Join us, Bill and Mary Ann, on our 128 day epic journey around the world in 2009

[7toEleven]

Oh goodness, I'm glad you are back, had to go two whole days without reading your wonderful review! It is the first thing I am looking forward to in the morning. Not to put the pressure on but sure enjoying this trip with you!

Thank you!

M. Murphy

[Love Cruises]

Mary Ann and Bill ...

 

Thanks so much for including us on your great journey. It is the first site I check into each day. Can't wait until our grandchildren are a little older and then we can go on a world cruise. It seems that 4 weeks is long enough for us to be away from them right now since they are young and enjoy being with us. In the meantime we live vicariously through our fellow Cruise Critic friends who are nice enough like you both to share your trip with us.

 

If you have the chance, can you tell us what times the shows are in the evening? Thanks!

[Skye23]

Thank you so much for doing your world cruise report again this year. I really enjoyed the one you did in 2007 (I missed 2008, will have to read the archive sometime). With the economy this year and our personal finances reading your stories will probably be as close as I come to a real vacation this year. Still, so happy to dream along with you. Perhaps if I win the powerball I can tag along next year :D

[mancunian]

Mary Ann and Bill. Thank you for this report. We are going on the Rotterdam on the 31 May and this is whetting our appetites. (We are only going for 24 nights, not a mammoth trip like yours)

[WCB]

Report # 12 January 13, 2009 Tuesday Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

 

This was our first visit to Guatemala, and we were in for a nice surprise. To say that Guatemala is a beautiful country, would be very modest. Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America with over 50,000 square miles. It houses 33 volcanoes, rain forests, mountain lakes and rivers, and fertile fields for growing crops. The people are descendants of the ancient Mayan civilization, noted for their advanced knowledge of arts, mathematics, astronomy, agriculture, and written language. What caused their rise and fall remains a mystery to scientists even today.

 

Our shore excursion this morning was a drive to the Filadelfia Coffee Estate, with a tour through colonial Antigua nearby. The hour and a half drive brought us from Puerto Quetzal, through the farmlands and industrial sites to the city of Antigua, 5000 feet above sea level. What a treat to view three active volcanoes on the horizon as we passed fields of wheat and sugarcane. We also need to mention that the roads were in excellent condition compared to the roads in Costa Rica.

 

We had a very good guide and driver on our tour. She told us many facts about Guatemala. Their main exports are sugarcane, all types of veggies, corn, wheat, citrus, coffee, and roses. She said the roses are the unusually beautiful ones we see in our supermarkets.

 

The Filadelfia Coffee Plantation was just over-the-top gorgeous. Situated on a hillside overlooking Antigua, this 250 acre estate grows Arabica coffee that sells for up to $85. a pound. A young and knowledgable guide gave us a tour which began right in the field of coffee trees. We learned how the young trees are started, nurtured, and harvested when they reach 4 years old. One bush can produce the equivalent of 22 cups of coffee a year. Luckily for us, the harvest time was right now. We are now experts as to when and how to pick the right beans. The only problem would be that working as a picker, we would be paid by the pound. The average picker makes $10. a day. Obviously, that money goes a lot further here than it does at home.

 

Our tour continued to the processing plant, where the beans are hulled, cleaned, and floated by water to separate the best from the culls. Then the batches of beans are spread on sloped concrete in the sun, and raked hourly for a few days to dry. When they are just right, they are bagged and sent to a sorting room. It is here that several very patient ladies manually separate the best beans from the culls. The culls are sold for less expensive brands. The final step is roasting, grinding, and bagging. Only 6% of the total harvest produces their finest expensive coffee.

 

We sampled the final product and found the coffee to be strong, but full-bodied, with a pleasant aftertaste.

 

Now the best part........lunch! We were led to the main building where the open-air dining room awaited our group. Orange juice or lemonade was served with handmade tortillas and salsa with a pesto sauce. A chicken broth with finely diced vegetables was given first. Several well-dressed waiters brought plates with mesquite grilled steak, chicken, rice, refried beans, and guacamole. Wow, it was delicious. A coffee-flavored mousse finished the meal. We also enjoyed the "big" dancers who comically danced to the music of the 4 man band.

 

We finished earlier than expected, so we headed for Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Antigua has a population of 25,000 living in brightly colored homes on cobblestone streets. Surrounded by volcanoes, the city has endured many eruptions and earthquakes. Our time was limited, so we had a drive-by of the Captain's Palace, City Hall, and the Cathedral of Santiago. Finally, our guide gave us 45 minutes to spend in the craft market. This was a maze of local vendors selling silver jewelry, jade, embroidered items, purses, t-shirts, etc.,etc,etc.

The vendors were all "high pressure" sales people, enticing us to bargain. We found our usual momentos.....a t-shirt, one shotglass, and few "jade?" necklaces. Chicken potholders went for a dollar by the time we were boarding the bus. Had to have one!

 

While the passengers in our group were waiting for the bus, street people drove some of them crazy. With little encouragement, they showed their wares in a flash. Most of our group gave them a dollar just to leave them alone!

 

We did encounter a brief shower when thunder clouds covered the mountain tops on our way back to the ship. We realized how lucky we were to have seen the smoking volcanoes early in the day. Now they were completely invisible.

 

We heard another "first" this afternoon. Shortly before leaving the port, the cruise director, Bruce announced that a vendor at the pier stores claimed his wallet may have accidently fallen into a passenger's purchases. Hmmmm, is that another way of saying someone lifted his wallet??? We never did hear if anyone came clean!

 

At the sailaway party, the captain announced that we may be encountering rough seas and high winds during the night. As a result, the port of Huatulco would be "iffy". So at dinnertime, we all felt that he may have exaggerated a bit, but we were in for a surprise.......

 

To be continued!

 

Bill and Mary Ann

[Two@Sea]

Oooohhhhh.... a genuine cliffhanger!!! Please don't keep us in suspense!

[seafun]

Great report on Guatemala!

And a dramatic twist, with the suspenseful cliffhanger?? This just keeps getting better. :D

Thanks once again for sharing with us.

[WCB]

Report # 13 January 14, 2009 Wednesday Huatulco, Mexico

 

Well, remember we doubted the captain's warning about the storm last night? Things started getting a bit rough by midnight, and by 2 am, we were awakened from a deep sleep by almost being flung out of bed! The winds were howling, and the seas were boiling. So we turned on our TV to find that we were experiencing a force 12 hurricane, with winds at 72 knots! The ship was rolling, pitching, and listing with waves up to 18 feet. If this kept up, it was highly doubtful we would be able to dock in Huatulco.

 

Thankfully, the storm seemed to subside by 8 am. Even though the doors to the promenade deck were supposed to stay closed, we snuck outside to walk. It had improved so much, that our arrival time of 11 am seemed possible now.

 

And that is just what happened. The Rotterdam pulled alongside the 5 year old pier with no problem. All the tours were running as planned, including ours which was a sailboat ride with a short swim stop.

 

Having just been here last May, we were in no hurry to leave the ship. Our tour did not start until 1:30. It was so hot here last spring, that you could have fried an egg on the pier. Today, the weather was going to be perfect....warm and breezy. There was absolutely no sign of the storm from last night.

 

Huatulco is a fairly new community, which began its expansion in the 80's. You could say it is a mini-version of Acapulco, only quieter and far less touristy. The locals were much less agressive in town as we walked around the small shops and restaurants on our way to our pick-up point. Once again, we had to sign the waivers, or not be allowed on the tour.

 

Our small group of 18 boarded the 44 foot cutter sloop sailboat, the Luna Azul. After we all donned the orange lifevests, our host Pepe gave us a little history of the little picturesque harbor. We did encounter some large swells further away from the coastline. They were large enough to send water over the bough and almost wash away the bags and shoes people left near their chairs! We were sitting, facing forward, right under the main mast, so we could see these waves coming. It became apparent that the "experienced" crew were taking us on a thrill ride on purpose. They were chuckling when our group was tossed from side to side. We were supposed to have a go at taking the helm or trimming the sails, but that was not going to happen. One fellow in our group said quietly that the crew did not know what they were doing. Oh great, this man happened to be a proclaimed sailor and he was not happy. If worse came to worse, at least he could get us back to shore safely!

 

The :Luna Azul was heading towards a secluded beach, one of many here. On the rocky shoreline Pepe pointed out a face carved in the rock by the wind. They dropped anchor next to a luxurious yacht and the catamaran, Tequila, with another Holland group.

 

Several of our passengers dove into the cool water of 71 degrees. We forgot to wear our swimsuits, so we passed. The yacht people got a ride to shore from a local boat. Quite civilized. Onboard, we enjoyed our beers, margaritas, and sodas, along with a snack of sweetly candy-coated peanuts from Japan. Go figure. Then we were off again on our merry-go-round ride. Except now, the sails were unfurled, the engine killed, and quiet prevailed. How peaceful it can be to just hear the waves lapping against the boat, and the canvas sails whipping in the breeze. Pepe did spot a few stingrays jumping near the boat. He said it was their breeding season, so the rays are active during the day.....more than usual.

 

The boat did arrive safely back to the harbor, and most of us were glad to be on firm ground. Don't know how long we could have endured those waves and not get seasick. We all agreed that we preferred the size and comfort of the Rotterdam compared to a smaller vessel. It takes a special breed to be able to sail the seven seas in a sailboat!

 

This evening, we were invited to our first Specialists cocktail party in the Explorers Lounge. We even met Captain Olav and several of his officers finally. Tom Mullen, our host, gave a great speech, short and sweet, and added at the end.....eat hearty and think THIN!! Oh, if that would just work for real!!

 

The entertainer this evening was Elliot Finkel, an accomplished pianist, who we have seen several years ago on a Celbrity cruise. He is traveling with his father ( cannot remember his first name ). But maybe you will remember him as the surly judge on Picket Fences. We were so tired after dinner, we missed the show. Hopefuly, he will perform again before we reach Los Angeles.

 

Sweet dreams,

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[Aussie Gal]

Another interesting post. We too have been to Huatulco only we were there in September a couple of years ago and it was so hot and humid. We went to the little town and Mall and then came back and had a lovely cold beer at the hotel right on the beach. It was so refreshing and I am not one who really enjoys the taste of beer!

 

Jennie

[Kiwi Kruzer]

The entertainer this evening was Elliot Finkel, an accomplished pianist, who we have seen several years ago on a Celbrity cruise.

 

We have seen him on a cruise ship too.

Heres a short youtube clip I found,

(doesnt show much of his piano playing),

but may help others to recognise him.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fhPVmC6WzE

[R&CCruisers]

We have enjoyed Eliot Finkel as an entertainer on a cruise. He also has a brother, Ian Finkel, a xylophone player that we heard on a 2005 South America cruise. Both were excellent and we'd love to hear them again. I'm enjoying your cruise reports and look forward to every new posting.

[earl_m]

On Picket fence It was Ray Walton who play the Judge. I think his

brother play a lawyer!!

[blue whale]

Dear Bill and MaryAnn,

 

Thank you for your frequent reports. We are eager to be with you! And thanks for checking on the room assignment for CC. Enjoy!

 

D/G

[WCB]

Report # 14 January 15, 2009 Thursday Acapulco, Mexico

 

Our port of call today was Acapulco, Mexico, a city that is popular with vacationers worldwide. It's history is peppered with trade from the far east, pirates, and warfare. Today, the city offers miles of beaches, luxury hotels, numerous restaurants, and huge shopping areas. One particular activity that has made Acapulco famous are the cliff divers of La Quebrada. These young fellows and some girls, perform dives from cliffs as high as 135 feet!!

 

The Rotterdam was welcomed by a band of Mexican musicians, who serenaded the passengers as they left the gangplank. The Amadea, the one that followed us through the Panama Canal, was docked here as well.

 

We have visited Acapulco several times in the past, so a favorite tour that we've enjoyed was a trip to the Fairmont Pierre Marques Hotel. It is about a hour drive from the pier.

 

The weather was very dreary this morning, with the threat of rain. We joined our small group in the terminal building, where our cute guide promised us that we would have sun when we reached the hotel.Just as she said that, it started to rain. Oh well, at least we won't get too sunburned.

 

The drive around the horseshoe bay took us past craft markets, hotels, shopping malls, familiar restaurants (McDonalds, of course) and night clubs. A popular place must be Senor Frogs, because they had stores every two blocks!

 

We began to climb the cliffs, and at one spot, the bus dropped us off for a photo op. Most of the ladies on the bus were busy checking out the jewelry, while the men took the panoramic pictures of the city below. This would be our only shopping, so the gals had to move fast. And they did!

 

Guess what? Once we passed the famous Las Brisas Hotel complex, the sun did peek through the clouds. Perfect.

 

We arrived to the hotel where we had the chance to use two large and beautiful pools and/or lounge on the beach under umbrellas. This hotel is one of the best 100 hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean. There did not appear to be many guests at the hotel, at least they were not crowding the pools.

 

At 1 pm, we gathered at the hotel's open -air restaurant for a sumptuous Mexican buffet. We started at the salad bar. All of the toppings were Mexican style, which is one of our favorite meals at home. The main hot items were beef stew, fish, clams, and pork. Also offered were refried beans, chicken soup, rice, and tortillas. Our plates were not big enough for all of it, so we figured we would come back. Bill finished first, so he went exploring, and came back with the biggest cheeseburger that I have ever seen. Wow, it must have been a half pound of perfectly grilled meat! Figuring he'd split it with me, I said, "No way Jose!! I found my way to the grill for one of my own. A few other fellows spotted Bill's hamburger, so they followed me, since the grill was a bit out of sight. I would never eat so much at home, but hey, this is a vacation, right?? Worry about calories tomorrow!!

 

After our feast, we took a short walk on the beach. We came across a sand sculpture display, which was roped off. It appeared to have a Christmas theme...perhaps it was a contest. It's amazing the artistry that went into the figurines. There was a decorated Christmas tree, a snowman, a crocodile, a teddy bear, and a huge frog.

 

It was time to leave by 3 pm. As we were leaving the pool area, we saw the funniest thing. A very clever blackbird had flown up on a desk in the outdoor restaurant where packets of mayonnaise were in a bowl. The bird grabbed a packet, carried it to the ground, and proceeded to peck a hole in it! He was in heaven as he sucked the mayo out. Now we've seen everything!

 

As we left the hotel, the bus passed by the property's manicured golf course, and the Princess Hotel. As a sharp contrast, outside the property's gate were Walmart and Sam's Club. Looks just like home in the suburbs!

 

Traffic was bad heading back to the pier. However, we have seen it worse, especially if you arrive on a weekend. We made it back to the ship right on time, and joined the sailaway party in progress. Come to think of it, the ship has had sailaway parties for almost every port. Things are looking good if this continues for the rest of the cruise.

 

Dinner was good again this evening. We really wanted to keep it light, since we had such a wonderful lunch. But they were offering Mom's soothing meatloaf. Had to try that! Again, it was delicious. We kept the meal light by ordering the sugar-free dessert of strawberry shortcake!! It tasted too good to be true.

 

The show tonight featured a comedian by the name of Elliot Maxx. The showtimes are at 8 and 10 pm for this segment. After all that sun and swimming, we called it a night after dinner.

 

Looking forward to a day at sea. Three ports in a row is hard work. But as friends June and Dick say, cruising is hard work, but someone has to do it!!

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[HALFans]

The entertainer this evening was Elliot Finkel, an accomplished pianist, who we have seen several years ago on a Celbrity cruise. He is traveling with his father ( cannot remember his first name ). But maybe you will remember him as the surly judge on Picket Fences. We were so tired after dinner, we missed the show. Hopefuly, he will perform again before we reach Los Angeles.

 

His father's name is Fyvush Finkel. He was also (co-starred?) in the short lived Fantasy Island remake series 1998-99 - with Malcolm McDowell as Mr. Roarke.

 

We also saw Ian Finkel on a HAL cruise in the 90's. I thought his virtuosity was terribly under-appreciated by the passengers on the ship. In my opinion he's one of the top talents I've ever seen. Maybe if he played more mellow vibraphone stuff the Hal crowd would like him more? SIGH.

[CruisinTexans]

Thanks for the great descriptions. Sounds like you had a great meal at the coffee estate. The spread at the Pierre ***** sounded wonderful too. We're all packed and I am backing up the computer and loading stuff on to the laptop now. See you soon.

 

Leslie

[Rhea58]

As I sit here watching the dang snow fall, I am totally appreciative of your

daily report so thank you so much Bill and Mary Ann.

 

To HALFans: Totally concur w/you re Mr. Finkel. He gave an extra afternoon performance on our cruise some time ago. Neither were well-attended by cruisers which does illustrate fellow pax taste...or lack thereof.

[Nursekaye]

Bill and Mary Ann - I am so enjoying you postings. Your descriptions are so interesting. Have you by any chance seen a waitress by the name of Angel (Angelique). She is a delightful young lady from the Phillipines. I met her on my cruise to Alaska.

 

Keep up the great writings. I am so glad you spend your time to do this for all of us that have to live vicariously thru you. Enjoy your trip and thank you. I look forward to your entry each day when I get home from work.

[WCB]

Report # 15 January 16, 2009 Friday Day at Sea

 

Last night the ships clocks went back one hour. Believe us, it is a gift not only for the passengers, but for the hard- working crew as well. As we continue sailing west, the time change should occur every three or four days. In our minds, it is the best direction for a world cruise.

 

Many activites were happening around the ship all day. Future cruises on Holland ships were being presented for deposit. Seminars on eat more, weigh less and burn fat fast must have been full of listeners. Are they trying to tell us something as this segment winds down? Too late, we're afraid!!

 

There was a final 2 pm classical piano concert given by Elliot Finkel, and I was not going to miss it. He was phenomenal as he played his favorite pieces including Chopin, my favorite. He had a full house that gave him a standing ovation at the end. Bravo!!

 

Some classes were offered for a nominal fee of $10 and $11. They were core pilates and fitness cycling. Mixology and wine sampling primed the guests for the 2 for 1 happy hour between 4:30 and 5:30 pm. Hey, where's the happy hour for us late seaters?? Will have to work on that.

 

For a change, we visited the Piano Bar for cocktails before dinner. The piano man, Jeff Warren, played and sang tunes from the past that we remembered. Hope he stays on for the world cruise.

 

Dinner was fun as always. Our tablemates have bonded for the most part. Too bad four of them will be leaving in Los Angeles.

 

Another place that seemed busier than usual was the casino. The space in this casino seems much larger than on the Amsterdam. A new smoking policy for the casino has started recently, where it is only allowed from 10:30 pm to closing. We wonder if that will attract more people to gamble, or not? Smoking is still allowed in the Sports and Ocean Bars and the Crow's Nest.

 

The show in the the Queens Lounge was Livewire, a whirlwind of music and song. Will check with our tablemates to get their impressions. Truthfully, they have been a bit lukewarm on the entertainment, with the exception of Mr. Finkel.

 

Until tomorrow......

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Grumpy1]

It sounds like you are off to a good start. Several of the ports you have visited are the same as the Prinsendam 2005 GWV FLL to LA segment, so it was nice to read your take on them.

 

We'll ride along with you for awile until we board Prinsendam in March and I'm sure we'll enjoy every moment along with you... next best thing to being there.

 

If you should run into Janet and Bob Nakushian, say hi from Jerry and Wilda. They have been our tablemates on two cruises and we've enjoyed their company.

[Aussie Gal]

Grumpy,

 

Do hope you are getting better. I read on one of the posts that you had a bad fall.

 

I did send an email but you may not have received it.

 

Jennie

[MightyQuinn]

Bill & Mary Ann - Great fun following along with you.

 

Count us among the fans of Elliot Finkel. He's been aboard a couple of ships with us & we've always enjoyed his concerts. Last spring on the Prinsendam he put together an imprompto afternoon concert which included a tribute to Amy Winehouse. He played several of her recent recordings & it was fantastic! :cool::cool:

[jckvpa0]

Report # 4 January 5, 2009 Monday.

 

After breakfast, our small group met in the dining room we used last night. The Specialists even provided sweet rolls and coffee to keep us happy. It was nice to be kept separate from the Holland group, since they had 200 people leaving the lobby at the same time as us. It was a crowded mess there. If we were quick, we could load up and leave ahead of them. And that's just what we did.

 

 

 

Mary Ann & Bill

 

 

Loving reading your posts ! Thank You so much for taking the time to do it !!!

 

I'm a little confused to what the difference is between your group and the Holland group,did you book this cruise with a special group ?

[Grumpy1]

I'm a little confused to what the difference is between your group and the Holland group,did you book this cruise with a special group ?

 

I'll jump in and answer this one. There is a travel agency in Seattle that specializes in escorted groups, mostly on longer cruises. When you book through them you will receive extra benefits such as onboard cocktail parties, jackets, tote bags, perhaps a freebee shore excursion or two, shore excursions that can be purchased that are different from the ones HAL offers, sometimes a shipboard credit and a very competitive price.

 

There are several T/A's that offer escorted cruise groups including the auto club, but the one that Bill and MaryAnn are with is, IMO, a cut above the rest of them.

[WCB]

Report # 16 January 17, 2009 Saturday Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

 

Our port of call for this fine day was Cabo San Lucas on the tip of Baja California. We visited Cabo back in the early 80's while on a family cruise. Seeing it now bears no resemblance to the sleepy, small fishing village that was here. Back then, there were maybe 500 residents, a few hotels, and lots of fishing boats. Now you can find a picturesque and bustling harbor, restaurants galore, and high-end shopping malls. Mixed in between all of this are hundreds of souvenier stores. The long stretch of white sand beach houses an endless row of modern hotels and condos. And there are scores of fishing boats attracting fishermen worldwide. There are at least 857 varieties of fish, according to the locals, making Cabo one of the best fishing spots in Mexico.

 

This was our first tender port, meaning the Rotterdam had to anchor away from shore, since there are no facilities for large ships. So we board "tender" boats for the ride to shore. Once all of the tour groups left, we gathered our tender tickets, and proceeded to the exit. It was well-organized by the staff, and we were on shore in a few minutes. A Carnival ship, the Elation, sailed into the bay shortly after we did. That means it may be crowded in town today.

 

The ship was scheduled to leave at 2:30 pm, so we had to watch our time. We have never booked a shore excursion here, because it is such a nice place to walk. And walk, we did!

 

Not many street vendors were set up as we walked around the harbor. Bet that changes by this afternoon. It was more fun watching the dozens of pelicans perched on the boats in the colorful harbor. We could see hundreds of fish swimming near the rocks....probably pelican food. At one spot, we noticed eight pelicans looking nervously into the water under them. Some were climbing the banks rapidly. Then we saw why. A huge sealion was feeding underneath them! Perhaps sealions have pelicans on their menu too!

 

Cabo Wabo, a famous cantina, is always a stop for us. They sell neat t-shirts , and we just had to add to the collection. Lunch is very good here too, but it was only 10 am, so we continued on our journey.

 

A walk on the beach is always pleasant, so we headed that way. We had to pass the hawkers for boat rides, taxis, fishing expeditions, 2 for 1 beers, jewelry, and souveniers. We must have said "no thank you" a million times! Since there were so many people from the two large ships, the vendors gave up easily.

 

The water was quite cool as we sunk in the sand while walking in the surf. Wave runners, banana boat rides, and parasailing were in progress as we hiked towards the hotels and restaurants. Beach vendors were pushing beachbags, hats, woven blankets, silver jewelry, sundresses, and brightly painted pottery. There were not many sunbathers. During spring break, we have seen this beach "wall-to-wall" bodies...all young and party-hearty! Happy hour is around the clock here in Cabo!!

 

Beach walking was quite a workout, so we decided it was time to head for lunch. That is if it didn't take us forever to get all the sand off of our feet and legs. We had passed a place called Senor Greenbergs that had salads on the menu. That sounded refreshing and healthy. It was also good to sit at the outside table above the busy esplanade. We ordered chicken taco salads, and much needed Cokes. In addition, the waiter brought a mild salsa and tortilla chips. We were happy campers.

 

Making our way back slowly, we were inundated by the street people selling wooden whistles and chewing gum. Some fellows were carrying iguanas with sombreros on their heads. Of course, they offered to put them on your shoulder and let you take a picture. No thanks, not today for us!

 

Our last stop was a brief walk through the local mercado, a large souvenier store near the tenderboat pier. Their wares were pretty much the same as the street hawkers, but cost more.

 

We got on one of the last tenderboats, and got back to the ship just in time for the last sailaway party of this 14 day trip. By 2:30, the captain tooted his horn, and off we sailed towards Los Angeles. Shortly after we rounded the famous rock outcroppings and the arch, we saw many dolphins and a few humpback whales in the distance. Later on, while lounging on our balcony, we were treated to high jumping dolphins alongside the ship. They made such a hard slap on the water, we thought someone had fallen overboard!

 

A gradual chill began to cool the air off by late afternoon. We could tell we were getting closer to home and the winter weather.

 

Tonight's dress was formal attire and the farewell parade of Baked Alaska by our terrific waiters. The special menu included escargots, lobsters, steak, stuffed chicken breasts, and the best juicy and tender veal chop I have ever eaten. Kudos to the chefs! Too bad the pesty photographer had to disrupt our meal by making us take a group photo. In the rush to arrange us, he broke a fluted prawn glass that shot across all of our unfinished starters. We know this is their job, but if we wanted a photo, we would seek them out before dinner. They are set up in at least four areas of the ship every formal night.

 

A chocolate dessert display was presented in the Lido pool area at 10pm. What a way to top off a decadent dinner. We just took pictures before it was destroyed!

 

And one more good thing....the clocks went back for another glorious hour!

 

Tomorrow.....packing for most, but not for us thank goodness!!

 

Mary Ann & Bill