Celebrity Summit to Bermuda May 20 2012 ~ Part 3

It's Wednesday morning and we are sailing into port in Bermuda. We've done this 4 times previously and it never gets old. The Islands are approached by a channel through the surrounding reef that starts way out by the colonial capital of St Georges. You sail past half the main island as you cruise just offshore in the channel past Ft St Catherines, Achilles Bay, Tobacco Bay and on towards the old Naval Dockyard area, (now the main port for the larger ships that land in Bermuda). We dock at Kings Wharf, one of two main piers, after a nifty 180 degree turn around by the Captain. Our friends are off for an all island tour early. Gram and I enjoy the luxury of the continental breakfast in Normandy once again (gotta love those little perks). We are off for a ferry to St Georges at 9:30 and arrive just in time to join the free historical walking tour that gathers at 10;30 in the town square. We've done this before but each different guide adds a new twist and perspective to it. After about 90 minutes we bail on the last few moments of the tour as Gram wants me to participate in the dunking ceremony on the town pier just off the main square. I volunteer and become one of 5 guys who dunk the maiden accused of gossiping by the town crier . This is a not to be missed photo opportunity and a laugh out loud reenactment done almost daily for the tourists. We end up dunking the maid 8 times. Poor woman, it is usually only done 3 or 4 times. We have a lunch of cornish pies (pastry stuffed with ground meat, veggies and potatoes) at a local spot , walk the town and head back for the 2:30 ferry to the Dockyard. The next, and last for the day at 3:30, gets very crowded and you can miss it and end up spending two hours taking buses the length of Bermuda back through Hamilton to the Dockyard. We meet up with our friends for some late afternoon sun on deck, early "elite" cocktails and such and a 7 oclock show. Piano player we've seen before who thinks he is Liberaci. He is not. The onboard band supporting him is more entertaining. Dinner again superb as we keep returning to the outstanding service from Nyoman and Alwyn. We are greeted every night by name, our preferences have been anticipated at this point and this is from Anytime dining. We have been catching the after dinner music in the various lounges. For the most part it is good, not great but relaxing and entertaining enough. Thursday is Bermuda Day. A national holiday and many things are closed, like shops in Hamilton. We were going to taxi to Horseshoe Bay but it is cloudy and showers on and off. After a leisurely breakfast we head out to shop and tour the dockyard area. Gram discovers tee shirts and hat combinations for Madelyn, Elizabeth and Donald in the Pharmacy of all places after we are disappointed at the selection at Davisons, our usual souvenir outlet in Bermuda. We find stuff for all the kids and Gram is happy. We watch the glass blowing and taste some rum cakes and browse the shops. Returning to the ship we have lunch, sit out by the pool, have our Elite cocktails, see a 7pm show, eat dinner and then catch a fabulous surprise show. Sue Denning our cruise director is a singer/ entertainer with a 40 year career in England and on cruise ships. Her on hour show of songs and comedy is a classic Vegas style lounge act and perhaps one of the most entertaining shows I've ever seen on a ship. She has been everywhere on this ship. At every show, party and all around the ship. A great lady all around and one of the best cruise directors at sea today. While I'm at the compliments, Aurora the Captains Club rep is everywhere on the ship. Captains Club (especially Elite) events are daily and excellent little perks. Aurora is at breakfast in the Normandy, cocktails in Rendevous, several special events with the officers and each tour offered to us (like the backstage tour). We had a bit of a problem one evening using our free 90 minute internet coupons to get online. She made one phone call and sent me down to the i Lounge (new Apple based internet cafe) and the manager personally got us up and running. We had heard news of several climbers being killed on Mt Everest during the week. Two of my customers were climbing and I wanted to check on them. They were fine. The son made it too the Summit (no pun intended) , the Dad had eye problems and had to quit two hours from the top after a month of climbing and preparations. More later