hollisandbeyond2015: Caribbean Cruise

Today was a sea day with lots of onboard activities available. We opted for a tour of the kitchen which was very impressive: in size, cleanliness, number of staff, and overall organization. After the kitchen tour we decided to take in a cooking show which closely approximated television cooking shows. One of the chefs demonstrated the preparation of crab cakes, creme brulee and shrimp pasta. One new trick I learned was how to peel ginger easily - with a spoon. We lost an hour as we had to advance our watches at midday. After lunch we passed through a rain storm with lightning and thunder making for dramatic views of the sea. This afternoon we relaxed in one of the many sitting areas to read and sort pictures, and as the captain had predicted, the skies cleared and the sun emerged. Tonight was one of two Gala Nights scheduled for the cruise. Formal-ish attire is required, and the food choices are a little fancier with four courses rather than the usual three. Karen and I were keen to see how the ladies on board interpreted formal night. Some of the men were in tuxedos and the formal dress worn by women was quite varied. The meal was exceptional!