North Pacific Crossing
Highlights
Bounced back this morning with an early one - awake at 7 am and dressed, down the other end of the ship at 7.20 and had the laundry all to myself! We’d called in late last night on the wander home and stocked up on the tokens, so I was good to go.
It’s all in the timing - have to set your countdown for the washing machine and then dash back for the dryer. Four hundred steps each way - I was clicking them up. Had @Mac awake by this time and connected via the phone in the laundry and the #Medallion tracking, he was able to co-ordinate some room service action for a light breakfast and had time to dance around on the balcony with me as the first fall of light snow kept us entertained.
Needed to be watching that clock because from 9.15 until 10 am the @Captain talked us through the stages of the compulsory 6 monthly on board safety drill that includes the passengers. There have been various drills that include the crew - but this was the first where passengers were encouraged to participate. This was a simulation drill for a fire in the engine room. Lots of alarms and announcements - plenty of instructions - codes and alerts - lots of crew stationed to get you to the right place. We went through the motions and joined the snaking lines down the stairwells and joined masses at our mustering point. Didn't know until this morning, but if we did evacuate, our little life boat would hold 300 people. Wow, they don't look that big hung up on the side of the ship. As well, unless you had a medical reason not to, everyone would be given a sea sickness tablet to take prior to boarding. Apparently it is not quite as smooth a sail in one of those little craft. Definitely not keen to participate in "the real thing" but reassuring to know there are procedures in place ... in case.
The @Captain was profuse in his thanks for everyone turning up and of course, when 3 800 passengers were released from their muster station, everyone wanted to eat, drink and be entertained. Unfortunately, the crew aren’t released at quite the same time as the passengers and there was a little "down time" before services resumed. @Mac was about 49th in the queue for a coffee and I gave up our little table for two to a lady and gentlemen with mobility challenges.
Meant my new spot tucked up on a high stool at the bar was the last place @Mac would look for me. I never sit on a high stool! He did about 4 laps of #Deck 6, and eventually took a break from the search and rescue and sat down to drink his coffee while it was still hot, before resuming his search to find me. The #Medalluon tracker said I was definitely "there" and he had sent me messages through the APP. I was too busy having great fun chatting to all and sundry at the bar to notice either the time or the notifications. He did find me ... I probably would have happily sat there till #Pub Trivia.
Anyway, I was in no hurry, because my next appointment was with the ironing. As it turned out, that wasn't too bad either. Seems like I am the only person on the ship who uses an iron and I could have had two to work with. Was set up just fine and was soon joined by @Angie amd @Sandra who were down from #Deck 11 hunting down a dryer. Had a grand old natter with them- @Angie was from #Philedlphia and I only had to say "Go birds" and we were besties. Talked NFL (thanks @M&I for the lessons), sang the praises of our home towns, swapped travel stories and did our best to solve the problems of the world. @Sandra is a recently retired pharmacist and has just started her own travel company - grabbed one of her newly minted business cards - you never know.
Eventually we were comparing notes on this cruise and I shared our winners - the Reserve Dining and the balcony and bath of M107 and of course that fabulous supoort from the crew team! We each agreed we were fortunate in the lives we were leading.
I always like to be quotable, so didn't add to the negative pile-on that eventually surfaced as familiarity grew - but I couldn't wait to race back to @Mac and share their stories. "Oh dear, that's unfortunate" ... "You did the right thing." ... "Really, I don't believe it." They were my standard responses for their stories of #Horizon Dining, manners and hygiene of some guests (they have complained about them to Guest Services) and then their unfortunate experience with "one man" who "wears a peaked cap and has a European accent."
There’s a possibility I ironed some garments twice, the stories were so funny. And oh so familiar.
All of this dilly dallying and delay meant we were actually in the stateroom in the middle of the day - an unusual thing. Turned out to be another winner because it snowed again amd we could get out amongst it on the balcony. It piled up quickly - and melted just as quickly. But it was so different. Reminded us of the "corn snow" from nearly 40 years ago when we skied late season in New Zealand. Very light small "pebbles" of snow or ice.
The whole wind your clock forward and hour gobbled up the rest of the morning and theoretically we missed the lunch session - raced into the dining room at 2:02 and smiled our way into a bowl of soup (mind you, we could have asked for anything, but we wanted to be put by 2;20 …. so definitely our choice) before charging out to the #Theatre for today’s salmon lecture with @Rob and then dodging the wind and the white caps trying to catch sight of some whales.
A bit of a fizzer today - we abandoned our post and thought we could do better on our balcony while getting ready for the evening. We’d missed lunch and certainly didn’t want to risk missing dinner!
Thought we were there in plenty of time, a full 15 minutes before curtain up, but for the early show, apparently 7.15 wasn't nearly early enough. Tonight's Whitney Houston Tribute Show was extremely popular. We're usually candidates for the later show so perhaos this is the norm for the earlier slot. We jagged the last two seats that were together in the #Theatre and think that was only because @Mac has had so much eagle eye training in the last two days out in the elements hunting down the whales. Mind you, he didn't do a very good job finding me this morning - perhaps there's such a thing as "selective sight" that goes along just fine with "selective hearing." 😂🤣😅
Third row from the front - 3 and 4 seats from the edge. Off to the side with a perfect view of the column supporting the stage. And of course had the biggest dude in the #Theatre in front of us. But glad we were there because @Trina Johnson Finn could really sing! Loved the show and could easily have (selfishly) taken up another two seats in the late show. One of gentleman in front of us was the volunteer to take the stage with @Trina for a song .... and he played the part perfectly - a definite cheeky #Aussie. Reminded us of the disadvantage of sitting in the front rows for any performance - need to rethink our timing for any early ones in the future.
The show had definitely enhanced our appetite and we took up our place in @Concertos. Literally had the place to ourselves. A private dinner for two - a window seat and dedicated wait staff just for us. Worked our way through the courses, enjoyed the nightcap coffees and headed home late.
Didn’t even bother layering warm clothes on the floor in anticipation of an early morning call for the Northern Lights - it was raining under a heavy covering of cloud and there was not a star in sight.
And just BTW, the answer is “No,” — we still have a few more nautical miles to go — but we are getting very close. Each night we arrive home to paperwork on the bed — and tonight there was a truckload including an invitation to attend an 8.30 am information session tomorrow morning for “transit passengers,” (that’s us staying on for next leg of the cruise,) confirmation that we were staying in the same stateroom (phew) and a Customs Form for entry into the USA.
Weather: 2 degree maximum
Steps: 7 976
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