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The next morning we seemed perhaps slightly later than usual docking at Castaway Cay. I went to breakfast at Triton's. I don't recall my server, but during my meal Mario came over from across the room, knelt beside the table so I could hear him over all the noise, shook my hand and thanked me for the card and tip. I told him I think he is a great server - far better than most - and a good person, and that the tip was partly because I took him away from the group he would have had, and partly because of the person he is. He seemed to understand.
I learned that he will be taking his break from October 5th until just before Christmas, and that he is now on a 5-month contract. I told him about Delta's Sky Magazine "Suave Slav" article. He said he had not seen it. I had printed a copy to bring with me on the cruise. I told him I'd bring it this evening and he could show it to all the other Croatian servers.
After I left the restaurant I went to Guest Services to get the Gratuity Vouchers before the rush. I then went back to my room to pick up my mug and headed up to Deck 9 to fill it with coffee. Then I returned to the stateroom and was about to change into something more comfortable when Antonio knocked on the door. I told him he could come in, that I would be out on the verandah writing in my journal. He thanked me and began his work. I mentioned to him that he did not leave a washcloth (face cloth) for me the night before. He apologized, saying they ran out of them, and that he would leave me four this time so I would be sure to have one. I explained that there was no need to leave so many, but that if they run out again he should just leave me the one I've been using so I would have one. He said he would. After all, I didn't want to wash my face using the extra hand towels he left me.
I never received an invitation to the Castaway Club (return cruisers) reception, although I had received the usual Castaway Club beach towel and pins in my stateroom. When I inquired at Guest Services, they said they would send the invitation up to my room. When I still did not receive it, I asked someone else, who then advised Colleen Mazzoni (onboard cruise sales) of the situation. Colleen called me and said apparently the reason Guest Services did not send me the invitation was because their computers can only handle one booking code per guest, and they showed me as being a back-to-back cruiser, staying on for the next cruise. Strange, because I originally wanted to book back-to-back for this one, but the next cruise was being chartered entirely by Avon. Anyway, I was told to just "show up" for the reception as usual.
At the reception I sat front and center alone at a small table (This is starting to become a habit!). Captain John immediately came over and reintroduced himself and I reintroduced myself. He looked at my DCL name tag and learned that I am a Disney Specialist and wildlife photographer. He said I certainly had the best seat in the house. I spoke with Colleen about next January's Annual Passholder Cruise, drank two Bahama Mamas, and left.
Dinner that evening was, in a word, a "disaster" for me. I arrived at Parrot Cay (very noisy and my least favorite of the restaurants) and was swept from the long line at the entrance on the arm of Mario, who informed me that he was seating me at my own "romantic table." The translation of this is that the people I sat with the very first evening now had the rest of their formerly ill family members with them and decided they wanted it to be "just family." This made perfect sense, since they had booked a "Family Reunion" and it was improper for Disney Cruise Line to seat a solo cruiser with a Family Reunion. But this meant I would be seated at a table alone.
This time there was no ship's officer or other company for me. Although Mario attempted to be attentive, he was kept busy with his other tables, which were not close to mine. Sitting alone in such a noisy environment was not a pleasant experience. Add to this that when the assistant server took my empty iced tea glass for a refill, it was fifteen minutes before she returned. It was also she who did most of my serving that evening, not my server. So when Mario made his way over to ask if I was okay, I proclaimed honestly, "Right now there is nowhere I would rather not be than here."
I told him that never again would I cruise solo without linking my dinner ressies to someone in advance. My past solo cruises had been wonderful, but this one was very uncomfortable for me. It was also clear that this arrangement was making things difficult for Mario . . all because I requested him as my server. I was really anxious for this cruise to end, even though the majority of it was quite enjoyable.
He told me they would find someone for me to sit with the next night. It is a good thing I did not believe that, because fortunately I decided to find my own dinner companion. If I had not, I would have ordered room service and eaten on my verandah.
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