Last day at sea

Thursday, April 28

We spent our last day at sea yesterday, and again, it seemed to fly by. We did manage to play Mexican Train for a couple of hours in the morning. I have carried this set, weighs at least 8 pounds, since Arizona and I was determined that we would play it at least once. Amazing to us how little time, other than dinners, we spent together with our lovely group of eight. We each had different priorities, relaxed and roamed in different areas of the ship or in our cabins. The ship is so large (2500 persons) that it was easy not to run into one another.

For our penultimate dinner onboard we went to the speciality restaurant, Tuscan Grille. The trend in the newer cruise ships is to have dining rooms with speciality menus for which you pay extra. Since there is so much food already on the ship, Stu and I didn’t indulge much until this last evening. The dining room food has been mediocre, still good and well served and presented, but mediocre. We have gotten so spoiled. We heard that the best dining on board was at the Tuscan Grille, so off we went on the final formal night on board.

Dinner was wonderful, a bit over the top in the assortment, presentation, number of staff serving us (1 waiter, an assistant waiter, a manager, a wine steward, and another manager who kept checking in). We each ordered filet mignon for our main entree and no one was disappointed. This was unlike two nights before when Linda and Bob returned their steaks to the kitchen three times and finally ate salad for dinner. To top off the dinner Stu arranged for a honeymoon cake for our honey moon couple, Steve and Carol. Our joke since we’ve been on board is that this honeymoon couple has had 6 chaperones. With the singing of Happy Honeymoon to You by the entire wait staff, Steve declared the need for chaperones has come to an end--so we are now officially off the hook and not responsible for Steve and Carol’s behavior any longer.

Another lovely day at sea comes to an end.

Adrienne and Stu