Today we are going to risk a catastrophe that would exceed the destruction of the world by the end of the Mayan calendar. The only thing comparable in recorded human history may be the invasion of VBS by the SSE (sitters, squatters, and eaters). To end the nail biting, hair pull, child thrashing, teeth gnashing suspense – are you ready for it – your friendly neighborhood scribe is going to wear shorts ashore, braving the Nassau sun, crazed mosquitos and other vermin, and increasing the stock in Johnson and Johnson by the application of several pounds of SPF 70. Yes, you read it here first: David “White Legs” Sisler is baring it all. Or most of it.
But before we get to today’s adventure, let’s go into the Great Gatsby Dining Room and meet the other 5 folk who sit at Table 322, Second Seating. We are capably served by our waiter, Carlos, and our junior waiter, Osman. Joining us are Jack, a member of Royal Caribbean’s Pinnacle Club. To gain that status, and he was recognized two nights ago as the cruiser on board with the most bookings, he had to sail on at least 100 different cruises with RCI. A quite likeable fellow, he completes the trio of Medicaid recipients at the table. Also with us are a family of four from Baltimore: Mobie and Larry, the husband and wife, mom and dad, of their family, and their two college students, Dee and Zara. Mobie keeps the house. Larry is an engineer with a job so secretive he is not allowed to carry a smart phone – only the old fashion flip phone with no camera. Dee is studying business, and Zara still working through career options. Sharp kids both. They will do well.
Before I forget it, closed circuit to the August cruisers. Junkanoo Beach is a 20 minute walk from the dock (the old people did it in 30 minutes – young, non-surgically repaired legs should make better time). Nice place to work on your tan, and for free.
We are one of three ships in port today – Carnival Fantasy, Disney Dream, and the Lady G. Together we have added 6-7,000 souls to the population of Nassau. The shops close at 5:30. We don’t sail until 11:30. I think the good businessmen are leaving profit on the table. Oh well.
Doing the talks and worship services on board, I am dependent on the help and efficiency of the crew, and I have always been well served. Today I was given a gift by one member of the crew for the help he said I gave to him. It was a simple kindness, easily rendered, but he thought enough of it to give me a very nice Royal Caribbean pen (no, this one does not go to the collection at Greenwich Pass).
Well, here we are on Day 5 of our cruise and we have once again missed Coco Cay. We are 1 for 3 in our scheduled stops to Royal Caribbean’s private island. This time we were chased away by Tropical Storm Arthur. Captain Esben told us he made the call at 6 a.m. (we were scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m.) because of the weather. He increased speed and changed direction and we have steamed around and head of the storm. Its relative speed compared to ours has put us ahead of it where we will be safely back in Baltimore – on schedule – before it would be a threat to us.
Because of this, I did my emergency talk, “Flight 19 and the Legend of the Bermuda Triangle,” to a packed house.
At breakfast this morning we were seated at a table for two, and at the adjacent table was one of the worshipers from Sunday morning. Melody and her husband, Ben, are soon to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, and her dad, who is a pastor, was going to do a renewal service for them on Coco Cay. She asked me if there was a place on board they could use since we weren’t going ashore. I asked Darrell, the Activities Director, and he pointed them to the Viking Crown Lounge. Glad to be of service.
Day 6 and we joined with some other folks and won the Broadway Music Trivia. What is Cats? We scored 25 out of 30, blowing the competition away.
It is 4:30 p.m. as I write this and we sailed into the Chesapeake Bay about an hour ago, about 6 hours ahead of schedule. We will dock around 1 a.m., but will disembark at the regular time, somewhere around 9 Friday morning. The Captain has done an excellent job keeping us out of the way of the storm. His last weather report said Arthur should be heading out to sea. I hope so since we will be driving back to Georgia on Friday, and would not like to drive in hurricane conditions.
For the first time on this cruise we went to the dining room for lunch (usually go to the Windjammer buffet or Café Park). Two of our table mates are members of the Williamsport Maryland Church of God. How about that for the small world department? In case you didn’t know, that was the church where Bonnie grew up and where Lloyd Abbott married us almost 46 years ago. Bonnie and the couple exchanged names, but knew no one in common. But still, pretty neat.
I will put a few pictures at the end of this posting – I am tired of fighting the site to get pictures to go where I want them. Maybe back on dry land I will figure it out.
Closing out until the next posting around October 4th from the Explorer of the Seas.
TTFN!
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| Junkanoo Beach Nassau. 30 minute walk on old legs. |
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| Hey Mac! Granny found a cannon! |
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| Aerial show in the Centrum |
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| Mobe, Larry, Dee, Zara. Great table mates. |
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| Von. Sound tech. Trivia caller. Great guy. |
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| Selfie in Nassau |
