Bermuda Cruise 2024 #1 - Sea Day #4 (10/04/24)

The started without us waking up for breakfast.  In fact, we woke up late enough for our room steward to skip making up the room.  That was OK for us, as we both needed our sleep.

When we finally got up and dressed, it was off to the MDR for lunch.  Today, I chose the Conch Fritters, the Linguini in Clam sauce, and Lemon Sorbet.  This time, I feel I made perfect choices.  The fritters were tasty, the perfect amount of clam sauce was sticking to the pasta, and the sorbet was a great follow up to the meal.  One problem - service was very slow, and I felt a little naked with the waiters holding on to my cruise card for as long as they did.  (Why couldn't they capture charging information while at the table, so that one doesn't need to surrender the card needed to get back into one's cabin?)  At least, I had my card back along with my sodas by the time the main course came.

Next, it was off to the theater where we saw Lucien Fuller perform his juggling act.  My feelings about this show are mixed.  He is a good juggler, but his patter went on way too long.  But then, how many things can you juggle on a cruise whip without taking any real risks to one's self or others?

Later on, it was back to the theater to see Ken Boyd again.  This time, he was funnier than before, and made jokes with clean racial humor.  To give an example that most of my readers would understand, he was joking that all groups had a "call and response" group of phrases that everyone knew.  First, he mentioned a couple of Black call and responses which came out of the African-American churches.  And then he gave a White example by saying "Sweet Caroline", with the audience responding "Bam, Bam, Bam."  It was a funny and tasteful routine which left us wanting more.

 

Bermuda Cruise 2024 #1 - Sea Day #3 (10/03/24)

 

The day started by the two of rushing to get showered and dressed in advance of the 9:30 am cutoff time for breakfast in the main dining room. As usual, I ordered the "Express Breakfast" which consisted of eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast.  With 3 cups of coffee, that's more than enough to get me going for the day. Yet, we went back to the room to rest, as there was nothing interesting on the schedule for us to leave our cabin.  So, I found myself watching a movie on TCM, while RQS was reading a book on the cabin's balcony.

Today would be our first lunch in the MDR, and we both enjoyed a cerviche for a starter.  RQS had a Cobb Salad, while I had the Fish and Chips.  Although the Fish and Chips weren't up to the standards set by A Salt and Battery in Greenwich Village, it would be acceptable for a decent "Chippy" in the UK.  While eating, a man sitting at the next table struck up a conversation with us about cruising and asked us about our food experience with Princess.  This conversation went on for a few minutes, as we talked about our food experiences on the various cruise lines.  Before leaving for a movie, I gave him info on my cruise travel blog, so that he can read it when he gets the chance.  

After the movie, we went to a lounge for a drink, and ended up striking up a conversation with 2 young ladies regarding cruising.  This was their second cruise, and I ended up giving them information about the cruise blog as well.  It seems like being on a cruise might be the best way to drum up business for the future. 

Around 6:45, we went to the last of the specialty restaurants for this trip, Hola Tacos.  It is the least expensive of MSC's specialty restaurants, but the one I enjoy most on the ship.  After having soup, tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, it was time to compare the flan in the main dining room to the flan served in this restaurant - and the difference was like night and day.  The desserts in this restaurant, like all in the specialty restaurants, are better than those from the MDR.  We'll be sure to return here on our next MSC cruise.

Later on, we went to a comedy show in the main theater starring Ken Boyd, and enjoyed the show.  We'll be sure to see him tomorrow night for his adults only show.  But the point of note here was that we stumbled into a Trump supporter when I mentioned to RQS that a celebrity was advocating for the release of the Menendez brothers - possible victims of sexual abuse by their father.  Although the DA hasn't taken a position on the case, he is looking into whether the brothers should remain incarcerated, given what we now know about being a victim of sexual abuse. RQS couldn't deal with this person, but I was able to engage her without incident.  Yet, there is a part of me that gets very frustrated by people who get their news only from very biased sources and do not see the bias.  

Tomorrow is another sea day, and it would have been the last day we would have spent in Bermuda.  I feel lucky that we will be going back there soon, especially being able to present as Marian on this trip....