We breakfasted in the Lido Market, which, while airy and pleasing, has a very confusing service plan - a lot like what used to be on Cunard - you kind of walk around in large circular area with stations labeled “Bistro,” “Drinks,” “Omelets,” “Vegetarian,” while looking for what you want to eat. Interspersed among these stations are shelves of baked goods, fruit and cereal and yogurts. When we had finally chosen, the table service was well-meaning but spotty. I presumed it was because we were so late getting to breakfast that we almost missed it. We had both slept in for a bit.
We gave ourselves a tour of the ship. I couldn't resist a bit of "art" photography on the staircase between levels in MainStage. Then we found the set for America’s Test Kitchen, an HBO (I think) cooking show. I chatted with Spencer, a bit about his upcoming segment on peppers but walked away without promising to return for the show. We dropped by Ocean Bar to visit Leon and registered for the Beer Sampling tomorrow afternoon.
We scouted out the Dining Room and were pleased with its appearance and ambience. And planned instantly to attend tea there this afternoon.
The library was disappointing as it contained no books passengers could check out. You have to read them in the Explorer’s Club. Though we did enjoy finding Vargig’s Miscellany of Curious Maps (Mapping the Modern World). There’s a really good chance I’ll be giving this book to s few special people for Christmas this year. 
The Explorer’s Club is a larger version of QM2’s Commodore Club. It overlooks the bow of the ship with huge windows, lots of tables and sofa groups, a small bar, and a piano. The place is airy and very, very comfortable; no tables or chairs are crammed next to each other. There’s lots of space and a feeling of wide-openness that’s missing in many lounges I’ve tried.
We read on our balcony, watched the island's tenders fight the strengenthing seas in the harbor at Half Moon Cay to return passengers to the ship and were very glad we had opted for a "let's be casual and lazy" day on board.
Tea was pretty good (unless you’ve been spoiled by Cunard). We shared a table with John and Moira from Salt Lake City who, like us, are first-time Holland America cruisers. The meal was not a repast, but did its purpose. Moira and Barbara both thought the tea tasted like Lipton’s and we were not offered options. The sandwiches were excellent, the sweets good but the scones and clotted cream were okay. John had wanted to try scones because he only knew of the deep-fried dough scones popular in Salt Lake City. He has two of these and seemed pleased. They were a nice couple to share half an hour with, regaling us with their lack of adventure day walking the beaches of Half Moon Cay.
Room service was our treat to ourselves, though we settled on salads and very extremely satisfied, with the food and the service, especially as they came back to pick up the tray when we’d finished!
We meant to go to Trivia, but got to watching Ruth Badger Ginsberg’s movie biography On The Basis of Sex, which each of had intended to watch in the theater but never made it. we were enthralled.
And tired, so we hit the sheets to prepare a day at sea.
Random thought for this day: Why choose to sit at the end of a row, then bitch when people have to step over your feet to get to their seat?
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