“Welcome Aboard” said each and every member of the smartly uniformed crew lined up to meet Pip and Sailor Boy when they stepped off the gangway and onto the ship for the first time. Like many guests, it made them feel, for a moment, very important. Combined with the magnificent foyer in which they found themselves, it was initially overwhelming, a vision of nautical splendour.
Finding their way around the fourteen decks took some time.
Passageways disappeared horizontally, lined with a profusion of artworks. Vertically there were six lifts and a central staircase which resembled those found in luxurious hotels.
Elegant foyers led into dining rooms and specialty restaurants, each with its own ambiance, highlighted with chandeliers and liveried waiters.
There were so many on board activities that it was impossible to experience them all. If it was too cold to jump in the outside pool, there was the jacuzzi to try, a spa club and even a cooking school. On one of the upper decks guests could try their hands at mini putt-putt or improve their golf ‘swings’ on the solitary driving tee. Then there were port visits and on shore excursions to plan. To assist with this, destination services provided extensive information on ports. In addition, the theatre could be transformed into a lecture hall for various talks by guest speakers on matters of interest, such as Greek mythology, shopping or world financial woes.
As it was a holiday, most people wanted to lie around the pool and forget about all that and eat delectable meals. Pip’s favourite activity area was the Art workshop where he went each day to assist with collage classes.
He had been on board for some days before he discovered the ship’s library, but once found he adored it. Comfortable lounge chairs were surrounded by an impressive collection including a reference section, travel, paperbacks and classics.
Unlike most guests, the boys actually made it to the well-appointed gym – more than once. Around 5pm the bars and games rooms came alive, sometimes spontaneously with an arrival or an event and everyone knew it was the place to be. The after dinner theatre shows were varied but somewhat predictable, designed for an older audience with waiters serving drinks. Nevertheless performance standards could be high and one night they saw an outstanding tribute band.
On board, all of the crew went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome and overall Pip and Sailor Boy treasured the experience.
Meeting Patsy on board, Pip was glad to discover that cruising at sea was not a barrier for determined people with a disability, if they could find the means to make the journey. It’s still possible to see the wonderful planet which we all share.
“Land ahoy” called Pip. As delightful and as entertaining as cruising was, everyone has to disembark sometime.
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