October 18, 2018
Oh what a day it was. Let me start at the end.
After supper we skipped the performance in the theater because it was the hypnotist we skipped while we were on the Carnival Fancy two weeks ago. We are in universal agreement – we don’t like hypnotists. We disagree on magicians – I like them. But hypnotists are not worth our time.
So we went to El Morocco, the lounge where I do my talks, for High Seas Karaoke. No, we didn’t sing. It’s a great place to play cards, and the performers were folks like us – some who could sing real good, and some who enjoyed singing. And my beloved won again! Making it 0-2 for your humble scribe.
Then we went to the Lido and found a seat for more cards. The reason we changed venue was a movie out on deck, not that we wanted to sit bundled up watching a movie with the sound so unreliable that they have captions, but that they make popcorn for the movies. And I got two boxes fresh out of the popper. Well, back at our table I am winning! And then we hear the people at the next table say, “The Carnival App says we are to go to Guest Services between 12:30 and 4 to get tender tickets for Maui.”
Well, that’s when the apple cart was upended and the whole thing began rolling down hill. You see, I had done thorough research before renting a car from Enterprise (the one we are using does not pick you up – they don’t have insurance to do it) to use for the day on Maui (we are there almost 12 hours, and ship’s excursions are expensive – the rental is $70 and not an excursion is that cheap). The ship is docking on the north side of the island in a working, industrial port – nothing new about that – we’ve done it often. On the south side of the island (it could have been west and the other east – I’m not that sure of my Hawaii geography) other cruise ships anchor and tender in. Well, they don’t tender any more, they use water taxis. Same vessel to get you from ship to shore, they just changed the name. It was confusing to some guests, they said. Who are “they” anyway?
“Poo-doodley-doo!” says I. The tender port is the wrong side of the island! And so I sent an email to Amy asking her to call Enterprise and cancel. Then we went to Guest Services to be sure – should have done that to start with. But at guest services they said, “Yes, we tender.” Then, “No, we don’t.” Several checks later and I emailed Amy back and said DISREGARD CANCELLATION. Actually I sent it twice. So tomorrow is Maui, our car rental is intact. And I’ll let you know how it goes.
At the beginning of this epistle I told you the day started out great. And it did. We went to breakfast in the Gold Pearl Restaurant, rather than the buffet. I prefer the restaurant, Bonnie does not, and so we go to the buffet. It is easier for her to find something she like to eat, rather than ordering off of a menu, and I eat most anything – but not too much to stay within my prescribed Weight Watcher Points. But she is a good sport and once in a while we do breakfast seated and served. And surprise! Breakfast was great! It started off with her hot chocolate being hot and chocolatey – not so at the Lido. And the food came out just right and hot and tasty. So I will get to go to the restaurant again for breakfast.
Next, she went to crochet and I came back to the cabin to rehearse for my 1:30 talk. Different schedule yesterday and today. The early days, and the days which follow today, I do two talks a day – same talk twice. Yesterday, though, one on food. Today one on food. I called Monroe, the Entertainment Director and told him I have a couple of different food talks, and since this is not a morning talk and an afternoon repeat, I’d be glad to do a different one tomorrow/that would be today. He was very pleased at the suggestion. Yes, I do all I can to keep the yummies up on carpet corridor happy. We really like sailing on Carnival and would like to have more gigs here.
Great turn out. Full lounge. And “Yes We May Have No Bananas” was well received. It’s a fun talk. I will show it to you on family night when we return.
Then the day started downhill. Supper in the Gold Pearl was supper in an icebox. I was freezing. And no sooner did the plates hit the table than they were luke warm (may have started out that way) but regardless, wearing a sweater, I was shivering. Even Mom was cold – so you know it was cold.
And now I am up early typing this blog and she is out on Deck 12 walking, getting in her 10,000 steps.
Next blog, Maui!
TTFN
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