At that moment, a voice came over the ship’s intercom informing the passengers that the ship would be departing in a few minutes.
“Do you want to stand out on the balcony and watch as the ship leaves Barcelona?”
“Sure.”
They rose and walked out onto the balcony, picking a spot near the corner so they could see the skyline as well as the groups of people near the pool. Bar staff were walking through the crowds with trays of drinks, and music was playing over the loudspeakers as the sail-a-way party began.
Ben raised his glass toward the city and said, “See you in a week!”
They swayed gently to the music and sipped their drinks as the party continued on the Pool Deck below. Occasionally, people would gaze up at them and they raised their drinks, caught up in the party atmosphere. Eventually, folks drifted away, and the two men went back inside.
“I should head back to my cabin,” Ben said. “Hopefully my luggage has arrived and I can unpack. I don’t want to nap at this point, but I think I’ll feel more refreshed if I take a shower and change before dinner.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Rob admitted. “Why don’t I come to your cabin around eight and we can head to dinner from there?”
“Sounds good,” Ben leaned into Rob and kissed him. “I’ll see you later.”
After Ben left, Rob rolled his suitcase and carry-on into the bedroom. Laying them on the bed, he unzipped the large bag and started to put things away. As he hung things up in the closet, he picked out a shirt for later and hung it in the bathroom, hoping the steam from his shower would help relax the few wrinkles he saw.
Once he had unpacked everything from both bags, he tucked them away under the bed and decided to read for a little while before getting ready for dinner. Grabbing his Kindle from the nightstand, he went into the living room and sat on the couch.
* * *
Just before eight o’clock, Ben was rushing around his cabin, trying to finish dressing. He gazed at the clock on the nightstand.Shit, he’ll be here any minute!
He went into the bathroom and swiped deodorant under each arm then spritzed a bit of cologne on his chest and quickly combed his hair. Walking back to the bed, he picked up the light-green dress shirt and as he put it on, he heard the doorbell ring.
Sighing, he walked to the door and opened it. Rob stood there looking stunning in a blue oxford shirt and navy slacks. “Sorry,” Ben said. “I’m running just a few minutes behind schedule.”
“No worries, we have plenty of time.” Rob leaned in for a quick kiss and Ben inhaled, catching a heady scent of cedar and citrus. Ben went back for a second kiss, “Hmmm, you smell good.”
Rob grinned, “Thanks, you’re not so bad yourself. Is that orange-spice I smell? It’s wonderful.”
“Yes, and a hint of sandalwood, too. I’m glad you like it. I know I said I wasn’t going to nap, but I started reading and fell asleep,” Ben said sheepishly. He finished buttoning his shirt and tucked it into his pants. “Let me put on my shoes and I’ll be ready.”
“Take your time, Ben. It’s just eight now. It will only take us a few minutes to walk to the restaurant.”
Rob sat on the sofa and looked around. The carpet was a mottled pattern in various shades of gray and blue, nicely complementing the dark teal sofa and matching chairs. Accent pillows in different patterns incorporated the colors, and a bit of pale yellow completed the effect. Understated but comforting. Through an archway, he noticed the king sized bed covered in a dove grey duvet, and more accent pillows gracing the chaise in the corner. The decor was quite different from his own suite, but it was still beautiful.
“I love this suite, Ben. I would definitely consider something like this the next time I sail. The Celestial Suite is a bit over-the-top and definitely too much for one or two people. But when Alan saw the photos in a brochure, he decided we had to book it.”
“Yeah, this is spacious, but still has a cozy feel to it,” Ben agreed. Putting his OceanAccess wrist band on and grabbing his phone he said, “Okay, I’m ready.”
They decided to take the stairs rather than the elevator, as it was only two decks down. Once on Deck 8 they passed through the doors to Seaside Cove and meandered along, taking in the sights. Some passengers were strolling on the walkways, while others sat on benches along the way. As they passed the Trident Lounge, they saw Lukas behind the bar and when he noticed them, he waved.
They waved back and continued on to the Poseidon Steakhouse. Although a few minutes early, Rob checked in with the maitre d’.
They were seated at a table for two in the outdoor area. “It feels like we’re in an outdoor café,” Ben commented. A white wrought iron railing separated the dining area from the walkway and twinkling lights were woven through it. The tables were set with pristine white tablecloths and a centerpiece of an antique bronze lantern glowed, causing the crystal glasses to sparkle.
A waiter approached and took their drink order, then left them to decide on dinner. For appetizers, Rob selected the French onion soup while Ben opted for the shrimp cocktail. They both decided on filet mignon for their entrée, and they chose to share scalloped potatoes and creamed spinach to accompany the main course.
They sipped their drinks and Ben asked, “Do you have any specific plans for this cruise? Any place you’re thinking of visiting while we’re in port?”
“Not really. I planned on just taking it easy most days, although I did see a shore excursion that looked interesting when we’re in Civitavecchia. A lot of passengers will opt for Rome, but I’ve been there a few times before. There’s a trip to an area called Tuscania that sounded interesting. After a short visit in the town, you head to a farm where they grow olives and grapes among other things. Then lunch with ingredients grown right at the farm. It sounded more interesting than either Rome or staying on the ship.”
“That does sound great. That’s in a couple of days, right?”
“Yes, we’re at sea tomorrow then Genoa the next day. Civitavecchia is the day after that. I haven’t booked the trip yet. Would you be interested in joining me if there’s still room? We could stop by the Shore Excursion Desk later and see.”
