Date: April 27 and 28
Location: Days 109 and 110 – At Sea (Day 5 & 6 of 7)
Next Port: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA, April 30
Report:
Day 109, Friday, April 27: The core members of our Devotional Group met for breakfast in Compass Rose. The 12 of us had a great time breaking bread together and reliving the highlights of these past four months. We have struck strong bonds of friendship with both the staff participants – Jamie, Dana, Elda and Mallorie – and the three other couples who were consistent attendees – Barb and Richard, Mary Lou and John, and Dodi and Larry. We believe that these relationships will endure and that we will all cross paths again, whether on land or sea.
We dedicated the afternoon. Cecilia obtained the four three pieces of luggage that had been stored and we applied ourselves so diligently that we even had a chance to catch some rays on the Pool Deck.
At 5:30 we attended a “Stop the Packing Party” in the Atrium. Apparently this an annual event sponsored by a long-time cruiser. Jamie’s team had strung garments throughout; there were refreshments, the Voyager Quintet played and the singers entertained.
We had dinner in Compass Rose with Joan and David, after which we attended the last show of show of the Peter Grey Terhune Singers and Dancers. We have gotten to know most of the cast members and they have certainly added to the enjoyment of our trip.
Day 110, Saturday, April 28: With all our packing done we were able to spend a very restful next-to-last day at sea. Karen continued her Bridge Lesson and social game with her group. Larry attended the last lecture by Bill Miller, this one on the current cruise industry.
Karen had arranged for the group of us that had dinner together at Regent’s Departure Gala in Miami on January 8th, to get together for a reunion farewell lunch in the Compass Rose. The nine of us had fun reminiscing about the good times we’ve had and the sights we’ve been fortunate to see on this grand adventure. The other attendees were Yolanda, Nancy and Jerry, Shirley and Carl, and Phyllis and Eddie.
We got some more sun time and swimming on the Pool Deck in the afternoon. The seas have been very calm and the temps are in the mid-70s.
Last night, Jamie and his crew put on another spectacular. It was our last formal evening and we all gathered in the Constellation Theater before dinner for refreshments and good fun. The 90-minute show included humorous skits (such as the daily navigator’s report from the bridge and the Captain and Jamie singing some original songs); individual musical performances by Frankie, Elsa and Peter, and Nathaniel; entertainment by the Peter Grey Terhune Singers and Dancers; and singing by eight men and women from the crew (including our delightful stewardess, Cecilia). This was followed by a song by all the senior staff and crew members from each department as they paraded on the stage. Interspersed between the musical acts were readings by staff members of inspirational remembrances and thoughts that had been solicited from the passengers.
Jamie concluded the evening with a short video of the highlights of the trip and a closing message from him (in his water skiing gear) and from Capt. Dag, standing on the bulbous nose that protrudes from the nose of the ship (obviously shot while docked at our last port!)…and finally him sailing away in his new little white run about…with him saying that “old seamen don’t die, they just get smaller dinghies.
We then had dinner with Marji and Dave, Ken, and Marybeth and Gary. We retired to the Observation Lounge to listen to Frankie with Marybeth and Gary before calling it a night. We then packed up our formal wear and put the six bags that are being shipped home to Chicago out in the corridor. That action made it really seem that the end is near.
(The Captain told us that he had hoped to dock in Ft. Lauderdale at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, so that the disembarkation could go smoother on Monday morning. But that the US Coast Guard would not honor his request. It seems that it’s Navy Week there and we would cause too much congestion. So we are scheduled to hit the pilot station at 5:00 a.m. on Monday and should be dockside at 6:00 a.m.)
Karen and Larry
Photos of our cruise are available at the following web site:
picasaweb.google.com/larryworldcruise
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