Although each chapter is a story on its own, you might enjoy it more by starting with chapter 1 as there may be references to characters or events that happened in previous chapters. All characters participating in sexual activity in the stories are 18 or over. This story is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Chapter 30: Grace and Lew's first week on a cruise.
Late on Sunday afternoon, the taxi, with Grace on board, picked me up to take us to the Hoek Van Holland harbor to catch the 10pm overnight ferry to Harwich in the UK. Sunday traffic was light, so we arrived well in time for check-in. Around 8pm we were allowed to board the ferry and find our cabin. As we would have all the luxury we wanted on the cruise ship, we had booked a low-cost inside cabin for the short crossing: if we were lucky all we would be able to do there was get some shut-eye. Arrival in Harwich was planned for 6:30am, well in time to check-in and board the cruise liner. After dropping our stuff in the cabin we went for dinner in the nice self-service restaurant on board.
The next morning we had a quick breakfast in the same place; that would have to keep us going until lunch on board The Brilliance of the Seas, we saw docked right next to the ferry. Grace had warned me that the cruise was going to be one big eat fest and to be prepared to disembark two weeks later a few pounds heavier.
It was quickly clear we were not the only passengers from the ferry waiting to board the cruise ship: the little terminal in Harwich was jampacked with people with their huge suitcases. This proved Grace right: I wouldn't be the only one with a big suitcase.
At 10 the check-in counters opened, and we were directed to a special fast line for pinnacle or suite guests. With all check-in requirements fulfilled, we got our boarding pass and could move to a far larger lounge than the one from the ferry and relax a bit with drinks and some cookies. Finally, a little after 1 pm they started boarding. As we were suite guests were among the lucky ones to be in the first boarding wave.
"Let's find our cabin and then hurry to the Windjammer café on deck 11 to grab a bite to eat," Grace said taking the lead. There was absolutely no doubt she was a seasoned cruiser. I tried to stay close as I didn't want to get lost on this huge ship.
"This is a big ship!" I said to Grace.
"This is one of the smaller ones," she replied. "The Oasis or The Anthem of the Seas, those are biggest I've been on, over 6000 passengers with an onboard garden with real trees, one of the two even sports bumper cars and a big glass ball that takes you high above the ship or the port with superb views. But even on this smaller one, you'll have a great time."
"I'm sure, and if the ship turns out to be disappointing, I'll always have you to keep me company and entertain me."
"Oh I thought it was supposed to be the other way around, you entertaining me," Grace said with a chuckle.
"OK, I'll take that as a hint then?"
"You better take it more as a standing requirement, let's get some food."
Thanks to Grace, we walked into the Windjammer self-service restaurant in less than 2 minutes. If it had been up to me to find it, it would have been more like 20 minutes. Grace explained it was only the deck above the one we were at. The choice of food was phenomenal, at least it was in my eyes with even all kinds of non-alcoholic drinks included, I immediately fell in love with the iced tea they served. After lunch, Grace took me on a tour of the ship. It was even far bigger than I had imagined. When she explained what was available on the gigantic ones she mentioned earlier, I was happy that this one wasn't so big, much better for my very first cruise experience. At least I might not get lost so many times on this one. Back in the cabin, our luggage had arrived and our butler was already waiting for us to unpack everything. I looked at Grace when we arrived, mouthing, "What the fuck?"
"My name is Antoine and I will be your butler for this cruise. Any time you need something, don't hesitate to call me; I will come around every day at 3:30 pm with "hors d'oeuvres" and drinks for you. We will turn down the beds and change towels if required, while you're at dinner. I will gladly unpack your suitcases and store everything away in the cupboards. If you have laundry or need something pressed, I can pick that up at your convenience, laundry will take half a day, pressing can be done in half an hour. I hope you will enjoy your stay on board with us."
"How long do you think you will need to unpack?" Grace asked.
"I can be done in less than half an hour madam, the weather is still nice but may I nevertheless suggest a rest at the indoor pool?"
"Yes of course, when is the safety drill planned?"
"That would be at 5 pm madam, you'll find the information concerning your muster station on the inside of your door."
"Excellent, we'll be back in 45 minutes."
"Thank you, madam."
"Let's go sit at the pool, maybe you'd better bring a book."
"I'll take my tablet. I stopped reading paper-based books years ago, this is so much more convenient, a whole library in your back pocket."
"Very wise, I do the same, where do you get your books?"
"I download them from different sites, in e-pub format if available, otherwise in Word and then I convert them. I don't always have an internet connection where I am; I guess that would be a problem on board as well once we set sail?"
"Yes, internet connections on ships are always a problem, unless you want to spend a small fortune buying satellite time. Shall we go?"
"OK!"
At the pool, we found a couple of comfy deckchairs offering a view of Harwich harbor. An hour later we returned to the cabin where we found everything efficiently stored away. The lifejackets we were supposed to take to the safety drill were laid out on the bed.
"Can you take your lifejacket so we can head to our muster station: I always prefer to go a bit earlier, as when they call it's always extremely busy on the stairs and you might not get a seat there either."
"You're the expert here."
We headed down the stairs to the lounge that was indicated as our muster station on the back of our cabin door. A few people were already there, clearly all seasoned cruisers, Grace even greeted some of them she had presumably met on previous cruises. The drill took about half an hour and then we were released.
"Let's go up on deck for the departure," Grace said, "that's always a highlight, especially if you depart from a British port. She was right: when we got outside I could already hear some music - a band was playing some classics on the dockside.
"Is it always like this?" I asked.
