Sunday, February 13, 2022

We returned to a monsoon.  We could see the rain from the cabin but had no idea of how strong the wind was.  We found out the hard way.

Disembarkation was a breeze [no pun intended].  We simply walked off when we were ready and dragged our carry-on baggage [now increased by one tot bag] to the Hall of Luggage to claim our three pieces. [Yes, we travel like the Vanderbilts]  D saw a porter and waved a $10 bill and right away, we had help.  As holders of Global Entry cards, we were able to bypass the much-longer line at Immigration and Passport Control and zipped right through.

This is where the fun began.  As soon as we were clear of official-dom, D called the parking lot so they would send the van.  The only snag came when we discovered that the meeting point was across a very wide [6-8 lane] driveway.  In the rain.  And wind.  And there was not much shelter; the little roof might have kept us in the shade but didn't protect us from the driving, wind-enhanced rain.  To make matters worse, MA started to feel faint and could not find her glucose tablets.  She held on, but barely.

By the time the van showed up, almost a half-hour had passed.  We looked like the proverbial drowned rats and had to cross through more of the storm to actually get to the van.  To top it off, as we shook and shivered on the van, the driver circles the lot looking for our car.  Where was it?  It was in the front row!  The driver placed the bags in the car [thank you, Lord] and we were off.

The library books can wait until tomorrow, but we needed something to eat, so D stopped at our bagel place and got two to go.  Before we even thought about eating them, we had to get out of our wet clothes and into warm, dry ones.  We even turned on the heat in the house, a rarity.  

D still had to go to Publix to pick up our Super Bowl snacks but the rain had stopped by the time we finished eating, so he didn't get soaked a second time.  And once home, we unpacked enough to discover there was no major damage despite the soaked luggage.

It's so nice to be home.

 Saturday, February 12, 2022

Continental breakfast was served in the Crow's Nest this morning.  To be more specific, we went there for iced cappuccino and biscotti, and the staff brought the drinks to the table. We had a pleasant conversation with Bob and Judy V. with whom we have sailed before.  They are cruising back-to-back-to-back in lieu of the World Voyage which was canceled; they should be home in April.

After breakfast, we went shopping.  Oh Boy!  We still had almost $250 in on-board credit to spend.  In "the old days," we could get unspent  OBC  returned to our credit card.  With the cash losses the cruise line had suffered, it's not "use it or lose it." We used it.  By the time we were finished, we had spent all but a dollar of our "free" money.Subtracting some strange, but small, credit for port taxes,  and adding in the $20 charged to our account on a slot machine, we are going to leave here owing $15.  Not bad for 28 days at sea.

While D took our purchases to the cabin, MA waited in the Ocean Bar and had a Coke which she split with him when he returned.  From there it was off for the last fling in the casino.  We had to clear our accounts before midnight, meaning any money left on our room cards from playing slots [which are mostly cash-less, had to be collected [in cash, of course].  MA played her favorite slot and lost all but 11 cents which she did not bother to collect.  D had played blackjack while MA was going broke and won a little today.  All told, he cashed in $150 in chips and $35 from his card account.

Time to pack!  We put it off as long as we could, but D started assembling the luggage and clothing before we went to lunch for a last burger-and-fries meal.  It was earlier than we usually eat lunch, but we had been in the Crow's Nest early, too.  After lunch, MA read while D packed the suitcases.  It was almost 4 p.m. by then, time for the nap.

A drink in the Ocean Bar, as usual, preceded a special dinner.  Our timing was perfect because the MDR menu looked as unappetizing as it has for the past month.  Our special meal was a rijkstaffel [spelling optional], a traditional Indonesian feast.  Obviously ours had been modified but still included nasi goring, beef rendang, chicken satay, a chicken leg, strips of scrambled egg and prawn crackers.  There was too much food but we made a valiant effort.  To cool our mouths after this feast, we split one order of baked Alaska.

Tonight was also "envelope night" when everyone who is going to gives the waitstaff tips.  So as not to forget, D gave our envelopes to Danan and the assistant as we sat down.  After dinner, we gave Danan $20 to tip the chef in appreciation of his efforts. [NOTE -- even though most of the staff on the ship is from Indo-nesia, there is no Indonesian chef on board for either the passengers or crew, so this was a special effort by a chef for whom this was not his national cuisine]

Because we had cashed out at the casino earlier, we went straight to the cabin after waddling out of the MDR.  We finished the last of the packing, locked and labeled the suitcases and dragged them out to the hall.  All that is left is to jam the remaining toiletries in tomorrow morning after we dress.

As mention yesterday, we can leave whenever we want tomorrow.  We already have our day planned: our first stop after retrieving the car will be the library to return our overdue books and then to the bagel shop for a real bagel, not a frozen one.  We also have to go to Publix to pick up our Super Bowl supplies,  D ordered and Italian cold cut cut "ring" on-line, but we may need chips and dip, too.

And that's that.  Another cruise and several new countries added to the list, but it will be good to get back. As Dorothy said, "There's no place like home." 

Friday, February 11, 2022 

It was a most unusual day. Once again, we enjoyed our version of a Continental breakfast on the verandah and only came inside when the clouds parted and we started to cook.  Once inside, we read and/or surfed t]he internet until the rocking and rolling got to us. 

The motion of the ship had made last night memorable  but not in a good way.  It was almost but not quite as rough as last Friday.  Maybe it's a trend because this Friday -- today -- was bouncy, too, to the point that we stayed as horizontal as we could for as long as we could.  The motion is not as noticeable or distressing when one is prone.  By 11 a.m., we were on top of the bed. Around 1, D went to the Lido for apples, cookies and bottled water [The bottled water comes in aluminum cans to reduce plastic waste; we want to take a couple of empties home].  By this time, MA was under the covers because it was chilly in the cabin and D got under, too.  

Much later, MA got up for a cookie and an apple and then got back in bed.  The ship was still wobbling all over the place and it was a challenge for MA to cross the room without stumbling.  We decided that navigating the halls for dinner might not be a great idea, opting to call Room Service when/if we got hungry; besides, the gala night menu had nothing that appealed to us.  In the meantime, MA took a precautionary meclizine [motion sickness] tablet and sent D to the Front Desk to obtain more in case we need them tomorrow.  

While he was out, he stopped by the dining room to let Danan we would not be coming to dinner tonight. When he got the pills, he also got extra luggage tags for our disembarkation on Sunday. Eventually, we called for dinner -- chicken noodle soup, a cheese plate for MA and a club sandwich for D.  A better dinner and we didn't have to get glammed up. 

As 5-Star Mariners, we can leave whenever we want to once the ship has been cleared; in other words, our luggage will be among the first taken off the ship.  We can depart as early as 8 a.m. although that is unlikely.  But getting luggage tags means our time on the Covid-dam is almost over.  All of the laundry has been returned [even the load we sent out this morning] and all that is left to do is pack. 

Tomorrow -- Packing and Shopping and Gambling, O My!

Thursday, February 10, 2022 

Coffee, tea and biscotti seem to be the new standard fare in Cabin 7138.  We added protein bars and sat on the verandah watching the wake as we approached Cartagena.  The cabin stewards came and went and even vacuumed the balcony to rid us of bird feathers.   These were new, not remnants of our visitors the other morning. 

When it got too hot, we came in and read.  MA was still tired, so, while she rested, D tried to see if there was any reason for either of us to leave the ship.  He walked around the outside deck but saw only a herd of buses waiting for passengers to disembark for tours.  if each of the fifteen bus was full, then over 600 of the 735 on board were on tour.  Certainly the Lido buffet was deserted. 

D could not see any vendors or entertainment on the pier but went to the Crow's Nest for a better view.  There were pedestrians walking away from the ship acting as if they knew where they were going, but nothing was obvious.  After a 1/3 mile walk in the heat and humidity, they seemed to disappear into some trees.  D decided he was not desperate enough for a t-shirt to follow them. 

We had been warned by our friend Jorge, a native of Colombia, not to go into town.  He told us that crime in Cartagena is rampant because of immigrants from Venezuela who have left home for their own safety.  Since there were no taxis in sight, we could not have gone anyway. 

We ate inside at the Lido for a change.  The heat and humidity reminded us of Jakarta so the Indonesian staff were happy.  We read more after lunch. 

Shortly before 5 p.m., while MA was napping, D went out on the verandah to watch as we sailed out of Colombia.  He saw the mooring lines loosened and hauled aboard and then the ship began an excruciatingly slow reverse to clear the dock.  Once clear, the ship did a very slow-motion 180 degree turn to it was heading away from the city and proceeded, again at a snail's pace, to inch its way seaward.  We were accompanied by two tugboats until we cleared the harbor.  Once the ship left the channel, she picked up speed. 

The captain said that we were about 1100 nautical miles from Ft. Lauderdale and that we would be making headway at 19 knots, close to the ship's maximum speed.  He warned the passengers that the ride would be rougher in the Caribbean than it had been in the Pacific and he was true to his word.  We didn't feel the potholes and speed bumps too much in the casino on Deck 2, but we bounced around a lot on Deck 7.  Usually we book cabins on low decks and mid-ship where there is the least motion; now we are on a high deck at the very back of the ship.  It really makes a difference.  All we can do is hope that tomorrow is smoother. 

Tomorrow -- A Sea Day

Wednesday, February 9, 2022 

Whatever were we thinking??  Getting up at 7 a.m.?  

 We were approaching the Panama Canal for the return trip to Ft. Lauderdale at 7 this morning and the Shops Onboard, that mecca of ostentation, scheduled a sale of Canal-related merchandise at the Lido pool at 7.  So D dutifully trudged to the sale only to discover that this was the same stuff that he didn't buy two weeks ago.  However, we wanted a t-shirt which showed the Canal, so he bought one which we can share.  And having a sale is not the same as selling things.  There were no markdowns or deals other than the discount we get as frequent customers. 

Since we were up anyway, D went to the coffee bar for the usual hot water, cappuccino and pastries.  The Crow's Nest was crowded for a change at the crack of dawn [as was the Lido dining area] because everyone wanted the best seat to view our transit of the Canal. 

We were content to sit on the verandah and watch the Canal unfold behind us.  While there was a slight cloud cover, we were comfortable watching and reading, but when the sun came out of hiding, it got too hot and uncomfortable, so we moved inside.  After a while, the clouds returned and we had rain off and on most of the rest of the crossing.  Some of the precipitation was pouring-down-hard rain but some was more of the gentle-shower type.  

 The ship, escorted by tug boats, slipped effortlessly into the various locks without scraping the sides, and were hooked up to the "mules" who pulled it from one end of each lock to the other.  Despite the presence of locks to equalize "sea level," most of the trip through the Canal is in open water, especially in Gatun Lake. [A quick reminder -- sea level, despite its name, is different in the Pacific and Atlantic ends of the Canal, so the locks are used to raise or lower the ships depending in which direction they are headed.  Based on the locks seen today, the Atlantic is the higher end.] 

Of course we napped.  We had been up at 7 a.m.!  

 We had the usual drink-dinner-casino trifecta again tonight.  MA still has some money left in her account on the slot machine and D won another $100 at blackjack.  Earlier, at supper, Danan spent time entertaining us with magic tricks and origami animals.  One of the animals had been made by another waiter who thanked us for the noodles we brought the other day.  As noted before, Danan shared his bounty with lots of folks.

 We are cruising the Caribbean tonight on the way to Cartgena, Colombia.  More on that tomorrow.

 Tomorrow -- Cartagena, Colombia

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Happy Birthday, MA! 

Frequently known as The Incredible Sleeping Woman, she managed to stay in bed until late in the morning.  This is the result of losing an hour for a time-zone change; staying up late on her tablet; and being perpetually tired anyway. 

When we finally opened the curtains to the verandah, we discovered it had acquired new residents -- there were a half-dozen birds settled on the floor looking very smug.  Beating on the glass did not bother them.  Opening the door did not bother them.  Yelling at them did not ruffle their feathers, as it were.  Earlier in the morning, the captain had said something about a fire alarm and a flock of birds, but our door was closed so we didn't hear him clearly.  The birds on the balcony backed up his story. 

We didn't leave the cabin until we headed off to lunch.  D had apologized to the room stewards for being late today and asked them to take the laundry but not worry about the room. Even so, as we were leaving, they arrived to clean the room and straighten the bed.  We all smiled at each other and went our separate ways. 

We ate by the pool again [noodles and fruit] and them MA spent time on the internet responding to birthday wishes and catching up on the outside world while D read off-line.  Our internet package allows us to have only one item connected at a time, but we have not had a problem sharing. 

We were surprised when we opened the door to the cabin to find that the stewards had left a menagerie of towel animals on the bed and a note wishing MA a happy birthday.  There may be hope for them after all. 

MA treated herself to a shrimp cocktail at dinner, her big celebration.  After we declined dessert or cappuccinos, Danan said he had a surprise for her.  Shortly thereafter, he arrived with a little birthday dessert with "Happy Birthday"written on the plate in icing.  He cut two small pieces for us and, at our direction, kept the rest for himself and the assistant.  Then a half-dozen waiters gathered round and lustily sang the Indonesian birthday song.  Of course, we sang along. 

We went to the casino as usual and MA won a little on her slot and D doubled his/the casino's money at the blackjack table. T

Thus endeth the birthday. 

Tomorrow -- Transiting the Panama Canal [Again]

Monday, February 7, 2022 

The ship is docked in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, today.  As the name implies, the harbor ap-pears to have been formed in the remnants of an ancient volcano.  There is a ring of small and medium mountains/hills surrounding the port.  Puerto Caldera is the starting point for a variety of shore excursions to the interior; Costa Rica is one of the world's major eco-tourism destinations.  With an all-aboard time of 5:30, one can assume some of these tours are quite long and involve lots of time on The Big Bus.  No thanks. 

When we were here a few weeks ago, we stayed on board for the entirety.  The pier is long [at least 2 blocks] and the temperatures are relatively high. Again, no thanks.  Ken and Lois made the trek to the craft market at the end of the pier and said it was not worth the time and effort to get there.  We felt superior for not going. 

Today's visit presented a challenge of sorts -- finding chips and ramen noodles for the waitstaff.  If a shirt or two fell into the shopping bag, all the better.  The pier was still 1000 feet long and temperatures were announced as ranging from 76 to 86 as the day wore on, so D started out early to avoid the worst of the heat. One of the MDR waiters told us this morning that there is a shuttle from the ship to the craft market; either it wasn't running before or Ken and Lois missed it.  The Zoo Choo, for that is what it looked like, was waiting near the gangway when D walked off the ship and he was able to get right on once he had shown his COVID vaccination card.  After a brief wait, we trundled away.  The speed limit posted on the pier is 10 kph, approximately 6 mph, so this was, to say the least, a leisurely ride. 

At the market, D wandered around looking at the vendors' wares but not really looking for anything specific.  There were the ubiquitous t-shirts, hats, jewelry, wood products and a very few masks.  When he reached one side of the market, a woman tried to ply him with shirts but he said simply, "supra mercado?" [This was what the Wal-Mart in Puerto Vallarta called itself]  The woman thought for a second and then pointed to the adjacent street and said, "three blocks." So off he went.  

Walking through Puerto Caldera reminded him of other Third World countries we have visited.  Poorly maintained streets and sidewalks; wide-open gutters which may have at one point handled sewage; and run-down commercial buildings.  One one hand, it was a little depressing but on the other, this was the real town, not the touristy market. At the third corner, D looked for a supermarket [which is what "supra mercado" means] and saw a sign for MegaSuper.  There was a small parking lot in front of it a la Jakarta behind a tall chain-link fence topped with razor wire.  The store itself was not necessarily super, but it was a market and offered most of the products one would expect to find.  There were fewer American brands than at the Wal-Mart and, again, no one seemed to speak English, but D wandered the short aisles and found ramen noodles and chips.  We're not sure what the chips are but there 12 individual bags per package and he bought two of them.  He also picked up ten packages of ramen noodles.  At check-out, the clerk tapped his credit card, handed him a receipt and went on break without a word.  With no idea of the exchange rate, D is curious to find out how much this whimsy actually cost. [Later -- D looked up a currency converter online and then received an email from the credit card company to verify the purchase for $10.08.] 

On the way back, he went directly to the stand where the woman had given him the directions and bought a polo shirt for himself and a t-shirt for MA.  Now we can prove we were here.  There was a drum group playing by the market with two men dancing to the beat of the drums.  The noise seemed endless and made conversation with the saleswoman difficult, but we managed.  The band played on and on while D waited for the shuttle to reappear.  Dressed all in pink, the group looked like an amalgam of the Brazilian Boi Bumba dancers, the chorus girls from Havana's Copacabana and a gay rights parade. 

After putting up with the drums for as long as he could, D started to walk back to the ship and crossed the street.  After going through Security [show the key card, squirt some antiseptic], he found plastic chairs under a canopy.  This was the shuttle stop for the return trip for which he was grateful.  It may not have been faster, but is surely more comfortable.  Back home, he proudly showed his purchases to MA who approved.  

We were going to go to lunch around 1 p.m., but MA was a little unsteady.  We ordered from Room Service and she ate a protein bar while waiting in order to raise her blood sugar.  We watched Food Network while we ate and until the waiter came to collect the tray.  Then it was lights out and we were asleep without much effort. 

The evening was uneventful -- drink, dinner, casino with not much luck.  At dinner, D asked again about getting some Indonesian food for supper.  This has been an on-going request which was rebuffed/ignored by the MDR Suit.  Danan was able to get a commitment from the chef to fulfill our request on the last night, this coming Saturday.  This may be their way of saying, "Good riddance!" 

Speaking of food...We had asked the staff at the Pinnacle Grill to make a reservation for what is known as Rudy's Sel de Mer, a seafood extravaganza which is held once on each cruise.  When we asked during the first leg, we were assured that the reservation would be made but that the staff did not yet have a date.  Sunday, D found out that the Sel de Mer had been served on Friday evening and we had not been notified.  D approached/confronted the staff member involved about the reservation.  Yes, it had been made but we had not shown up.  How were we supposed to know when it was scheduled unless the staff notified us?  Oh, it was on the Navigator app which we barely use.  So, to them, it was our fault that we weren't there and they didn't even call the room.  Of course, Friday was the rock-and-roll ship and we would not have gone anyway, but that is not the point. We are scheduled to have dinner at the Pinnacle tomorrow for MA's birthday, but we're not going to show up again.  

Tomorrow -- A Sea Day as We Approach the Canal