Good morning and welcome to another day at sea on Carnival Venezia. It looks like we have another day of foghorns ahead of us.

Here is a look at today’s Fun Times.

Today is a throwback day so we also have a Carnival Capers.

The coffee line wasn’t bad. The lady who was messing up the coffee yesterday isn’t working it today.

They have pickleball every morning at 8am. On my way up here I encountered a serious looking pickleball player in the elevator lobby. He had this huge backpack that can’t be a carry-on. It has a spot for a racket sprouting out of the middle of it. Headband. Wristbands. He looked like he was at Wimbledon or something.

Fleet Cruise Director Mike Pack makes an appearance. I don’t see him often and I don’t blame him for hiding. He can barely get something to drink without someone talking his ear off.

When Mike escaped the guy got on his cell phone, speaker phone…and calls someone. He’s screaming “I just wanted to see how this works. Yeah. No. I said I just want to see how it works. HOW IT WORKS. YES. I WANTED TO GIVE THIS A TRY TO SEE HOW IT WORKS.”

I order an Americano–extra cardboard.

And another screwdriver.

I requested a brunch table and moved closer to the dining room. Rugby is on which is more watchable than tennis.

I got deck 4 again. No view on that deck since the windows are grayed out but I’m pretty sure deck 3 has the same view today with the fog.

People are so rude. Once again I’m in line behind the people the hostess is helping. A group of people walk around us to get to the side of the hostess and put their phone in her face. That’s two days in a row. And I know when this happens back home people say “rude Americans” I’m pretty sure this group is European.

I had a long conversation with the with the couple next to me. It started out as me just calling the lady out about being in my business. I was moving all of the things I don’t need to the other side of the table and when I could tell she was watching me, I asked if she wanted my creamer.

I got the mozzarella sticks hoping to get the curly fries I got with them last year. No luck. I just ate the burger and sticks.

It looks like they’re setting up for the repeat of that cooking show I saw the other day.

We are back to all tennis all the time mode. I hope they get different channels in New York. I know we all signed up for something different. But people out of New York are at least going to expect to have ESPN. I have not even seen a single American sports highlight. I just have a feeling this isn’t going to fly next week.

“Horse racing” on lido. Again all of the lido activities seem to be family-oriented.

The deck 11 view.

I don’t think I have ever seen the dog with a bone before.

I got my laundry. And maybe a new beach bag.

Serenity seems less popular today. The bar is closed. Hot tubs are in use.

Some of the good areas are reserved in case the weather gets better but here are a couple good ones still available.

Forward stairwell art.

Mid stairwell art.

As I’m heading to the aft stairwell on deck 1, a man is walking backwards down the hall with his legs strapped together. He gets to me and I tell him you can see where you’re going a lot better walking forward.

Aft stairwell art.

The weather is starting to clear up around lunchtime.

The knobby knee contest.

A frog is trying to escape.

An attempt to capture runaway frog.

And the winner who knees no introduction.

Some backstory here. The comedy host Buzz makes a bird sound. When people see him they make that sound. I’m not sure which came first. It’s a classic chicken/egg scenario.

Last night at comedy Buzz said the sound is annoying  Cruise Director MarQ. So start doing it when you see MarQ.

MarQ just stepped up to host the frog race and someone let out a loud bird sound. MarQ says “that was a nice bird call, for absolutely no reason.”

And the frog race is on.

And the winner is Dallas aka Big-D. MarQ called him Big-D. Then someone told him his name is Dallas. MarQ says “That makes more sense now.”

A rare DJ sighting. Back in the back again.

It’s time to go hunting for lunch. The Chinese line is long again. I don’t know if it’s worth that.

I think I’ll check out La Strada. Let’s stop at Frizzante for a beer to take out there.

There’s no line at La Strada and I think I see why. This is the same menu I had the day before yesterday. It’s very possible they only have two menus.

I decided to go for Chinese. The line is not as long as it was before.

After i turn that corner this older lady all bundled up in a hoodie gets in front of me and says the people in front of me were holding her place. I recognize her. I noticed her eating in the buffet alone the other day. It stood out because she was eating with chopsticks and I didn’t even know those were available outside of the Teppanyaki and sushi. I remember walking back through like an hour later and she was still sitting in the same spot eating alone.

She’s clearly freezing. I tell her go sit inside and I’ll let her back in front of me.

The people in front of me ask “did she talk you into keeping her spot?” I said no I offered it. “She did the same thing to us. We told her no. She said she’d get in behind us. She did the same thing at the comedy club yesterday.”

Whatever. It’s cold out here. I know what it’s like to never have anyone to hold a spot for you. I’m holding the spot for her.

When I got close to the front I let her back in. She was very happy and didn’t get much food.

I however loaded up. Not sure it was worth a 30 minute wait though.

I’m checking out The Captain’s Cocktail Party.

There a solo pianist in the atrium.

All tennis. All the time.

Comedy host Buzz.

Arvin Mitchell.

This is the late afternoon view from my balcony.

Now there’s a duo in the atrium.

I went in search of bars. No seats available at Amari but they made room for me at Frizzante. It’s Moretti time.

The subject of guns comes up. Two guys talking about their handguns.

One guy says “I have a glock.”

The other guy says “So do I” as he reaches into his pocket. He pulls out his phone to show a picture.

I say “I thought you were about to pull out a gun.”

Other guys wife says “No. Not allowed here.”

I say “Nope, not here. I have to keep mine in the cabin.”

Here are some better pictures of that prize winning boat from yesterday.

What’s that big yellow thing? I haven’t seen that in awhile.

Don’t let that sun fool you. It’s pretty chilly outside. If you do this cruise and you’re sensitive to cold, I would bring a jacket.

I need to remember to try the other new things there before I leave.

I thought I better get an early start to dinner since it’s the Gala Dinner tonight. I requested at table at 6:00. The app said it would be a 20-30 minute wait. At 6:30 it said less than 10 minute wait. My table was assigned at 6:44. I was seated at 6:49. My order was taken at 7:15.

There’s a discrepancy between the menu that’s in the hub app and the one that’s on the table. The hub app has Oysters Rockefeller as an appetizer option. The menu at the table has Crab Brioche in its place. Here is the menu.

Shrimp cocktail.

Brioche Crab Meat.

Lobster bisque.

Beef Wellington.

Baked Alaska.

The entertainment tonight is this singer.

He does singing impersonations. These were some of them.

I had to cut out a little early to make it to Will Marfori’s final adult show of the cruise. But this guy has another show later after all of the comedy is over so I can easily make it up.

This crowd wasn’t too bad. I assume because so many people were eating or in the main show.

Buzz.

Will Marfori.

After the show they cleared the place out with 30 minutes until the next show. The line went to the casino but not as deep as the magic show yesterday.

Merl Hobbs.

We have real sports.

A trio is playing in the atrium.

I did go back to the singers show.

Here are some more of his impressions.

He mixed in the Italian theme.

Included audience members.

He’s good. I like him better than the other singers I’ve seen on the ships.

I’m off to bed. Tomorrow is yet another sea day.