Day 3 - At Sea

Monday was a full day at sea. This is the day that gives everyone the chance to go exploring around the ship to see all that is offered. Disappointing thing we found out was that the 24-hr. buffet was just a rumor. You could get free room service around the clock, and there was an all-night "cafe" on the promenade where you could get some great slices of pizza and some funky sandwiches (I've never had a salmon steak sandwich before!). But there was no buffet that served the masses all night. A little bummed about that.

In spite of numerous drinks the night before, I was bound and determined to be awake for the first sunrise of the cruise, knowing that it should be off my side of the ship. It didn't disappoint!



There were two times in the day when all eight of us would gather. Breakfast and dinner. And as you'll learn later, the breakfast meal (buffet-style) was often bypassed. Mom, on the suggestion of veteran cruisers, reserved a table in the main dining room for every night of the cruise. We weren't excited about that at first, but it turned out to be a high point of each day. This is the dining room. A full first deck, and then the next two decks above it, with an open center looking down on the main floor.


We were sort of tucked in a corner, away from alot of people, on the top deck. We were a little rambuctious, so that was probably a good thing. The fun thing about the whole experience was that we had the same table each night, complete with our own waiter (Felix, from India), assistant waiter, and bar server (Anthony, AKA Dr. Feelgood). By the second night, they all knew us by name, by drink, by how we liked our steaks, by our entree choice (seafood, beef, pasta). Incredible service. In fact, if you frequented specific places (bars, casino, dining room), you were greeted by your first name! More stories about the dining room staff for another day...

During the exploration of the ship, there were places I knew I wouldn't be getting to: the video arcade room (too many kids), the rock climbing wall, the mini-golf course (please...), the in-line skating track, the spa/training room, the chapel (though the view must have been fantastic), the wine/champagne bar, most of the shops on the Promenade, the ice rink, the 50s-style diner (which required a cover charge!!!), or the movie theater.

The places that WOULD be explored would be the golf simulator (very odd sensation to be in mid-backswing, and have the ship rock a little), the internet cafe (though I was ultimately disappointed in its non-Mac atmosphere), the jazz club (Dizzy's--after Dizzy Gillespie), the sports bar, the casino, a couple of other bars, and of course, poolside.


Note the haziness in the picture. That would be the humidity on the camera lens! Poolside was very popular on the two days that we weren't at a port. The water was a constant 77 degrees. The beautiful people were out in force, to be sure, but alot of normal people too. An equal mix of pasty white Midwesterners and bronzed Floridians (if you live in Florida, why take a cruise?). Old fat guys in Speedos. Old wrinkly ladies in bikinis. Many, many young people in the 20-35 y.o. age group. Pregnant ladies. Dorky guys. Lots of overweight men and women (myself, included). This was as close to HNT as you could get. People out enjoying the sun, knowing that no one would see them after the cruise. A very relaxed atmosphere. And lots of half-nekkidity!

When you board the ship, you're given an ID card that doubles as the ship's credit card. Cash is not accepted anywhere on the ship, other than the casino. You sign for everything. That would get dangerous. If we cared where our money was being spent. But since Mom & Dad were picking up the tab, they were fully prepared to fork out whatever we bought. Probably 75% of that tab was booze. Lots of it. At the pool, in the bars, at dinner, at Dizzy's--it was relentless. Did we feel bad about it? We did for about the first round of drinks. After that, it was remarkably easy! And there's always someone around to get you another drink! As I said--service on the ship is exceptional!

So Monday was a day of exploration and sunning and drinking. Someone asked if we saw any refugees out on the seas. YES WE DID!! Well, I didn't--we were golfing. But my sisters saw it, as did a large number of passengers. There we were, probably 100 miles off the coast of Cuba, and there's a small boat full of people, dead in the water, trying to flag down the ship! It didn't even slow down, but apparently the captain sounded the horn, and I'm sure called it in to someone...

Monday night's dinner was a formal affair--tuxes or suits for men, long dresses for women. In the midst of heat and humidity, they want us dressed in suits! Very uncomfortable, to say the least! Can't remember the theme (each night had a theme), but Felix made his suggestions for the entrees, and Dr. Feelgood kept our glasses full. I'll say it now, rather than repeat every day--the food was superb, every night, every entree, every dessert! After dinner, we walked down the Promenade, where the ship's band was playing (jazz standards). They were pretty much being ignored until Mom & Dad stepped out to dance to something--next thing you know, the floor is packed.


After a trip up to Dizzy's for a nightcap (and the exceptional service of Claudia, from Romania), we all went to bed, ready for our first excursions in Belize. Little did we know that the shit was about to hit the fan...