Today is our meet and greet and we are a big group. Our gathering is scheduled for 10 am at
Explorer’s Lounge. The coordinator
prepared lovely invites for the officers and had great name tags for all of
us.
We arrive just before 10 and the line dance class is going
on here so as soon as it finishes we start to mingle but we are herded and told
to sit down. We all grab a seat and the
host gets on the mic and she is great on the mic, she obviously knows how to
control a group (we find out she was a teacher). Dan (CD) and Craig (Hotel General Manager)
and Antonio (Executive Housekeeper) are there, also Alfonso the Bar
Manager.
The host introduces Dan and he introduces the others and
speaks for a short time. Craig the HGM
stands at the back and is there for people if necessary but because we were all
sitting and listening no one got a chance to meet and talk with the officers in
attendance. But as soon as we start to
talk about organized tours he leaves.
The host was good at controlling the talk about the tours – discussing
private tours on Princess at a public event is not allowed and is in the
contract we all agree to.
She called out the names of those who were coordinating a
group tour so people could put a face to a name, but that was it. When someone said they were looking for a
tour to join up with, the host quickly controlled it and moved on.
Unfortunately the event was more a sit and listen to the
host and not a meet and greet. We met
only maybe two or three new people. I
would of liked more of a mingle but it was more like being in a class.
We headed to the coffee bar and Bernie read and I did
puzzles while enjoying a latte. Bernie
left to go watch the new Terminator Movie in the cabin. Although 20 minutes before the end the movie
cut out completely and he was left hanging.
Later in the day he was able to catch the last 20 minutes.
I stop into the Wheelhouse where they are hosting the
Veterans Get Together. I see Dan is talking and I like how he says what he has
tentatively planned for future gatherings and for the November 11 – Remembrance
Day – event. But what really sets him
apart is he ask for their opinion and if it is okay with them. A good leader leads and is open to
changes. Dan shines and I am very
impressed with him.
I decide to participate in the Elevator Roulette game at the
aft elevators on deck 6. It is a lot of
fun and I walk away with a water bottle.
Bernie is still watching the movie at this time so I head up
to the buffet to get some lunch. There
is a few Mexican items and I enjoy it thoroughly. I sit with a lovely lady named Barb who I met
during the elevator roulette game.
When I do meet up with Bernie we try our had at something
new that we have never participated in -- Mastermind Trivia. We are to meet up in the dining room and Jill
is hosting. We are given a piece of
paper with 15 questions and we can’t turn over the paper until she says so and
then we have 15 minutes. Each sea day
there will be one of these and Jill will keep a running score. Near the end of the cruise they will host a
“weakest link” show with the top scorers.
Now I suck at trivia but it was fun trying and Bernie
enjoyed it.
We grab our books and head up to the pool and chat with some
friends and then head into the enclosed pool and relax and read for a few
hours.
Back to the cabin and Bernie finally catches the last bit of
the movie from earlier and I read on the balcony while the sun sets. We enjoy some wine and reflect on the great
day.
Tonight is formal night and the Captain’s Welcome Aboard
Show. We head to the Atrium to watch the
champagne waterfall but duck out to the Bayou Café bar to enjoy a drink and
listen to Luca Cervo. There are a few
couples dancing here but there is not a lot of room here for ballroom dancing. I do see that the next day he is scheduled
for Wheelhouse Bar.
We are having dinner in Sabatinis tonight with our friend
Antonio. We are sat at a lovely table by
the window. Sergy serves us some
champagne and we keep scanning the menu trying to figure out what to order.
Sergy brings us our appetizers which we ordered to share
among the three of us, calamari, tomato and mozzarella salad, and a veal with a
tuna sauce (which sounds weird but taste great).
The pasta course comes out and I had the manicotti which was
amazing! Bernie and Antonio have the
short ribs with the penne.
We are all full now – and Antonio has brought a bottle of
white wine from Portugal for us and we are into that and starting to feel
great!
 |
| fish dish |
 |
| my chicken dish |
But the main course is next!
I had the chicken dish and it was good but being too full to enjoy it,
none of us could finish our entrée.
We skip dessert and even coffees… we are the last table
here, it is 10:15 when we walk out. Hugs
to Antonio – so nice to spend time with him again. We hope he will come to Vancouver soon and he
invites us to Portugal, especially once he retires.
Back in the cabin we are tipsy and full…. Oh not a good
combination. Thankfully tomorrow we
don’t have any big plans in Salerno.
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