The Ship

Our breakfast table at Chops: 7:30 every morning, table by the window. Great view of the beautiful sea! Not so great picture of the MMPT crew - Terry, Mary and Mary, because you can barely see who they are. Pat is taking the picture. Chops is a specialty restaurant, which means it generally costs you money to eat here. It is open for breakfast for passengers who are in suites.

Our waiters at breakfast - they were excellent. Leonel Pereira and Junior Candelair - Leonel was the first one to remember what kind of juice everyone drank and almost had our coffee cups on the table before we were seated. Wonderful smile, gentle personality. Some days we were lucky enough to be the only ones in the restaurant. Then we really got spoiled by all the attention.

Our cruise director, Leigh Xuereb from Australia - at the front with the mic, the ship's band at the back, and a few of the crew who made our trip enjoyable. Leigh started his career as Bugs Bunny at Warner Bros Movie World, Hollywood on the Gold Coast. He also won accolades for his impersonation of Austin Powers. Slightly dingy, like most cruise directors, he always appeared to be unrealistically happy and enthusiastic about his job. A photo of the Jewel presides over all.

Guest Lecturer Joe Condril. He gave enrichment seminars on a variety of subjects including Nicomodemus and Interesting Facts about the Presidents, VEEPS and First Ladies. He was having a little bit of a meltdown when his equipment didn't work. 'Staff' stepped up to help him. I signed up so now I get emails from him that may be a little self promotional, but what emails aren't?

Professor Stooke - our resident expert on all things spacey...meaning the moon, stars and planets. Actually he is a geophysist, or something like that, fascinated by the geology of the outer world. Fascinating speaker. Terry's favorite.

The center of the ship by night which served as the community center during the day, but definitely more beautiful at night. Straight across - 9th deck - the library where I 'rented' the Tom Cruise book, below is the 8th deck (ours) and the area where I posted most of my blogs. Above - 10th deck - is the area outside the Concierge Club, a natural gathering spot for the elite. I guess for a short time we were one of those!

The All Adult Solarium. Even more adult around midnight when most of the old people (i count myself in that category) have retired. The little snack bar is open all night. It's just me and my golden pet. Except of course when it's all four of us - the MMPT crew.

Look closely for the Terry between the giraffes in the Safari Room, home to M&M playing bingo and later on an art auction. I'm sure everyone goes on a cruise to get a new piece of art. Actually that is EXACTLY what some people do. It is their souvenir from the trip. MY souvenirs are the programs we get free from the front desk.