Merry Christmas to All!
Christmas Eve ended with a heartwarming rendering of some well known Christmas Carols and some very unusual ones from the Philippines and Indonesia.
The international staff appeared on stage, some in native costume, some in evening wear and sang to a hushed audience. But, especially the carols originating in far away places made the full theatre break out in thunderous applause.
Smiling Indonesians, whom we mostly encounter making our beds, cleaning bathrooms, wiping handrails in staircases, serving in dining rooms and setting and clearing tables, accompanied their movingly rendered 'Oh Holy Night' with native instruments and guitar, played by their fellow housekeeping staff.
The Philippino Bar Keeping and Front Office Staff wore native transparent shirts or colourful aprons or dresses with typically large puffed sleeves and sang carols from their homeland, which some of them had not visited since many months.
Management and staff, hailing from more than 30 countries and speaking almost as many native tongues, agreed on singing 'something everyone knew in English': 'Jingle Bells' and 'We wish You a Merry Christmas'.
The Captain gave a moving address worthy of being broadcast to a wider audience, recognizing Christmas as it was originally meant to be, but also paid respect to non Christian Faiths, and wished everyone Peace and Harmony.
The Grand Finale floated sweetly around the darkened theatre, lit only by candles in each singer's hand: Silent Night Holy Night.
After all the emotional Christmas Eve celebration, a midnight international Christmas Market had 'decked the halls' with tables laden with scrumptious tid bits, colourfully arranged and served by the ships brigade of cooks.
A Christmas not easily forgotten, the genuine warmth and friendship of the crew create an unexpected intimate 'family atmosphere'.
Again: A Merry Christmas
