At sea - Çocktail party

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 – sea day off the coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica

Swam again WITHOUT a current machine and WITH a gorgeous sunrise. Oh wow, it was pretty coming up over the water’s edge.
Hurried to our fencing class. The equipment and uniform are enough alone to make you lose weight without doing even the most basic footwork. Left there drenching wet with sweat and I should probably repeat this second class. I’ve not quite mastered how to Parry and Resolve after lunging…! Some of our group took photos of us but you can’t really tell who is who with all those helmets, gloves and straight jackets on everyone.

One more computer class on Excel Version 7 and then to a nice lunch. Again it was absolutely perfect weather outside and most people were outside. We prepared for our first cocktail party in the Hemispheres Lounge on Deck 10 for 5PM. Name tags, tables, signs, brochures, script…it was all the more complicated as the internet WIFI is still down (since Sunday) and you cannot download from your internet or open Word attachments so I can’t open everything I need. The purser’s desk was great and helped me tremendously. When such basic computer needs cannot be fulfilled due to connectivity/technical issues, you go back to “step one” in the pre-computer days!

We had a very nice turnout with 31 guests and Captain Wright, Staff Captain Hall, Hotel Manager Jacqueline Hodgson, Hotel Manager Assistant Pauline McDonald, World Cruise Hostess Gayner Van Deventer and Future Cruise Consultant Rebecca De Reus. Whew! We were very lucky so many officers showed up! That was wonderful. I took some photos and enjoyed the company. Many stayed until 7PM (an hour longer) before their evening entertainment began and we chatted as the sun set on the horizon.

We dined for the first time in the Lido Buffet for dinner, which is a much more casual atmosphere. They had a grill night – ribeye, sirloin, double lamp chop, pork chop, tuna plus the most delicious vegetables and fruit. I have been enjoying the sugar-free desserts and you barely notice the sugar is missing – they are delicious!! This area is the buffet area in the daytime but at night they dim the lights, waiters have on waist coats, and we sat and saw the sky turn various shades of red as we ate. It was a very nice dinner with great atmosphere and men can eat there without a jacket! The other side of the dining room has a reservation only section – tonight they had a fondue night; never a cover charge but limited availability. They rotate on a 3-night schedule between Carvery, Fondue, Indian, Asian/Fusion and La Piazza Italian. We’ll have to try that also!

Brett Sherwood was back tonight, the magician, and Annette Wardell, the opera singer. They leave the ship tomorrow and hopefully we get a ventriloquist. So far we have had trouble getting the entertainers on board the ship at the correct ports of call, so we will see how this one works out! The entertainers sound like “normal” entertainment but they have all been top-notch!

Managed to do a load of laundry just as it was closing. So the guard said he would come back and let us in to get them dried. There are five (free) laundry areas for 2000 guests so you can imagine the competition -- or rather the camaraderie! It is like being in a coffee hall with much laughing and waiting around for the two machines to be vacant. It is a real party. Who would have thought...