Here is it, Oct 2, our first ‘sea day’. One to spend in any way that is deemed most appropriate. Given our extensive outing yesterday, R & R is going to be the highlight for the next few hours.
By now you should have received my most recent post (for yesterday) by mail (and I still maintain the best way to view it is online at the blog site). We lost another hour overnight so now we’re 3 hours ahead of you. The bed has kept me in its embrace for a little longer this morning so a late start to anything is the best that can happen.
It took the better part of the day (interspersed with a trip to the World Marketplace for a small bite of lunch, followed by 2 hours at the art auction. No purchases made but I do enjoy their free bubbly and seeing the art work) to get yesterday’s post together and pictures satisfactorily manipulated. Done and done.
Time for a shower and get gussied up for formal night tonight. Nothing overly special planned for dinner as we have our Tuscan Dinner yet to come so the Concerto MDR is our choice. Interesting to note there appears to be fewer people actually going all out for formal night compared to years gone by. I refuse to be one of those. It remains one of the FEW times I have the opportunity to wear my prized dinner jacket. As far as I’m concerned, when the time comes, ya’ll can plant me in it. It holds a part of my heart and will always do so.
Dinner was good. Definitely less (both in extravagance and quantity) than last night, which is fine, because I am positive I could not do that twice in a row. Forty years ago, probably. But not now.
A light appetizer of crab cake and French onion soup, followed by a rare beef tenderloin (and it was both rare and excellent!). My dear wife enjoyed the crab cake as well with the main being a Duck a l’Orange. She also thought a Crème Brulé would make for a somewhat lighter finish.
I chose a Quinta do Noval Late Bottled Vintage Port for my…dessert. This time, and I don’t do this often, I really found it necessary to speak to our waiter about the presentation of same. I barely had time to open my mouth and he knew what I was going to comment on. The glass. Yes, I am a bit of a Port Snob. I will admit it and I will make no apologies for it. He knew it was wrong, was Very apologetic for it and offered to make it right. For that I will give him credit. I also know how much verbal abuse many in the service industry (restaurant and otherwise) take from customers (regardless of actual justification). The port itself was just what I had expected and anticipated. Replacing was not necessary, but I did want to assure myself (and him as well) that he knew what the Real issue was. He does, and I’m satisfied. And yes, the port was fully consumed. Happily.
The first formal night (the second being the final night) on board is also celebrated with the champagne waterfall. Of note, another change…guests no longer pour the champagne themselves. They are welcomed up to the tier for the photo op while a crew member does the pouring. I think there have been too many times where the bottle has slipped out of the hand, or accidently bumped a glass…either of which would inevitably result in rather catastrophic events.
Now for a quick trip to the casino. No sooner do I walk in, but a crew member is standing beside a lady in front of a slot machine. With mic in hand, he makes a congratulatory remark about her just winning $6,000!! Sooooooo…could this be MY lucky day at roulette?? HA!!! As the song (Steven Tyler – Aerosmith) goes…DREAM ON, DREAM ON… While sitting at the table, watching my money evaporate, a gentlemen walked by wearing a dinner jacket that, while certainly different than my own, was just as truly unique. So much so that he pointed at mine while I pointed at his and we both commented on how wonderful a jacket each were wearing. Good to see that Met Gala worthy clothes can still be seen outside of New York.
Money depleted it’s time to return to my room and get THIS post out so I’m no longer behind. 😊 I only whine half-heartedly. As much time as this takes, I really do enjoy posting. It gives my dear wife and I a clear remembrance of our times discovering new horizons. Hopefully it brings you a little entertainment as well.
Tomorrow brings Charlottetown!