March 24, 2015


For the first time on this voyage, the ship’s Internet connection was not working properly – well, actually, it wasn’t working last night, so scratch that first part.  Today it was email that was frustrating me.  Gmail wouldn’t connect, and I have my account configured for security – I get a 6 digit code on my cell phone to enter, and of course, the cell phone is on airplane mode while I am on board the MS Zuiderdam.  Confusing ain’t it – airplane mode, ship mode, commode.  Good grief!

So I put the phone on wandering mode and told Gmail to send the code.  Who knows how much those 6 numbers will cost.  My beloved wife will probably not be pleased with our Verizon bill.  Again.  Actually, it is Comcast that regularly makes her Wheaties soggy, but you know.

Looking through some of the literature in our stateroom, Bonnie discovered a book with our choice of 1131 movies we can rent – not that we will rent even one, but we could.  However, on the last page of “Ship Flicks” is something we will take advantage of after the show one evening.  Maybe tonight.  For $10 we can get the “Ship Flicks Package.”  4 sodas of our choice.  3 snacks of our choice.  2 bowls of mixed nuts.  A bucket of ice.  Plus – and this is the best part – 2 free packs of popcorn!  Sodas on board are $1.95 per can, so quite a bargain.  And free popcorn!  Ah, the simple pleasures!

Bonnie bought a Nine West pocket book today.  They were on sale.  Hers is red.  They also had black and yellow.  I would have bought that one – Pirates and Steelers colors!

Tonight’s entertainment is a “Dancing with the Stars” competition.  The dancers on board have been teaching new dances and they have picked a couple from each type of dance they’ve done.  Four or five new dances, maybe more (we haven’t gone – they’ve typically been after my afternoon talks).  But tonight each of the dancers will be in a competition, so we will go.  It should be fun.  All of the entertainment has been good.  We get to our first port tomorrow, so I wonder if the ones who have sailed from Florida will get off and some new ones will get on for the last 5 nights.

And in mundane news, we are going to do laundry tonight or tomorrow night.  Well, we will not actually “do” the laundry, but we will put it in a bag and send it out.  One of our spiffs on this cruise is complimentary laundry service.  Otherwise it’s $2.00 for one pair of unmentionables!  And we have a week and a half of unmentionables – times two! $2.00 per pair of socks.  T-shirts $3.00.  Dress shirts $4.50.  Complimentary is a great spiff!

Well, the next entry should contain news from Portugal.

TTFN