Monday, February 25, 2013

Day 2 – Stay put and be counted!




People often ask me why I like to cruise and it’s pretty hard to explain to someone who’s never had the pleasure.  To me, it means being able to see lots of places without packing and unpacking every day or two, not having to search out hotels or restaurants and pretty much having all my creature comforts met for an agreed on price paid well in advance!

Another reason is that we are sailing on a “city at sea” and anything can happen.  Yesterday I described the incident of needing a blood donor for a transfusion for an ill passenger.  We’ve also been aboard during a medical emergency airlift by helicopter.  Another time we had a drunken crewmember go overboard and the ship had to be stopped so search boats could be dispatched (crewmember was found alive!).  Well, this evening, another one to add to our list!  Just as we were preparing to leave for dinner the Captain came over the intercom and in his now familiar “grim” voice announced that someone had reported seeing a person in the water.  Remember, we are 1000 miles from LA and 2000 miles from Hawaii.  It’s also formal night so people are dressed to the nines having their portraits taken all over the atrium!  We are to immediately go to our staterooms and stay there until a complete count of passengers and crew could be made!  Thank goodness we have lots of wine and gin!  Betty and Don and Ed and I made the best of things and had a lovely cocktail party while waiting for 3000+ people to be counted!  I peeked out in the hall as people were returning to their rooms and I saw one tuxedoed gent coming my way carrying his dinner plate!  Very funny! 
The good news is that everyone on the ship is accounted for and safe!  The whole process took about an hour and the ship had also slowed considerably which I assume was in preparation for a turnaround should we need to search.

Once the all clear was sounded we delayed our dinner for another half hour to let the crowds disperse.  Once we took a look around it was as though nothing had happened!

The rest of the day was relaxing and the weather is somewhat overcast but definitely a lot warmer.  I played trivia but am still in search of a group.  We did get 16/20 but the winners had 18.  I’ll keep trying! 

We saw the inside of the casino a couple of times today and this evening Commodore Ed and Betty made a stand at the Blackjack table.  Don and I are chickens and stay with the penny machines!

We looked at the art up for auction and found it very disappointing so we skipped the event all together.

Tomorrow we have our “40 Most Traveled Passengers” lunch so I’ll try and find out more about the false alarm today.  We also have the “Chef’s Dinner” tomorrow evening which should be fun.  I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Very few kids aboard and if I had to guess I would say less than 20. 
A few wheelchairs and walkers but very few scooters. 

All for now!
Lots of love,
XOXOXOXO
M

2 comments:

  1. Wow! Wonder what they did to the person that reported that phantom body in the water. What an ordeal!

    Wish I'd skipped the art auctions on my last cruise. It's like a drug for me though. Even though the auctioneer was super annoying and the art wasn't entirely intriguing, I still feel compelled to not miss a possibly amazing piece. You know, cause Princess would be the one trying to sell said piece!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I totally would have taken my plate to my room if I was in the middle of a meal. Especially if I had plans for after dinner I don't want to miss!

    ReplyDelete