1) I hurried through lunch in order the make the choral concert in the Grand Lobby. Why is it that the service always seems slower when you have something scheduled immediately afterward? I had five minutes to chomp down my morsel of orange cake, but it was still good.
2) I had promised that nice man from Palm Springs that I would go to the concert of the guest choir (read: passenger choir) because they had been rehearsing all week and because the repertoire had personal meaning for him. As luck would have it, I found a spot on the grand staircase by the bannister directly in his sight lines, so we got to bow and smile before the concert began.
3) They began with the Elvis song “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You,” and then “Hakuna Matata,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Shine,” and — oh mercy, I’ve already forgotten the last song! All presented with heart, warmth, and skill. I recognized the two music directors as singers from “Symphony.” Turns out this was the last performance of their contract, and they would be leaving the ship the next day.
4) The final afternoon tea of the crossing featured the ship’s big band, making it a true thé dansant. And wouldn’t you know it, my banquette table in a front corner was joined by two couples who hadn’t yet been to tea, but were enthusiastic ballroom dancers. One (I recognized them from the dance floor the night before) were off to the famous Tower Ballroom in Blackpool for two weeks of dancing!
The final tea.
4a) Everyone crosses for their own likes and dislikes: afternoon tea, ballroom dancing, dressing up, all-you-can-eat buffets, love of ships, fear of flying, you name it.
5) The last social hour was full of animated talk, farewells, and exchanges of contact information. After which I had to complete my packing PDQ so I could put my two suitcases out before dinner to be collected. And I managed this while drinking my second small bottle of complimentary prosecco.
6) Finalmente, on the last night of the voyage I was seated at a table of gentlemen for dinner. And having been the only person at my table not to have dined away during the entire week, I had no compunction at all bidding that nice elderly couple farewell. (Which I was unexpectedly able to do when we passed each other at the entrance.)
6a) Remember the two gentlemen who took tea with me? Turns out they had space at their table, to which someone else at that table invited me. We were six overall, including a very nice younger gentleman from the north of England who’s read many of the same books I have, which is always encouraging. I could only have wished this party had come together earlier in the voyage.
7) I spent the rest of the evening in my cabin fretting a little about the next day and packing and repacking my valise and laptop bag. To my surprise, I didn’t get to bed until 12:30!