Today I’m supposed to be on a cruise ship. A super big new one, called the NCL Epic. Due to an annoying heart condition my doctor asked me to cancel this trip just days before departure. (no I didn’t have insurance… long story) I thought I would just imagine what my day would have been like today, had I gone. This would have been my 28 or 29th cruise, need to check that number, so not a new experience for me. But it’s still an experience that hasn’t gotten old.
Okay – I’ve just slept better than I have since the last time I cruised. Something about the subtle movement makes me feel like a sweet caregiver is gently cradling me to sleep. I wake refreshed and breathing the fresh sea air is invigorating. I dress in my exercise outfit, forget the shower, I’ll do that later and head to the buffet for something to tide me over until the real breakfast. The options are a little overwhelming, but I aim for some juice and a small bran muffin. Off to the ships spa I go for the scheduled stretch class and greet the other early risers with a smile. We are all excited to start the day off right, the way we wish we could make ourselves do at home. At least we are doing it this week.
The class is wonderful, the cute instructor from Australia is funny and just listening to his accent brightens the day further. Afterward I decide to get on a machine and do a little cardio before hitting the shower.
After freshening up – time to head to the dining room for the real breakfast and table side service that I just never tire of. One waiter ask what I want to drink, another shows me a platter of bread options, and another comes and takes my order. It’s the first morning, so I must try the Eggs Benedict, as it’s my test for any cruise ship as how the food is going to be for the week. I ask for a half order as I did have my bran muffin and I’m not really dying to gain 7 pounds this week. I just love to taste things. After a delightful breakfast where I’ve met people from all over and heard a little about their jobs, lifestyle and discussed the shore tours they have picked for the week, I take the stairs to my room. My rule is if I take the stairs, instead of the elevator, dessert a couple times a day won’t kill me.
Back in my room, I browse the newsletter for today’s activities. Lots of options including a napkin folding class, movie in the theater, a salsa dance class, name that tune game, and an organized walk around the promenade deck. I schedule my day, noting where lunch will be available and decide that first things first I want a bit of sun and head to the upper deck with my book and sunhat in tow. It’s a gorgeous day, a slight breeze so that a dip in the pool is optional, not mandatory. From time to time I’m slightly distracted as I notice a family that speaks in a foreign language and maybe in their European tradition have no problem wearing revealing swim suits regardless of their very well fed figures. I’m intrigued and sort of jealous.
Noticing the water slide as I came on this deck, I determine that the first moment I am warm, I’m trying the slide. The time comes and I disregard the fact that most people doing the slide are 10 and go anyway. I am recreating after all. I’m re-creating the youthful portion of me that still has imagination, creativity without the wise critic in the background censoring everything. The slide is fun and makes me giggle, just as I hoped it would.
Soon I decide that I should not overdue it on the sun the first day and head inside to take advantage of some more activities. Today I pick the dance class. My husband doesn’t care to dance, pretty much ever, so I grab this chance to do something I love. The dancers from the show teach this and they happen to be Russian this time. Love meeting people from all over. I pick up the step easily, cause I love this stuff. Even if years are between opportunities to dance, I revel in my quickness to pick up dance steps. Why can’t everything be that easy.
After this little work out, lunch is sounding really good, so off I go. Lunch in the dining room is not always an option on port days, so during this sea day I head there. I’m matched up with a variety of people at a table for 8. Introductions are made and commonalities are discovered. I’ve had friends comment that I can say I’ve lived in way to many places… Sorry I get bored and move a lot. If I haven’t lived there, I’ve probably traveled there and it’s fun to talk about things to just met new friends.
Lunch has three courses and I love that I can pick two starters and eliminate the salad course and go into the entrée after sampling interesting concoctions. Dessert for lunch? I did the stairs… I go for the lime sherbet today.
After lunch I decide to find a cozy spot indoors. I like the lounge above the spa that looks out forward on the ship and find a perfect chair to nestle in as I get back into my book. Before long it’s time for me to get ready for my seaweed wrap and massage at the spa. When I get there a sweet girl from Bali treats me with just the right pressure for relaxing and getting a few of the kinks out from my flight. I’m in heaven. I float back to my room to take a little nap before dinner. On another day I will try out the therapy pool in the spa with its tiny massaging bubbles, but for today the massage has relaxed me enough.
Getting dressed for dinner is such a civilized idea. I really love it actually. When everyone shows up looking fresh for a full evening of dining and entertainment, it really sets the tone for the night. Dinner has some of my favorites on the menu tonight. I choose; Beef Wellington, au gratin potatoes, a wonderful strawberry cold soup to start, and crème brulee for dessert. One time I had a dessert that had 4 little cups of different type of crème brulee. That was incredible. I love tasting things!
Dinner ends and we all head across the length of the ship for the theater to watch the evenings show. On the way I set outside on the promenade to catch the last of the sunset and get a little more fresh sea air. It’s a gorgeous night!!
A production with tons of costume changes, dancing, singing and songs that are familiar is a fun way to spend an evening. A little pumped up after the show I decide to head to the disco and dance a bit until I’m certain I will fall asleep fast. Which I do and sleep solidly until morning and it all begins again!
You can’t imagine being stuck on a cruise ship? Picture this- February 22, 2011
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