Today is one at sea and a good time to begin packing. Like it or not, it has to be done. But first, breakfast was in order at 8am. Some of the regulars were either missing or dressed a little better than a regular sea day. That’s because there is the second Mariner Recognition Event held in the show lounge at 10:15am. Once again, we did not attend. A lunch followed the ceremony in the lower dining room where they serve sparkling wine with lunch.
One of us worked for hours on yesterday’s Panama Canal photos, while the other one began doing the “small stuff” packing. With the exception of storing the cold weather gear, we have not touched anything under the bed. After hauling out most of them, we recalled that the old tags and shipping labels were still on the duffels and suitcases. We sure do not need to have anything go “missing”, so the old info was taken off. We sent eight pieces of luggage and had taken one to Ft. Lauderdale for our stay there. And because we do not want to haul anything but our hand carrys on the airplane, we will ship a total of nine bags home. If the gifts and few souvenirs we bought make the bags overweight, we can pay for another one. They did give us two collapsible duffel bags, and we can use one of those if need be.
Today there was a message for the guests who wish to donate unused or leftover items such as toiletries or clothing, they can be left for the crew at a donation table in the Atrium deck three. Many times people do not want to take some of the gifts back home with them, and usually give them to their room stewards. Also, the laundry service will stop on May 15th in order for them to get it back to us on time.
The ship did a very low speed of 7 knots most of the day. Guess we are very close to Cartegena. Actually, during his noontime talk, Captain Frank said we had 134 nautical miles to go to reach the next port in Colombia. The temperature was a warm 84 degrees with 84% humidity. Winds were higher at 20 knots with partly sunny and cloudy skies. There was a chance of passing showers, although we never saw rain. The Captain said we were sailing within 64 nautical miles of coral reefs located on the starboard side. And we had 6000 feet of water under the keel. Nice to know. He hoped we would be cleared early tomorrow since the all aboard time will be 12:30pm. Then he added that by the time we reach Ft. Lauderdale, we will have traveled over 36,000 nautical miles since January 4th. That equates to traveling the Equator one and a half times. Impressive.
Even with the short port time, there will be some tours offered. A Ho-Ho bus ride is a great idea for 4 hours and $50. Off the beaten track is 4.75 hours for $90. Cartegena Bay and walled city walk is 4 hours and $99. Local flavors, a bay cruise, and walled city is 4.5 hours and $110. We have done this tour a few times and found it fun. Snorkel Baru Island is 3.5 hours and $200, and Getsemani and Old Town in a classic cart roadster is 4 hours for $330. Wow.
By dinnertime, the report and photos were completed, although there has been a problem with the internet being very slow taking like forever to send files. Most all of the “small packing” got done with everything in ziplock bags that fit in them.
Dinner was good with two different salads, a bowl of chicken noodle soup (I like it better than creamy soups) and one shrimp cocktail. Mains were flank steak sliced very thin and quite tender. It was served with sliced potatoes and broccoli covered with a savory gravy, which may have been a wine-reduction base. Dessert was one tiny slice of Key lime pie and Jello. The dining room was pretty quiet tonight, then we remembered there was a Caribbean seafood boil in the Lido tonight. For free, no charge.
The entertainment was a good one tonight with Breton Thunder, with Heritage, the sounds of Nova Scotia. This group was on one of the last cruises we took and they were very popular.
So much for one of the last days at sea.
Bill & Mary Ann
No Pictures
