Day 4 - Apr 13 - Formal Nights, Last Suppers & History

"As the sun set over the north atlantic preparations were underway for tonight’s Formal event - Last Dinner on TITANIC where the restaurant re-created the final menu as served in First Class."

It is my hope to create a sense of what it is actually like day to day on this voyage. To capture a feeling of the growing anticipation and energy of this so very strange gathering. By now, everyone has settled into a very comfortable mode. People are especially friendly, not only because of the mutual interst of why everyone is aboard this special charger, but also due to the intimate size of the Azamara Journey. Certainly this is a vast difference when compared to a mega ocean liner such as Queen Mary 2.  At every turn there are now familiar faces and new acquaintances.


On these full days at sea everyone can take advantage of the wealth of knowledge imported by the various experts on board.  Today has been a series of multiple talks and lectures packed with fascinating facts, information and history. 


The first talk this morning was just on collecting TITANIC books. My initial reaction was how much can one say about collecting books, but the presentation was fascinating spanning over 100 years of writings on this history of TITANIC from pre-launch construction profiles to dozens of biographies of survivors, analysis and renderings of that tragic “Night to Remember” forward to Ken Marschall’s spectacular art and other contemporary works. 

With only a short break to grab a cup of tea was a new topic by Cunard Historical Society Charman John Langley on one of the most important, yet under appreciated elements connected with TITANIC. John presented an in depth background into the life of the Cunard liner CARPATHIA and her heroic Captain Henry Rostron. Over the past century very little has been brought out about the one ship that actually rescued all of the surviving passengers and crew. 


Next came a dual talk by Brigitte Saar and Gunter Bäbler on Icebergs and the search to determine which was the very berg that collided with TITANIC. Supported by stunning photographs taken in Greeland of glaciers and icebergs in the massive flow of ice that slowly makes its way southward. Apparently it can be over a three year journey for an iceberg from the arctic down into the North Atlantic shipping lanes.  


Further details provided forensic evidence from vintage postcards and accounts to present day scientific research that strongly suggests and identifies a photo of the very iceberg culprit.  This talk was wrapped up with some spectacular preview images by artist Gerry Hofstetter of projections made onto the side of huge icebergs.  Hofstetter is famous for his high end technique to turn huge buildings into works of art. The images we saw of a nearly lifesize TITANIC projected on a berg, Captain Smith, the submerged bow of TITANIC, will supposedly be publicly projected on this 100th Anniversary. 

Gerry Hofstetter projection

These three lectures filled a lion share of the day, almost a university Master’s Class on al things TITANIC.  A little overwhelming, but endlessly fascinating and certainly adding to the special tone of this experience.


I took a moment to iron a shirt for tonight’s events and while in the Deck 7 Laundrette the sometimes surreal absurdity of this voyage caught me off guard as the small television screen in the corner was showing, of all films, RAISE THE TITANIC! 


As the sun set over the north atlantic preparations were underway for tonight’s Formal event - Last Dinner on TITANIC where the restaurant re-created the final menu as served in First Class.  Tonight was the time to wear either Tuxedo or period costume.  I decided to dress in my black tux with the period bowler had and fur collard overcoat. It was almost spooky to walk the decks and wood paneled drawing rooms with so many stepping back to 1912. The entrance into the main dining hall is adorned with small mirror squares and the reflection back was uncanny. 





A photographer from New York Post asked if he could take photos and a series were posed toasting a party at dinner and walking down the hall, adorned with two beautiful young ladies on my arms in full garb.

The night was beautifully capped off by a delightful conversation with Cruise Director Tony and his wife Christine. It was confirmed that on the way back to New York after the memorial rendezvous with TITANIC they would set up a reading of excerpts from my play 41W 50N adapted from and based on the US Senate Hearings.  

The timing could not be more perfect for the subject matter and it’s intricate connection to all that has happened and been presented on board.  Next on Saturday is the arrival at the last reported position of TITANIC and then crossing southeast to the final resting site. 

Below is the evening's menu:

Oysters Findlay

Consomme Olga

or 

Cream of Barley Soup

Poached Salmon with Mousseline Sauce

Lamb with Mint Sauce

or

Filet Mingnon Lili

or

Chicken Lyonnaise

or

Curried Vegetables and Rice

Punch Romaine

Asparagus Salad with Champagne Saffron Vinagrette

Waldorf Pudding

or

Chocolate Painted Eclairs with French Vanilla Cream

or

Peaches in Chartreuse Jelly

Assorted Fresh Fruit and Cheeses