement is building as we get closer to Disney Cruise Line’sMediterranean season! Several months ago I gave you a sneak peek on some of the Signature Collection tours we developed just for our guests in Europe. Today, I am ready to share more details about our most unique port adventure this season, taking place during our overnight stays in Venice, the Exclusive Evening Tour and Disney Royal Visit to the Doge’s Palace.
Doge’s Palace, as the name suggests, was once home to the Doge, or the chief magistrate and leader of the Republic of Venice. In the great tradition of storytelling, Disney Cruise Line guests on this excursion are the recipients of true Venetian hospitality as the “Doge” opens the doors of his palace to them and our beloved princesses.
Those of you joining us for this evening port adventure will travel on a scenic boat ride to an area nearby St. Mark’s Square for a short walk to the iconic Doge’s Palace, or in Italian, Palazzo Ducale. By the time you arrive, the palace will be closed to the public, giving you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an intimate and private tour of the palace, where you’ll be welcomed by both Venetian and Disney royalty.
At the end of the tour, you’ll gather at the loggia, the gallery overlooking St. Mark’s Square, joined by Disney princesses, royal Venetian courtiers and live musicians for a special gathering and a toast to this memorable occasion.
There’s no doubt this truly magical VIP experience will bring Venetian culture alive for your family. It’s just another reason for when the ship’s in port, you venture ashore!
This year at Disney Parks, we have a lot going on to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. While the holiday is officially tomorrow, celebrations at Downtown Disney District and Raglan Road at Downtown Disney are going on all weekend! Read the posts below for some exciting Irish-themed treats and goodies, and to find out what we’ve got in store for this year’s celebrations. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Take 5: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Disney Parks
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