13 October 2022 At Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, by Barbara Cummings
7am wake up call worked perfectly (phone robot). My day starts with taking photos of TV location map, etc. Then BBC News, etc while dressing.
My Lido breakfast was the yummy Raisin Bun, orange juice, and coffee.
Still catching up on things in my room.
9:30 Tai Chi was brief, but had paper handouts. 🙂 Tomorrow it will start 9am.
10am was our first lecture — Shore Excursions Richard from Mauritius and Guillermo from Mexico City promoted the ship tours. What to see and do ashore in Funchal, Arrecife, Agadir, & Casablanca.
Cruise & Travel Director Jeremy Hale from Tasmania presented Port Essentials for our first port Funchal, Madeira at 11am. Each of his talks will concentrate on only one port, is recorded, and will play on the TV channel 26. Most of my photos are with the Sony camera, but I try to remember to use the iPhone for Shared Album photos. Jeremy also said we have 1123 passengers on a ship that holds over 1400, only one couple have never sailed Holland America before, and 450 are 4 or 5 star Mariners with many days at sea on HAL, therefore have special privileges.
My lunch in the Main Dining Room was Tomato Bisque, Street Tacos, and Coconut ice cream.
Walking from one end of the ship to the other again, I overheard the Catholic Priest aboard mention that the Protestant minister had backed out. The man talking to him assured me that he is a Protestant minister. I warmly said that we might have to make do with the Priest. 🙂 He replied that anyone named Michael (the Priest) has to be good.
Back in the room I tried to hang the map of Africa, but scotch tape is not sticking to these cleaned?waxed? Walls. Used the magnets given out with the Arts & Crafts schedule.
Actually finished writing the Oct. 10 email.
The Navigator App is generating the reminders for 5pm dinner on my Apple watch.
Tonight’s Culinary Council dinner was superb. And I enjoyed my first glass of Beringer’s White Zinfandel wine. My dinner was the David Burke Crab Cake, the David Burke Prime Rib, and the Jacque Torres Chocolate Puff Pastry Craquelin with decaf coffee.
Tonight’s show was Swing! Swing! Swing! Four Guys and four girls who dance and sing. “My Way” by a pair was the best vocal. Jeremy had announced “no recording of any kind” so I sneaked only one quick iPhone photo. These are the first Holland America singers & dancers in years. A grand voyage is supposed to have extra special treats, and they are here.
Back in the room were waiting tomorrow’s daily program, a chocolate, a letter & instructions for tomorrow’s Covid testing, and notice that clocks move ahead another hour tonight. This makes 3. Funchal is 5 hours ahead of Ft. Lauderdale.
Room Steward Bo delivered a platter of six chocolate covered strawberries from Guest Services Mgr Joanne Valerio who had been on ms Volendam when we visited Japan in 2018. The gift and sympathetic note were in response to the accident report that I had filed. My claim to fame during the 8/11 Meet & Greet was losing my balance when the ship swayed and falling backwards flat and hitting my head on the circular dance floor of the Crow’s Nest. That got attention, and the staff man who helped me back up recommended reporting the accident. Sore head, but no damage.
Chris texted and spent over an hour trying to lead me through fixing the time on my Apple Watch. Thank you, Chris.
The motion of the ocean keeps increasing. It is hard to walk without dancing or staggering.
Note from Jack: Apparently HAL is trying to “Upsell” Barbara to the next level of internet access for an addition $400 + that would allow easier posting of photos and improved internet access.
Cummings Family Adventures 