live from Sea Dream 2

[frequent traveler]

:D Live from Sea Dream II

 

Made it to Tenerife, beautiful clean city – wish I had more time, but I was at the gangplank right at 2 p.m. yesterday

 

Most of the other 90 passengers were there also, but in the cool and efficient manner we all love – boarding went smoothly. The captain /a very nice but young man and his staff greeted us and made an effort to learn our names. They are doing much better with mine than I am with theirs.

 

The wonderful Christophe is back, though not for long – apparently he has been promoted within the organization.

 

Excuse the typos gang – but this is a Nordic keyboard and I am about to scream.

 

Had a wonderful reflexology massage today.

 

Yes, the champagne is free flowing. Eric, a young bartender from Paris, indicated that this group of cruisers was drinking a lot of champagne.

 

Oh well, \i’m off to the captain/s reception and then having lobster for dinner

 

slept in and didn't make it to my yoga class , hopefully i will tomorrow.

 

ft

[ctbjr1309]

Thanks for the early report. Glad to hear that all is well so far. Interesting to hear about Christophe being promoted. I assume you refer to Christope, the Chief Steward (Maitre 'd)? If so, do you know what his new position will be? Will he be on board SD2 for the Nov. 6 sailing? Please tell him that inquiring minds want to know.

 

Who is the Activities Director for your cruise? Hopefully it is Richard and he'll also be on board for the next sailing.

 

Have a great trip and keep those reports coming!! Thanks.

[wulicny]

FT,

Sounds like you are enoying your travels so far. Here's wishing you fair weather and calm seas for the remainder!

[frequent traveler]

:) yes, christophe the chief steward is on this trip and will be on Sea Dream \ii for this season. \martin his assistant is wonderful also. arranged for private dinner on the pool deck last night. wonderful beef carpacchio, escargot \bread that i would kill to be able to make, lobster ttails and chocolate fondant was the signature dessert.

 

made it to the gym this morning - in order to eat that wonderful food.

 

water is very calm, the captain is amazed but a treadmill on the ocean was quite interesting.

 

yes, richard is the activity director. but he will be going between sea dream 1 and 2 this season.

 

FT

[ctbjr1309]

Thanks for the update and info on Christophe, Martin and Richard. Will look forward to seeing them all on Nov. 6 in WPB. Best wishes for continued smooth sailing. Wish we were there with you.

 

By the way, you're doing pretty well with that Nordic keyboard. Wonder if we should bring a replacement US version with us next month?

[DisneyJen]

A belated bon voyage FT!

 

Glad to hear that all went well with the start of your trip!

 

Thanks for the update. You know we are living vicariously through you on this crossing:p

 

So what brand champagne are you drinking?

 

All is well here although the weather is chilly (52 right now). Still recovering from my late night arrival back in NC from CA.

 

Best!

[frequent traveler]

The champagne is the gold label Germain. \pretty good. especially in a \kir royale.

 

Eggs a la Florentine was the special of the day for breakfast - excellent. the chef, jan is from England, and quite a personality. the captain calls him the energizer bunny. he's going to give me his recipe for the bread that was served with the escargot last night. Very light, i'm sure i will mess it up somehow but its worth a try.

 

tonight is the returning guest reception. one couple has been on Sea Dream 23 times \they weren't interested in adopting me\

 

must recommend the honey milk body wrap -- while I felt like a giant burrito, my skin feels great. if you don't like heat -- ask them to turn the electric blankets off.

 

spa is not very busy, its a shame, but they know me on a first name basis.

 

mustn't forget my wonderful stewardess, Deralin.

 

oh well, off to the reception.

 

glorious weather, more tomorrow.

[DisneyJen]

Thanks for the update FT:D

 

I am surprised that the spa isn't busier. I would think that with all those sea days that folks would enjoy filling some of their time with spa treatments.

 

How have the seas been so far?

[Luxury Traveler]

Congradulations to SeaDream for this almost LIVE coverage of the Crossing.

It looks really smooth out there...

 

Way To Go....

 

Lux

[frequent traveler]

Quite a day

I can’t speak highly enough of the young ladies working in the casino. Both have great patience for this ADD challenged black jack player. I never lost money to friendlier folks.

 

I am trying to coax yet another recipe from Jes, the energizer bunny chef, his Thai style fish cakes are to die for.

 

We’ve had a couple of very brief rain squalls, but for the most part the water has been extremely smooth. Boy do I envy those of you getting on in Palm Beach , the ship is only 25% booked.

 

There is quite a good group of passengers on board. Everyone seems to mix well and so far no one has shown us their tattoos at dinner. According to Richard, the club and activities director – that sets the record for outrageous behavior . Jim and Lois, I thought you would enjoy that.

 

I slowly but surely working my way through each and every massage option on the spa menu. I am on a first name basis with each of the talented massage therapists.

 

A couple of negative comments / trivial that they are/ if you use the artificial sweetener, Splenda, bring your own, Sea Dream still doesn’t stock. Also, they didn’t have enough slippers on board so passengers didn’t get without asking. Internet access is extremely slow. Just opening one email took 5 minutes this morning. But the staff was quick to refresh my card at no additional cost. I love the service and rumors are spreading that a new winter itinerary, say Brazil, will be launched in 2007. Stay tuned for more.

 

FT

:D

[DisneyJen]

Thanks for our daily fix FT:D

 

Wow ... only 25 percent booked! I suspect it will be a quiet cruise ... which is a GOOD thing.

 

Thanks for the tip on Splenda ... DH likes it in his iced tea so I will make sure to pick up some packets.

 

So which is your favorite massage? I am planning on some spa services on our Nov. 6 cruise.

 

Brazil could be interesting ... how about the Canal?

[frequent traveler]

so far the reflexology has been the best massage but only by a smidgin, both the swedish and the aromatherapy are a close second.

 

we had the most wonderful tasting menu for dinner last night

eight courses with the foi gras, champagne sorbet, and caviar being my favorites.

 

another recipe request coming - for the risotto that accompanied the dover sole.

 

our birds are hanging around and the seas are the calmest i have ever sailed.

 

another wonderful day in paradise

ft

[DisneyJen]

I love aromatherapy and reflexology so it sounds like I need to book those services!

 

The tasting menu sounds DIVINE!!! I love foie gras, caviar and risotto ... all the things that DH doesn't eat:p

 

FT would you do me a favor and see if they have diet tonic water at any of the bars? GnTs are my drink of choice but I have to drink them with diet (too much sugar in the regular).

 

Is it strange seeing birds in the middle of the Atlantic?

 

Tell the crew we are counting the days until we board in West Palm!!

[frequent traveler]

definitely will check and will let christophe know. if you will email andrew cohen at SD \i'm sure he will arrange.

 

the birds are neat

watched one at breakfast

 

last night was a poolside disco

 

tonight is an outdoor concert and our first dinner on deck.

 

FT

[DisneyJen]

Thanks FT ... I will email Andrew.

 

Disco at the pool sounds like fun. On our cruise last year there were 6 of us who danced on disco night. DH was good for one dance.

 

The poolside concert and dinner on deck sounds wonderful about now!

 

How are you dealing with the time change? How does ship time work?

[ctbjr1309]

One dance??? That's above and beyond the call of duty, in my estimation.

 

I have a sneaking suspicion that FT is enjoying the (3 or 4) 25 hour days on this trip. That's one reason it's better to do the crossing east to west than vice versa. Sadly for those of us on the next cruise, theres a 23 hour day in our future. Oh, well...

[frequent traveler]

jen

christophe has ordered the diet tonic water for your cruise. \i couldn't give him your last name or cabin number

just tell him you are teresa's friend

yes, these 5 different time changes are great

that extra hour really helps getting to the gym in the morning

if i don't go then i don't make it at all

FT

[DisneyJen]

Thanks Theresa! We will be in 211 according to our docs:D Tell Christophe "Thank you."

 

Actually Ctbjr we turn the clocks back before bed TONIGHT so we will have full 24 hour days when we cruise NEXT WEEK!! We wouldn't want you missing Disco night now would we ... although it would make a good excuse:D

 

I think I wouldn't like losing an hour going west to east ... although it would beat the jetlag we face when we go west to east.

[ctbjr1309]

Jen,

 

I'd like to say I stand corrected, but....

 

WPB will be on EST after tonight and STT on AST (Atlantic time) so....get ready for that 23 hour day, which will be one of the 2 sea days and hopefully not DISCO night (argh!!!).

[DisneyJen]

I told you math was never my strong suit Ctbjr:p Gotta love that liberal arts degree from Penn State:D

[ctbjr1309]

Thanks to my History Major, I'm all over the world time zone situation...

[frequent traveler]

got another hour today

really helped with the gym

if you like yoghurt -had a great dutch pineapple yoghurt this am

another massage scheduled today

beautiful calm seas

the crew is very surprised and pleased

we are dining out again tonight.

if you want a concert on at night - get the Rod Stewart and the royal opera house

wonderful two hours.

FT

[DisneyJen]

FT I hoped your DH remembered to turn the clocks back before bed last night as we gained an hour here today:D

 

It sounds like you have had great seas and weather so far. Is this normal for a crossing?

 

Did you notice on the spa menu if there is a couple's massage?

 

Sounds like another day in paradise for you SeaDreamers:D

[ctbjr1309]

FT,

 

Thanks so much for your reports. Between your regular, newsy updates and the web site, it is almost as if we've been right there with all of you. We appreciate the time and effort you've put into this.

[Jim Avery]

Hi Teresa:

Just catching up on your trip, have been in Arizona this past week. Sure sounds wonderful. So glad you have calm weather. Say hello to Cristophe and Martin for us. Happy to hear our March trip was history making for reasons other than most kids. I do remember the tattoo and the placement. Hope you win in the casino before trip end. But remember, they do have to make up for all the champagne some how.

Enjoy,

Jim & Lois.