Cruise Day 3

Friday February 25

Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

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I am a bit frustrated. Tried before going to bed to get yesterday's pictures uploaded to the computer and again first thing this morning. No luck. So, no blog.

Still very windy. The sky was blue and we found seats for breakfast in a shady spot. Good thing because soon it was overcast and we even saw rainbows. One on the left and one on the right but both showing only the right side. Funny. I could not get the photo when it was the brightest. Pretty. Good thing we set in the shade (under cover) because suddenly it rained for a short moment. The waiter laughed. "Welcome to the Caribbean". Over all it was a nice day.

Of course after breakfast we set out to get some steps. We try to do that on the upper level around the pool. Looking at the pool we saw that it was being drained. Because of the wind it was a bit rocky and the water in the pool had high waves. It was shortly after 9 am. 

It was not as windy as the day before and we saw that the ropes at the bottom of the stairs to go higher were gone. We decided to use the Fitness Track up there. A change!

When there was a short shower again we had fled a level down under cover and decided to play a card game. I was losing seriously in the beginning but at the end I lost only by 4 points. Oh well. We like it when it is a bit more equal like that.

We were not really hungry (surprise, surprise) but went. Soup and salad is always good. At 2 pm I had to be at the Artist Studio. I had signed up for some reverse painting on a glass plate. I decided learning a new technique for something one can do with friends sounded like fun. There are 3 sessions and there are actually 3 classes. The first one was already fully booked and I got the last spot in the second. 

12 places were ready with apron, tools and material and each place had a name on a sheet of paper to identify who had done what.

So, you paint on the backside. And actually of course you have to do first what you normally would do last. I am not that happy with what I did because the best ideas came later. But it will be what it will be. 

Here is "my effort" at the end of the first session. 

The back side.

The front.

He explained that the next step at the next session will totally change the look anyway. He had sheets of colored paper to give us an idea.

While I was making "art", James went for more steps. He also went on the hunt for some outlet converters. We could not believe when we arrived that almost all outlets in our room were european. None for USB cables and only two for American electric plugs which are so close together that you can only use one at a time. And, ha-ha, even the provided hairdryer needs the USA one. They seemed to be surprised at the  reception desk, were very nice but could not help. James' hunt was fruitless. Sigh. If we had only known ... at home we have a whole drawer full from all our travels. 

The rest of the afternoon we were lazy and just read. I, of course, tried my luck with the internet every once in a while. I could not get myself to complete my goal of the daily step count.

When it was time for dinner we stopped for a while to listen to the string quartett again. I think I have already mentioned that they are awsome. Not so nice ... other people were there too having a drink and talking quite loudly. 

At dinner we had a table for 2 again. By chance (?) it was the same one again as the night before. A prime spot one. Lovely. The service people are just so nice. Everybody seems to know our names by now. 

The sommelier seemed a bit disappointed that we didn't want any wine but James had a Guinness and I a Newcastle beer. We just felt like it and it fit the meal.

I tried to be better today. 4 courses really is a bit much. We selected each course very carefully. With my steak I had very nice veggies instead of french fries. 

We didn't do the timing well enough and we were finished a while before the 9:15pm show. James read some more and I actually walked around the pool enough times to finish my goal. I was totally by myself.

The show was incredible. Just awsome. We said to each other already that on this cruise the entertainment is our best yet. Today it was Martin Kaye, a pianist from Manchester England. "Fireball" is the best word which comes to my mind. The enthusiasm and the energy is just phantastic. Obviously he is known by many except us. He played Jerry Lewis in a show called "The Million Dollar Quartet". When we are back home and have internet I need to look him up. He was also very funny.

Did I say that he not only played incredible tunes jumping up and down and with his hands behind his back, he also sang running through the ailes. 

When we left the showroom we also talked to the 4 boys from England from the night before. One is from Bournmouth. He knew Christchurch where one of James' sisters and family live very well.

Right after there is a show in the Horizons with the same band/singer as before, just every night a different theme for the songs. And we thoroughly enjoyed that too. Goodness, we are turning into night owls. But the Entertainment Director told us we could sleep in. We are not at the harbor before 11am.

Cruise Day 2

 Thursday February 24

Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

* * * * *

Full steam ahead. It was windy all day but otherwise it was a lovely day. Forced relaxation. It was good for us. After a very good nights' sleep we leasurely got ready. 

We were supposed to change our clocks one hour forward. Problem. Didn't manage to do it on my phone because I didn't know what the new timezone was called. So this picture was taken either 6:44 or 7:44.

Breakfast was plentyful as expected on a cruise and I decided that I have to really make good decisions. We walked around the ship to learn the lay-out a bit and we did our steps around the upper deck.

We have a little fridge in our room and decided to take adventage of the complimentry tonic water or ginger ale. Keep the cokes.

Breakfast and lunch are buffet but not self-serve. The (many!) servers are putting things you point out on your plate and sometimes insist on even carrying it for you to your table. Incredible how eager they are and always seem happy to help you. 

After lunch James wanted to walk more but I didn't feel like it. The wind was very strong. You had to lean into it sometimes when you walked around a corner. But in a sheltered place it was lovely. No shortage of an empty sun-bed to stretch out your legs. Ha-ha, there is James making his rounds upstairs.

In the evening we found the string quartett in the Grand Bar. The 4 ladies are really excellent musicians and we enjoyed the classical music. I overheard somebody asking and they saying that they were from the Ukraine. Everyone of the staff is always eager to tell you from which country they are. 

This time for dinner there was nobody to share a table with. We had a prime table for two at the very back window of the ship. The menu every evening is different (except for some standards). The menu has 3 courses not counting the dessert which will be offered always later.

Patee for James.

Yes, that is caviar for me at the bottom of the next photo.

Everything is always presented to nicely.

Straight from the dinner to the show, always at 9:15pm. Tonight it was "The Other Guys". They sang some really great "oldies" (60s, 70s, 80s). The band is 7 musicians called the Marina Band. They are so good too and accompanying all the singers. The guys were from England. One of them from Bournmouth. The music could not have been any better. 

After the daily main-performance in the Marina Lounge on the 5th level is another in the Horizons Bar on the 15th. The Music Station Band performed there again. Theme for tonight: Abba Mania. Gosh, they were good. There is also a dance floor and we took advantage of that too. 

What is not to like?  Another day at sea tomorrow and we can sleep in. Night, night.

Cruise Day 1

The day of embarkation! Our Oceania Cruise is called "Sun-Splashed Soiree"

Wednesday February 23

SafeCruiseParking

ADDRESS TO OUR FACILITY: 

90 SW 1st Street Miami, FL 33130

Embark on the Marina - boarding time for us 12 noon - ship leaving at 5 pm

* * * * *

After a good nights sleep we had a bit of breakfast at the hotel. The hotel had been a good choice. Location and all. I had been disappointed in the evening before because the 'business center' (printer) was broken but this morning at the front desk they were so nice and helpful. She suggested that I email the letter to William to her privat address and she printed it out for me. The weekly letter to him is mailed! 

We left shortly before 10 am (a bit earlier because we were ready) and a good thing it was because the Miami traffic was just plain awful. We arrived at the "Safe Cruise Parking" place at the right time thanks to apple play GPS. The only thing: we could not see any posting of that name, there was a parking house but it had a different name and we didn't know how to enter, nobody to ask. I had a telephone number. James called. After her finally understanding where we were she told us what to do and it was smooth sailing after that.

We were brought to the right place at the cruise terminal right away.

Our three pieces of luggage were labeled with the room number we knew from our boarding passes we had printed from the internet. 

We were sent to the large tent next to the terminal for the covid test. Since we had another print out from the internet that was very efficient and smooth too. After our noses were swabbed we waited and watched screens for our numbers to show up. Ha-ha, before we could see that on the screen we had texts on our phones. All was good, we got a wrist band and proceded to the terminal next door.

We quickly got our boarding passes and were told that our rooms would be ready at 1:30pm with the luggage in front. Instead of a room on the 7th floor we were assigned one on the 10th though. No idea why.

So we went up the level 12 and had lunch. We found a table right away outside in the shade and it was lovely. 

Relaxing can begin!!!

James rewarded himself with some dessert.

I tried very hard to "be good" and picked just one scoop of Mango Ginger Sorbet. Nice!

We found our room from a number on our cards but it didn't seem to be ready because the door didn't open and no luggage. We found another shady place out of the wind to play our card game which for some reason was very funny.

And we like it when the scores are very close!

We tried our room again and the key cards still didn't work. We decided to go to the reception desk. No wonder the keys didn't work. We went to the wrong door. The number on the cards didn't mean anything and room number is not written anywhere. Security I guess but they had forgotten to tell us.

Problem solved and had only happened because we had been upgraded. A bottle of champagne was waiting (not in ice yet), we will have conplimentary laundry service and a few other things. Nice!

We didn't have our luggage yet though because the 'wrong' room number was written on the labels but that was solved quickly soon. James got his first and after some more searching they brought mine too. 

We unpacked and found places for everything which is always a bit of a to-do in a cabin.

This was the view from our balcony ... until we sailed of course.

I was having fun with my "gadgets". My phone has the feature of knowing where my parked car is. Took a screen shot!. The little dot is where we were ... standing on our balcony ... looking into the direction.

5 pm - The ship was leaving Miami. It's always fun watching the activities, in Burr-language called "James is helping the captain". The next photo: the tent for the covid testing and the terminal next to it. 

Trying a selfie.

Somebody doing it for us.

Ah, time to relax. A 'Newcastle' for James.

We went to listen to the piano player for a while and then it was time for dinner.

When we arrived just before us was an older gentleman and his grandson (in his 20s) wanting to share a table. So we agreed. Everybody on the ship is very consciences about covid. We get constantly reminded to wear our masks except when eating or drinking. Tables are large with space in-between and everybody is vacinated and tested so we think it is alright.

I tried to be so good selecting my dinner. My starter: the original beef tartar. 

James starter: mussels (I hope they will serve them again)

Then James had a soup and I caesar salad with anchovies (don't get those often).

James' entree: veal with cheese grits.

My grouper. Nice vegetables. 

I don't think I should do this for 10 days. Dessert! Pistachio mousse. OMG!

James' cheese platter could be a whole meal by itself.

We had such nice conversation with Jim and Tim at the table that we didn't pay any attention to the time. But it was perfect. We went straight to the "Welcome Variety Show" at 9:15 pm and it was very nice. 

The last performer was a singer who told us that she will be performing right after in the Horizons on level 15 with her Music Station Band at the dance floor. So that is were we went. It even was 'happy hour' there. It was lovely. 

And then it was time to turn in. Night, night.