Having travelled West we have gained an hour. So we decided to leave our alarm clock as it was and enjoy the additional hour, but still be ready for breakfast at 07:30 as usual.
By just after eight we’re down on deck five aft looking for sunshine and shade. It was annoying to see many loungers already reserved by way of a book or beach-bag, yet in the next hours mostly unclaimed, this stopping others from enjoying them. Human nature at its most selfish! I stayed around for about 90 minutes, in the shade, doing photos of the last few days, whilst Hubby cooked.
And then it was my turn, to cook I mean, except this is an Iron Chef challenge, which I presume is a reference to the Iron Man sports challenge, except it wasn’t so difficult. Four people are selected to be on each of two teams, given a mountain of ingredients and told to cook something in 45 minutes, all in front of the audience. It was a fun experience with lots of good humour, chefs banter, and then chef, hotel director and chef being the judges at the end.
I was the spokesperson for our group, though I doubt many could understand my accent, I had to explain what we did, why, what etc, it was all very entertaining. Politically, and predictably, it was a draw, but of course, I know which team really won! We all got Seabourn rucksacks, yes, another one to add to the collection.
After that we decided to do some walking, getting a few miles under our belt before heading up to deck eight to see what the al-fresco cooking experience was, billed as something interesting, it was a rather boring event where two chefs pan-friend tuna, I suppose some people thought that was exciting?
So we continued laps around five until our lunch-time, about 14:00, where we had burgers again. I know it’s predictable but we never eat them elsewhere - and the fries are the best in the world. Then more laps before we visit the future cruise consultant, no prizes for guessing why!
After all that it’s time for a dip, we go in the main pool or at least I do, someone else thinks it’s too cold. As the swell ebbs and flows, the pool does some wonderful motions - it’s just the best way to enjoy a 32000 tonne natural wave machine. We enjoy the trio playing for an hour, before hitting the jacuzzi on five for the last few free minutes of the day. We’re amazed how quiet the ship is, seemingly by 16:30 everyone has vanished, possibly because on a sea day an awful lot of booze has been conusumed and most are quite tired by now?
Each cruise, Seabourn do a “Block party” event, where one meets ones neighbours, and the stewardesses force-feed us champagne and canapés - it’s a good way of saying hello to people we otherwise just pass in the corridor, so at 18:00 we all step out into our corridor. This means before long, it’s time to shower and dress for dinner yet again.
Although it’s tempting to miss, given the amount consumed already, we descend the two floors to deck eight and our preferred supplier of aperitifs - the Patio Bar - to get our usual Bellini and Kir Royal before dinner.
Dinner in the MDR is excellent, despite a mix up in the order of service - we have cured salmon and caviar for me, tomato soup for him, then spring chicken cassoulet en crôute followed by pork fillet for both of us. Finishing with bitter chocolate and blueberry cake with pistachio ice-cream for him and lemon soufflé for me. Delish!
Showtime tonight is Timeless, a review of many standards from the twentieth century, all songs we know and love, sung and danced beautifully by the ship’s company.
By eleven we’re back home but the evening doesn’t feel finished, so we fix a G&T for me, and a V&P for him, and repair to our balcony to write and read respectively. People who don’t cruise always say “what would you do on a sea day?” There’s been so much to do we haven’t even done it al!
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