Day 28: AT SEA

Today has been spent heading south-east towards Ashod without land in sight at a steady 14 knots. It's been warm and sunny, with a swell of 1.5m making for smooth sailing.  Sea temperature 22C if one cares to jump overboard.  Although confined to the ship, the day has been anything but boring.

I took in two lectures this morning in the Cabaret.  The first was by an archaeologist, talking about Jerusalem then and now -- a prep for the tours of the next two days.  The other was by Dr Renninger, a former advisor to the UN, on "After The Arab Spring" - a discussion of today's Middle East, very informative and well illustrated.  A  novelty at lunch when all the ship's officers donned aprons and manned the food stations to serve us:  a sort of alternative to dining at the Captain's Table on the luxury liners, except that everyone got a look in.  After lunch there was an art auction for which there had been pre-bidding all week, for those with several thousand dollars to spare.  

The ship has two boutique shops that sell expensive and exclusive clothing

accessories, jewellery, watches, liquor and perfumes.  There is a professional photographic studio, an acupuncturist, hairdresser, hot stones masseur, skin care clinic, well equipped gym and casino.  Coffee shops and bars are spread throughout the ship, and there are two dining rooms, one buffet, the other a la carte - as well as a poolside grill, a steak house and a specialty dining experience (the last two at a $25 surcharge).  Tonight a Caviar Tasting session was held - $250 per person.  The quality and variety of the food is excellent, as are the wines they serve (the label always being displayed before pouring).  I have put on a  couple of kilos - worrying.  So have been doing laps of the exercise track above the pool deck - 13 laps=1nm.   

The  ships TV brings in MSNBC, BBC and SKY news channels, as well as a movie channel and a pay-per-view channel.  Each day the NY Times Digest is printed and available in the coffee shops, as well as the ship's own bulletin on the bed each night.

I hhave been very impressed with the standard of maintenance on this vessel.  In port, all external window3s are cleaned each day, and a team is painting the outside of the ship.  My verandah was scraped and painted the other day.  All railings are regualrly sanitised and polished very thoroughly -- 360 degrees not just a rag run along the top.  Atttention is given to cleaning all ledges and skirting boards with special brooms and brushes.  Is  quite impressive.

Tomorrow is forecast rain.  If  so, it will be the first on my entire trip so I cannot complain.

Just a few photos from around the ship today.  See them here.