And Another

Monday - Another sea day that is. Tomorrow is, hopefully, a port day then only two more sea days (and another time zone change) and we will be in FL. I say hopefully as there is a slight chance that it might be too windy to dock. The time has passed quickly. Nothing unique in the picture. Just showing the weather and the calm seas.

What had become the daily routine is breakfast in the main dining room followed by the hot tub. Not really a jacuzzi as there is just bubbles not water jets. But it’s fine. At 10, they begin some sort of exercise program in the pool area so I relocate to somewhere else. The exercise program includes loud music and someone way to cheerful about exercise. The solarium is quiet but is much more crowded than last week.

The ocean is calm with not much wind but the forecast is for it it increase as the day progresses. The high and low temperature in today’s forecast is 75°F. Can’t complain about that. 

Around 2, I picked up a chai latte (part of the routine) and went to the observation deck at the very front of the ship on deck 5. I found a very chill area on the ship. Deck 4, starboard. Under the lifeboats. It’s a long outdoor walkway connecting stairs to the observation deck on both sides of the ship and wraps around the stern. I now know where the auxiliary generators are.

This was taken from the stern, deck 4.

Yet Another Sea Day

Sunday - My initial reaction (besides laughing) was we must’ve made a wrong turn. Or this isn’t what we signed up for. 

This is closer to what I was expecting. Being at the tail end of the season in the northern Atlantic, warm, sunny days were not expected. It looks colder that it actually is (75°F). The water really is a dark blue as in blue water sailing. 

After breakfast, I relaxed a bit on deck 12 then did a four and a half laps which, according to Apple, was a mile. I guess I could’ve added deck 13 which would’ve added flight of stairs. But this is vacation.

It is possible to have a vacation even though one is retired. What changed is the definition of “work”. 

I’m enjoying the quiet on this cruise. Especially the sea days. It doesn’t feel crowded unless you venture into the buffet during mealtime or the promenade when there is a give-away going on. On days like today, it’s nice enough outside to lie around and just relax. And have a Coke Zero. This is bottled in Italy. If I ordered a Diet Coke, it would be from the U.S. Interesting. The bartender said that Diet Coke is sold as Coke Light in Europe and the formula is different. Most passengers from the U.S. don’t like the change. And Coke Zero is much more popular.

On this cruise, no excursions are planned, which, for me, is nice. Granted, it’s nice to visit new places but after three weeks of that in Italy, Greece, and Spain, I need a vacation from our vacation…

Another Sea Day

Saturday - A beautiful morning with wind from the northwest. There is more movement as in rocking. Especially if you go higher up. 

We have a “behind the scenes” tour later this morning. I’ve been looking forward to that. It’s labeled as “Behind the Waves” and includes the bridge, the engine control room, galley, and waste management. And, the infamous I95 corridor that runs the full length of the ship down the center. 

The tour started out in one of the galleys. This is the seafood preparation area as well as some of the appetizers. The bakery is also in this smaller kitchen on deck 4.

The next stop was deck 2 where all of the food is stored. Currently, there are around 5,000 to feed between passengers and crew. Their last major fresh produce stop was Cartagena and they need to stock and keep fresh for almost two weeks including several days contingency.

This is also the location of “I95” the corridor that runs the length of the ship. In one of the side passages is the engine control room. Pictures weren’t allowed but they controlled the engines, power generation, & water production. Pretty interesting. 

The bridge was the next stop. It was lightly staffed as it was a “green” day. No heavy weather or really rough seas. 

This is one of three sets of controls on the ship depending on which side they are docking. The captain stopped by to answer questions and take pictures. 

Other stops included garbage processing and the ship’s laundry. It was really hot in the laundry and was the one time we were below the waterline. 

It was a good tour!

Finished the day off in the hot tub next to the pool and the solarium (better shelter from the wind). 

Sea Day

Friday - Today is the first of a string of four sea days. On Tuesday, we arrive in Bermuda. It’s cool a windy resulting in the pool sloshing water with the waves. Walking through the area felt like walking in the surf. Only the water is warm. 

The hot tubs were still open without too many waves. Not surprisingly, I was the only one enjoying the experience. It was also raining but the hot tubs had covers. So not too wet. It was 64°F with a 15 knot wind. And, the ship was at ~90° to the wind. So we rocked a little side to side. So far, I’m enjoying the repositioning cruise. 

My almost daily mid-afternoon drink, a tall dirty chai tea latte. “Dirty” means a shot of espresso added. On this cruise, no extra charge. Just a little extra caffeine for the afternoon. RC has a coffee punch card that you can purchase pre-cruise for a decent savings. I’ve used them for the last several cruises. 

There was a time change last night and another one tonight. We are already GMT+2 s quite a change already from Italy, which was GMT-2. Only a few more to go. EST is GMT+5 so only 3 more to go.