Laundry Wars

Do you remember back in college doing laundry in the dorm? Getting an available washer / dryer was a challenge and if you didn't watch your load(s) like a hawk, your clothes would mysteriously find themselves on the folding table (or worse yet, the floor) wet and/or wrinkled beyond recognition. Laundry on the cruise is a bit reticent of that.

Laundry on a long cruise is a necessary evil, a drudgery, a pain. In stark contrast to the rest of our somewhat lavish, definitely spoiled existence on board, laundry is a big ol' bitch slap across the face. (Sorry for the vulgarity but sometimes it's the only way to clearly describe the experience). It's a pretty common sentiment amongst those of us non-elite loyalty status, for whom laundry is included.

Tensions got heated about a month ago when 2 couples were escorted off the ship permanently for getting into a fist fight over laundry etiquette. Scuttlebutt was circulating the ship at a feverish pace for a few days afterward, but the consensus was that the wives got into a shouting match over whose turn it was to use a washer, and the husband's, who came to break it up, ended up getting into a brawl.

How is it possible to get so impassioned about laundry? Here's how. Of the 10 floors with staterooms, 6 have laundry rooms on the floor. Most have 4 of each, washers and dryers, stacked. Our floor has 6 pair but 3 are habitually broken, making it difficult to get a machine. It's classic supply and demand....I mean, DEMAND. (Quick math if youre interested, otherwise skip to the next paragraph). There are approx 1000 staterooms, and I'd venture that 1/4 are Elite status, so they're not doing laundry. So that leaves about 25 pair of W/D for 750 rooms, or 1 pair per 30 rooms. Sounds like enough but it's not because we all only do laundry on sea days. Suffice it to say, it's a major inconvenience.

Today was the last sea day for a while, so I knew it would be a big laundry day. So I got up at 5am. But all the machines were already in use with about 1/2 hr left on each. Great, I'll come back at 5:30. When I did, there was already a line. So I went back to the room, got my computer and stood there working till a machine opened up about 40 minutes later. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Because we do laundry about every 2 weeks, and my wife and I take turns doing it, and we only have 27 days left, I'm happy to report that I've done my last load of world cruise laundry. I'd celebrate but I'm afraid I might spill something in my shirt.

It was a nice sea day. With so few left, we're savoring the slower pace. Tomorrow we're in Ravenna italy for 2 days, another treat to have an overnight port.

Tonight was a formal night. We got a group of our favorite friends together for a table of 10. Such a great group and the food, it was great. Filet mignon with 3 lobster tails. My buddy Scott did the same. Gluttony but oh so worth it.

Tomorrow, Ravenna, Italy for 2 days. Yeah!!! We have plans to be locals. I'll explain tomorrow.