Saturday, February 12, 2022

Continental breakfast was served in the Crow's Nest this morning.  To be more specific, we went there for iced cappuccino and biscotti, and the staff brought the drinks to the table. We had a pleasant conversation with Bob and Judy V. with whom we have sailed before.  They are cruising back-to-back-to-back in lieu of the World Voyage which was canceled; they should be home in April.

After breakfast, we went shopping.  Oh Boy!  We still had almost $250 in on-board credit to spend.  In "the old days," we could get unspent  OBC  returned to our credit card.  With the cash losses the cruise line had suffered, it's not "use it or lose it." We used it.  By the time we were finished, we had spent all but a dollar of our "free" money.Subtracting some strange, but small, credit for port taxes,  and adding in the $20 charged to our account on a slot machine, we are going to leave here owing $15.  Not bad for 28 days at sea.

While D took our purchases to the cabin, MA waited in the Ocean Bar and had a Coke which she split with him when he returned.  From there it was off for the last fling in the casino.  We had to clear our accounts before midnight, meaning any money left on our room cards from playing slots [which are mostly cash-less, had to be collected [in cash, of course].  MA played her favorite slot and lost all but 11 cents which she did not bother to collect.  D had played blackjack while MA was going broke and won a little today.  All told, he cashed in $150 in chips and $35 from his card account.

Time to pack!  We put it off as long as we could, but D started assembling the luggage and clothing before we went to lunch for a last burger-and-fries meal.  It was earlier than we usually eat lunch, but we had been in the Crow's Nest early, too.  After lunch, MA read while D packed the suitcases.  It was almost 4 p.m. by then, time for the nap.

A drink in the Ocean Bar, as usual, preceded a special dinner.  Our timing was perfect because the MDR menu looked as unappetizing as it has for the past month.  Our special meal was a rijkstaffel [spelling optional], a traditional Indonesian feast.  Obviously ours had been modified but still included nasi goring, beef rendang, chicken satay, a chicken leg, strips of scrambled egg and prawn crackers.  There was too much food but we made a valiant effort.  To cool our mouths after this feast, we split one order of baked Alaska.

Tonight was also "envelope night" when everyone who is going to gives the waitstaff tips.  So as not to forget, D gave our envelopes to Danan and the assistant as we sat down.  After dinner, we gave Danan $20 to tip the chef in appreciation of his efforts. [NOTE -- even though most of the staff on the ship is from Indo-nesia, there is no Indonesian chef on board for either the passengers or crew, so this was a special effort by a chef for whom this was not his national cuisine]

Because we had cashed out at the casino earlier, we went straight to the cabin after waddling out of the MDR.  We finished the last of the packing, locked and labeled the suitcases and dragged them out to the hall.  All that is left is to jam the remaining toiletries in tomorrow morning after we dress.

As mention yesterday, we can leave whenever we want tomorrow.  We already have our day planned: our first stop after retrieving the car will be the library to return our overdue books and then to the bagel shop for a real bagel, not a frozen one.  We also have to go to Publix to pick up our Super Bowl supplies,  D ordered and Italian cold cut cut "ring" on-line, but we may need chips and dip, too.

And that's that.  Another cruise and several new countries added to the list, but it will be good to get back. As Dorothy said, "There's no place like home."