Did I mention that there is an ice skating rink on this ship? That makes, I believe, five in the RCI ships (three freedom class plus the two behemoths).

Rather than do cocktails for a Crown & Anchor event – there had been an invitation to an introductory ice show. The skaters were good; and now we know what happens to some of the competition figure skaters when they are too old to continue to play Olympics.

(As an aside, due to the problems with Noro Virus, the ice performers along with the singers and dancers were also coopted into working in the Windjammer handing out plated and flatware.)

The main production piece for this ship is called Strings – a loosely structured story about an Italian Violin and its travels. This set the back ground for segments based on court dances, gypsies, Lisbon, Argentina, the Old West and Ireland. All those places where a violin forms a significant backbone of the music.

We were treated not just to nine excellent skaters, but a lovely violinist from Montreal. It was fun; I even went twice!