We
woke just in time to have breakfast before taking a walking tour of the ship. Walking.
A continued a problem thoughout these four days, but today I started my
adventure with two Ibuprofen. That
really helped.
Down
to the galley first; the trip led by training officer Jeanette. The ship is an older ship but the mechanics
of it are liked by the crew. There is a huge, on story galley fitted between
two dining rooms. We were lead through
it all by the head chef and saw the store rooms, salad and appetizer areas,
cool storage, meats, fish, breakfast area, and patisserie. The desert chef gave us a dramatic showing of
cakes. Met sous chefs and learned how
little waste there is on this ship. So
very clean.
It
was a most informative tour, but for the first time on any ship, we had to pay
for it. And too, we were accompanied by
security and not allowed to take pictures.
After
this clean metal on clean metal tour stop, we were down many flights of stairs
to the engine control room which was absolutely fascinating. The chief engineer told and showed us how
much of it worked, and attempted to explain the size and complexity of the six
engines. A light green…so like the NS
Savanah which I got to go on when she was in the James River.
From
that stop, we rose up to the center walk way where everything is moved,
shuffled, and taken in or off the ship.
From there to the crew, staff, and officers messes. Stopped at the training area for a bathroom
break. I was really grateful.
The
last stop was up to the bridge to meet the captain. It was our first time on any bridge. The captain took great care to explain how
the ship worked, and the atmosphere was truly hushed.
The
officers are Italian. The Chef as
Indian, and the Chief Engineer was English as was the training officer. A multicultural crew with a primary language
of English.
After
lunch on the lido, he headed to the casino and I to doze over the laptop. There was little for us to do after
lunch. Perhaps the Cruise Director’s
cold slowed his planning. Dinner was ok. No great show in the show room. No games or other entertainments. The dancers and singers left the ship in
Ensenada, and two commedians flew on.
That’s what they call them. Fly
On’s. One was funny, and one was
not. We packed and went to see the funny
one. Rather a letdown when I had hoped
for a Show of Shows.
In
the morning, we were first off and glided off the ship right on to the car. We stopped in Escondido to see the daughter
there and Granddaughter. Presents from
the Oregon family were opened, and we headed home skipping the carefully and
beautifully laid out breakfast. No
hunger, just an incoming common cold. I
was so sorry.
