December 21- At Sea

A day at sea can be so relaxing….and that is exactly what we did-relax. Had room service breakfast, which was delivered right at the stroke of 9:00 as requested. I am amazed how accurate the orders always are and how hot and tasty the food is. The coffee on this ship is robust and always hot. Can’t get any better than that for breakfast.

Wayan and Desmon

Our cabin is attended by two gentlemen from Indonesia- Wayan and Desmon. They work well together as a team. Wayan has done 9 contracts and has a wife and 3 year old daughter at home. Desmon has done 5 contracts and thinks it is too hard to have a family when you work on a cruise ship. We laughed and said maybe he just hadn’t met the right person…and he said maybe not. But I have always thought it would be really tough to be away for 10-11 months, home for a month, and then gone again. Be hard to maintain connection with spouse and children even though the internet makes it much better than it was in our early days of cruising when you’d see crew lined up at the payphone ashore to talk with their family members. Wayan and Desmon are responsible for cleaning 21 suites twice a day. They are always cheerful, helpful, thorough AND quick!

Had several rounds of technicians appear to test the AC and say it was hot and they would fix it right away. Still warm and no real “fixer” has come. Ordered the DVD of The Book Thief movie and had to get  the front desk to send help. Something was wrong with the DVD player and the remote needed new batteries.  Finally got to watch the movie and just relax.

Ate lunch with Dave from Michigan who retired from working for Holland America Cruise Lines. He began with them in the mid 1970’s and retired about 10 years ago. In the 10 years he has sailed enough with Holland America as a passenger to be a 4 star Mariner and sailed for more than 200 days. We had a good conversation about how cruising ha s changed through the years. He felt people were asking for more and more in the way of entertainment- climbing walls, bumper cars, big water slides and such.

We are missing the opportunity to hear a lecture or talk about the history of these islands or anything else of interest. The demographics of these passengers- as in older adults mostly- would make a lecture a welcome option- especially on a day at sea. We also noted yesterday that we were not being delivered the Daily Digest from the NYTimes as we had always been in cruises past. I thought maybe it wasn’t being published given the availability of news on the internet, but as we walked through the Oceans Bar on our way to lunch we saw several copies. Jim asked at the Front Desk and they said, “Oh would you like it delivered to your suite. “ Naturally he said “yes” and naturally this morning it was NOT delivered. AH! How one misses the little things!

This evening was an evening for Gala Attire and we saw everything- tuxes and long sequined gowns, suits and fancy dresses, blazers and nice looking dressy outfits, and some guys not wearing jackets. Reflects the way life is becoming much more casual and the fact that we think passengers have decided they are on vacation and no one can really tell them what to wear.

We ate at a table for 6 with a woman (Sue)  from Santa Barbara, California whose husband was sea sick and stayed in their cabin, a 91 year old woman (Betty) who has sailed more than 300 days with Holland America and travels alone, and a couple from Miami- John a meteorologist working in the hurricane center in Miami and his wife Fran originally from Jamaica.  Had good conversation about travel and the world,

I stopped in the Ocean Bar to hear a few pieces by the Station Band and Jim went to check out the show. We got back to the cabin at about the same time. Off to bed for a restful night!

As I post this here at about noon- ship’s time- on December 22 this is where we are. We have traveled 822 nautical miles from Miami at this point. 

May the seas be calm  and the breezes warm for you this day.