Today was a busy day. We got a full nights sleep which was much needed. The beds at the Shangri-la were so comfortable. We didn't set an alarm and got up when we woke up and of course I woke up at 5:00 am but I was nice and let Krista sleep a little longer. We took our time getting ready and then went to the restaurant for breakfast. It was a buffet and very good. They had lots of choices and I tried to not make a pig of myself. After all I have 14 days on the ship to do that! They had quiche and I do love quiche. However, this was one that I don't think I had ever seen before -- it was pumpkin quiche. It was good but nothing that I care to try again.
We asked what time check out was and it was 11:00 am. I asked if we could stay until noon and they said that was ok. We weren't sure what time we would be allowed in our cabins on the ship so we didn't want to get there too early. Krista had someone to come get our bags and get a taxi for us. It was a short taxi ride down there. In fact we had walked down there yesterday, but it would be difficult to do it with bags with all the hills. Check-in was a breeze and we were on the ship very quickly and the cabins were ready. We immediately searched for free internet connections and found one but it was very slow. It was called SOH Guest. It took me a while to figure out that it probably was for the Sydney Opera House.
We had a couple of things we needed to have taken care of so we went to the Neptune Lounge and asked the ladies there to help us. First thing was that our wonderful travel agent had given us a Pinnacle Grill dinner and it was booked for tonight. We asked if we could change it and we were told yes. We were able to change it to Christmas night. That will be a formal night so that is a good time to eat there. We also wanted to have the LeCirque dinner in the Pinnacle. I had tried to book it before I left home and I was told it was full. We checked on it and the early seating was full. We had a choice of getting on the wait list for the early or we could eat at 9:00 pm. We said that we would do 9:00 pm. I just hope I can stay up that late!
Our next thing we wanted to check out was where our table was located in the dining room. We always request a table for 2 by the center rail. They don't always do what they are supposed to do so we wanted to check it out. The dining room wasn't open but there were others in there checking out table locations. We were having trouble finding our table and someone yelled out to me -- Mrs. Anderson. I thought who in the world knows me. Well it was the dining room manger. I still don't know how he knew who I was, but he did. I guess they have my picture posted somewhere telling them not to make me mad. Anyway he said your table is right over here. He knew exactly what we were looking for. The location was PERFECT! I told him we would see him for dinner and off we went.
We then went to the dining room for lunch. On embarkation day they have lunch in the dining room for HAL Mariners -- those that have sailed with HAL before. I wasn't really that hungry but hated to pass up a meal. They had a avocado bacon burger which I ordered without the avocado. It was good. I wasn't going to get any dessert but Krista was ordering some and I didn't want her to eat by herself. I ordered no sugar added coffee ice cream. Whatever they brought me didn't have a coffee flavor. I think it was chocolate fudge or something and I really didn't care for it much.
We wanted to go on a spa tour and purchase our hydrotherapy pool/thermal suite pass for the cruise. We got a really good tour where everything was explained in detail. I told the young man giving us the tour that I had purchased these passes many times and been on many spa tours and he had done the best job explaining things that we had never been told before. Of course don't ask me now what he told us that we hadn't been told before because I couldn't tell you, but I know I had never heard the info before.
It was then time for my favorite part of the cruise -- the life boat drill. I just hate those things and I know they are necessary, but so many people wait until the very last minute to come down for the drill and it slows the rest of us up. It lasted about 15 or 20 minutes and once it was over it was time to go to dinner. I know, it seems all we have been doing today is eating.
Dinner was good and fast. We got very good service. I haven't been on a HAL cruise since 2011 but back then we had a waiter and an assistant waiter. Tonight we only had a waiter and he was very efficient. I ordered chilled pumpkin soup which was interesting but I probably won't be ordering it again. For my main entree I got prime rib which was ok, but for dessert they had red velvet cake. It was out of this world. After we finished eating the dining room manger stopped by to chat and I told him of all the cruises I had been on that this red velvet cake was better than any dessert I had ever had! He told me to just wait until they served his favorite but he wouldn't tell me what it was. He said I would have to wait. This dessert was so good I was tempted to go to the buffet to see if they had any up there but I was good and resisted the temptation.
They had the Christmas tree lighting ceremony tonight at 7:30pm so we went and joined in to watch it. We sang Christmas carols and 2 children pulled the switch. There were gingerbread houses that were so cute. They were also serving ginger bread cookies that looked cute but I didn't try any. Once that was over we went back to our cabin to change into our swimsuits so we could go to the hydrotherapy pool. It was so hot in there I could barely stand it but we did get there before there was a crowd. When we left there looked like there was about 6 people in there.
Tomorrow morning we will be going to eat breakfast at the Pinnacle Grill. This is one of our favorite places to eat breakfast. I'm not sure what else we will do but there are a lot of things planned.
Just an observation -- for those of you that have not cruised before, let me explain something to you. Once on a cruise ship, it is a cashless society. The only thing that is needed is your room key. If you want to purchase ANYTHING at all, just show your room key and it will be put on you bill. There is nothing else that is needed. Now that I have explained that, I don't understand why since all you need is your room key, why do women carry around purses the size of suitcases that bump into you every step you take………………..
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