A Grand Finale to a fantastic trip!

Saturday, October 13th, our last day at sea. Always a bittersweet day as one packs, says goodbye to the staff and gets ready to return to the real world.
This morning we went to the Celebrity theater with Joyce and Angus to hear cruise director Jeff Potts last minute debarkation instructions and see the parade of ship staff on stage to wave goodbye to us. Before Jeff's talk started we ran into Stephanie and Gary who were seated behind us. Those smiles tell the story of the great cruise they had enjoyed!

During his talk Jeff had a very funny top 10 list of passenger's questions during the cruise and the film clip below contains a few of them.



After the show we went to Cova Cafe and had a coffee with Joyce and Angus. This ended up being the last time we were together as we had dinner at the Penthouse scheduled for tonight. We did exchange addresses and such and hope to see them again on another cruise or perhaps when they next come to the States or we visit the UK. We ran into Thomas at the Photography shop and learned he had signed up for the passenger talent show that evening as he is a good singer. Unfortunately the talent show didn't last that long and by the time we ran to the show after dinner it was over, so we missed saying goodbye to Thomas and Annette and hearing him sing. Again we exchanged addresses and such with them and since they live within driving distance of us here in California we hope to see them again sometime.

As mentioned in a previous post, Angel and Sammy the Maitre'D and Assistant Maitre'D had offered to do something they had never done before and that was have the staff of the SS United States restaurant serve one of their fantastic dinners privately at the Penthouse. A big part of this offer was the fact the staff thoroughly enjoyed serving Bonnie, Rich and Merce and made mention that during a long cruise sometimes people become more difficult to serve at the end of the trip but their group was always so much fun. Having observed over the last 14 days the positive and appreciative attitude that the 3 of them always had with the staff I understood completely why they were willing to make this offer.

We of course were thrilled when Bonnie, Rich and Merce invited John, Len and us to share this wonderful dining experience and thus repeat our original dining group from our first SS United States experience earlier in the cruise.










The evening started out with wine and some appetizers, and as we were enjoying but lamenting our last evening in the Penthouse the staff arrived and started to set up the table.



Len, playing us a song on the Penthouse Grand Piano. If you stay in the Penthouse but don't play the piano never fear, there is a automatic player you can turn on for it.
Bonnie, surveys the table after the staff sets it up and is kidding around about stowing away for the next cruise and not leaving, well she was sort of kidding, I'm sure if Bonnie thought she could get away with it, Rich, Merce and her would still be on the Infinity in that Penthouse!
Our great Sommelier is decanting the wine for the main course to come.

Our amuse for the evening was delicious.

A short clip showing our server's style.

Next was a seafood pasta salad.

The centerpiece of the evening,the Beef Wellington.

This was such a tender flavorful Beef Wellington that Randy said it was the best he ever had. Since my Mom and I usually make a form of this dish for Christmas each year and everyone loves it, that was high praise.
The short clip below is of Angel and Sammy sharing a bit of humor as they divide the Wellingtons.

Dessert was a yummy Napoleon.


And the final touch served at all the SS United States dinners, the Petits Fours. Our evening tonight was just perfect, from the witty company, delicious food, luxurious surroundings, to the best service we have ever experienced anywhere which is saying a lot since we have had some exceptional service at some of the finer restaurants in San Francisco and other cities.