AKA – Dinner with the Hotel Director.
Oh – I forgot to mention that yesterday was the formerly named “Meal with an Officer” which is one of those perks that Royal has offered to Loyalty members at ~340 points and above. It is now called “Cheers with an officer” meaning that there is a toast and the officers then split rather than talk to anyone. Since this particular ship is overloaded with senior status cruisers, there apparently are multiple seatings… My particular level was yesterday at noon. It was actually nice, decent menu, tables not crowded together and the officers actually stayed around and circulated around the dining area, actually talking to us passengers.
One of the things that happens if you cruise enough with the same line is that you are very likely going to run into some of the same people over and over. In the case, I sat with a German couple that I have know for years. The additional person at the table was from München, so the conversation mostly flowed in German with the occasional dip into English when I just didn’t have the grammar or vocabulary.
Ok – that takes you up to speed. Peter is the hotel director. From Bulgaria, I remember him from both the Jewel of the Seas & the final two cruises in the Legend of the Seas (2017). Anyway – I was included on a dinner invitation by Peter to eat tonight in Hooked.
It is a seafood restaurant all the way forward on Deck 16 and is above the Solarium Bistro.. The decor is creepy. I am not sure if it is supposed to represent Captain Hook, divers, or castaways. Never the less.. The salmon was excellent. the fresh vegetables were crisp. There were seven of us – two German couples, one American/Finish couple and me which left poor Peter as the non-German speaking person at the table. But since everyone had lived/worked in the US for a serious number of years it wasn’t a problem
Dinner lasted well past my bedtime which shouldn’t be a surprise.
Today’s position –
and my ending point on Grind
which makes the coffee theme a bit more obvious