World Wide Cruise 2014

Day 36 – Friday 14^th February 2014 – At Sea

The morning is overcast with very heavy rain showers, so last night’s moon halo prediction of bad weather was correct.

The morning lecture was ‘Exploring the Solar system’ given by British astronomer and space historian Howard Parkin.  It was very interesting, and his many slides and film clips really brought the subject forward.  He has promised a night of star gazing when we are further south with some of the ship’s aft deck lights switched off to reduce the light pollution.

As the weather was so poor, I went to the theatre again to hear a lecture given by the 3^rd Officer and Deck Cadet which was a virtual bridge tour.  They tried to illustrate how the ship is operated from the bridge, it must have been very interesting for the non-seagoing guests. What I got from it was a remarkable statistic, with a full crew complement on board of 1000, the deck department is the smallest in relation to crew personnel, with only 50 (5%) in number.  Speaking to the Engineers, I know there is 100 (10%) in the Technical department, which leaves a staggering 850 (85%) in the catering department, some like to call it the Hotel department.  In other words for every two passengers on board, there is one from the catering looking after you.

This is deck 4, port side, the corridor where our cabin is situated about 1/3^rd of the way down.  It is like this most afternoons after our Filipino stewardess Cristina has done the cabins, deserted.

It is another formal night, as it is Valentine’s day, most of the entertainment staff are dressed in red as some of the lady guests.  Today’s cocktail is Passionada, Kissui vodka. Passion fruit puree and a dash of triple sec. unusual.

On entering the restaurant all the ladies were presented with a single stemmed red rose. Dinner was Thai fish cakes/fillet steak/strawberry cake, this was all excellent.

In the theatre for the third time today, and a performance by Helen Wilding, a British singer who was very good, though most of the opera songs I had never heard before.

Another trivia wipe out quiz in the Golden Lion but unfortunately we came last this time.

I ended the night star gazing at 01.00, but still could not find the Southern Cross.