21 to 28April Sea days - Parties and Entertainment

It seems everyone gasped with sigh when the ship left our very last port of 36 during this world cruise.

I have to say that every single port we have visited is charming and wonderful.

Belief of leaving this wonderful floating home for the last 4 months must be denied by every passenger.

Leaving our last port Funchal, we only had about a week of sea days before returning to Fort Lauderdale where we started 4 months ago.

That will be for preparation of disembarkation emotionally with lots of hugs and good bye kisses.

Needless to say about more Champaign and parties.

 21April.

From left, Alan, Renee, me, Sandra, Rene and Jeff were having a party in our cabin

Audience participation for Paula's show, Shirley Bassey, the big spender!!!

 Greg and I still have a lot of bottles of wine left from our dinner wine package.

I was not able to consume any alcohol when I was sick for 10 days with bad flu.

It seems that the awful virus lives on every corner of the ship.

But, thank goodness!

Some of our table mates who already finished their wine package will be sharing ours.

We organized few private get together in our cabin with close friends and table mates for few times.

John and Diane also organized Champaign and fancy Belgium beer party at the public veranda Aft deck 6 one evening.

Our balcony cabin space only allows up to 5 invitees for total of 7.

It has been intimate and cozy that everyone enjoyed so much.

Good that we have enough of bottles of wine.

Last Saturday night entertainer was Paula Randell from Manchester, UK.

She and her companion Neil were also invited to our cabin for private get together party along with our table mates few days ago.

She is full of personality and immaculately presented herself.

We soon got along with her very well as we are theatre lovers.

She was fantastic with her numbers which impersonating Dame Shirley Bassey during her first show.

She finished her show with encore song ‘I am what I am’.

Before she started the song, she was asking audiences where Greg and I were sitting.

Then, she said she will sing that song especially for us.

How special was that!

She made our day!

We were also very happy that she was over the moon when she positively interacted with audiences that night.

 Greg with Paula and his idol New York singer Michael Feinstein.

Few nights ago, the entertainment starred Michael Feinstein.

At the piano, he sang beautiful songs from Gershwin to Porter.

 Holland America Line Mariner's Society Award party

From left, me, Greg, Donna, Paula, Neil, Eloise, Susie and Woody

 Jim from Vancouver, Greg with his gold medal for more than 700 days on HAL ship, Renee, Rene, Julie the HR lady and me beofre the Mariner's Society Recognition

 Donna from Chicago, me, Joe and Sylvia from California and Ellen from Florida

 Lovely Widi, waitress of the Pinnacle Grill

 Our very last dinner at the Pinnacle Grill

 Dessert extravaganza! The tradition of World Cruise!

 Greg flanked by Ernie and Jim from Vancouver.

Lesley, the best dresser on board and Jelena, wife of Rabbi on board are front row

 Lovely singer Paula Randell from Manchester, UK

 Moment of Truth for Greg with the ship's captain Jonathan Mercer and Henk the hotel manager to recognise for Greg's loyalty of the HAL.

 On Paula's second performance night with Tina Turner look-alike.

Renee, Greg, Paula, Ernie, Lesley and Rene...Some of them has great legs!

 La Fontain restaurant for the very last formal night

 Parade of Bomb Alaska!

 Tonight's theme is Black and Gold masks.

Our table mates in disguise!

Renee, Paula and Jeniffer from the front office joined us tonight.

 Fabulous cast for the Black and Gold Ball

Greg with two young ladies from the ship's Spa, Ping and Nao.