NorfolkSailor
December 21st, 2004, 11:01 PM
Virginia to the Southern Caribbean 30 November 2004 through 11 December 2004 - Part 2b
(See part 1 dated 12/19/04 and part 2a dated 12/21/04)
The rest of the day passed smoothly and all too soon it was time to dress for the first formal night. The girls all looked marvelous and we guys didn’t do to badly either. All in all, a wonderful evening with pre-dinner drinks in the Piano bar tucked away on the starboard side opposite the casino (which would become one of our favorite evening places) followed by a very fine meal in the dining room. This evening the dining room seemed very full and I was pleased to note the general level of attire throughout. After all the threads I’d reviewed concerning appropriate dress on formal nights I was pleased to see that the majority of passengers were enjoying the formal atmosphere. It is just my opinion but it seems that dressing up sets a mental image of polite behavior (at least it does with me) that lends an extra air of elegance to formal events – something I look forward to on occasion… Our wait staff had already begun to capture of habits and were smooth and professional in the delivery of each course to (if I do say so) a rather disparate group of diners. This was our first night bringing a bottle of our wine to the table. This proved to be a (momentary) issue while we settled with the wine steward that this would be a common practice for our table throughout the cruise. To his credit, he quickly adapted to this circumstance and professionally decanted and served our wine at each subsequent instance – being very attentive to levels in glasses and maintaining the wine chilled appropriately throughout the meal.
After dinner and due to the continued rocking of the ship, the group decided to turn in early. Besides, Half Moon Cay awaited us in the morning and we had determined to get tender tickets early so we could maximize our beach time! With a quick scan of the daily program for the next day and a review of equipment (snorkel/scuba) and our tickets – hers for a clamshell (a must, if you ask me – and a great deal at $19) and mine for the one-tank scuba dive, we settled in for the night. I was excited about the day to come and, even with the peace and quiet of the ship, had trouble sleeping that night…
Next - Half Moon Cay
(See part 1 dated 12/19/04 and part 2a dated 12/21/04)
The rest of the day passed smoothly and all too soon it was time to dress for the first formal night. The girls all looked marvelous and we guys didn’t do to badly either. All in all, a wonderful evening with pre-dinner drinks in the Piano bar tucked away on the starboard side opposite the casino (which would become one of our favorite evening places) followed by a very fine meal in the dining room. This evening the dining room seemed very full and I was pleased to note the general level of attire throughout. After all the threads I’d reviewed concerning appropriate dress on formal nights I was pleased to see that the majority of passengers were enjoying the formal atmosphere. It is just my opinion but it seems that dressing up sets a mental image of polite behavior (at least it does with me) that lends an extra air of elegance to formal events – something I look forward to on occasion… Our wait staff had already begun to capture of habits and were smooth and professional in the delivery of each course to (if I do say so) a rather disparate group of diners. This was our first night bringing a bottle of our wine to the table. This proved to be a (momentary) issue while we settled with the wine steward that this would be a common practice for our table throughout the cruise. To his credit, he quickly adapted to this circumstance and professionally decanted and served our wine at each subsequent instance – being very attentive to levels in glasses and maintaining the wine chilled appropriately throughout the meal.
After dinner and due to the continued rocking of the ship, the group decided to turn in early. Besides, Half Moon Cay awaited us in the morning and we had determined to get tender tickets early so we could maximize our beach time! With a quick scan of the daily program for the next day and a review of equipment (snorkel/scuba) and our tickets – hers for a clamshell (a must, if you ask me – and a great deal at $19) and mine for the one-tank scuba dive, we settled in for the night. I was excited about the day to come and, even with the peace and quiet of the ship, had trouble sleeping that night…
Next - Half Moon Cay