Our Last Day Upon the Sea, November 1, 2007

Sea Day! And we frakkin rock and rolled all night long, literally. I can't believe how rocky the ship was and it would wake me up and then I couldn't get back to sleep again. Fortunately no sea sickness. We were up by 9 am and off to breakfast with Teresa, the girls were still sleeping. After we hung around the Cova Cafe on Deck 6 where it was a lot calmer as it was mid-ship. It started to calm down considerably and the weather was gorgeous, blue sky and all. We had a mocha and then T and I went shopping. I only bought a Christmas ornament and scoped out the booze selection. Funnily enough, as we were milling about shopping, the sound of Christmas music wafted about. I can't believe as it was Halloween yesterday, they were into playing holiday tunes already! I guess it is next month tho.

About 1:30 we headed for some lunch which was salad for me plus a selection of Asian food and a couple of pastries. We then went back to our respective cabins to start packing. Didn't take me too long so I ended up watching some TV and reading. I then took a galley tour as part of my Select status onboard Celebrity. It was very brief but interesting and they gave the attendees a glass of champage. Then Gary and I purchased our liquor, Peach flavoured and lemon flavoured vodkas.

After that it was back to the cabin and this time a little nap was in order. Didn't sleep for very long but definitely relaxed. Went to see the showtime performance at 7:15, dancing and singing and it was very good. Then dinner at 8:30. I had Jalapeno Polenta with Marinara Sauce, Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad, Pork Chop with Carmelized Apples and a Lemon Financier which was some sort of shortbread in a rhubarb strawberry sauce with mint sorbet. Said goodbye to our awesome waiter Raza from Pakistan and Wilmer, his assistant, from Honduras. They were such good waitstaff and Raza doted on Nyla. Went to karaoke in the Rendezvous Lounge and heard Lee sing twice. Then we dashed up to our room to finish packing and set out suitcases out and then to the casino to lose at least $15 each, I think it was more like $25 for me! But it was fun. It's now getting on 1 am and we have to be up at breakfast for 7:30 am tomorrow so I'm off to bed. Can't believe it's all over already. Tomorrow we're off to Christmas shop!

Third Day Upon the Sea, October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween! A day of celebration and the ship did a good job of making it a holiday type of atmosphere.

We got up this morning and had a relaxing meal in the dining room. Eggs benedict and they were really good. After, we roamed around the ship, looking at what spooky stuff had appeared overnight. Lots of carved pumpkins and ghouls about. Then Teresa, Lee and I went to the Cinema where we watched Psycho. Never seen the full movie and I actually quite enjoyed it. After we hung out with the Js in the Navigator and played more Hearts. Then had some lunch in the buffet and then down to the Rendezvous Lounge where we got shangied into playing Movie Charades/Pictionary and then we played Name That Movie Tune. Quite fun. Teresa and Lee won the charades. We then had some downtime in the cabin, I read while Gary played computer games. I headed out with the Js to trick or treat around 6, we were only gone for an hour. The kids seemed to get enough candy and wanted to get back for their kids' clubs. Had some more downtime in the cabin and got our costumes on. Then Gary and I had our photos done and had a martini sampler in the Martini Bar. Yummy, most of them anyway. Then it was dinner time. Just the 4 adults this time, the kids were otherwise occupied. I had a Vegetable Spring Roll, Boston Lettuce Salad with Gorgonzola, Filet Mignon with Twice-Baked Potato and Ratatouille. For dessert we all had Baked Alaska which our waiter had paraded around with all the others.

After dinner we went straight to the Navigator Lounge for the Halloween party. It was really cool the way it had been decorated, lots and lots of costumes too. I'd say half the ship or more were dressed up. Way cool music and I even danced a bit. After that we did some time in the casino but lost our money once again. Now it's after 1 and the boat is starting to rock. Should be one heck of a sea day tomorrow.

Second Day Upon the Sea, October 30, 2007

Welcome to Nanaimo. Quite the oddest thing I've ever heard on a cruise ship. After much shuddering of the aft engines and I mean it felt like everything was vibrating heavily, we appeared to arrive at the Island. It was only 6:30 though so I turned over and went back to sleep. Plans were to meet for breakfast at 9 am.

Tried the buffet breakfast out. It was standard fare with bacon, scrambled eggs, corned beef hash (yum), hash browns and a croissant. All chased down with coffee. Sounds like lots but the ship's staff hand it out so it's fairly small portions of each. After dismissing the children to their respective childrens' clubs Lee went to play hoops, Gary back to the cabin for some downtime and Teresa and I sat in the Cova Cafe, sipping our mochas while enjoying the view of the ferries crossing by, it was a beautiful sunny day altho a little chilly.

We caught a tender over to the "city" around 12:30 and met up with Brynna at Port Place Mall. Fed her lunch while the Js prowled around for some halloweeny stuff. Went directly back to the ship and had some lunch, salads and curry for me. We managed to locate some playing cards so we sat down in the Rendezvous Lounge and played Hearts for the afternoon. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

It was formal night tonight so we got all dolled up and had photos done and then went for dinner. Service was a little slower tonight but still very nice. I had a Chicken & Leek Quiche, Belgian Endvive Salad and Nebraska Prime Rib w/Yorkshire Pudding (very yummy). Dessert was Kalhua Pie. We bolted down one deck to the Pavilion Lounge for Karaoke. Lee did a great rendition of the Candyman, very apropos since Halloween is tomorrow. Dropped another $10 in the casino without anything to show for it and then headed off for bed. It's now 1:30 and lights out!

First Day Upon the Sea, October 29, 2007

We're here, we're onboard. It's been a long day but a fairly enjoyable one. We headed to the pier just after 11 am, parked, schlepped our luggage to the x-ray machine and checked in. We were on the ship very quickly. We managed to get into our cabins around noon which was a bonus as they weren't technically open until 1 pm. After scoping out our very small sleeping quarters we headed upstairs to the Palm Buffet where we had a very decent and satisfying lunch. This was followed by forays into all the different venues in the ship, trying to memorize where everything was and failing. It's not a huge ship but still large enough with lots of lounges, bars and stuff to see.

Muster drill was a drag at 4:15 until 4:45. They made us stand outside for like 10 minutes! We didn't even have our jackets on. After this we grabbed out outerwear and went topside for the sailaway party. After procuring a tropical drink in a keepsake mug, we listened to the Caribbean music being played whilst the wind was blowing and we sailed out of Seattle. Couldn't take it for more than a half hour so we went back to our cabins for a little downtime and then off to see a comedian in the theatre. He wasn't too bad although I've definitely heard funnier. Our dinner seating was at 8:30 pm so we went to the dining room and had some amazing food. It was all so good. I had Montrachet Goat Cheese with Potato Gratin, an Iceberg & Roquefort Cheese Salad followed by Braised Short Ribs with Polenta, then an Apple Tart with Butter Pecan Ice Cream and Caramel. Yum! All tasted sooooo good.

After dinner we did a trivia type game thingy in the Pavilion Lounge. It was fun but we didn't win. Oh well. Followed that with a $10 loss each in the casino (Gary and I) then to the cabin. It's not even midnight and we're ready for nighty-nights. After all, it's a big day in Nanaimo tomorrow!