We woke this morning, excited to escape the scary hotel room and board the Paradise. To wit, there was no fan in the bathroom, which was decorated in ugly yellow formica and had a cracked mirror and leaky faucets; the carpet in the room had damp spots, the lights were very dim, the beds had no frames, and the TV would spontaneously flicker off, then back on, while watching it. We spent the morning shopping and waiting to be able to board the boat that afternoon.

Here we are, about to leave the hotel room

Nicole giving Mom a mischievous look

Around 4 p.m., we were finally allowed on the boat. We walked up the gangway, got our photo taken, and eagerly jumped onto the ship. We tracked down our cabin, which was decorated in reds and pinks (we were on the red/pink floor, apparently). Nicole had the low bunk, Mom got the top bunk (and a ladder to climb up to it), and I got the bed under the window (luxury!).

Neat, tidy cabin. Beds turned down, mints...

That's my bed, by the window!

Looking towards the door from the beds

Our bags had not yet been delivered, so I amused myself taking some pictures and then we headed out into the main body of the ship.

	Kiri looking at the mirrored door		Nicole in the entranceway
	Nicole		Nicole perched on her bed

We settled down in the main "lobby" area -- it was like being at the bottom of a polished well. There was a circular bar in the middle, serving drinks, and circular stories above us, leading up six or so floors to a domed glass roof, which was being pattered with rain. Each floor was decked out with dazzling lights (for pictures, see Monday's pictures). Twin indoor glass elevators rose and fell to the strains of live flute and piano music.

We selected our "shore excursions" and then headed to the Normandy Lounge for the "Travel and Adventure Talk". Hosted by fast-talking cruise directory Troy, this was a 100-mph tour of each of the possible excursions. Luckily, we avoided the post-talk scramble, since we'd already filed our preferences. After a quick trip outside to see the decks and play with the huge chess pieces, we went back inside to prepare for our lifeboat drill.

Mom playing with the Big Chess

Mom and Nicole in the Normandy Lounge

We attended our first dinner on board, getting a chance to meet our table-mates: Trish and Trina from Las Vegas and a friendly family of three from Indiana. Our waiter, Martin, was from the Czech Republic and most excellent.

Later, we headed to the casino and played with the nickel slots. I ended up one dollar ahead -- woo hoo! Nicole and I then walked around, posing for the various photographers who were set up on the same floor. We then returned to the Normandy Lounge for the evening show, which was not very impressive; the comedian relied mainly on toilet jokes and sexual innuendo and resorted to some rather cruel public humiliation of "volunteers" called onto the stage.

Nicole at the nickel slots

Mom playing the quarter slots