First Sea Day

January 14, 2012
Our first sea day, and the waters of the Caribbean are calm, the sky partly cloudy, the temperature a pleasant 26 degrees.  It is remarkable how quickly we have adapted once again to life on the sea.
Our first encounter with some of our fellow passengers was as we waited to chat with the maitre'd to request a table for two.  We were number 27 on the wait list for people wanting to make various changes to their dining arrangements.   One ornery old fellow kept griping loudly that surely it was his turn and what in tarnation was the good of this process if he couldn't get his way NOW!  Happily, he was ahead of us on the wait list because I would have hated to get in his way.
When we were finally called to have our conference with the maitre'd, an elderly harridan scowled at the crewman calling the order on the list and then turned her glowering countenance upon us and hollered in a loud, screeching voice, "We are supposed to be next!"  Disregarding her protest, I wrapped my hand around a $20 bill should its use become necessary, and we made our request for a table for two.  "You'll be with us for the whole 107 days?" the maitre'd asked.    We replied in the affirmative and, as he studied his seating maps and I studied our cruise mates in line, I added, "And we would like the table for two for the entire duration." At that point I was prepared to hand over the twenty bucks, but he pre-emptied my largesse by telling us he could only guarantee our dining privacy for the first 15 days to San Diego and that the change would not take effect until the following evening's meal.  Perhaps a twenty might have done the job at that moment, and I was about to proceed with the bribe when the crone behind us created another ruckus insisting that it was her turn now.  
Perhaps some of you have had the pleasure of reading Darlene's blog that she wrote during her cruise to Asia last autumn.  If so, then you might also recall her acronym for a pervasive odor she noticed on the ship and dubbed SLOP (Smells Like Old People).  At one time, I doubted the veracity of her observation, but now I can say that I am pleased that our stateroom is very close to the very fresh smelling laundry room.  One has only to saunter a few steps forward or aft of our room before encountering the phenomenon that Darlene so aptly described.  
As much as it might disrupt my appetite for our upcoming dinner, I still have time to relate one more example of the bonhomie and camaraderie of our fellow cruisers.  We were seated in a lounge, awaiting the commencement of the afternoon trivia quiz.  I was reading my Kobo, while Marcia was using the iPad to write a journal entry.  An intense fellow approached us and asked, "Are you planning to play the trivia game?" Expecting he was about to invite us to join his team, Marcia and I smiled and told him yes.  You might well imagine our dismay when he reddened with indignation at that moment and, gripping his hands tightly together in order to avoid ripping the iPad from Marcia's grasp, said in a barely-controlled rage, "Well you  better get rid of that computer then, you damn cheaters!" before he stalked off!
While our fellow passengers might be a little brusque and slightly demanding, the staff aboard the Pacific Princess have been extremely friendly and accommodating.  We have no complaints.  
Alas, today we learned that our visit to Santa Marta in Colombia was being removed from the itinerary.  Apparently, the town was paralyzed by a series of drug gang wars that has resulted in the police virtually shutting down the entire city in an attempt to gain control of the chaos.  
Until next time...this is The Cel signing off.

This is Cia: Excuse the Cel's writing, some has been slightly embellished.  He has been reading way too much Stephen Leacock and is now prone to creative descriptions. The anal retentive trivia player did not call us cheaters but the implication was very clear.  Quiz B...   So instead of Santa Marta we will now go to Cartagena.   Hmmmm maybe this means I should  be getting something to match my emerald earrings that I purchased there during our last visit.  Seems to me like it was meant to be.

Cruise tip: visit the maitre'd immediately upon getting on the ship if you have a special request.  And forget any chance of an early sitting on a ship filled with SLOP, it seems to be their preferred feeding time.