If it's Sunday, then it's brunch in the dining room from 11am to 1pm. Breakfast is served as usual, but the lunch menu turns into a brunch with a three- course fixed menu with sample-style tastings. Many guests love it, but we prefer the traditional breakfast and lunch meals. Since the small servings could include mystery food, it could have things one of us is allergic to. We have tried this venue on past cruises, but at least ¾ of the meal was donated to our tablemates.
We all had a job this morning with our passports, Australian and New Zealand visas, and our yellow fever certificates collected at 9:30 to 10:30 am. This happened on each passenger deck at the mid-ship elevators. Usually, these documents were taken at the time we embarked the ship on day one. Not this time. Our guess is that the process would have slowed down the January 3rd embarkation line, so the plan was to collect them 12 days into the cruise. However, there were only two front desk ladies doing the scanning and collecting on our deck, and the line backed up and snaked down the hallway at one point. In hindsight, we should have worn our masks. It took over ½ hour before we handed over the docs and passports, and received a receipt to use to retrieve them before we reach Durban, South Africa. We were reassured that everything would be locked up for safe-keeping.
Other activities today included pickleball for beginners. We have heard this sport can be a source of injuries, so following the activity in the Daily Program, were pain management and hot stone massage, both promotional features. Is there a method to their madness perhaps?
The Polynesian team is onboard with ball twirling demos, shell necklace classes, and ukulele lessons for beginners. We have not recognized any of the team that were on the recent Tales of the South Pacific, nor have we spotted Kainoa, who is frequently on these runs.
Our jacuzzi tub was fixed for the second time today. They had to search for parts to get it working again, and we sure hope it continues to operate.
A select number of President's Club members were invited to a private dinner in the Pinnacle Grill tonight. It was also another "dressy" evening for everyone. Pre-dinner cocktails were served at 6pm in the Pinnacle Bar. Our group were dinner mates Barb, Susie, and Woody, and we were joined by Howard, Gyl, and Don. Captain Friso and Chantal were our hosts at assigned seats in the side dining room of the restaurant. What a nice time we had, since we all have known each other for many years. Even though the menu was set, Tina, the manager, had checked with Susie and me to substitute some items due to allergies.
We had a short cocktail time with fancy canopies, then we were escorted across the hall to the restaurant by 6:30pm. The first course was a cured Norwegian salmon dotted with itty bitty osetra caviar and avocado puree and citrus compote. We learned tonight that both Friso and Chantal are vegetarian, so their courses were modified for them. Two fine wines were poured…the chardonnay from New Zealand, and the merlot from Washington state. A very hot soup was served called white langoustine, a really rich creamy soup with shredded apples. We all raved about it. Our main course was slow roasted beef tenderloin, roasted spring onions, pressed potatoes, baby beets, a dark gravy and a horseradish foam. Sure was tasty and a very special treat. Then dessert arrived which was a warm sticky date bar with amaretto sabayon, pecan crunchy ice cream and a curtain of crispy caramel. Coffee finished the meal. The head chef paid us a visit and we all thanked him for such a memorable meal. The wait staff, some of whom we know, gave us excellent service.
Tina had visited in between courses, announcing the next course. We mentioned to her that Barb and Susie were missing their favorite dining room entrée of calf's liver. Guess what? Tina made a trip to the kitchen and brought back a few slices of the liver for each of them. How nice was that? And Barb was served her favorite crème Brule, so we knew she was a happy camper.
We were back to our room after 8:30pm and had a note to set our clocks back ½ hour. This is one of the few places in the world we do this ½ hour adjustment. And so much for another busy day on our long voyage to French Polynesia.
Bill & Mary Ann
