I stopped by the Explorations Cafe, which is the huge, newly renovated library area aboard, which also boasts internet access, a coffee bar, and a DVD library. Checked with the internet manager, who provided enough info to allow me to get online and to establish my internet wi-fi account so I could do the webpage updates.

Played a game of pinochle with Mom and Dad in our room (Dad and I won), and then we found lunch at the Terrace Grill, out by the Lido pool.

Took a nap. Jill was asleep when I woke up, so I popped down to the Explorations Cafe (the wi-fi hot spot--it's not hot in the stateroom) to upload stuff, which didn't work. (Learned later that the ship probably did not support the additional protocols that allow drag-and-drop uploading to the .Mac server.) In lieu of posting, I sent a picture out on email.

Jill was up when I came back to the cabin, and we had a glass of wine and noshies in the Neptune, then back to the room to get dressed for dinner. This was the Captain's Gala dinner, so the dress was formal. Mom and Dad were ready earlier than us, so came by the suite while we got ready, then to the Rubens Show Lounge for the reception, passing through the gauntlet of no less that 3 photographers on the way from the atrium to the show lounge. There the champagne was flowing, and we ended up seated in a very nice group of people and had a lovely conversation until the introduction of the captain and officers.

On the stage at the Rubens Lounge, we are introduced to the captain and the heads of departments.

Dinner followed immediately, and by the time that was done, we were all ready to retire for the night.