Busy, 8/12/1993 Day At Sea

Tomorrow Our Ship Will
Arrive In Russia

By Bob Van Leer

(AT SEA NEARING ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, Aug. 12, 1993) - On our second day at sea we are still sailing toward St. Petersburg, Russia. Capt. Emmanuel Tzanis said we should arrive there about 7 a.m. This is not a speed run and we are averaging 14 knots.

  Only about 50 of the more than 1000 passengers are going on a side trip to Moscow. We had a briefing on the trip this morning. We will fly on Aeroflot, the Russian airline, for the one hour flight to Moscow. There we will stay at the Metropol Hotel, a remodeled classic hotel just a block from Red Square.

  Our time at sea is spent relaxing, reading, and doing the necessary chores of the cruise. One such was picking up our passports that were taken from us to prepare for the Moscow tour and filling out a declaration of the amount of money, jewelry and cameras we will be taking with us. On the return from Moscow we will have to declare the amount of money remaining and have receipts for what we purchased. These are supposed to balance to show you aren't engaged in black market activities. Also, any cameras or jewelry we took in have to show as being taken out.

FOOD SERVICE FABULOUS
  One thing they do well aboard our cruise ship, Crown Odyssey, is fed the passengers. There is food available almost continuously from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Food is part of the package price and passengers can eat lightly or pig out all day as they desire. It is difficult not to overeat since everything is prepared so well and there are so many choices. For instance, here are the choices of different places to eat lunch at noon and the menu they will serve: Grand Scandinavian Luncheon Buffet, Seven Continents Restaurant; Luncheon Buffet, Yacht Club; Lido Salad Bar, Lido Lounge; and Grilled Specials, Penthouse Grill.

  We chose the Scandinavian buffet. There were two buffet tables about 100 feet long each decorated with ice sculptures of a fish and a chicken and butter sculptures, a foot or two high, included a sailfish, horse's head and a sea horse. There was a table of breads for decoration baked in the form of alligators, fish and turtles.

  This was a Scandinavian buffet and was heavy on fish products. Appetizers included smoked clams, pickled clams, sardines, pickled herring, pickled herring in cream sauce, pickled herring in tomato sauce, cold salmon and others including salads. Main courses included baked fish, fish meat balls, stuffed pork chops, roast beef and still others. There were separate tables for desserts which included pies, cakes, eclairs, and other fancy pastries. There were at least a couple of dozen different kinds of desserts.

  After the meal I went back to the serving lines, which were still serving, and was writing in my notebook. One of the supervisors of the buffet came up to me and asked if he could help. I told him I was just taking a few notes. He asked, "Are we in trouble?"

KEEP THEM BUSY
  The daily schedule provides more things to do than any one person can do. There is something for everyone. Samples include: aerobic workouts a couple of times a day, quiz shows, a session on "What is a Russian lacquer box?", Bridge Talk (as in card game), a session on duplicate bridge, a lecture on "New beginnings, sailing through the menopause, male and female", which gives an idea of the average age of the passengers.

  There is another visit to the navigation bridge, a movie, poker session an unexplained item that says, "Friends of Bill W. & Dr. Bob meet in the Yacht Club". And don't forget to attend the class on Vegetable Carving.

  Before dinner there was a dress-up session called Pirate Night Fun and Games. Tonight we set our watches ahead another hour which will put us 11 hours ahead of Gold Beach. This is as far east as we will get on this trip.
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