It was really overcast and dismal this morning when we woke up early. For one of us, it seems when we have a time change, it is difficult to go to sleep. And when you do finally sleep, it is difficult to wake up. The crew does not seem to have this problem. They take that extra hour and sleep it away. Of course, the majority of the crew are much younger than the passengers.
We noticed a long line of guests at the front desk on our way to breakfast at 8am. Since many will be getting off tomorrow, they are double checking their shipboard accounts. It looks like there are some problems in that area. We better check ours, even though we have sufficient shipboard non-refundable credit to keep our credit card from being charged. We learned that there will be close to 200 guests leaving tomorrow, and 400 joining. That will put our passenger numbers over 1100 or more. Our head waiter admitted that the new crowd will be going for the anytime dining down on deck four. That is funny, since years ago, the big demand was for main or late fixed seating. He admitted that while in Europe, the late seating is jammed.
We have gotten behind on the blog and needed to work with the photos to get things up to date. That occupied our morning into the afternoon. Just as well, because the ship was going from shower to shower most of the day. Our veranda was wet and windy, so going outside wasn't in the plans. Except for taking a long walk on the promenade deck, that was the most one of us got outside all day. It is always interesting chatting with friends during the walk because Bill can find out what is going on with other folks we know….some of whom are currently on the Zaandam which will be docked in Sydney tomorrow. That will be another story to tell.
Captain Rens came on with his noon update giving us the nautical info as well as the weather. It was 74 degrees with 23 knot winds. The sea swells were 6 feet or better, and the stabilizers were out to give us the most comfortable sailing as possible. We have another 283 nautical miles to reach Sydney tomorrow at 5:15am to pick up the pilot. If the weather co-operates, the bow will be opened at 6am for the sailing past the Opera House and going under the Sydney Harbor Bridge. It will be dark at that time we think. We hope they will be serving Opera House Rolls, even if the bow is not opened.
We was to be a light room service lunch ended up with 2 big Cobb salads (only ordered one), a club sandwich to share, and one bowl of chicken noodle soup. Needless to say, dinner will be light. It was also a good time to go to the front desk and buy some Australian money. I was not the only one who thought of that. There was a long line with the folks going home tomorrow trying to figure their accounts out. Checking ours, there were some odd charges on one of them but they had been instantly refunded. It was also a good time to cash out the Mariner drink cards we had gotten on day one. Gil, the Ocean bartender gave me two bottles of water instead of the secret drinks we do not like. By 4pm, the sun began peeking out. I happened to notice the Ocean Bar was full of guests who probably are taking full advantage of their have-it-all beverages before departing tomorrow.
Leaving our room for dinner, we noticed suitcases here and there out in the hallway. A reminder that this 61 day segment from Florida to Sydney sure went fast, at least for us. And we will probably be getting new neighbors on one side, the third set up to date. Dinner was good as always with starters of one corn and crab fritters and a bowl of a different type of chicken soup. Mains were one plate of sour orange-glazed chicken and a farfalle sausage meal, but ? order. It was plenty. Dessert was one slice of a chocolate layer cake and a plate of sliced pineapple.
The World Stage had Chris Powley, a vocalist, singing Neil Diamind, Tom Jones, and Elvis tunes. The Wajang had a movie, 1480 Radio Pirates based in New Zealand.
Now we hope for good weather tomorrow in Sydney, although the TV screens show three drops of rain. Time will tell………
Bill & Mary Ann
No Pictures
