MAYBE THIS TIME | JENLISA

2

Jennie marveled at the beauty of the ship. Enrique made good on his promise, and she got the tour with a cocktail in hand, but it was mostly neglected since she was completely blown away by the architecture and detail of the ship. She was sure half the tour she had her mouth open, gaping in an unattractive manner. But she couldn't help it—this was unlike anything she had ever seen. The ship was like a city on the water, with multiple levels and layers, something for everyone. And she meant everyone. If you couldn't find something to do on this ship, that was on you. Because they seemed to have covered every base.

Enrique took her through the main atrium, the center of which was open, and you could see nine stories up. The space was flanked with three sets of glass elevators on each end, so you could people watch the whole center of the ship as you went floor to floor. There was a glass dome at the top of this massive space that provided a protected view of the weather, while offering natural lighting to complement the ambient glow of chandeliers and recessed lights on every floor.

On the floor they were on, Jennie noticed a Starbucks positioned across from a small dance floor, where jazz musicians played soft welcoming music for the vacationers. The ten or so small, intimate tables were filled with eager tourists reviewing the cruise packets handed out by the cheerful excursions coordinator they passed, as Enrique pointed out the duty-free shop and internet café located on the same floor.

They walked up the grand Titanic-esque staircase to the next level, and he took her through the art gallery located at midship before he showed her the lounge, equipped with two dueling pianos and a fancy martini bar with bartenders dressed in formal white dress shirts to match the area's aesthetic.

"On this floor, at the forward of the ship—that means the front," he said, "there is a salon, a spa and fitness area, a library, and a few sports bars." He pointed to one of the dozens of maps located by each corridor and elevator. "The majority of the guest rooms are here and here"—he showed her on the map—"and the crew and staff are down here."

"Underwater?" she asked.

"Some, but not all. Officers are above water, as well as higher-level staff positions like entertainers or musicians. Crew are at water level or just below, but that's mostly the kitchen and cleaning staff, maintenance, et cetera." He shrugged. "We are so infrequently in our rooms, rooming on a low deck doesn't really bother most people since there is a view just about everywhere you go."

"Are there a lot of staff and crew?" she asked as they moved to the next section of the ship.

"Oh, for sure," he replied. "It's a two-to-one ratio of Majestic Princess employees to cruisers. We have our own cafeteria and bars, gym, and social spaces down there—we're like a hidden underwater city in the city."

"That's wild." Jennie couldn't even fathom the enormity of responsibility managing all of those moving pieces, and people.

"It's cruise ship living. You get used to it." He showed her the humidor and cigar bar located next to the rear entrance of the casino and highlighted the restaurants located on each floor, a total of twenty in all, each with a different theme or dining style. Some were plated, some were buffet, a delightful variety to accommodate whatever mood you were in: sushi, Mexican, Thai, Brazilian, French. You named it, they had it.

As they headed toward the rear of the ship, or the aft as he called it, he showed her the reservation desk where she could secure dinner reservations at the most popular places.

"You can do it that way if you want to look at each menu," he said, "or you can have your VIP attendant do the footwork for you. That's their job, too."