| Our very personal impressions Boarding the ship was like coming home to a wonderful place. To re-discover familiar things, to see familiar faces, to meet and greet acquaintances, and to be happy together about the reunion. It was great to experience crew members, including the Captain, remembering us as dear guests after 9 months, sometimes even with hugs and kisses. Then you know you must have done something right. And considering the tens of thousands of other passengers on board after you left the ship 9 months ago, it is incredible that they remember you, and that gives you a good and warm feeling inside. We especially appreciated those little extras you receive when you ask in a kind and friendly way. When you get your unsalted butter with your raisin bread, delivered every morning to your table by a kind head waiter (it is simply not the same with salted butter on this wonderful, freshly baked raisin bread). Or the waiter who orders the delicious blue cheese dressing in the galley even when it is not on the menu, just because you love it. On the other hand, it was interesting to see the first-timers, how they explored the ship and how they marveled at so many things. For us, everything is well known, more like visiting a good friend at home; it is like he welcomes you and says: "My house is your house." And then the anticipation of things to come, the familiar places you will visit again. Or the unknown places you will explore. I was really happy with our decision to do everything spontaneously. We had not made any plans in advance, instead, we did just what we felt like doing on the respective day-maybe an island tour or a taxi ride to one of the Caribbean beaches. Or maybe you decide to stay on board and enjoy the quiet ship with all its amenities, when the other passengers are doing tours in overheated busses or ports. We often say "We are on vacation!", a sentence that stumps many people. But after a while they agree: When they understand the meaning of the words, i.e., that we have time, and when we tell other people like crew members to take their time and that nobody needs to hurry for us. Even on vacation, many people have stress and react on little things like on major issues. People, you are on vacation, enjoy the life of doing nothing and give your respect to all those people who deserve it, like all the crew members who are doing everything in order for you to have the time of your life. We loved all the conversations with crew members who we only had met briefly last year, and now we took the time to get a closer contact. Like our daily conversations with a bar waitress or even with the Captain. Or several conversations with a young singer, only 18 years old, far away from home, and doing remarkable performances on stage. Those are the moments that make a cruise very special, because humanity and personal contacts are of such importance, even on a larger ship. (Not a boat, Captain!) Where the Captain makes small talk walking through the Dining Room during dinner and sometimes teases guests like me. Or the dinner in Chops Grille, where we got a special entree which was not on the menu. That is what made those two cruises so special. |
|---|
|
Anyway, both cruises where an adventure for ship spotters. I am sure that Uwe took more pictures from ships than from any other subject. |
| back | next |
|---|