Come for a cruise with me…

The excitement of a new experience gets me out of bed early to explore this floating 5 star accommodation. Our “stateroom” (that does make it sound such a luxurious and up market space) is on the bottom deck, or Main Deck, of 11 stories that tower above us. The 3rd deck is the Promenade, perfect for early morning walks (are you with me Jo?) a sign tells me 2 circuits will be 1 kilometre. Great I will be able to keep fit doing circuits…

A staff member is busily washing the windows and I could see the teak wood decking had already been swabbed down. Everything sparkled.

I briskly walked 6 circuits breathing in the fresh ocean air. This is the life I tell myself I will do this every day…

Jack has gone to the gym, great he says it has his favourite cross trainer equipment. (I didn’t get any photos of the gym, which is a shame as it was a very impressive area) YES he will keep fit also…

The staff are industriously polishing and dusting, see how he is using both hands, there are a lot of stairs and balustrades to keep sparkling. I found out there are 800 staff looking after us…

Time for breakfast, the Lido buffet Restaurant is on the 9th floor so we catch the lift, after all we have done some exercise this morning…

Notice when the lift doors open the mat tells us what day of the week it is, it is changed every day, one more job for the staff…

Chrissie, one of the delightful dining room staff greets us with a smile. I cannot praise the staff highly enough. They are always smiling and helpful. Every one welcomes us with a cheery greeting. They set the atmosphere of happiness and relaxed enjoyment around the boat that has every one smiling and in a good mood.

The staff is all Indonesian or Filipinos and the Holland America Line has a training school for them. 

We find a seat then check out the buffet… WOW… so much choice

Juice? Take your pick..

bread freshly baked

fresh fruit

The omelette station , cooked and flipped before your eyes

eggs poached as you would like them

The staff happily fetch you extra cups of tea or coffee

I am amazed at the quality and variety and marvel at the amount of work that has gone into preparing and serving all this food. Apart from this restaurant the A ‘La Carte Vista Restaurant serves breakfast and you can have meals brought to your State Room. And all this food and variety is available for 3 meals a day plus afternoon tea and a snacks bar available all day on the pool deck.

Every meal we had was of the highest standard with a change of menus each day.

The food alone was worth going on the cruise.

But wait there is more. I will show you around the ship next….

As for the daily walk around the deck and Jack’s gym visits I’m ashamed to admit I only did 3 deck circuits during the 14 days. I did the occasional wander onto the Promenade deck to watch the sea go by. Jack did the same number of work-outs. After all, we rationalized, we were at the front of the ship and the dining room was at the back so we walked to our meal and back 3 times a day, so do the maths…Then there was all the walking when we went on shore…