At Sea – January 5, 2018

A very busy sea day.  First activity of the day was to meet with those interested in the “Sit and Stitch”.  I had been told by a rep at HAL headquarters that they were no longer organizing a set time for this.  Turns out they actually are – at least on the WC.  Our Cruise Critic roll call had set one up for 10 and HAL’s was at 10:30.  One of the ladies went down to check HAL's out and it turns out that they are once again making blankets for Project Linus.  It would have been nice if we had been told about this in advance.  I have a feeling that most of us from the roll call who brought something to work on will continue our own since we brought our own projects.

Our first Meet and Greet was scheduled for 11.  We had about 200 people sign up for it and we had about 200 attend (some who signed up did not appear while we had a number who hadn’t sign up come).  We were pleased that Captain Mercer came to welcome us.  HAL provided coffee, tea, and cookies.  People who had been talking on line for months got to meet in person and sign up for activities like a slot pull, mah jongg, water aerobics, etc.  We had a chance to thank Kathy who had put together a beautiful photo book with maps, activities, and photos and info about many on our roll call.

Then I had lunch in the Lido and talked with one of the ladies on the roll call until she left for watercolor class.  Since the weather had improved with a temperature of about 70F and partly sunny skies, I sat out by the Sea View pool and read my book.  Although there were a few people in bathing suits, I did not see anyone actually get in the pool.

It was then time for Arts and Crafts.  HAL hired two very industrious ladies to be in charge.  They presented us with a long list of items we are going to make on the sea days over the next four months.

When I returned to my cabin, I had a very pretty flower arrangement.  No one else I talked to later received one so I am not sure why I got it.  I also received a nice calendar from my travel agency with the port days indicated and a space to write our own activities.

Trivia was next.  I played with two couple from the roll.  We came in second with 14 out of 17 and the winning team had 15.

1.   What drink has the most recognized smell?

2.  In what town is “The Simpsons” set?

3.  Name Titanic’s two sister ships.

4.  Which designer introduced the “little black dress”?

Back to my cabin to get ready for dinner.  A few minutes after I arrived there was a knock on my door and I had a delivery of chocolate covered strawberries from my travel agency.

Before going to dinner I sat and listened to the piano player, Jamm.  He was playing Billy Joel hits. 

I am at a table for eight but I believe there are only seven of us.  Three couples and me.  Turns out one of the couples is Cyndi and Ed from Williamsburg who I met on the South Pacific cruise in 2016.  Small world!

Abba Fab was the entertainment tonight.  As the name implies, they are an Abba tribute band.  I had seen them on the Westerdam in 2016 and they always put on a good show.  A great ending for a busy day.

When I returned to my cabin I had another gift.  A very nice HAL messenger bag.  Only problem, it has the name of the wrong ship and wrong cruise.  I wonder if they got ours???

Tomorrow we are supposed to be in Grand Cayman but the captain has already warned us that it may be too rough to tender.  We shall see.

Very pretty flower arrangement from???

Cruise Specialists calendar

Yummy chocolate covered strawberries

Abba Fab

Messenger bag for the Prinsendam's Grand South America and Antarctic Voyage

Trivia answers…

1.  Coffee

2.  Springfield

3.  Brittanic and Olympic

4.  Coco Chanel

Smooth sailing until next time!