Sea Day Enroute to Port Said

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I woke up refreshed and enjoyed a delicious cup of coffee at the Terrace Restaurant al fresco, overlooking the sea. An hour strolling the ship’s lap track in the warm sun and cool breeze, was an amazing way to start the day (13 laps = 1 nautical mile).

It was on to the cooking demo with the Executive Chef Pascal Leseur and his Executive Sous Chef Renauld Macouin. They were quite funny as they demonstrated their craft. It was done in the Nautica Theatre and they used video cams to zoom in on the cook’s table. It was like watching Rachel Ray at sea (with a heavy French accent…..of course!). They made a roasted duck salad with pineapple and cucumber, and we were all surprised when we each received an individual portion to sample. It was quite tasty!! They also made a pink roasted herb-crusted tuna loin with a cabernet sauvignon red wine sauce and Tournedos Rossini with baby vegetables. I look forward to trying both of these entrees, when they will be featured in the dining room later this week.

All of this cooking gave me an appetite, so I went upstairs to Waves poolside grill for a scrumptious grilled panini of prosciutto, tomato, basil and buffalo mozzarella…delicioso !!!

We ventured off to the self-service launderette which was finally empty. You purchase tokens for 75 cents for each washer and dryer load. The price includes soap powder.

At 2:00 pm, the enrichment lecture featured Colonel Steven Bauer who served on the White House staff military corps as a military social aid. He provided a behind the scenes look at a state dinner in the White House.

From there, it was off to my 1 hour computer class in Adobe Photo workshop. It was a well conducted hands on workshop. This was the first of 4 parts I will complete on sea days over the next week.

Today I sampled the scones with jam and clotted cream at high tea since our dinner reservations were not until 7:30 pm. We had a lovely chat with Emily of the entertainment staff whose primary function on board is that of social hostess. She is from Sydney and I look forward to hearing her sing later in the cruise.

Team trivia was next, where our team managed to squeeze out a 3rd place finish. We were awarded “O” points, which can be traded in at the end of the cruise for things like hats, totes, bookmarks, etc.

I finally had some free time to type and post some of my blog via the ship’s internet service. It takes a bit longer to upload through the satellite connection than through a cable modem, and at 95 cents per minute can prove quite costly.

Tonight’s dinner was at Polo Grill, the traditional style steak house specialty restaurant. We shared a lovely bottle of Argentinian Malbec red wine with escargot in puff pastry appetizer, onion soup au gratin gruyere, and surf and turf with Caribbean lobster tail and filet mignon. While the lobster was okay, the filet was tender and delicious—perfectly cooked. Dessert was an unbelievably rich 7 layer, dark Belgian chocolate cake. I’m still wired from it, but it was oh-so-good.

Tonight’s entertainment was a cute, older comedian named Vic Arnell. He was chuckle funny in a low key sort of way.

Turned in after that, for the big excursion to Cairo tomorrow.

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Photos

Dark Belgian Chocolate Cake
Absolutely scrumptious !!

Comments

[suz]

recipe?
Can you bring home the recipe for the tuna? Sounds good. Love to you, Billy, Helen and Joe from snowy upstate!

[bonnie]

Toni, Trip is sounding like a dream. Wish I was there. Can't wait to read next journal. Have a wonderful time.