| Show rm Sunday — September 4 1988 Section T Page 1 "“a ' i John and Maty photo Maatono-Stahat- Astroturf has replaced teak on poolside decks where despite this Ideal scene aboard the Nordic Prince acquiring a suntan involves excruciating labor All decked out cruise ships’ great outdoors A guide to By John When steamers were young before any of us were two shipboard options: below or on deck Either one stayed in a small cramped sometimes damp cabin or one ventured out onto small cramped and always damp decks Things could not get worse they had to get better And they have First some outer decks were covered over — to create a shelter or promenade deck — and n winds This was they were enclosed against crossing not cruising and in winter especially outdoors had to be a protected outdoors Of course there were open decks as well and once sails were dispensed with these became less obstructed and as ships got bigger wider Then on cruise ships dense with singleclass passengers deckhouses were enlarged to accommodate huge public rooms with the result that deck space was once again decreased But there still remains room for shipboard's great outdoor activities Let us deal with sitting first In the beginning there was nowhere to sit save on some park benches bolted to the deck amidships Then passengers brought their own deck chairs or carpet stools from home shipping them to the vessel with their trunks the crew would dump them into the dark recesses of a locker on deck Helpless but attractive lady passengers charmed helpful sailors or smitten passenger admirers into unearthing their chairs each sunny day and setting them out on deck The companies soon realized there was money to be made and rented out deck chairs of their own — price for the crossing ?5 A brass frame on the headrest held a card indentifying it as “occupied" exclusively for the entire voyage Preferred deck location differed: Some wanted shelter from sun or wind others enjoyed bundling up in steamer rugs to face the ele bom one had ' 5 jf m mid-ocea- mm r s f-- ! r f r 'i V back-to-bac- ' ‘ -’ ‘ 1 4 II I trs-- - Maxtone-Graha- k m ments On small gyrating ships there were wooden slots in the deck that kept deck chairs as well as their terrified occupants from sliding into the scuppers The deck chair remains seductively Inevitably when ensconced in a deck chair regardless of how bracing the weather how entrancing the scenery how engaging the conversation or how gripping the novel one's gaze tends to falter one's chin descends one's book collapses and a delicious irresistible doze ensues After a refreshing nap it’s time for a brisk walk Whether open or sheltered decks are used by almost all but the infirm to curcuit the ship Four times around most decks is a mile Confirmed walkers keep coins in a pocket and transfer them one at a one when passing the stern time to the right-hanJoggers can do that too but most jogging outfits lack pockets On many cruise lines obliging cruise staff log each walker’s circuits on a master sheet that is totaled by cruise’s end The one with the most mileage wins a prize Champion shipboard walker of all time was Dr John Finley New York Times editor and celebrated New Yorker who once clocked 100 miles on a five-da- y crossing Which direction to walk clockwise or counterclockwise? I have observed that most walk counterclockwise joggers go the opposite way because they hate to be stopped and find it easier to confront rather than overtake Walkers face a social dilemma If you walk clockwise and someone else walks counterclockwise you pass twice each circuit Should you greet each time? Is one brisk “good morning!” sufficient or should you say hello again then again and then smile See T-- Column 1 sleep-makin- left-han- g d d 2 L '"Vpr i ’‘AwJ it s Wv-- H " : ' r j 1 7 t t 1 Hi ?s 7- John and Mary V 7 Maitone-Graha- Passenger finds secluded deck chair aboard QE II to indulge in silting and watching ’v- - Is 7--0 ft William KonnodyVnog Sank photo Aerobic devotees at sea: other forms of exercise and games include walking jogging volleyball basketball shuffieboard and even croquet photo |
