Chapter 11: At Sea--doing what exactly?
Tonight is Red & Gold Black Tie
26.09.2023 - 26.09.2023 72 °F
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"At Sea"
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
My experience cruising is, I'm pretty sure, 236 nights on 27 cruises spread across 11 cruise lines. I've sailed across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and on the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, and on the Arctic, Antarctic and Indian Oceans. The first cruise I ever took was just so-so, way back in 1984, aboard the now defunct Epirotiki Line's Jupiter, a ship that sunk four years later.
I've cruised solo a lot, making friends along the way. Now, I am at sea with my best friend and much more B4 who is enjoying her sixth cruise (she thinks). It's better with her.
The morning is glorious. It is 72 degrees, we are crawling along at just under 10 knots on "calm, rippled seas" beneath a cloudless sky. There is but a slight breeze as we sip coffee on our balcony and watch the sun rise off our starboard bow. The horizon reveals a very far-off freighter and nothing more. We've lots of time to travel not so very far; Villefranche (Nice) is our goal (as you can see from the map) and we've much more time than we require to achieve it. The trip is leisurely as evidenced by the fact that we didn't cast off from Barcelona until 1:30 this morning.
Over morning coffee, we transit the Gulf of Lion while we seek minor mental stimulation, checking the very fast internet for email updates and the news of the world. But once that is complete, what more can be accomplished on that front between now and the time we don our formal attire for tonight's "Red & Gold Gala?"
Well, Cunard is the line for us because:
Today, at 10:00am in the Royal Court Theatre, Stephen Musgrave discussed "Nelson in the Mediterranean." The Daily Programme listing read thusly: "The 18th and 19th Century were a turbulent period in British history for the Royal Navy but the relationship between Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton became a sensational story." So, sex in the morning. Who could ask for anything more? We are there. Tales of prostitution, the taking of mistresses, abandonment of children, naval battles, bloody injury and the rise and fall of status abound. My grandmother, Bub as we called her (Bubby is yiddish for grandmother for those of you who are not Yiddish speakers), once said to me 'You think all of these affairs and people running around as they do is new? It's been going on forever, we just didn't have People magazine to broadcast it in my day'. So all of who's with who has been going on long before Bub and will likely go on long after any of us.
Today, at 11:00am in the Royal Court Theatre, Jennie Bond discussed "King Charles and Queen Camilla: A New Era." The Daily Programme listing read thusly: "They met more than 50 years ago, and the spark that was ignited then was never extinguished. From Prince and mistress to King and Queen, it has been an extraordinary, controversial journey and a passionate love affair. Jennie Bond has reported on the Royal Family for over 30 years and has met both Charles and Camilla. She will give her verdict on their first year on the throne, along with some personal anecdotes from behind the scenes of royal life." More sexual intrigue. We are there.
I learned of King Charles' sausage fingers, his love of fart jokes and Ms. Bond's achievement of squatting over a urinal in the Falklands. I love the Royals! i read every article is see on them stopping short of the National Enquirer which is one step too far for me. I loved Diana for her warmth and humanity, i felt for her in her marriage, i loved seeing what she was wearing. And Kate Middleton, who couldn't love her, she is awesome and so far has not so much as put a toe the wrong way. And how about how well she and her Mother played their cards in positioning Kate to meet William--and every step of the way thereafter. Two smart cookies I would say. And then there is the intrigue and drama. I'm guessing we can all point to some dysfunction in our families - Lord knows i can. So why should the royals be any different. Back to Edward abdicating the throne for Mrs. Simpson (and good that he did because as a Nazi sympathizer, were he king, who knows what the world would be today), to Elizabeth taking the throne as young girl, to the drama of Princess Margaret, the Diana triangle of her, Charles, and Camilla, then Fergie and Andrew, to Harry and Megan and Andrew again. It's soap opera for sure, full of intrigue, glamour, feuds - the story has it all. Paul smirked at Jennie Bonds talk and i'll likely be going myself on Friday at her next talk. Paul thinks the monarchy is outdated and a ridiculous waste of pomp and circumstance to no point. He has every right to be as wrong as he is.
Today, at 1:00pm in ConneXions 2 & 3, Deck 3, Midships (Port) "Emeralds: History's Most Ancient Treasures" was offered but we skipped it.
Today, at 1:15pm in the Royal Court Theatre, Glynda Easterbrook discussed "Rocks and Landscapes of the Mediterranean." The Daily Programme listing read thusly: "The spectacular scenery of the Mediterranean is the result of the interaction between the forces of nature, the rocks and other geological phenomena. This talk focuses on how these different landscapes are formed and the features produced, in particular those places to be visited on shore excursions." Glynda and her sister shared a luncheon table with B4 and me a few days back and we enjoyed her earlier lecture on the geography of the Mediterranean where she explained how it flooded, dried up, flooded and will continue to change--pointing out that the catastrophic changes will (most assuredly we hope) be a long time coming. We opted for a lounge on Deck 12 hoping that our friend Glynda would understand. I have no intention of moving from my deck chair until my facial appointment at 4:45pm today.
Today, at 2:45 in the Queens Room, "Live Performance: Cunard Street." The Daily Programme listing read thusly: "Originally written and performed on Queen Mary 2 by the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts, our Entertainment Team presents this artful and poignant glimpse into Cunard's storied past in the style of a radio play." Sounds like fun but to attend we must skip tea and scones or finger sandwiches on Deck 12. It does sound like fun and i would like to go to this, but not at the expense of my deck chair and facial. My priorities here are very clear. Together, we opt for High Tea on the Highest Deck.
So, in case you didn't just figure it out, at 4:45, B4 went for a facial.
Tonight, at 8:00 and 10:00 in the Royal Court Theatre, Roy G Hemmings Show, "One of the most talented and experienced soul singers working today, Roy G Hemmings has a career spanning over four decades, including 10 years with the legendary Drifters." Mr. Hemmings and his very talented back-up singers brought the house to its feet more than once. "My Girl," "Under the Boardwalk," "Saturday Night at the Movies," "Get Ready," "Me and Mrs. Jones." What more could you ask for. For us, "It Takes Two." and it did and it does. The entertainment on the ship has overall been very good. Tonight was awesome. It brought me back to my Philadelphia days and the Uptown theatre where all of the Motown groups played. I hope my girlfriend Jackie is reading the blog. She'll remember our escapade at the Uptown Theatre. Tonight also took me back to my Zale life and the annual manager meetings. At the kind sponsorship of a great supplier and friend whom shall remain nameless, our entertainment over the years were the Temptations, Cool and the Gang, The Four Tops, The Doobie Brothers, and more. Too bad the good old days are long gone. Those were some great times. Tonight's entertainment took me back to all of those times.
We could barely find time to eat. Oh; and to those scoffing at the fact that we travel with a tiny travel scale (and apparently that is many of you), here it is. So far, so good. With all the rich offerings at virtually every turn, not gaining too much weight is the most significant challenge for cruisers. Of course, there is lots of alcohol on offer. There are canapés delivered to our suite before dinner. And there is always a bottle of Prosecco or champagne on ice in our suite. The repast itself is served in courses beginning with an amuse bouche followed by choices of appetizers (you may have as many or as few as you like), Salad, soup, entree, desert, coffee if you please and an assortment of chocolates.
Besides breakfasts and lunches (again, whatever you can imagine) there is afternoon high tea with scones or finger sandwiches. B4 reads to me that obesity is rampant in the United States, now at 40%. If everyone in the country cruised as we do, that number could soar. Or as our pun-expert dinner companion Michael might say, "Drift higher" or "Float." We would all become more "buoyant" a weighty goal "knot" to be pursued. (He would have punned better, I am sure)
