Monday, January 9, 2023

Yesterday was our first sea day. I love sea days. My Wife does not. She prefers to be in port running around, going to museums, seeing where famous people used to sleep and learning about whatever. I would not be surprised if some day, she just asks a stranger on a remote island if she can paint their house -- at least the outside.

Everyone on the ship passed yesterday’s Covid test so I am hoping today the Captain will announce that masks are no longer required onboard.

I have nicely put in play the request of almost 50 passengers to have the NFL Playoff games televised. I rate the chances 50%. In the meantime, the satellite has been down almost since the cruise began, and there is no television of any kind.

I listened to Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash while following the Dolphin game on my iPad.

I did go to the gym for the first time. It was not as busy as I thought it would be.

Still trying to train room service. Ordered a tuna fish sandwich, received a turkey sandwich that did not have half an ounce of turkey in it. It was not enough food for a bulemic stature handicapped person. I used to say “midget” until my paralegal Cathy told me that was politically incorrect. Next it will be the New York football stature enhanced. If one cannot say “midget”, why is “giant” okay?

Guest Services and a very nice coffee bar is on our desk about 300 yards from our cabin. I went there while Barbara went back to the gym for the second time. Her Olympic training can be time-consuming.

We went back to the piano bar, and then to an excellent dinner at Thomas Keller’s. I think that is where we will eat almost every time Barbara has dinner, which will never be on a day we are in port because we have lunch. A lot of passengers come back to the ship for lunch either because it is already paid for and/or they are afraid of local restaurants. We love going to local places and what we do is ask where the shopkeepers and other business people go to lunch and we follow them. Never had a bad experience and have had some really great ones.

After dinner, we went to the 9:30 show. The performers were talented. The music was more modern than I prefer except that any show where “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart” is performed makes the show to my liking. I just love that song.

Still have some kinks to work out. We liked a particular table at Keller’s and the Maitre d' had difficulty committing that table to us. I suspect that, with the help of Alexander Hamilton, the issue will be resolved.

At most tables for two, one diner faces the wall. 99.9% of the time, if it is a man and a woman, the man faces the wall. We prefer a table where we can sit next to each other and neither of us faces the wall.

We also have to define what is meant by “free laundry,” which is not defined in our contract. We want dry cleaning included. The cruise line has a different idea.

Although tips are included, I have found that tipping extra is very useful. One thing I suggest to those who agree to tip extra is that, before doing so, find out how long the person you want to tip will be on the cruise. Particularly on a long cruise, not everyone stays for the entire cruise. In fact, on this cruise, several people’s contract is up in the next ten days. I was not a happy camper the first time I tipped someone and they were gone a week later. Now, before I tip, I ask, “How long will you be on this cruise?” I then ask, “Will you always be in your present job(s)?” Otherwise, one ends up tipping someone who is just filling in for a day or two.

We are about to dock in Belize. We go in by tender. Have nothing special planned.

See you tomorrow. At least that is my plan

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Go Ukraine.