Day 1: Welcome aboard

I’m writing this poolside while simultaneously keeping an eye on the Sprogs and the cocktail menu (loving the Pomegranite Spritz). Good thing I’m an accomplished multi-tasker. Although I could do without Sprog 2’s drowning impressions every two seconds. Enervating. And distracting while trying to get on with the important business of blogging. The pools on ships are much bigger than they were 20 years ago, which isn’t hard, since they were bathtub-sized back then.  A Caribbeany duo are singing what sound like Caribbeany easy listening. Sister and I signed up for Pilates and bootcamp earlier. I wasn’t mega-keen on the bootcamp thing – sounds hideous – but after waddling away from my first buffet lunch I figured it might be a necessary evil. A fascinating watermelon sculpture greeted us on arrival at the buffet. Was hoping to include a picture but ironing out some technical issues with the ship’s IT department. Yay. Sprog 1 and 2 went for burgers and fries at the buffet (sorry Husband), I had paella, fries, fish, potato and leek soup, some pork and mushroom thingy … Then it was dessert time – Diet Coke for me, squirt your own soft-serve ice-cream for the Sprogs (current cruise highlight for 2, followed closely by the free hotdog stall) (sorry Husband). All adults in the party have signed up for alcohol packages. There was much debate over how many bottles we could consume over 18 nights. My mother, crazy woman, suggested 20 might do the trick. Twenty? Between four of us? Over 18 nights? Nah, wouldn’t even touch the sides. But I’ll admit my 36-bottle offer did seem a titch excessive. So we settled on 30. But declined the $95 all-you-can-drink soft drink package for the Sprogs in the interest of avoiding early-onset diabetes. We also signed up for the restaurant package: four dinner’s for $70. I’m thinking Mexican, Brazilian, Steakhouse and Japanese. Or maybe Italian. These are alternatives to the freebie dining room. And so, I’ve somehow managed to spend $490 already and I’ve only been on the ship five hours (sorry Husband). Ooops. Off to lifeboat drill now. I wonder if you can take cocktails?