SO...back to today. Because of that rude "clocks ahead" thing, we didn't awake until almost 7:30am. We had a busy morning in store, and so we immediately showered and went to breakfast in the dining room. Suttipong's working in the dining room for breakfast and lunch this cruise, and so we were seated at one of his tables. Despite Sutti's flawless service, it still took us forever to get through breakfast; waiters and headwaiters kept stopping by to chat. They wanted lots of intelligence on their competition, Holland America (I told them when it came to food service, they had nothing to worry about), but mostly we wanted to hear all about the dry dock. Headwaiter Luis said he took lots of photos and would show them to us sometime.
We finished breakfast in just enough time to return to our cabin to pick up some name tags. G had set up this cruise's Cruise Critic meet and greet in Skywalkers at 10am. When we boarded yesterday, he quickly wrote letters to three of the ships' officers inviting them to attend too. I wasn't sure how many people would show up; 10am is early, especially after moving ahead an hour last night and particularly since some of the passengers had flown in from the West coast or overseas, but we had a full group. Peter Hollinson, the Hotel General Manager, David Pearce, the Executive Housekeeper and Anthony DeSoto, the Customer Relations Supervisor all attended. Of course, everyone wanted to know about the dry dock activities, and apparently things were being pulled together at the very last minute, just as passengers were boarding yesterday. There had been i er 600 contractors on board for the work, and some of them still remain, and work in some of the passenger areas continues at night (we were told; we don't see or hear anything). Also, four or five inside passenger cabins were added on the Caribe Deck, taking the place of what used to be storage lockers. It was very kind of the officers to give us so much time answering questions, and it was a good meet and greet.
Several of us (40, to be exact) then trooped to the casino for a slot pull. Cruise Critic member Paul set it up and managed the money. Everyone put in $15, and after some good fun, got back about half of that. But, hey, the jackpot was over $20,000; $500pp would have been a nice return!
Then it was time for the last game of morning bingo (we had two free cards, which was exactly what they were worth), and by then it was after 1pm, and time to eat again. Just as at breakfast, we spent more time talking than eating and headwaiter Luis brought his camera for us to look at photos he had taken during the dry dock. We were AMAZED at how much work was done. First, on the outside of the ship, the entire hull was power washed and painted with a silicone paint that is more eco-friendly and lowers fuel consumption. The propellers were also replaced. We saw photos of the ship entirely out of water, and I'm telling you, it's a strange view of a ship that we're quite familiar with. Instead of water draining out of a lock, leaving the hull exposed, the ship was sailed in between a series of platforms that then raised up this monster ship out of the water. Can you imagine the power in those things? I would have loved to see that. Apparently, of the 10-days the ship was out of service, it was actually out of the water only 5 days.
Luis also showed us photos of the work being done in the public areas. Granite and marble was replaced, the gold leaf trim in the dining rooms re-done, the lights on the MUTS screen replaced, sofas and chairs recovered, and, of course, miles of carpeting and wallpaper replaced.
What is most amazing to me is that it just isn't all that noticeable. Things do look very fresh, but they looked good before the dry dock too. They just look like new now. It has been fun to be on the last cruise before and the first cruise after a dry dock. We may never have that opportunity again.
After lunch, it was time to open the box of mail we received last night about 9pm. That's right: we've got mail! Martha had bundled together all the first class mail and magazines we'd received through last week Monday and sent it to us in a flat rate priority box at the port agent's address in Fort Lauderdale. We've learned since last year; the fact that we were PASSENGERS on the Emerald was the most important piece of information in the address, more important than even our names, because that separated the box from the hundred or so that arrive for officers and crew. Plus, Anthony, the Customer Relations supervisor knew to expect it, and had been looking for it when the ship returned from Freeport, Bahamas, after the dry dock.
I can't tell you what excitement getting a box of mail brings, especially when, at home, receiving mail is generally a negative thing, bringing work, and not a positive. Yes, there are a couple of minor things to do coming out of receiving the mail, but most things have already been dealt with by Internet. We did get a few Christmas cards too, and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our cabin now, as well as on the ship.
Finally, we were left with just enough time to get to a hot tub (G) or a pool (me) before it was time to get cleaned up for dinner. If it seems like all we did today was eat, that's very nearly correct. Zumba was not on the schedule today, and I was very sad and surprised to see that. I don't know if Rtan went home or if it was just a one-time miss. I guess I'll know more tomorrow. I also skipped line dancing because it conflicted with our meet and greet this morning. And I watched sunrise from the comfort of bed, not from the jogging track on Deck 19. Ooohhhh, that reminds me...they've redone the putt putt course, and added bocce and croquet up there as part of the dry dock. Maybe I'll run up there before dinner to take a first look...
Photo 1: David, Anthony and Peter answer questions at the Cruise Critic meet and greet
Photos 2 and 3: fruit and vegetable carver Gerry demonstrated his art in the Piazza
Photo 4: the slot pull action
Photo 5: we've got mail!
