Atlantic Crossing (continued)

Our free specialty dinner at the Pinnacle Grill was nice. Surf & Turf. The fillet was good, tender and flavorful but the lobster tail was very disappointing. I sent the first one back because it was over cooked and like rubber! The second one was at least edible but lacked any flavor. Frozen, 10-ounce tails don't compare to fresh lobster at home. Everybody on board got a free glass of sparkling wine, compliments of the Captain for missing Horta. The Ukulele "boy band" returned with a new show & again a fun performance.

Happy Mother's Day. We had breakfast on the Lido and spent the morning reading in the Crow’s Nest lounge part of which also became a nap. We are getting lazy. The weather has been very overcast and with spotty showers. Found a comfortable chair and soon the eyes close and a nap ensues. We enjoyed an interesting lecture on Neanderthal man and the search for the origins of man or homo-sapiens. Called Katie & Kristin to wish them a Happy Mother’s Day. It's $2.99 /minute from on-Board. We met Marge & Henry for dinner and then enjoyed a repeat performance by the ship's singers.

Ah, Monday morning and more rain and fog! We ate breakfast in the room and I went back to bed. I had stayed up last night and visited the blackjack table. Just about broke even and then sat and read till 2 am. I needed the rest!

We listened to a lecture on Zeebrugge, Belgium and then Laurie went for a nap and I sat in the library reading. As you can tell, ship life is very slow paced and lazy!  So, cocktails in the Ocean Bar Lounge, dinner with some new folks and a movie: "The Girl on the Train". A good psychological murder mystery set in upstate suburban NYC using Metro North equipment. Couldn't keep Laurie's interest and she retired early. I enjoyed it. The trombone player was originally scheduled but got sick and cancelled.

It's Tuesday and food is again the focus of the day. As frequent customers of HAL we are enrolled in their Mariner Society program which gets certain perks as you increase your days of sailing with them. We are 2 Star Mariners with 60+ days. You need 75 to make 3 star and 200 for 4 star. But no matter your level you get a special brunch on-board and ours is today. Spent the afternoon reading and a short nap. Met Henry and Marge for cocktails and then a nice table of 8 for dinner, Mike & Clare from North Carolina and 2 gals from Canada. We bought champagne for the table to celebrate Marge's 70th birthday. Closed the dining room and caught the tail end of the piano show. Early wake up for our first landing in France.