Who ever said that ‘at seas’ days are boring maybe has not read the daily calendar of events or really tried to be busy. I’m nearly too busy to fit gym in! Mind you, gym has a ‘mind of its own’, given that the sound of footfalls on the treadmills would be able to power a small motor. It would probably come and tap me on the shoulder, if I forgot it! There’s quite a behaviour pattern in that place too. You don’t look directly at anyone and you have to appear mildly bored as you power through the exercises you’ve come to do. There are always personal trainers cruising around looking for a rich vein of flab to carve off - they have the scales barricaded off, so people cannot accidentally use the machine to lighten their days. No way/Hosea - weighing yourself comes with advice and that advice ain’t free.
But in a similar vein to the energy generated at the top of the ship - yesterday I actually had a rush on just to meet commitments. First there was brekkie at Windjammer Buffet restaurant with the added benefit of a bit of red salmon snaffled from the Crown Lounge buffet to suup up my omelette. Then a quick visit one deck lower and right to the back to the Conference Room to pick up four kits I wished to purchase from the scrapbooking company, “The Whole Kit and Caboodle”. They have set up a retreat in the back there and I cannot keep away, customers. Having said that, looking out that back window at the wake, when you’re up on Deck 13 is not for the faint-hearted. But, such was my need to check out the kits, that I simply had to turn my tail to the window and concentrate inwardly! That done, there was just enough time to drop the kits in our stateroom and change into closed-in shoes for the behind the scenes tour.
But in a similar vein to the energy generated at the top of the ship - yesterday I actually had a rush on just to meet commitments. First there was brekkie at Windjammer Buffet restaurant with the added benefit of a bit of red salmon snaffled from the Crown Lounge buffet to suup up my omelette. Then a quick visit one deck lower and right to the back to the Conference Room to pick up four kits I wished to purchase from the scrapbooking company, “The Whole Kit and Caboodle”. They have set up a retreat in the back there and I cannot keep away, customers. Having said that, looking out that back window at the wake, when you’re up on Deck 13 is not for the faint-hearted. But, such was my need to check out the kits, that I simply had to turn my tail to the window and concentrate inwardly! That done, there was just enough time to drop the kits in our stateroom and change into closed-in shoes for the behind the scenes tour.
We were meeting in the Royal Theatre. This was a tour only available to Diamond + passengers and we were addressed by the Stage Manager, the Lighting and Sound booth engineers, as well as leaders in dance and voice. Like everything else we’ve discovered about Royal, the first three guys work every night like smoothly oiled pistons to bring about a theatre presentation without a hitch. The other two do their stuff in safety and professionalism, because of this. We were taken for a tour of the dressing rooms of some of the dancers. Learned how they have their own desks to do their make-up (which has to be identical to each other, even if the colours don’t suit the girl’s skin). How our dance captain helps one dancer by running after her to assist with a costume change which has to happen in 45 seconds. Literally they run as she discards and puts on her new costume. He said that there is no room for privacy as ‘the show must go on’. As Audience we sit comfortably humming to the music and have no idea of how hard the tail is wagging the dog.
We learned about the platforms which lower and raise from the stage. Now driven by silent motor action involving cogs, once, they were operated by a cog and screw process which was slower. When he said that, I got the thought of someone slowly lowering down to the sound of a squeaky screw under pressure!! People appear and disappear silently from the stage platform, which adds another dimension to simply stepping stage left or right. I asked if the performers on stage get any warning just before the platform moves - I thought that perhaps a vibration to ensure that they are ready, but no - once they’re on stage, they cannot hear the comms associated with the stage production and must rely on their knowledge of the choreography of the performance as to when and where they should be standing at which time. It’s one thing to discard costumes, quite another to discard the odd leg or too.
Learning about lighting and sound was equally as riveting and the significant thing we learned from the major three engineers we were listening to, was that there is no one else who can do their job - because its necessary to know the production to keep up with the direction required. They cannot afford to get sick. It seemed concerning not to have anyone even half trained up, but this is what works for them.
Is it any wonder with such a busy morning, and with the tweaks of an hour at a time to bring us into line with ship’s time and Vancouver time in a few days, that we are worn out and ready for an afternoon nap by 1.00 p.m. or 2.00 p.m.
We learned about the platforms which lower and raise from the stage. Now driven by silent motor action involving cogs, once, they were operated by a cog and screw process which was slower. When he said that, I got the thought of someone slowly lowering down to the sound of a squeaky screw under pressure!! People appear and disappear silently from the stage platform, which adds another dimension to simply stepping stage left or right. I asked if the performers on stage get any warning just before the platform moves - I thought that perhaps a vibration to ensure that they are ready, but no - once they’re on stage, they cannot hear the comms associated with the stage production and must rely on their knowledge of the choreography of the performance as to when and where they should be standing at which time. It’s one thing to discard costumes, quite another to discard the odd leg or too.
Learning about lighting and sound was equally as riveting and the significant thing we learned from the major three engineers we were listening to, was that there is no one else who can do their job - because its necessary to know the production to keep up with the direction required. They cannot afford to get sick. It seemed concerning not to have anyone even half trained up, but this is what works for them.
Is it any wonder with such a busy morning, and with the tweaks of an hour at a time to bring us into line with ship’s time and Vancouver time in a few days, that we are worn out and ready for an afternoon nap by 1.00 p.m. or 2.00 p.m.
We’re busy checking off all the restaurants and cafes we haven’t checked out yet. Tonight we will attend the Solarium Restaurant for dinner and we’ve earmarked a little noodle and dim sum cafe which we have never found open when we’ve been passing, but which we’ve decided to make a lunch spot soon enough.
It’s getting much colder now on deck and all of a sudden there are gaps in the sun lounges where people find it chilly to stay for too long now. The staff have struggled to dissuade people from saving the sun lounges all day for their occasional use. And as soon as things chill down a bit all the selfish sun worshippers find a warmer spot which opens the way for shade surfers to snaffle a spot from the many or even seek the solarium at night time. There is no one there then and save for the bubbling of the spa pools, all is deserted. I sat up there last night streaming “Bridgeton” as if I was in my own armchair at home.
This morning it was 10 degrees on our balcony - not really conducive to getting our gym gear dry but then you can’t have it all. I’m somewhat relieved that all those clothes for cooler weather that I brought with me will get an outing now. So far it’s been sandals, t-shirts and sun-dresses and I was beginning to despair that the half my suitcase which was filled with beanies, gloves and a down jacket would not be able to justify the space they had demanded in my suitcase. Now they will come into their own - paying for themselves as the Hawaiian gear finds a corner to repose in. Victims to our usual holiday plans where formal, casual, warmer, cooler clothing need to share space as we traverse from southern to northern hemisphere in quicker time than explorers of old did. Vancouver with all its beautiful wilderness spots and its washers and dryers, it’s chilly starts and views of husbands making beds in the morning is ahead of us. Here we come.
It’s getting much colder now on deck and all of a sudden there are gaps in the sun lounges where people find it chilly to stay for too long now. The staff have struggled to dissuade people from saving the sun lounges all day for their occasional use. And as soon as things chill down a bit all the selfish sun worshippers find a warmer spot which opens the way for shade surfers to snaffle a spot from the many or even seek the solarium at night time. There is no one there then and save for the bubbling of the spa pools, all is deserted. I sat up there last night streaming “Bridgeton” as if I was in my own armchair at home.
This morning it was 10 degrees on our balcony - not really conducive to getting our gym gear dry but then you can’t have it all. I’m somewhat relieved that all those clothes for cooler weather that I brought with me will get an outing now. So far it’s been sandals, t-shirts and sun-dresses and I was beginning to despair that the half my suitcase which was filled with beanies, gloves and a down jacket would not be able to justify the space they had demanded in my suitcase. Now they will come into their own - paying for themselves as the Hawaiian gear finds a corner to repose in. Victims to our usual holiday plans where formal, casual, warmer, cooler clothing need to share space as we traverse from southern to northern hemisphere in quicker time than explorers of old did. Vancouver with all its beautiful wilderness spots and its washers and dryers, it’s chilly starts and views of husbands making beds in the morning is ahead of us. Here we come.