We lost an hour last night, but even so, we are still up at the normal 6am, and off to the gym a little before 7, as we sort of lingered in the cabin for a bit. The gym was a ghost town! Either it’s the “I’m enjoying my last day of holiday by sleeping in” or they all missed the time change (which is once again buried on the 3rd page of the program). We’re going for the latter. Regardless, makes our morning routine peaceful, as does breakfast, because once again – there is no one around.
Later we hit Café Al Bacio, again, deserted, pick up our passports and then head to the wine tasting – which starts off fairly lame, but definitely improves when the Cellarmaster takes over and gives us all sorts of interesting little wine tidbits (like how the heat of your tongue makes the taste of red wine deepen) and colorful comparisons of offspring who inherit wealth don’t have to work hard, and don’t know what it takes to make it, just like grapes that don’t grow in tough soil – they don’t have to work either, thus they produce weaker wine. The grapes that grow in tough soil have to work harder to be better and they produce richer, more intense wines. Very cute. The wines? Eh. The prosecco was very good, the Sauvignon Blanc was Canyon Road.
At any rate, it was a nice little diversion. Then up to the buffet, where we find a table easily enough, because we were early thank God. They had a Seafood “Market” buffet for lunch. OMG. The Asians are out in force. We have no idea where they have been this entire cruise, we’ve not seen this many, but they are for certain here! And in line for the seafood – and piling it on. The line is probably 50 people deep when we get in it – and we were watching to make sure we knew when it opened! It is a great spread though – have to say – the left over lobsters from last night (plentiful), huge head on shrimp (excellent), and smaller shrimp cocktail shrimps. All perfectly cooked and great.
Then, on the other side of the café, Asian fruits!!! Only this time, Jackfruit! YAY!!! Finally! The line there is super long as well, but I don’t care. Jackfruit!!!! I actually don’t even get anything else – and the supervisor there who is acting as a guard (because yeah, these Asians will run over the poor server) keeps asking if I’m sure I don’t want anything else. Nah, I’m good! Don’t need Mangosteens or Rambutan. I’m so happy with a full plate of Jackfruit, I could cry.
Once done with our fruit dessert (oh the regular dessert buffet for today was amazing as well! Including the red velvet cakes in the shape of a 10 – in reference to the guest surveys, 10 is the best), we head back to the cabin for the afternoon – escaping the insanity of the buffet. Now it is truly crazy with every seat in the house taken and people rushing around trying to find a place. Yikes!
This afternoon our schedule is a bit rushed as we hit the gym early to go to our back-to-back meeting at 5. Our invitation says to go to the Meeting Place, deck 3 aft. So we dutifully head down our aft stairs and find the Meeting Place – with the doors closed. We figure we’re just early – it is 10 before 5 after all. We can hear conversation in the room, but figure it is the staff preparing. We stand there for a bit longer, until another couple comes up and after chatting for a few minutes, they boldly open the doors. Um –the room is already full with barely a seat available! What? And the check in is at the opposite end of the room? Oh, yeah, the Meeting Place is actually MID-SHIP! I’m telling you, the communication on this ship….. After checking in, we manage to score seats in the first row where we sit and listen to a semi-confusing presentation where most questions aren’t really answered. We know if we go off the ship, we must leave by 8:45 – but when will we get our keys? What is the process to return, besides just using our Transit Pass? A couple people have questions, but they are shut down by the disembarkation representative (who seems to be new and doing her first presentation, oh and is named Davina!!! Never, ever have we ever met another soul with my mom’s name!).
The rest of the evening is the norm – dinner, with that awesome beet and feta cheese appetizer – then the cabin. We are saving the Broadway production show for the second leg. So, there’s 6 Feet Under and then beddy-bye time.
First leg – done.
Andiamo 