Cruise Maven's Cruise Diary

San Juan, Partly Sunny 82 Degrees

Well, it looks like I didn't make it to either of my two choices of restaurants. But that is OK as I really enjoy the buffet lunch onboard. This morning I decided to take the photos of the ship (which I will upload shortly) and enjoy the solitude. Everyone left for an excursion. The pools were totally deserted as was most of the ship.

Pictures done, notes taken, time to go ashore. Just a little walkabout through town was all I needed. Back onboard in an hour, in time for stretching out by the pool. Interesting pool chairs. They have an attached canopy, just the right size to provide shade for your head! Great contraption and quite handy in the Caribbean sun.

Tonight's entertainment is a magician, who is quite fun to watch and a Michael Flatley-type dance presentation. As I said before, the dancer team knows their "stuff." While actual tap shoes would have been the icing on the cake, they danced in leather-soles, but in perfect sync to a tap rythm played over the sound system. I would be that many in the audience could not tell the difference. Again, their presentation brought a standing ovation.

I haven't tried the Las Vegas Casino and I may not for the entire voyage. Walking through there, I noticed some happy smiles so perhaps Lady Luck was in the room afterall. The casino is diminutive in comparision to the mega ships, but there were still empty machines and places at the tables. Maybe the large contingency of Europeans means less gambling than with Americans. I'll have to listen carefully to the languages spoken in the casino next time I walk in there.

Dinner always provides interesting conversation at our table. The hard-of-hearing Austrian seems to make a remarkable improvement when our Swiss friend says something in a Germanic lilt. Our New York Italian American is very funny and along with Mr. Switzerland, they keep the conversation lively and flowing. The salmon was very nicely prepared and not too salty or overcooked. Dessert was a fabulous chocolate parfait duo, with a light but really rich chocolate mousse topped with a whipped cream layer and dusted with cocoa.

Again an early night. Tomorrow I have planned the Beach Break excursion with two of my tablemates and we depart the ship at 8:30am for a morning at Orient Beach on the French side of the island.

Bye for now! See you at the beach!

Second Sea Day En Route to San Juan

One more day at sea and then we arrive in San Juan. I am getting familiar with the Lirica and find that I really like this size of ship. At a "mere" 58,000 GRT and 750 cabins, I find it a very pleasant change. There is never a line in the buffet and the amount of uncluttered open space on deck is amazing. Something else new...for a small fee of $3.00 you can select from a list of 36, your favorite hometown newspaper for delivery to your stateroom.

Tonight's entertainment is a concert piano recital program by Alexei Filimonov. There are five spacious lounges (not counting the disco) which have musical entertainment every night. Tomorrow I will photograph the ship when everyone leaves for their San Juan shore tours.

Once again, I chose the lunch buffet and was very pleased. Again, this isn't a pile-your-plate-to-the-ceiling buffet. There is always a varied selection of salads, cheeses and breads along with three or four hot dishes. A small selection of pastries is offered for dessert. One of my tablemates remarked that it seemed that the selections were healthier and lighter than on other "American" mass market cruise ships. I would agree. Did I mention that my Prime Rib at dinner last night was right up there with the best that I have had on a cruise ship.

So...after two days of rolling seas, I'm going to call it an early night. Ciao!