Day 2 of our ocean escape began early.  After coffee, we attended that mandatory life jacket muster blessedly postponed from that most hectic departure -- then Gene and I went our separate ways so as not to suffer from too much togetherness. 

Since this was my transition from life before and after Ike, I laid a healthful course for my cruise with plenty of exercise, frequent naps while Gene showered at the gym, and eating a reasonably healthy diet.  I quickly found the gym and made good use of its stationary bicycles, almost everyday.  I also walked a mile on its outdoor track; unfortunately, the blisters I rubbed with new tennis shoes literally stopped me in my tracks.  Instead, I vowed to do 30 minutes of exercise a day, except on Shore days.   During the first week, I joined the crowd around the pool; after the Azores, cold and nasty weather cleared them out, but I continued to enjoy the whirlpool, sauna and steam room. 

You know even though RCL serves a large variety and quantity of food almost 24/7, you really don't have to eat it -- all!  My vow to eat a healthy diet was made much easier by a most accommodating menu.  At dinner that first night, I discovered a Vitality menu selection specificlaly designed for health-conscious cruisers like me -- low fat and calorie, a different one offered every night.  Between that and the delicious vegetable curry dishes, my dinners were fairly healthy.   And rather than eat everything on my plate, I left something behind or just asked for a small taste of a serving.   Most of the time, we split the desert and I soon stopped eating bread.   

My daily meals, eaten separately becasue Gene preferred breakfast, was limited to one -- lunch for me which consisted of mostly salads.   The Canadian nurses that first night told us of a cutom-tossed salad in the Carmen dining room which also offered table service at lunch.  Gene and I tried that out on day 3 and vowed to return.  As you walk around a U-shaped display of every kind of salad ingredient imaginable, one preparer follows you with a metal bowl, adding alll your choices.  After the dressing is added, he literally tosses it in the air and then into a chilled glass bowl. 

And now for my diet mistakes -- I ate some form of eggs everyday which did not do my choloesteral any good!  I atoned by giving them up entirely for a month; now, I'm down to 2 a week until my next check-up.  Another indulgence Gene and I enjoyed -- Johnny Rockets, a 1950's style burger joint/soda fountain where the entertainment was better than the mostly fried food.

Diet, remember, does not include wine consumption but budget and discipline prevented too much over - indulgence!  We bought a 10-bottle wine package which we increased for the same price by 5 more bottles.  We did not start imbibing until just before our late 8:00 dinner nor did we drink during the shows -- more on the entertainment later.  I highly recommend buying a wine package because it really did keep our onboard costs down -- consider it an investment!!  One important lesson we learned -- when you buy a wine package, the bottles are yours and can travel with you to your stateroom.