8 Days at sea

Day 48: At sea in the southern Indian Ocean

Sat 7th March 2020

The seas we are sailing in have been surprisingly smooth and calm.

Our 8 straight days at sea will be quite interesting, will we bored out of our brains, become super fit with all the possible extra time spent in the gym, will we have exhausted the supply of books on board and be well read, become champion board or card players, become great trivia, bingo or goofy golf players, or super slobs sleeping in until noon, eating, dining and eating and drinking?

A visit to the ship’s library has become a disappointment as it is empty except for reference books. There is a steady stream of (usually ladies) wandering in and out the shops on board checking to see if there is some new items out for sale. The Effy jewellery shop is continually having their new releases of different jewels with champagne offered to celebrate the release or free raffle. Blah.
Except for the gym, I think I can claim a little of all, except to say my ukulele playing has improved and I am learning music theory as well. When I walk around the ship in the mornings most of the tables in the restaurants and lounges are taken with people playing card games, mah-jong, knitting, sewing, card making, reading or chatting. There are various lectures held in the theatre, some interesting depending on our particular attraction.

The afternoon trivia is well attended, so to find seating for our group of 6 has become a challenge and in one case a verbal clash. Some passengers have claimed rights to seating, be it at trivia, bingo, or any other regular event and sometimes it becomes a crusade to win a seat. Fortunately for our groups, we have gone with the flow, usually claiming seats where empty. In the afternoon trivia it is the same groups having the most correct answers, challenging the organiser to rethink his questions. The rumour is these particular groups have been on the ship since June or around the same time and have heard the questions and answers repeated over several cruises. Or they are just so clever but the upshot of the scoring is our group always seems to be placed around midway in the results.

We also pass on our read books to friends. I brought 3 books on board to read and have since lent them out several times over in exchange. I spoke to a few people who actually sought out a second hand store or bookshop in various ports and bought a new supply.

Our very patient and music passionate ukulele instructor Aslan, has arranged for us to have a concert at the end of this segment of the cruise. Aslan plays the guitar for the ship’s resident band and has generously offered to teach ukulele and music theory to us passengers. Wow, I have never seen someone so patient, generous and encouraging. I usually sit near the front and with my off beat, bad timing and out of tune singing he manages to keep positive and encouraging.

                         Our ever so patient and encouraging ukulele instructors. Ewen and Aslan.

                                  2 of 3 Team Roger. Anna and Roger. I am taking the photo.

              My Ukulele Concert, Notice I am well in the back ground, just where I like to be.

We are a group of 5 who get together in the afternoons after my music lessons and before trivia to play various card games. Two are ladies I met at mah-jong earlier in the cruise. I have dropped off playing mah-jong in preference to hanging out in the cabin, either to sleep in, read or write my blog.  Sometimes I head to the theatre to hear a guest speaker.

                                      Sandy and Kerry our whiz card and Mah jong players.
                             Kerry had been well organised and had heaps of rules for various games.

                                              View from the ship of a pod of dolphins.

                   Calm seas most of the way from Fremantle to Fremantle. View over crew pool.

                                     Middle of nowhere about half way across Indian Ocean.

                                  Same time when I took photo of the ship's position as crew member
     is outside our cabin window, painting. Lucky I was already dressed and the curtain was across!

Our Captain Diego Perra has spoken to the theatre full of passengers about some of his experiences as Captain. His first subject being the emergency medical evacuation we had the day before arrival into Cape Town. He described the procedures reporting to the coast guard for the need of a helicopter to airlift the patient to Hospital. Then he went on to enlighten us of his most favourite port in the world, the most interesting and then some of the challenges involved arriving to a port.

Whenever I am about on deck or up at Horizon Court I am constantly scanning the seas for any dolphins or sea life. There had been a sighting of a whale just before we reached South Africa but I missed out on seeing. I have spotted several sightings of dolphins, a turtle and flying fish.