Lost at Sea!

This journey has become a little like being lost at sea. We have been having very rough seas for a few days to the point of the Promenade Deck – Deck 2 – being closed for walking although the Sun Deck on 8 was mostly open. Any of our comfy verandah cushions that were not buckled to the chair were brought in so they wouldn’t blow away. It was still pretty warm even though we have re-crossed the equator heading north. But each day felt a little colder and rain was more often than not. And day follows day with no land in sight. BUT there is no bad day at sea. That is a given fact – at least for my friends and I who love to cruise. The food is still good, the indoor pool was open as was the main one. It has a sliding glass roof so actually, whenever the sun is shining, for at least a little while, the area becomes really warm. Waiters still pass frosty slushies concocted from fresh fruit when you are here. People still read and doze tucked around the pool in the lounges facing out to sea. The food is still good, most every meal ends with discussing plans on where and when to meet for the next one. The conversation turns to what will you be doing next week when you are home? Trivia still happens and we even win or come in second again. Each speaker has a last talk that sort of summarizes the gist of their course in Viking University. We raise our glass, or fist, again when Russell Lee begins his lecture with a Viking toast – Skoal, and so we wish each other “Good Health!” And we continue to have this in our Corona free environment. Movies are under the stars in the evening and nightly shows feature the guitarist and singer again. Then it happens. The last show is the farewell and safe travels home toast with the Captain and officers. A video of the entire crew, by department, is shown and the vocalists have a rousing send off with The Beatles Songbook. Granted, that is a little different with two guys and two girls in the cast. On the day before the last sea day I pack. Yes, it has to be done. I don’t like to do it on the last day because then I feel like I might miss out on something. No matter how long a trip is, the last day I feel there is something I didn’t get around to doing. It was true on this Friday. Carol and I breakfasted at Mamsen’s for the Norwegian Waffles. We had not had them often enough. Then we settled in the Living Room where Carol had the truly delicious Cappuccino and I had yet another pot of English Breakfast tea. And yes, even though we had just eaten we could not pass up the Almond Croissant or Chocolate Twist. Sue was passing by on her way from her ritual Spa day-starter and joined us. Sea friendships always seem like they will last forever, and for me, some have. Sue and Carol went off to pack while I wandered through all the public spaces. I met crew that I had come to know and said goodbye, see you on the next ship. Indeed, some will be on the Viking Star next April when we sail to Istanbul! Several passengers and I hugged goodbye as well. Veronica and Wayne, Carol and I will meet again in August to sail to Iceland on Holland America. Carol has not sailed with them but we are always looking at itinerary first and HAL has a great one. We had a last dinner at which we all chipped in – The Six – to tip our bar waiter and Café Czar, Igor. He always had a table waiting for us and drinks on the way. Carol and I also tipped our steward Sebastian and assistant Zak extra as well. As they took our bags to offload in the morning we said goodbye. Wonderful service and such nice guys. For our last night in our cabin we finished stuffing odds and ends into our carry-ons and settled in to watch “Tulip Mania: The Bulb that Sprouted the First Stock Market Bubble” with Russell Lee. Fascinating story but I struggled to stay awake knowing that we would be off the ship in just a few hours!