Subject: Report # 44 Sailing Towards Cairns February 13, 2016 Saturday Partly cloudy, rain & 79 degrees
Report # 44 Sailing Towards Cairns February 13, 2016 Saturday Partly cloudy, rain & 79 degrees
Another day at sea turned out to be a wet one. Guess we have been lucky to have had such agreeable weather so far, so some rain has been expected. If today had been a port day, it would have been miserable. Obviously, we had passed Mooloolaba sometime early this morning, not able to stop there. Conditions were so bad, that we never would have been able to tender ashore.
However, we would find out that there was an alternate plan for us during the Captain's pm talk. A new port had been determined as a good spot on our way to Cairns by the name of Townsville. It had everything we need, in particular, a place to dock. Since we have never been there before, it will be nice to explore the town. The most we can hope for is that this storm we are in, actually part of a cyclone, will be gone by Monday. So the plan is to spend Valentine's Day at sea, and arrive in Townville the following day.
Most of our day was spent visiting with friends, walking the deck, and going to a long lunch with Barb. We have sure enjoyed our lunches with her, and the food and service has been excellent in the dining room.
We had been invited by Christel to have a 15 minute videoed session with Orlando, the visiting President of HAL. He conducted a series of Q&A sessions with several other passengers, most of whom we knew. We are not sure of the purpose of the interview, but we simply replied to basic questions regarding why we like to cruise. Orlando was cordial, very friendly, and did remember us from last year. Even if nothing follows up with the interview, it was nice visiting with him anyway.
At 4:30pm, we were invited to a cocktail party in the Queens Lounge with our entire travel group and hosts, compliments of Orlando and Gerald, the head of the Mariner Society. Also present were Justin, the Director of Pricing and Demand, who continued a conversation with us in connection to the interview. Some very fancy canapes were passed around by the waiters, as were any cocktails we wished. A live band with singers played for the group, which was a nice touch. Sitting with friends was so much fun, we stayed well beyond the hour cocktail time. In fact, the early dinner folks were already beginning to file into the lounge at 6:30pm for the 8:15pm show this evening. They were saving seats, believe it or not. The entertainer this evening was Patrick Murray with Matilda, his lovely dummy.
There were only five of us tonight, because Paul and Bonnie were dining with a couple of friends that they ran into yesterday. Long story short, they met quite by accident, not knowing any of them were going on the same cruise. Small world.
We watched a movie called Self/Less, a 2 hour flick, that turned out to be good. So here it is, past midnight and time to wrap this up.
Bill & Mary Ann
Olaf babysits our room while we are out
The new bouquet
Still looking good
The new bird joins us
Bob and Martha also joined us
The special cocktail party
Even had live entertainment
A singer as well
Gerald, Orlando, Henk, Justin, and Gene
Sylvia, Wendy, Leta & Bill
