COFFEE CHAT
On most sea days, the cruise director, Hamish, hosts a member of the crew or a guest entertainer in the Explorer’s Lounge at 9:30 AM. People start to arrive about 30 minutes early to get their favorite seats, but there is always room in the back regardless of when you arrive. These interviews are not taped or broadcast live. Hamish does a great job and the interviews are always interesting. I try to attend them all.
Today’s guest was the Shore Excursion Manager, Deimante. She is from Lithuanian where she lives today with her Australian husband.
GUEST LECTURER
Guest Lecturer, Charles McClelland, gave a wonderful presentation on the history and culture on the Caribbean. It was well attended, probably 80% full, and very good.
CASINO UPDATE
We had our first Texas Hold’em tournament of the cruise today with 5 players. The buy in is $60 but you start with $5000 in tournament chips instead of $1500 and the blinds start at $25/50, increase every 15 minutes. The games will last almost 2 hours with these rules and so far once the game got down to 2 remaining players, they chopped the pot. Otherwise the game could last much longer.
No one has shown any interest in the $100 tournament scheduled for 1 PM. The automatic poker table is much improved over earlier versions, and is working fine.
CAPTAIN’S RECEPTION
Tonight was the Captain’s Welcome Reception in the Main Stage, and our first Gala evening. They held one reception at 4:30 for early seating and a second reception at 6:30. Complimentary beverages and snacks were served by waiters circulating with trays of food and others with Champagne, red or white wine and Martini’s. The Martini’s had an olive in the glass, but they no longer use toothpicks in the olives. I will have to check if they still use toothpicks for some of the tropical drinks.
There was a short receiving line at the entrance to the Main Stage on Deck 4 Starboard. Then we were directed to empty seats to wait for the Captain’s remarks and his introduction of the ship’s senior officers.
Technical Officer 
Staff Captain 
Environmental Officer 
Purser 
Hotel Director 
Cruise Director 
Future Cruise Consultants 
Executive Housekeeper 
Security Officer 
Executive Chef 
Senior Medical Officer 
Guest Services
BLACK AND GOLD GALA NIGHT
The theme for the Gala Night was the “Black and Gold” Ball. Everyone was dressed nicely with far less tuxedos than earlier years, but were still worn by many. We have observed that the main seating crowd tends to dress up more than earlier, but this is very unscientific and based on a very small sample.
Dinner was wonderful (surf and turf offered among many other entrees) and the waiters were dressed in Black and Gold. All the menus are posted on the blog.
John Bressler was the featured entertainer on the Main Stage. He sings and plays piano and put on a wonderful, highly entertaining show. We spoke with him after the show and he accepted our dinner invitation for tomorrow evening.
