We have done 2 weeks onboard now. Time for a review. The last few days have really been how we hoped the cruise would be. OK there is no nightly turn-down service with chocolates left on the pillow and no dining room version of afternoon tea but everything else is how it was pre-covid. This is fine still for us. The entertainment team and the activities and shows have been varied and excellent. The food has been good (and too tempting at times) with the waiters and galley staff working tirelessly (overworked and under manned). As previously mentioned, the ship looks old and tired (and in places unclean) but some of that is age related and things have picked up now they have started hoovering everywhere. The Captain has been a disappointment though he will be replaced in Sydney so for those that stay on things may change. Some passengers hoped he took a happy pill in Jamaica whilst I just hope he communicates better and tells the truth - he obviously went to the same training school as uk politicians and senior managers of big companies.
Today was a lazy day. Pamela went to 2 morning lectures in the theatre. Pamela here- the first lecture was by Paul Sloane (again) about assumptions and lateral thinking. It was very informative and fun. We also had a fun quiz which I did not do so well on. Looks like I am not a natural lateral thinker. Mark joined me for the 2nd lecture. This was about our Panama Canal crossing tomorrow. I enjoyed it very much but Mark nearly fell asleep again as he found the speaker, Douglas Fields, had a very monotonous voice. We were told the history of the canal and the structure including the locks and bridges you come across along the way. We can’t wait for tomorrow to see the Panama Canal. Whilst we are discussing the theatre, and it is another sea day, this will be our spotlight ship area of the day.
The theatre covers 3 decks at the very front (forward) part of the ship. With the main restaurant at the back (aft) of the ship this leads to a mass migration after dinner for the evening 8:30 show - quite amusing for the people watchers in bars (like spinnaker) to witness.
So here are some pics and descriptions of the theatre.
These last two are especially for Katherine who works in the industry on Lighting and Sound. To be honest not sure what they are of in detailed technical terms but hope she appreciates them.
Back to our day.
After the talks we had lunch in the Meridian restaurant and did our the pool deck music quiz. The rest of afternoon was spent in the laundry and strolling the upper decks looking for places to stand tomorrow to view the canal transit.
After dinner, we met our regular quiz partners (Lesley and Chris - only taken us 2 weeks to learn and remember their names 😆). It was cryptic clues all about sweets we got 17 out of 20 but still did not win. Here is an example “Punishment for nuts”. Answer, tomorrow - we have to make you come back again somehow!
The day ended with the late theatre show which was a comedy/ impressionist called Ian Clegg who was very funny and he obviously made up some new material that day as it contained a song about our specific adventures so far. Our favourite bit was famous celebrities performing ship roles such as Alan Carr on reception and Bruce Forsyth as lift attendant and Basil Fawlty as the Captain (you can guess how they went). Our joke of the evening was Jim Bowen as the entertainment team quiz host “you won Montego Bay and Fort Lauderdale - they’re safe, you have them. Will you try for bully’s top prize? You will? Here goes, oh how unlucky. Here’s what you could have had. A trip to Freeport in the Bahamas!”
We missed Ian’s 1st show as he was thrown on last minute at Fort Lauderdale as he was the only act who could go on 30 minutes after boarding. Again, no communication about the change.
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