at Sea
Our last day crossing the Pacific. The crossing was very rough and I am guessing it is typical for the area we crossed. Lots of white caps and large swells. It’s amazing to see everyone on the ship adapting to the ships movement. A waiter carrying a load of trays makes it look simple. Passengers walking down the hallways do also. Things change and we adapt.
I am so impressed with the training that the staff receives. There is never a time any type of employee will pass without saying good morning, good afternoon, or good evening. The filipinos work the bars, the Indonesians, the food service. The Russians work on the ships power structure. The Dutch run the hotel and bridge staff. All will say hello. It doesn’t matter if they have 4 stripes on their sleeve or a patch of grease.
I have watched numerous examples of young food service employees helping a passenger to their seat, walking them through line, standing up, or sitting down. Many on these longer cruises are on their final stretch of life. It appears that they expect help and often appear that are unappreciative. I have seen a mid 20s waitress help numerous passengers. She could easily ignore them or go about her regular job but she doesn’t. She and many others go out of their way to help. If it is insincere, one would never know it.
When we walk into the dining room you would think we have celebrity status. “Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Oshnock” is repeated over and over as we walk to our table.
Staff tipping is handled differently than it used to be. At one time when a cruise ended, passengers would tip their wait staff and room stewards. Now a “crew incentive” is automatically added to your account. I prefer this method. Charge me upfront and I will expect them to earn it. They do.
It is possible to have the crew incentive removed from your bill. Do this, and you will be charged a different rate on your next cruise.
Group trivia was lightly attended today. A team of 2 is all we had. Our other team members were listening to Kimberly’s port talk on the main stage. We did rather well with just the two of us. We knew the minimum age to be in the Masters golf tournament, the name of the California city named after a film studio, the author of the Canterbury Tales, the location of the cancelled 1940 Olympic Games, and the oldest known swimming stroke. We didn’t know who Cuba trades with to get automobiles for sugar, which islands are growing at a rate of 1 inch per year, or the Tanzanian Mountain that has a Swahili name.
We skipped the evening entertainment and played cards. Judy Carmichael was doing her second set. Great pianist but not a humorist. I think she should drop that part of her act. Terri let me win another game as she moves in for the kill.…