Friday 16 August – At sea
This was one of our two sea days. We had breakfast
in the Terrace Café – the plates carried to my seat by waiters who also served
coffee and fresh orange juice (with bits). The range of fresh fruit alone was
amazing – every day three different type of melon, papaya, mango, pineapple
etc. It was lovely and warm outside in the
sun, overlooking the wake.
 |
| Nautica's Library |
I went to the Destination desk to book a tour (the
only official ship’s tour I took) and pick up quiz sheets. After a browse around the library (open 24/7 – just take what you want
and return before end of cruise) I sat on deck in sun and did a Sudocku. We had lunch at Waves Grill – fab
curried salmon gravadlax – chatted and after lunch had snooze but was woken by an announcement
from the captain of a helicopter evacuation for crew member with a head injury. I got up and
changed to go up to watch the helicopter as we were allowed to stand and watch the whole
operation from the pool deck. After lowering a
paramedic etc the RAF Sea King flew alongside the ship and the pilot and
winchman waved to us all. He circled a few times and then came back in to
collect the equipment first, then a crewman and then the patient.
We then had
afternoon tea in Horizons – this was better than Cunard IMO – with a string quartet,
sandwiches brought round on tray, three-tier cake trolley. Hot water came in a teapot
with another man holding a wooden box containing a huge selection of
different teas!
By then it was time to go to cabin to get ready for the captain’s
welcome party. This was the only time the deck officers mixed with passengers.
Drinks were free-flowing. We had dinner in the Grand Dining Room and I
still feel this was the best meal of my life so far – starter of caviar on
blinis, the miso-marianated sea bass and a cappuccino dessert served in a
chocolate cup.
 |
| Miso-glazed sea bass |
 |
| Dessert |
This was also when I experienced the old-fashioned courtesy of
the American passengers on board – the men getting up as we arrived or left.
But then the passengers on this ship were well-travelled, interesting, interested professional people mostly. Went to see the
Show before bed. There were five entertainment staff on board. The Cruise
Director, Nolan Dean, was from the UK and probably the best CD I have had-
always around the ship chatting etc. As on CMV, it was the CD who made all
passenger announcements about going ashore etc. All five of the team not only
ran sports tournaments, quizzes, needlepoint classes etc, but also sang and
danced in the shows. Nolan also did two one-man comedy and singing shows.
Additionally we had Rick Thomas -an Illusionist. The cruise was a Music
Festival at Sea one to celebrate Oceania’s 10 year anniversary and on board
were the Fjord Cadenza Ensemble – a wonderful classical group. They was the
on-board show band, a cocktail pianist in Martinis and a string quartet who
played at teatime and in the Atrium at cocktails.
 |
| Grand Dining Room |
No comments:
Post a Comment