It is very tough traveling with an infant. Abby has been really good, actually. However, there are so many more restraints when we have to accommodate her naps and feedings, so we end up finding ourselves hanging around the stateroom more rather than exploring the ship as we did on our first cruise.

Having been on a Holland America cruise before and on a boat identical to the MS Oosterdam makes it easier to sit back and just chill vs trying to see everything and do everything on board ship. After all, we’ve seen the after dinner shows, been to champagne with the Captain, explored the dance clubs, played bingo, and so forth.

During our first At Sea Day, we allowed Abby to get adjusted to her new environment and let her explore at her own pace. Her naps were sporadic, so Paul and I went exploring on our own a few times. I got to attend Afternoon Tea at the Vista Dining Room with Kristin and Lisa. We met several very pleasant people and devoured some delicious scones. Kristin even flagged down the Scone Guy to acquire a few extras. We learned that Afternoon Tea was served every day on the ship, so we’ll definitely be back - probably on Tuesday when we’re staying on the boat as we cruise around the Hubbard Glacier.

Dinner was Formal so we all got dolled up at 5:45 for our seating. Yesterday, we realized that our party was split into 2 dining tables of 4 each and that Lisa was separated from her family and seated with Paul, Abby and me. Lisa had talked to the Assistant Maitre D’ to see if there was any way we could be reseated together and they came through for us tonight! We were relocated to a round table - slightly crowded, especially with the high chair - but sufficient. The key note of the night were the DIVINE Alaskan King Crab legs for our main entree. Even Abby got to gnaw on a claw. Paul ordered the Lamb with mint jelly and even that I must say was melt-in-the-mouth succulent and I don’t like lamb at all!

Abby was a trooper, but we did have to visit the Ocean Bar a couple of times to dance. She did this last night as well. She absolutely loves the live band there and Ronald, the waiter, who runs around the atrium’s spiral staircase and lets Abby chase him. :) A waiter at the Vista Dining Room brought her a balloon after Abby made her crinkle-nosed face at him and that entertained her for a long time. She also grabbed on to one of the King Crab claws and enjoyed sucking on it, which was very entertaining for the adults at the table.

After dinner, we all piled into the Narges’ stateroom and watched the new Die Hard movie. Very good! Part way through the movie, Lisa, Kristin and I went up to the 10th Deck and had a drink at the Crow’s Nest. We listened to a pleasant pianist, chatted, and enjoyed our Spanish coffee (Lisa), grapefruit and vodka (Kristin), and mojito (me). We stopped at the Lido Restaurant on the 9th Deck to grab cookies and drinks for Paul and Eric before heading back to the Narges’ stateroom on Deck 8.

Probably due to the mojito, but Abby finally slept like a baby through the night for the first time since we started our vacation.