Atlantic Crossing - Part One

Up and out at the crack of dawn. Taxi's at the house at 6. Saying goodbye to Lisa and Miss Molly was kinda tough. Hopefully, we'll see Lisa in France. At the airport we check in --- at no extra cost --- three, extremely heavy bags that are absolutely packed to the hilt and absolutely necessary to blow out the fun meter for two weeks on the ocean. Or so we think. After all, there is nothing more popular with the ladies than a man in a kilt on a cruise ship. Or so I think.

First row in first class afforded us the comfiest seats on the plane. Fifty seven minutes later we were in Newark, New Jersey. Grabbed a cab and twenty minutes later we were standing at the Celebrity embarking zone in Bayonne, New Jersey. They processed everyone in a giant warehouse that seemed miles from the ship. But you could see it in the distance. And the objective was gargantuan. Immense. An absolutely mind-boggling testament of man's technological achievement. A Solstice class ship. The largest class in the world. At least at the moment. This baby was in its inaugural year. Built in Germany. Launched in 2011 to the Caribbean. Now on its second crossing of the Atlantic with 2,800 passengers and 1,000 crew aboard. Heading for the summer service in the Mediterranean.

I could not believe the size of the thing. And I guess when you consider where we are heading, bigger was better. Six, New-York-City blocks long and 16 decks high. I believe there were at least another four somewhere way under the water line that house the working class, but you wouldn't find any information on that, anywhere aboard.

Check-in and setting up accounts took another twenty minutes. Bags were tagged and we were separated from our tonne of luggage. Thanks be to Jesus. Already I was exhausted from hauling the stuff. Seems Jimbo was right about our packing. Again.
Mel and I were shuttled to the gang plank and we walked on board to a host of greetings from ship personnel and we are handed our first glass of champagne.

We were informed by ship personnel, and shortly thereafter over the PA system, that the previous guests had just disembarked from their journey from the Caribbean and, as such, our staterooms were in a stately mess. We were therefore asked to proceed to the welcoming lunch buffet in the Ocean View Restaurant up on Deck 14. "No problem," says I. "Perhaps another glass of champagne would be appropriate for the excessive elevator ride up that many floors"? Seems that was expected and we were recharged after quickly guzzling the first.

Although we didn't know it yet, the Ocean View Restaurant was a place we would spend a fair bit of time over the next 14 days. This place operated from 6:30 a.m. until 1:30 a.m., seven days a week and had a stupidly large amount of the most excellent quality food available ALL THAT TIME!!!!

Let's see now. Just a wee sample of what is going on, every day, most of the time. The Mexican food station. Tacos, chilli, guacamole, chicken and/or beef in mole sauce, red or green. And of course the prerequisite, rice, beans, salsa and fresh cut jalapeños to throw on everything.

The Indian food station. Two meat curries, one hot, one not. Typical examples would include lamb madras, beef vindaloo and/or butter chicken. Always a fish curry and the goan was actually blazing. Very unusual if I might say for a buffet. Although I never witnessed it, there must have been a fair number of passengers in serious distress over this stuff. I loved every mouthful. Plenty of vegetable curries including aloo gobi, bindi, matter paneer, and dhal. Channa mostly. And the best mango chutney, naan bread, poppadoms, and riata. I ask you. How are you supposed to eat anything else? What with all this. The variety, the quality and the quantity. And it just kept coming. Everyday.

Other notable mentions were The Italian Pizza and Pasta Bar. Six types of pasta and six types of sauces. All the time. And if that isn't enough, add your own meat balls, sausage, grilled peppers, mushrooms, or build your own pizza with a possible 16 different toppings. Then there was the daily carvery with roast everything and anything in standard barnyard critters. Only one a day mind you. Guess they didn't want to be deemed too excessive or anything. Either roast prime rib, or sirloin of beef, leg of lamb, whole ham, crown roast of pork. And did I mention the sushi bar? Every happy hour beginning at 5 p.m. For two hours. All you can eat. I think they were catching the stuff out the back as we sailed along. Oh yes, and I should also say there was supposedly a salad bar somewhere hidden among all else but to quote Joe Walsh "I ain't never been the there ... they tell me it's nice".

So we sat down and helped our selves to the first of many meals while waiting for clearance to our room. Port side, aft of the second bank of six elevators, Deck Six. A little buffet lunch and some excellent coffee and before long the captain is on the PA welcoming us aboard and informing everyone that our staterooms were now ready and we may proceed.