Friday, January 28, 2022 

Last night at supper we learned that only 700 passengers are booked for the return cruise to Ft. Lauderdale.  We thought the ship felt empty with 835 people on this first leg, but this is hard to believe.  How low is the passenger count?  The dining room manager came to our table and asked if we would be willing to move to the lower level dining room at a comparable window table and with our regular servers.  The hope/plan is to close the upper seating area completely.  Since it is not used for breakfast or lunch anyway, this would eliminate setting up the tables each night.  We agreed to move.  Besides, if the Dining Room Gods decide to do it, we would have no choice.  At least this way, we can keep our servers whom we like. 

Danan and his assistant, whose name we can neither spell nor pronounce, have given us good service.  They are personable and "play the game" well.  As for service, they never fail to bring us tempura vegetables and Wednesday saved a pavlova [meringue] dessert for MA for Thursday.  Without being asked or reminded, they appeared with not one but two desserts, one for each of us.  MA would be happy if they surprised her again, but we did not want to press our luck and ask for them again. 

As we sailed north toward San Diego, the outside temperature had dropped and may be in the 60's tomorrow, quite a change from the 90's we experienced just a day or two ago.  On the other hand, the Mid-Atlantic and New England are expecting 2 to 20 inches of snow this weekend and Florida temps will be low enough that iguanas will fall from the trees, so 60 degrees sounds pretty good. 

Today's "mail" was an announcement about Covid testing and CBP/immigration inspections prior to disembarkation in San Diego.  As continuing passengers, we must be tested again [remember the 2-day test window prior to boarding?].  This will verify whether we have contracted the virus while on board.  Everyone will have to have a passport and document check regardless of their travel plans on Sunday.  The downside of this is that the antigen tests are supposed to take place at 7 a.m. on Sunday when we would normally be snug in our bed. 

The good news is that our account will roll over to the return trip, so we don't have to hurriedly spend whatever is left of our OBC [on-board credit].  Obviously, we will have to squander it before we dock in two weeks.  We also have to close out our casino accounts and cash in whatever is left of our slot machine money.  For MA, this should be almost $150; for D, less than $20 although he has fought back at the blackjack table and is even or maybe a tiny bit ahead.  

Tonight was the third [and last] gala night on this leg, but there will be three more on the return to Florida. 

Tomorrow -- The Last Full Day of the First Leg