Day 22 - At Sea

Day 22 – Friday 31^st January 2014 – At Sea

Waking up this morning we are a quarter of the way around the world with a longitude of just over 90 degrees west.  The sea looks just as blue out of the gym windows, as we pass along the coast of Guatemala.  From the sauna windows, I see the first turtles, as they try to negotiate and swim through the wash of the ship while we are doing twenty knots.

The dance lesson is the quickstep and certainly find this one to be the easiest for me and my dancing partner, still manage to kick each but not as many times.

Yacht Club

The choir practice which is held in the Yacht Club was really good and turned out to be a lot of fun, we even discussed the dress code for our big day.

After the practice went to the deck above at 14.00, it was warm and sultry, up here on deck 11 you have a breeze coming through the top deck, generated by the ship’s speed.  Most importantly, this is the games deck, and there were not very many people around.  I took advantage of the empty bowling green and began practicing, thoroughly enjoying playing the game once more.  Another chap joined in, and we started to get a little edge to the game.  While in the next vacant lane a Chinese lady took up position and began bouncing the balls down the carpet.  We had to abandon our game and give some advice on how this English game should be played.  So beginneth the first lesson, it was very amusing but slowly we got some normality to the game. 

Still not many about, so we moved onto the croquet, for someone who had never played the game, there are instructions on how to play and how to score.  There are only four hops on the playing area, but we got the hang of it and gathered an audience, who did not realise, we did not know what we doing. Not wanting to cause any more embarrassment moved onto the chess board which is on the same deck but in the open. 

The pieces about 60 cm (2 feet) high, here beginneth the second lesson.  Out in the sunshine, who cares about the etiquette of the game as you struggle to hold up the pieces and explain how they are supposed to move.  A little too much, to take in, for the first time, but a whole lot of fun.

Each day the ship’s whistles (hooters) three in total are blown individually, when we are sea to signify noon and shortly afterwards the Captain makes an announcement, telling us how the ship is progressing and what is likely to happen in the near future.  Today was a little more interesting, he informed the ship normally would call into Acapulco in Mexico where we would be passing during the night.  Mexico has big problems at present with the drug gangs, a lot of shooting going on between them and as Cunard did not want any of its passengers caught up in the crossfire, it was decided to give it a miss, a shame but that’s the state of the game.

Another formal evening, with an invitation to the Captain’s cocktail party for the world cruisers, to meet his senior officers.  Thoroughly enjoyed, champagnes’ with the Engineers (makes a pleasant change).  This time engaged with the Environmental Officer, never met one of these before.  Jerry turned out be an Engineer, ex- submariner from the Royal Navy.  A very interesting chat about the rules and regulations for the US coastguard, the waste disposal, exhaust emissions and how to keep the Yanks happy, basically, if the paperwork is not right, you do not get a berth.

Dinner was a meal of fish cakes/fillet steak/lemon cheesecake.  Today is also Chinese New Year, the year of the horse and I was very surprised there were no Chinese dishes on the menu.  Informed later on, the reason being there are no Chinese chefs on board.

The theatre was a show by an American, Jennifer Fair, a wonderful singer, a full range from opera to pop.  It seemed at times the orchestra could not quite keep up with her but it was a wonderful show.

Finished off in the Golden Lion with the trivia quiz, and we lost our crown, as we only came fourth this time.

For those in the sweep for guess Colin’s weight, the end of the month update, Colin is plus two pounds, while I am the same weight.  I am in the gym while Colin is still in bed, so far, he is winning.