March 11, 2010

To give you an idea how many decisions have to be made during one single day, I'll write down the meals and mealtimes.

06.30 - 10.30 Early Bird brakfast in the Piano Bar. Continental Breakfast.

07.30 - 09.00 Breakfast buffet in the Clipper Dining Room.

12.00 - 13.30 Chef Choice Lunch Buffet in the Clipper Dining Room

16.30 - 17.30 Cocktail Hour with hors d'Oeuvre in the Tropical Bar

19.30 - 21.00 Dinner is served in the Clipper Dining Room

23.00 - 00.00 Midnight Snacks in the Piano Bar.

When you have a look at the many options, the ship is offering, it still amazes me, that at 19.30 hours sharp, most people stand in line to go to the dining room. Either they are afraid that there will be not enough food, or that they really must be hungry. Having their last snack at 17.30 hours!

It is a strain on the dining room crew. Everybody showing up at the same time, just means that they are working in overdrive, and that not everybody can be served at the same time. When people would come in a little later, and more apart, it would be better for everybody.

This attitude might change in Panama, after all the newbies come aboard.

The weather has been off the last two days. In the morning it is ok, but it starts raining in the afternoon, so everybody wants to sit inside, therefore the Piano Bar is sometimes very crowded and different activities are clashing with each other. At the moment I am sitting in, what is supposed to be the computer corner, and am sharing the table with four bridge players. No problem for me, but in the dining room several people joined the musical group, playing the ukelele and the singing. Several people reading, already left.

A lot of people are preparing for the back gammon competition. There are two boards on the ships, and nowadays they are in full use nearly the whole day. I plan on participating as well, although I have played only one game a couple of days ago. It is really years and years ago, that I played backgammon on a more regular basis. One of the contestants is cheating quit a lot. He says that is comes from the stress, but we do not believe him. Either he cannot count properly, or he just cannot stand it to loose. We all think it is a combination of both. I have already heard that he will be banned by several players, if he keeps on doing it.

After the last heated quiz, the cruise director decided, there would be no longer a quiz. Many passengers protested, and we have now one every other day.

I just got a note from Claus, the former Star Flyer Captain. He and his wife will embark in Lisbon as well. We have a lot of fun, and there is not one day passing by, that one of us (the Captain, Claus and I) try to pull somebody's legs.

Total Eclipse seen at sea

Here we go......

The Captain's note to the Chief Officer:

Early tomorrow morning there will be a total eclipse at 09.00 hours. This is something that cannot be seen every day; so let the crew line up in their best clothes on deck in order that they may see it. To make this rare phenomena I will myself explain it to them. If it is raining, we will not be able to see it clearly. In that case, the crew should gather in the mess room.

The Chief Officer's note to the Second Officer:

On the Captain's order, there will be a total eclipse at 09.00 hours tomorrow morning. If it is raining we will not be able to see it clearly from the deck in our best clothes. In that case, the sun's disappearance will be fully observed in the mess room. This is something that does not happen every day.

The Second Officer's note to the Third Officer:

On Captain's orders we shall fully observes in our best clothes that the sun disappears in the mess-room at 09.00 hours. The Captain will tell us if it is going to rain. This is something that does not occur every day.

The Third Officer's note to the Bosun:

If it is raining in the mess-room early tomorrow, which is something that does not happen every day, the Captain in his best clothes will disappear at 09.00 hrs.

The Bosun's note to the crew:

Early tomorrow at 09.00 hrs the Captain will disappear. It is a pity that this does not happen every day.

Take care.

Ineke