November 19 - First Sea Day

We’re somewhere off the northern coast of Cuba and it is very hot and humid outside. I thought about going to the pool but when I looked out there I couldn’t see a single lounger in the shade and I surely don’t need to get barbecued on the first day.  Instead I’ve decided to sit on my veranda which is on the shady side of the ship this afternoon. 

At 11:30 AM I went to the lounge for Trivia.  They’ve moved the time up a half hour from what it has always been to try to keep there from being a rush of people for lunch at 1 PM.  The Club where they hold the game was full and I think there must have been 14 teams.  Our team included my American friends from my spring cruise, three people I met yesterday and a British couple who were alone so they joined us.  We chose as our name the “Busted Flush,” which was the name given to a boat  some character in a novel won in a poker game.  It must have been lucky because WE WON, commandingly I might add.  And our prize was (drum roll) a converter plug.

This morning at breakfast I saw something one rarely sees on Seabourn, a family with a little girl. She and her family were also one of the teams competing in Trivia. She looks around four years old and is one of the most well-behaved children I’ve ever seen.  She was wearing a cute little dress and a tiara when she walked past me and I asked if she was a princess and with a big grin she told me she was.  There are probably some other passengers who don’t like the idea she’s onboard, but one hardly knows she’s here.

I'm adding a couple of photos of my cabin.  I wrote yesterday that I think the decor looks a little dated, mainly the striped sofa, but the room is very comfortable and more than adequate.

I had a quiet afternoon and at 6:30 met three friends for cocktails.  This is a smaller ship than the last ones I've been on and the Observation Bar is actually too small and it was packed.  A rather funny thing happened when I got up to get a few tapas.  When I came back to my friends' table there was someone sitting in my seat (I was sitting on a sofa).  My friends had their mouths hanging open.  Apparently this woman and man (I won't call them lady and gentlemen) came and the woman plopped down in my seat.  My friends told her that seat was taken and she looked at them and said "yes, my ass is sitting here."   They were rather stunned.  Well, I just kind of plopped down practically on her and she finally shifted over.  That was the first time I've encountered someone like that on any ship.  Anyway, after a couple of drinks we went down to dinner and had a lovely time.  The show was a comedian who really didn't sound appealing so I went to bed.  We lost on hour now and we're on Atlantic Standard Time.

Tomorrow is another sea day so I won't have anything exciting to tell unless I make it up. For now, hasta mañana!