DAY 56---CRUISE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

 

      This shows our route on this, the 3rd segment, of our world cruise.  It will end in Taiwan.

This shows our 1pm position today in the South China Sea off the north coast of Malaysia heading for our next port of call at Muara, Brunei, tomorrow.  It is 80 degrees out this afternoon.

LAST EVENING

We did go to the show, "Broadway in Concert". 

                                      Loved our dinner with the Todd's--Jimbo and Mary Ann.

                                                    Fried bean enchilada for my appetizer.

 Surf & Turf--Beef short ribs and tiger shrimp with mashed potatoes and peas.  My dessert was key lime pie.

TODAY

        So we lost an hour's sleep last night after moving our clocks forward an hour.  Big difference in the sea today.  We are rocking and rolling with grey skies and occasional rain showers.  The wind is 30 knots but we are sailing at 15 knots into a head wind so wind up on deck 12 feels like 45 knots.  Looks like 10 foot swells today.  This is roughest seas we have experienced so far.  Yesterday we had the smoothest seas and today, the exact opposite.

        We had to cut our treadmill time short as we had to hold on and did not want to tweak a knee trying to stay on.  In real estate the saying is "Location, Location, Location".  Well it is no different on a cruise ship.  In rough seas it is best to be on a low deck and midship.  This is why we are on deck 7 as it is the lowest deck with suites.  In addition we are about midship.

        After showering I put half of a scopolamine patch on behind my ear.  This just a precaution to avoid sea sickness which I have never had.  Rebecca watched her Bold & Beautiful before trying to do the treadmill and is now watching Young & Restless before she gets cleaned up for lunch.  She also called our friends Kaye and Jane in Dallas as they had a big storm there yesterday.  They said no damage to their property but they spent 30 minutes in their "safe room" as the storm passed over.

        I called my mother.  I know I can catch her in her room just before 6:30pm (it was 8:30am Saturday here) as she always watches "Wheel of Fortune".  She sounded really good for a 95 year old.

        At 11am I went down to the theater for Bea's, Cruise Consultant, presentation on the 2026 World Cruise itinerary which was just released and bookings will begin March 22nd.  I stopped by Reception and made a 3pm appointment with her.  We are not interested in the 2026 world cruise however.

        Rebecca was taking a shower while I was at the theater and an electrician walked in to check to see if they had replaced a light in the bathroom.  Both were shocked.  Luckily Rebecca was drying so had a towel to cover her.  Bessie, our stewardess, came later to apologize for the electrician.  Will put the "privacy" sign out next time I am not in the suite and she is showering.

        We have heard that Japan will block the ship's internet when there.  Next year we are booked on a Grand Cruise from Sydney to Tokyo and will be spending 2 weeks in Japanese ports.  That is not acceptable as during the first two weeks of March as I will need to be able to monitor our house as still winter.  So we will talk with Bea about possibly switching cruises.  First I have to confirm the Japan internet issue.  We have friends on the Explorer and they will begin doing Japan ports starting first of next week so have asked Jim Stoddard to report back to me about their internet.  

        Ok, this is Bea, the Cruise Consultant, who we met with this afternoon.  We told her our possible internet issue with Japan ports.  She said she had not had any when there 2 years ago.  So we have an "option" for a suite now on the Grand Arctic Cruise which is an 83 night cruise beginning June 2, 2024.

Here is the link to it:    https://www.rssc.com/cruises/MAR240602D/summary?source=top%20results

You can cut & paste it to your browser if you want to view the itinerary.  We will wait to hear from Jim on the Explorer which will be visiting Japanese ports beginning on March 9th before we make a decision where to switch or not.        

We had lunch in Compass Rose as it was much smoother ride down there rather up on deck 11, La Veranda.  I had this leek quiche again followed by the fried seafood platter and fries.

                  Bernalyn just came on board during the big crew change over in Bali.

        Rebecca asked for some jalapeno cheddar cheese to take back to the suite for her afternoon snack.  She always has an Atkins bar for lunch so needs a little snack.  Bernalyn brought her this big plate of cheese today.

        This afternoon I will watch Terry Bishops lecture on tv titled, "Manila at War", before our 3pm appt with Bea.

        Plan for this evening is cocktails in Mariner Lounge then dinner in Compass Rose.  Here is tonight's menu.

        Tonight's show is Mickey Votano's 2nd show.  As you will recall we did not care for his first show.  If we go we will sit up in the balcony for a quick escape if need be.

        We will be docked by 10am tomorrow in Muara, Brunei.  I have my Brunei E-Arrival card to go ashore for my tour.  Rebecca is not going.