We are finally settled in our stateroom, our home for the next two weeks. The bathrobes are in the closet and the Champagne glasses are waiting to be filled by our room steward for the welcoming toast.
We took our first cruise fifteen years ago this month. Back then, I was a reluctant passenger who thought cruising was an easy way to gain five pounds in fewer days. But Earl, who had cruised once before with his elderly parents, was adamant. He wanted to try it again with someone more his age.
I still remember the first view of the Grand Princess. It was huge and didn’t look anything like a sailing ship, even though the promotional materials said we would “set sail” at 5 PM. Rather it resembled a shoe box with a short pointy end in front. In sailor’s parlance, that’s “fore”. The back of the ship, which was boxy and filled with windows, is “aft.”
The first thing we did on that maiden voyage, after locating our stateroom, was explore the various decks. The next thing we did was find the twenty-four hour buffet. Today, it’s pretty much the same routine, although we’re slower at climbing the stairs and less inclined to eat everything in sight. In fact, we’re proud of the fact that we come home weighing the same as when we left. There have been many changes in the cruising industry since we first joined the ranks, but that remains constant.
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