Finally, a day to catch up with reports and pics until 10:15am when there was another Mariner Recognition Event in the World Stage. This will be for those guests who will be disembarking in Tokyo, which is still several days away. We suppose these events have to be scheduled when they can do them on a sea day. We asked about how many folks will be leaving, and the answer was close to 200. However, nearly the same amount will be joining for the next major segment, a 34-day cruise from Tokyo to Ft. Lauderdale. Also, there are mini-segments where some people will be leaving in Seattle and San Diego.
Our group of President’s Club members took their usual reserved seats, while the room filled with medal awardees and five-star guests we understand. And once again, there was some entertainment prior to the ceremony with the musicians of Vivace and a fellow drummer treating us to a mini-symphony. Maria, the violinist and Tetlana, the cellist are both from the Ukraine. Olha, the pianist, is from Crimea. Following their performance was the pianist from the Dam Band, a very talented fellow who also sang a Beatle’s song. But the frosting on the cake was Josh, our travel guide and another singer from a band sang “That’s All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera. A big “wow”, the audience broke out with a huge applause and a standing ovation.
The medal awarding commenced afterwards and was short and sweet with just a dozen or so guests getting mostly bronze medallions with a few silver and gold mixed in. No platinum this time. Then each President’s Club member was called to the table where sea days were announced and photos were taken once again. Captain Frank and Florin did a fine and proper job. Then some of the crew came on the stage and in front of it for their early farewell to the departing guests. This will take care of the farewell parade they used to do in the dining room on the last evening of the segment. Immediately following this ceremony, the guests proceeded to the lower dining room for a special brunch. And once again, we did not attend. Too close to breakfast time for us.
Then Captain Frank came on the speakers at high noon and reminded us to put our watches and clocks forward one hour. So we went from 12pm to 1pm. This is supposed to have less impact on our day (crew and guests alike) compared to putting the clocks ahead after dinnertime or 2am in the morning. Who really does that anyway? The Captain stated that our first port in Japan will be Naha, Okinawa, 186 nautical miles away. He surprised us by saying that Chinese aircraft were circling the ship, a surveillance team he suspected. Then they flew off and never came back. Good… Then he said the temperature was 72 degrees, humid, and overcast with rain. Winds were getting up to 35 knots with 7-foot seas. The water temperature was 81 degrees, and the sea depth was 6000 feet. Sorry to say, but he reported that tomorrow was not looking good with expected thunderstorms and rain. The Volendam would dock starboard and an hour earlier. Sunset was 6:45pm and sunrise tomorrow would be 6:15am.
One important job everyone had was collecting their passports on deck three with approximate time slots for each passenger deck. Decks 6 & 7 were last from 3:15pm to 4pm. We did need to bring our passports receipts to pick them up or else you would have to fill out a new one. We’ll need the passports tomorrow for the Japanese Immigration Inspection. The usual sea day activities took place as well as a port talk on Naha (Okinawa) and Amami, a new port for us. And we do have two guest speakers doing talks on Japan.
The day zoomed by as we made progress with the blog and photos, while enjoying a light room service lunch once again. At dinner, we had two different salads, the prime rib meal and small desserts of coffee fudge ice cream. The show was a dance and song routine by the World Cast Stage called Crossroads. Rhythm, roots, and rhymes came together for a foot-stomping good time.
Looking forward to seeing Okinawa again. We were here two years ago and had a fine time hiking to the main market in the center of downtown.
Bill & Mary Ann
