Barbados on the horizon!Dec 26, 2006
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| Good morning. It would be so easy to roll over and go back to sleep this morning but I want to write down my memories of Christmas Day before we arrive in Barbados. The last few days on ship have been very special. Relaxing but festive would be a good description I guess. When I returned to the ship after my visit to St. Barts the entire entertainment staff was busy in the Lounge adding MORE decorations for the Christmas Eve show. There seems to be a Christmas tree everywhere you turn. The staff seemed to almost buzz with excitement. But then, after all, it's their Christmas too. I did detect a bit of sadness as well. Candace who joined the ship in Florida called her fiancé in South Africa - it's hard to be apart but she explained that she's saving her earning for the wedding! Others were calculating the time at home so they could reach parents or a spouse. Almost all of us tried to reach home to say Merry Christmas to those we love. Good cheer was everywhere and each and every passenger and crew member gave us a Christmas greeting as we passed in the halls or on deck. Our stewardess delivered a tray of Christmas cookies and other goodies to our suite - lovely, a few more calories!!!! December 25th was a day at sea. As I've mentioned before we've had rough seas since we left Fort Lauderdale. It's been sunny but the wind makes the waves and the boat dance to its tune. Luckily the captain has been able to cruise in the lee of the Leeward Islands and we have been protected from the worst. Yesterday we stayed in the protection of Martinique for the entire day. Shortly after the evening show we changed course to Barbados and the ship started bouncing along again. We made it to bed just in time to be rocked to sleep...but wait - let me give you our Christmas Day onboard! We ordered a room service breakfast, Eggs Benedict for me (yum) to start our day. Actually I'd started earlier on the treadmill. There was no one in the gym and I was able to do 5 miles! I need to walk about 50 to catch up with my appetite but 5 is a good start. After breakfast Tom and I decided to find some shady lounge chairs on deck and see what our fellow passengers were doing. Tom had been fretting that on a sea day we wouldn't find a chair but he forgets we're on Seabourn. There were lots of chairs waiting and ready for us! Once we were seated we were treated to the usual service - the offer of drinks, a cold towel, sandwiches etc. You could spend all day on the pool deck without moving. They even offer "massage moments" at 9 and 2, when members of the spa staff do a lovely mini-massage. I've never been on deck in time for the massage, but it sounds wonderful. We relaxed until lunchtime. Heck we do nothing but relax ALL DAY! Anyway lunch today was special. There was a "Market Buffet" in the dining room. They offered the usual selections of seafood, salads, roasts, cheeses, desserts etc. A lovely spread, but simple, not nearly as exotic as the buffets we've had on Regent. We took our afternoon as a very leisurely pace. Tom napped and I watch a DVD from the library. I took our Hallmark centerpiece to Reception - gifting it to them for their amusement. It's that adorable musical creation that some of you may have seen on the television commercials. It plays "Rocking Around the Christmas tree" while the snowman dances and the little penguins ring "jingle bells". Everyone who sees it loves it, so it has found a good "home". Before dinner we made a quick stop at the club and then went down to the Lounge for the Captain's Christmas party. We enjoyed music, caviar and conversation with friends. We then joined the Chief Engineer's table for dinner. To our surprise we met a couple from the UK who we cruised with last year on the Navigator to Tahiti. I'd seen them earlier in the cruise but couldn't quite connect with why they looked so familiar. It only took a few moments of conversation to recall where we'd met! The table was beautifully decorated. A large gold "popper" was at each place. (I think that's what it's called???) Anyway, you hold one end while the person next to you holds the other and you pull. It pops open with a loud clack....and small trinkets spill out. There are also paper hats inside and a funny note. We popped each one, donned our hats and showed off our treasures! It's a lively way to introduce strangers. The menu held something for everyone...but almost everyone ordered Turkey. I was the only exception. If you offer me lobster I'm going to have it! It was a lovely table, lots of good conversation and a chance to learn more about the ship. Chief Engineer Atle Ivarsoey was with the Legend during last January's dry-dock and so I had a chance to ask lot of questions. We also learned about how the weather effect fuel consumption and what the Legend will do to meet the new emission standards when they arrive in California. Officer Ivarsoey has an interesting job! After dinner we went back to the lounge for drinks and the show. It was the last performance by String Fever. They are a very talented cabaret duo from Australia. She plays the cello; he the violin and they create amazing music - far a field of the expected classical stuff! We were clapping and laughing by the time the show came to an end. One of the lovely features of a small ship, as we leave the lounge, the performers are there to say good evening or in this case goodbye. You really feel like you get a chance to know them off the stage and to share your pleasure of their talent. We were considering a nightcap in the Club, but as I mention at the start, the ship changed course and we went bumping into the Atlantic so we returned to our cabin. We found another Christmas surprise in our suite...one of those wonderful "rabbit" wine openers in a special presentation box. How could they know we need that?????? It was a wonderful, busy day and now time for some sleep. We never seem to keep the crew up late! But we have the most comfy bed at sea! Well, Barbados is at hand. I'll write again soon. Margo |
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