It is a semi-do-nothing day aboard the Dawn. Sadly, although as expected, there aren’t a lot of daytime activities on sea days. No lecturer. Bunch of events we aren’t interested in, and well, whatever. We can read and blog. Although we do have the Loyalty party today, so we do have something. It was nice and really relaxed. Just drinks (although only chardonnay and the waitress didn’t seem to be able to get pinot grigio, and no mimosas, just champagne? Whatever) and speeches.  We hung out and listened, and I made friends with the executive chef, telling him how good the Shwarma was yesterday on the buffet.

Party done, we’re up in the lunch buffet when I saw the Exec chef again and we got to talking. Someone – maybe Kadek? – had told me that they’ll usually do an Indonesian buffet and have Pancit. Well, you know I’m all about that! So, I asked the chef about it, what day the Indonesian buffet would be because I heard there would be Pancit. Turns out there isn’t really Pancit, but he said they could make it special for me. To which I said, “no. Thank you, but no.” He tried to insist, to which I again replied, “No. Really, you all have way too much to do every day to be making a special dish for us! So, appreciate the thought, but no.” We chatted a bit more, then he went off to continue his day.

Later that afternoon, there is a knock on the cabin door, and what do we have? This chocolate box concoction thing sent from the Executive Chef! Amazing! And so, so sweet. Literally and figuratively. What a lovely gesture.

Our snacks are set for the next day or so! On with the rest of he day, the gym, the pool bar, then La Cucina for Italian. Um. Ok, so the bulk of meal was good, but the Veal Scaloppini Marsala? Nope – not scaloppini, but tenderized veal cutlets. Cost cutting measures front and center. Oh well. they did a good job with what they had on hand. But still. And, there is no door on the restaurant. Which wouldn’t be an issue anywhere else on the ship, but La Cucina opens out onto Gatsby’s bar, which always has a band. And not a soft, relaxed music band, but the party band. Or the piano player who has the amp up so loud you can’t hear yourself think. Or the duo that is really loud. Suffice it to say, La Cucina is really really loud too. We were all the way at the back of the restaurant, as far away from the door as you can get and we still had to almost shout to hear each other. The poor hostess and Restaurant manager (who is the nicest guy and actually the manager over all the specialty restaurants and reservation desk) had to stand inside the open doorway near the table where they store the menus just to not go deaf and be able to hear each other talk.) Yeah, we’re reconsidered our 2 more La Cocina nights. Might just have to switch them for Moderno or something else.

The rest of the evening was brilliant – fabulous production show – as always, and then drinks in the Bliss lounge with Red, then to bed. Beatles tour in the morning!