I elected to board the ship early today in order to get settled and explore. Prior to departing for the pier, I felt a jolt of that kid-on-Christmas-morning feeling. I haven’t felt that since, well, I was a kid. A bit of uncertainty, a sprinkle of magic, and a generous dollop of excitement (with a pinch of “Me! Me! Me!” thrown in for good measure).
This is my first cruise. Have you ever been on one? If not, I suggest you do so immediately. My inner cabin, though somewhat small, was just right for what I needed. I unpacked my clothes and such, putting them in their respective drawers. I never unpack when I stay in a hotel. But I figured that since I was going to be here for nearly two weeks, it made sense. Plus this is a hotel on water, so that’s totally different from one on land. Right?
This is my first cruise. Have you ever been on one? If not, I suggest you do so immediately. My inner cabin, though somewhat small, was just right for what I needed. I unpacked my clothes and such, putting them in their respective drawers. I never unpack when I stay in a hotel. But I figured that since I was going to be here for nearly two weeks, it made sense. Plus this is a hotel on water, so that’s totally different from one on land. Right?
My Stateroom
There is an uber-creepy, oversized photo of a plump woman dressed in French Revolution-type clothes, complete with an overly-powdered white face, big wig, and garish red lipstick, the majority of which has found its way onto her teeth, hung outside my stateroom. No wonder the peasants revolted. The placard beside it says “Jane Kaplowitz, Mardi Gras.” I decide to lock the door…just in case Ms. Kaplowitz decides to bring her reveling into my room in the middle of the night.
A mandatory safety drill was scheduled prior to dinner. The captain came on and spoke, followed by translation into French and German. I strapped on my lifejacket, ascended the stairs, and reported to my muster station. It sounds a bit melodramatic, but I couldn’t help think, “Titanic.”
Safety Drill Through the Peephole
Dinner was open seating for the night of embarkation. The folks I ate with had just gotten married in Martha’s Vineyard and were on their honeymoon. They seemed incredibly happy and had that post-nuptial glow. They told me that I couldn’t have picked a better ship and itinerary to start out with. Apparently, some cruise lines are really terrible when it comes to food, décor, and service. Other than the omnipresent “Jane Kaplowitz, Mardi Gras,” the ship is very beautiful, classy, and well-designed. My stateroom attendant is quite helpful, and the food…oh, the food. I can’t possibly write about all the constantly-changing, diverse gustatory options available on ship, but suffice it to say that the Orion Restaurant doesn’t disappoint. For dinner, I had goat cheese quiche, a deliciously seasoned fish with quinoa, and profiteroles with hazelnut ice cream.
Toward the end of dinner, the ship’s engines started up, shaking the glasses and cutlery on the table. So commenced the second-to-last journey of the Celebrity Galaxy (the ship is being sold to a cruise line in Greece) and my maiden nautical voyage.
The Resort Deck
The Galaxy Library
Food of the Day: Goat Cheese Quiche
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