Monday morning we awoke to sunny skies and calm or slight breeze. Our hotel checkout time wasn’t until noon, and the cruise terminal didn’t open until 11am anyway. After a 7:30 breakfast I took a walk by myself down to the cruise terminal to watch the debarkation proceedings on our ship as it had just arrived. Took a few pics and walked the waterfront a bit before walking back to the hotel.
We had asked for the hotel van to takes us the 6 blocks or so to the terminal but the driver was off that day so the hotel paid for two taxi’s to take us. The wait in line wasn’t long, and after a brief security check, and the Holland America check-in where they took our picture and issued us our ID cards, we were on board by 1pm.
They told us our rooms wouldn’t be available before 1:30 so they directed everybody up to the Lido deck to the lunch buffet. A pretty good lunch, then we waited until about 2pm when our rooms were finally ready.
Once we got settled in and unpacked, it was time to explore the boat. One thing I learned is that we passengers only have access to about 1/3 of the boat. So much is behind the scenes that for “security” purposes we don’t have access too. The only tour we later would have option for was a kitchen or galley tour, which was interesting but lasted all of 10 minutes, time for a few pictures anyway. Would have loved to see the engine room or other miscellaneous areas.
Wendy & I found a Martini bar and quickly made friends with the bartender, Augustine, who is a Philipino. A very joking and happy fellow who remembers names well as we later found out. Wendy ordered a dirty martini, and I an Irish Whiskey double. Two gentlemen then joined us and we all enjoyed each others company for awhile. They were from Colorado Springs, and apparently gay.
Meals can be in the main dining room, the lido deck buffet, or at one of two other optional(extra cost) restaurants. We opted for dinner for our party of 6 in the main dining room, La Fontaine, which is fairly elegant. Cloth table covers and napkins, real silverware, and the wait staff put the napkins in your lap for you. The dining room offers a choice of casual dining with no assigned seating, or formal assigned seating. We managed to combine the two with reservations for the same table each night at 5:15, an early dinner, and still casual. We had our own table right at the stern with a window view of San Diego as we departed(5pm departure) and watching it get further away. The water was calm and dinner was very good and we looked forward to an entertaining evening.
The family split up after dinner. Wendy and I changed clothes then explored some more. At 8pm in the “Showroom at Sea”, a multi use theater, we saw “Love, Broadway”, a musical compliation of broadway hits and history. It was enjoyable, and sounded good, although Wendy thought it too loud. Usually I’m the one to think so. After that we settled back in at The Mix, three separate bars in one general area. One covering Martini’s, one for ale and spirits, the other for wines & champagnes. Just beyond the Martini bar, was the piano. Wendy & I would spend each of the following 3 nights enjoying the piano man, Michael Sara, and the other guests. Michael was funny, and a good piano player and singer. He kept referring to Wendy and I publicly as the “newlyweds”. I guess he needed someone to direct attention to, and I gave up trying to say we weren’t newlyweds. Various other people we met there were funny and enjoyable to talk with. We pretty much stayed there from a little after 9pm to 11pm when we felt it was time for bed.
Photo’s can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com/cattrain1989/05082010SanDiegoToVancouverBC