Saturday, May 7, 2011

This morning we had room service for breakfast (15 minutes early) and then went back to sleep. 

There was a presentation at 10:00 am for those that are staying on for the next cruise after the first 16 days (that would be us).  They told us a brief overview of all the ports on the last 7 days and told us of the process we would need to go through when the first part of the cruise ends in Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy on May 14.  We will be allowed off the ship as early as 7:00 am.  We have a tour scheduled to start at 7:30 am.  They are picking us up in Civitavecchia and driving us to Rome (about 1 1/2 hours).  A guide will meet us at the Vatican and take us on a tour there for 3 hours.  We will then have a couple of hours in Rome after the tour for the driver to take us wherever we want to go and then after that he will drive us back to the ship.  All aboard time is 4:30 pm and we sail away at 5:00 pm for the 2nd portion of our cruise.  They said we don't have to do the life boat drill again (Yea!).

At 10:30 am they opened up the bow of the boat on deck 4 for us to have a land watching party.  They were serving Pea Soup (free) and various beverages ($).  The photographers were out there taking pictures.  We had our picture taken with King Neptune.  Pat & Terry had their picture taken ringing the ship's bell and doing the Traditional Titanic shot (well Pat did anyway).  We never did see land……….

At 11:00 am there was a presentation by the travel guide telling us things to see and do in the upcoming ports of call (1st portion of cruise).  We ha to leave before it was over, you guessed it, it was lunch time!

Lunch was at noon and Pat had to leave before dessert because she had signed up to do Walk for the Cure on deck at 1:00 pm.

At 2:00 pm they set the clocks forward to 3:00 pm -- time for the Cupcake Tea.  We missed it the first time so we felt we needed to make it to this one.  We were first in line.  They had so many different things to try.  As well as cupcakes, scones, sandwiches, and tea they also had glasses of COLD chocolate or strawberry milk.  It was delicious.

At 4:00 pm it was time for Win A Cruise Bingo.  NO LUCK.  After that, time for donation to casino.  NO LUCK

It was then 5:45 pm and time for dinner.  It seems like all we have done today was eat.  Mary P didn't get to stay for dessert because she had a 7:30 pm appointment at the spa to be pampered.  After dinner Pat and I went to the hydrotherapy pool to relax after a stressful day.

It is 9:00 pm and I am back in the room trying to decide if I want to go to the show.  It is the singers and dancers and I have seen the show before.  I told Pat & Terry that it would be repeated on the 2nd part of the cruise and we could go then, but I think we may go tonight at 10:00 pm instead.  We may be too tired to go the next time they have it.

We have a port day tomorrow.  We will be in Cadiz, Spain and we have an excursion booked which leaves the ship at 8:30 am and lasts for 5 hours.  I am sure we will be exhausted when it is over.  This is a ship sponsored excursion where we get to ride on a bus with 40 or 50 of our closest cruise friends………..