February 3, 2015

February 3, 2015

We were up on Deck 14 for an hour walk by 7 a.m., before the sun rose. The temperature outside was 24 C and humid, the sky was cloudy, with a threat of rain and a 12 knot wind, but by 8, it was much stronger and hard to walk against. The size of the buffet on Deck 14 with seating is about the size of an American football field from one goal line to the other. We had walked 7815 steps, so we will have no problem reaching our daily goal. We were just rounding the passing of the north-western coast of Haiti. Our circuit is about 720 steps including 60 stairs up to Deck 15 and back. There is a natural grass lawn about the area of a hockey rink, where there are organized Bocce tournaments. A team from our group placed second in a field of 30 in Monday’s games.

After changing, we had breakfast in the dining room on Deck 3 with a couple from England and couple from South Carolina. During breakfast there was a rain shower and after that the sky had a few breaks in the cloud for the sun to briefly break through. Then, we had coffee at the Café al Bacio before going to the Gallery Tour of the Deck 4 kitchens. The people were divided into groups of 20 for smaller group tours.  All the ship made sauces and soups are gluten free.  In the dining rooms all the food is prepared when an order is received via computer from the waiter to the kitchen. There is a separate preparation area for restricted diet food preparation.  We continued to Deck 5 on a crew stairway to see some specialty restaurants – Murano - which serves French food and Tuscan which serves Italian food; where we have a reservation for dinner on Friday with 20 others from our group. Returning to our cabin the temperature outside was 26 C and humid, the sky was cloudy, but some patches of blue sky, the wind was 16 knots, but gusting up to 23 knots per hour. The captain’s daily morning announcement broadcast that the waves were 2 to 3 meters high. We are now south of Haiti in the Caribbean Sea heading 142. At 12:30 we went to the Captain’s Club reception and had Mimosas and appetizers. We went to the Aqua Spa café for lunch then to a Salsa dance class before the group reception.  At the group reception we were told that the Tuscan restaurant dinner date was changed to Sunday at 6 while we are in Barbados.  Also the Future cruises manager talked to the group about the current booking incentives into 2017, where your deposit will be applied as a ship board credit on this cruise and usable on a group package.  So far today we walked 12613 steps.  The doors to the outside decks are locked due to high winds.  The smokers have to go up to Deck 11 to the smoking area today.

We shared the Grand Foyer dance floor with another couple dancing an eight minute cha-cha played by the Blue Velvet band jazz trio played before dinner.  Our dinner table tonight sat Elaine, Rod, Pat, Beth, and Flo and Carole switching with Brian & Brendene. We both ordered a glass of wine, then for appetizers Caprese salad; followed by Beet & Citrus Salad or Butternut Squash Soup. The entrées selected at our table were: Lamb Shank, seared white fish and beef “cheeks” (tender braised beef). Dessert was Tiramisu.

After dinner, we climbed the stairs from Deck 3 to Deck 14 to dance at the Skyview Lounge with a ballroom dance playlist. We were joined by Chris and Marie and were the only two couples dancing. After 90 minutes we left when the DJ arrived to get ready for the 10 p.m. activity, testing his different playlist and doubling the volume of the music; we went to the Café Al Bacio, on Deck 5, to order “Iglu” frozen coffee beverage and took them to the theatre to see the end of the evening show. We checked emails and found out Larry’s father’s operation will be Wednesday or Thursday.  After a short visit to the casino, we called it a night.  At 11 p.m., we are within 4 or 5 hours of Oranjestad, Aruba, tomorrow’s port.  Final steps 15,759. Overnight low is 24 C with a high tomorrow of 30 C under a partly cloudy sky and moderate wind.