I described the exterior of these traditional ships, with their teak decks and railings, dark blue hulls and white superstructures, but I don't think I've ever
described much of the common areas in the interior of the ship for you.
They are all very spacious. Never is there a sense of crowding. There is always
a window seat where you can find a place to sit comfortably, far above the ocean and gaze, or read if you please.
There is always a huge sculpture on each ship that rises through three floors, right up through the centre of the three main decks of the ship. The centre floor of the three holds the "front office," where you may book tours, ask questions, pay bills, and so on. Ben used to take the front desk staff a few goodies occasionally. He likes to do things like that. He learned a lot about these things when he was in Hotel Management college in Heidelberg. On the same floor there is a very quiet, elegant restaurant. I think this time it was an Italian restaurant. Reservations are required. If you want a quiet, private dinner, or a change of food, this is the place to go.
There are beautiful, wide curving staircases up the sides between each level of
the three main floors where the great sculpture is, so that you can see the sculpture from every angle. On the first of the three floors you can go close enough to touch. On the second floor it is already behind brass and glass rails so nobody will fall. On the third floor you can look across and also down on it and
see lots of things unseeable from other angles. Around the railings on these two floors are little tables and chairs where you can have a drink or just sit and relax.
These huge sculptures are different in every ship, of course. This ship had sea
sprites and the old man of the sea. There were conch shells and other kinds of
shells being blown like horns by cherubs. That sort of thing. In the Lido deck there was a larger than life-sized sculpture of old man Neptune with his trident.
There are various lounges on these three levels and also on the top deck, where
events happen. On the top deck there is a very large Crowsnest Lounge where there is dancing until late at night. You can go there anytime and look out on the
ocean from very comfortable seating right in front of huge windows, or go outside to the outdoor decks where Ben and I had the adventure in the level 9 Gale. On the same deck are the beauty salon, gymnasium with machines, and sauna and massage units.
On another level there is a good library on each ship. There are reference books, and the latest fiction and non-fiction. Plenty of easy chairs, a librarian to check out your books, and plenty of newspapers and current magazines. There are usually interesting original pieces on the walls in this room, and throughout
every area of the ship, as well as displays of fresh flowers and sculpture.
Adjacent to the library is a games and card room with tables set up for playing.
Often there will be a jigsaw puzzle partly finished to which people who come by add pieces. As you walk through the large public levels the corridors widen out to contain any kind of things. On one ship I remember a replica of King Tut's
painted sarcophagus standing in a glass case. There are signed mementos of famous sports people. The walls are often lined with lighted cases with wonderful
displays of fine old pieces from Holland's history, or from their former colonies. I also remember a computer room where you can pay for your time and check email or whatever you want. There is a person posted there to help anyone who needs it.
Many glittering shops are found on another level facing the huge sculpture. I usually buy a hat because it shields me from the hot sun when I go ashore, and is
always less expensive than, and ahead of, the fashions here at home. There is
interesting clothing for sale, souvenirs, liquor, cigarettes -- both duty-free;
fine and artificial jewellery and porcelains and ceramics, books, pharmaceuticals, you may order tailored to measure suits and there is also an art auction with
the pieces on display in advance. On that floor is found the tinkling, clanging, red carpeted casino into which we never step, according to our promise to each other, the huge television in a sports bar which holds no interest for us, but
there are actually people sitting there on bar stools watching, at any hour, even when it is glorious outside! There are various lounges with live music in the evening. Each lounge has its own type of music and its own ambience. In some
places they dance. In some it's listening only. Always there are goodies offered free, and drinks you may order.
It seems to me that a public corridor off the front office area takes you to the
movie theatre. Every night they show first run movies. There is an old-fashioned popcorn wagon out in front which provides freshly popped, free popcorn. The
theatre is properly appointed, with rows of upholstered seats in tiers, and a stage above which is the large screen. Public washrooms are found throughout, and
they are stocked with freshly washed towels for each user.
I don't believe I described the dining room. It is on two levels. Each level is reached from its own floor, through its own glass walls and double glass doors
. The wide, heavy glass doors have huge glass knobs like crystal balls for trying to tell the future, and the doors are shut at breakfast, lunch and dinner until the maitre d' rings a signal bell and a steward opens the doors to the waiting guests. There are two sittings. Ben and I always take the first dinner sitting. The first night you are ushered to your table which was assigned and for which you have a ticket. There is a matching number on the table. Then you meet your fellow dinner guests with whom you will eat every evening for the rest of the cruise. On succeeding nights you find your own way to your dinner table. If
you eat in the dining room at any other time the tables are not assigned, and you may be seated anywhere, by a steward.
Before and after you enter the dining room you see a large and beautiful display
, first through glass, and then as you pass. Often it is a large ice sculpture
surrounded by fruit and flowers. Chefs in the kitchen sculpture the ice. On one afternoon there is a competition betweens teams of chefs to see which team of
two can sculpture a huge block of ice into the best something fanciful, and who
will finish first. They also know how to cut fruit into marvellous flowers and
these are most often on display among the food in the various buffets in the Lido Restaurant. There seems to be no end to their artistry.
On the evening that they hold a display of their chocolate sculptures and confections the marvellous array runs at least thirty or forty feet in length. It fills the entire buffet space in the Lido Restaurant, and long tables up the length
of each side of the restaurant as well. Sometimes there are even some extra, small tables to accommodate the overflow. Some of it is artistic display, but much of it is for guests to enjoy eating. At every step you see a different chocolate marvel.
They also have late suppers at midnight in the Lido Restaurant every night. Ben
and I rarely go to those, and on the few occasions we have, we ate sparingly, but there are people who seem to eat all the time, and who even come in at midnight to stuff themselves. You can imagine that some of them are very fat people!
Just inside the dining room doors there is usually a covered cart somewhere nearby with samples of the evening's desserts, so you can ponder your choice ahead
of time. If you ordered wine it will be delivered to your table by the wine steward in a silver ice bucket and decanted in style. Some people treat their whole table on one of the nights. It depends on what who is at your table. Once we
did it when we were particularly fond of our friendly group.
It is possible to go anytime during the day to where the day's dining room menus
are posted just outside the closed dining room entrance. Sometimes we ate breakfast in the elegant service of the dining room. Occasionally I had high tea, a
Victorian tea, about 4 in the afternoon. Ben came once. There is usually a large table set with many kinds of baked goods and tea is served by waiters in white jackets from silver pots into fine china tea-cups. The evenings' dinner menu
is posted so you can decide what you'll order, in advance. There are a number of possible choices for each course, and when you consider how many courses there
are, it takes a little pondering. :-)
About the Glamorous Ship, concluded in Part A12.
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