DAY TWO: SETTLING IN -- We awoke to the pitter-patter of feet and shadows flashing past our cabin window, and discovered that living on the Promenade Deck means we hear and see all the early morning walkers (no jogging, please) circle past our window four times to make a mile. Our window glass is fortunately tinted so we can see out but they can’t see in, hence have a handy and steady stream of entertainment.

We were at sea all day today, sailing south into Mexican waters far offshore Baja California. Occasionally we spy another ship, miles away from us, every now and then a pod of dolphin or other fishes surfaces, and once I actually heard myself saying, “Look, a sea gull!” A sea gull? For crying out loud, those things are usually a nuisance to be avoided rather than an object of attention. Funny how perspectives change.

We stopped by for a presentation billed as the “Port and Shopping Talk”, thinking we might pick up some tips on the cities we were going to be visiting. Instead, we got a fast-talking “shopping ambassador” tell us where we could get real values on diamonds and other jewels, Rolex watches and other trinkets. This is, apparently, a big deal on cruise ships, as I discovered as soon as we slinked out of the salespitch.

The on board shops and hallways were filled with people looking at diamond bracelets, emerald necklaces, and $2,200 fifths (excuse me, liters) of cognac. Where did I go wrong? I must have missed the Conspicuous Consumption lecture. But it apparently lights some people’s fire.

We did some more exploring of the ship, and then settled down in deck chairs with a book and sketch pad to enjoy a sunny day. Actually, a hurricane (“Paul”) lurks just south of us, but we’re hoping to cross its path well behind it as we get closer to Cabo San Lucas.

I need to say something about the dining arrangements. There are four restaurants, from the casual pool side grill to the ever-formal Pinnacle Room, and we’re free to eat wherever and whenever we want, with one exception. The Rotterdam Room is a large, elegant space with servers equipped to anticipate your dining whims, and there dinner is served at an appointed hour and table. (Breakfast and lunch you can sit anywhere.) We are at the late seating, which they call the Main Seating, but when it’s at 7:45 we call it late!

After dinner we enjoy a nightly show, which this evening was a talented guy who regaled us with music of the ‘50s, Sinatra, Elvis, etc. He knows his audience. But it was a lot of fun to end a quiet sailing day.