Equinox
May 8, 2011
At Sea – one day from the Azores
We had a great meal and saw a good show last night. It was another formal night. We got up late this morning, Mothers Day. The captain wished all the mothers a happy Mothers Day. The weather is pretty bad...raining, windy, high seas. But we are comfy and cozy here in our stateroom.
We were very pleasantly surprised last night when we received an invitation to have dinner at the captain's table on Tuesday night. Better watch my manners and keep the loose cannon in tow!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Equinox
Equinox
May 7, 2011
Mid Atlantic – Raining
We are well into the routine of days at sea. I have not had one moment to rest. The sea days are filled with one activity after another. We rise at 8 and immediately get our cappucinos. Then it is off to breakfast followed by twelve times around the jogging track (no kidding), followed by the golf competition. We have eaten at fabulous brunches. We have gone to several parties, including wine tastings, slot pulls and meet and greet with fellow passengers from the Cruise Critic message board. It is like one big, happy family. Trans Atlantic cruise are different. People are much more friendly and conversations start up immediately. We have found several friends who we enjoy being with who are mostly from the UK. Love those Brits! Each evening we meet for drinks in the Elite passengers lounge, followed by dinner at any time we chose to eat. The shows have been quite good. There is a hypnotist aboard who is the funniest thing alive. We have seen two of his shows and I have been beyond hysterical both times. I am very pleased with the entertainment so far. The other night we attended a chocolate and port wine buffet. I bounced off the walls from all that chocolate but it was worth it.
Last night there was great excitement aboard. The captain made an announcement that he had received an SOS distress call from a catamaran which was out of food, water and fuel and needed help in a squall with rough seas. They were enroute from Germany to the Azores and were very lost and floating around with a broken mast for three days. Somehow they wound up hundreds of miles off course. The Coast Guard in Bermuda decided that our very own Equinox was the ship closest to this vessel in great distress. So, the captain altered course and approximately one hour later there appeared a tiny white dot on the horizon which turned out to be the struggling vessel. We approached it carefully. It was dark, raining, windy and the seas were quite rough. This 30 or so foot catamaran was bouncing about like a cork. The five sailors aboard, all dressed in foul weather gear, cheered us heartily. Our crew then proceeded to transfer the provisions and fuel they needed to continue their journey, which they did. They did not want to board our big, beautiful ship, crazy persons that they were!
It was quite something to see. Everyone on our ship was out on deck cheering. We all got soaked to the skin. I looked like a drowned rat for the rest of the evening. Fortunately, we got the entire proceedings on video as well as still photos. It was certainly a memorable experience and wonderful to see how fellow sailors take care of each other.
This morning it is raining pretty hard and the seas are moderate. I went to the hated gym because I couldn't walk outside, and this afternoon I will turn on my Kindle for the first time since I boarded. Maybe I can get some R & R before High Tea at 3:30.
More to come from the Mid Atlantic.
May 7, 2011
Mid Atlantic – Raining
We are well into the routine of days at sea. I have not had one moment to rest. The sea days are filled with one activity after another. We rise at 8 and immediately get our cappucinos. Then it is off to breakfast followed by twelve times around the jogging track (no kidding), followed by the golf competition. We have eaten at fabulous brunches. We have gone to several parties, including wine tastings, slot pulls and meet and greet with fellow passengers from the Cruise Critic message board. It is like one big, happy family. Trans Atlantic cruise are different. People are much more friendly and conversations start up immediately. We have found several friends who we enjoy being with who are mostly from the UK. Love those Brits! Each evening we meet for drinks in the Elite passengers lounge, followed by dinner at any time we chose to eat. The shows have been quite good. There is a hypnotist aboard who is the funniest thing alive. We have seen two of his shows and I have been beyond hysterical both times. I am very pleased with the entertainment so far. The other night we attended a chocolate and port wine buffet. I bounced off the walls from all that chocolate but it was worth it.
Last night there was great excitement aboard. The captain made an announcement that he had received an SOS distress call from a catamaran which was out of food, water and fuel and needed help in a squall with rough seas. They were enroute from Germany to the Azores and were very lost and floating around with a broken mast for three days. Somehow they wound up hundreds of miles off course. The Coast Guard in Bermuda decided that our very own Equinox was the ship closest to this vessel in great distress. So, the captain altered course and approximately one hour later there appeared a tiny white dot on the horizon which turned out to be the struggling vessel. We approached it carefully. It was dark, raining, windy and the seas were quite rough. This 30 or so foot catamaran was bouncing about like a cork. The five sailors aboard, all dressed in foul weather gear, cheered us heartily. Our crew then proceeded to transfer the provisions and fuel they needed to continue their journey, which they did. They did not want to board our big, beautiful ship, crazy persons that they were!
It was quite something to see. Everyone on our ship was out on deck cheering. We all got soaked to the skin. I looked like a drowned rat for the rest of the evening. Fortunately, we got the entire proceedings on video as well as still photos. It was certainly a memorable experience and wonderful to see how fellow sailors take care of each other.
This morning it is raining pretty hard and the seas are moderate. I went to the hated gym because I couldn't walk outside, and this afternoon I will turn on my Kindle for the first time since I boarded. Maybe I can get some R & R before High Tea at 3:30.
More to come from the Mid Atlantic.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Equinox Two
Somewhere in the Mid Atlantic
MAY 5, 2011
Cinco de Mayo
After golf yesterday we saw a show. I don't usually like hypnotists but this guy was absolutely hysterical. It was up to the Elite passenger lounge for drinks with my British friends before dinner. It was rocking and rolling due to high seas and Jerry became a little seasick so he retired for the evening with his patch. I had dinner with a couple from Canada who will be on Mariner with us and then ran into my other British friends. I am trying to speak like them.
It was the second day of the golf tournament and Jerry losm t his lead. I am still somewhere in the middle of the pack. Some people are cheating on their scores.
There is a bad storm in the area and the captain has taken a one-hundred mile detour for our safety and comfort. The seas are getting rougher and are now at about 14 feet and climbing.
This afternoon we went to a wine tasting party so the more I drink, the less concerned I am about the wave heights. Actually, if I don't start resting soon I will be exhausted by the time we arrive in Europe.
Still sunny but very windy. Still happy to be onboard Equinox.
Chocolate buffet tonight. I am bouncing off the walls! Calmer seas. Jerry is not seasick at the moment. All is well.
MAY 5, 2011
Cinco de Mayo
After golf yesterday we saw a show. I don't usually like hypnotists but this guy was absolutely hysterical. It was up to the Elite passenger lounge for drinks with my British friends before dinner. It was rocking and rolling due to high seas and Jerry became a little seasick so he retired for the evening with his patch. I had dinner with a couple from Canada who will be on Mariner with us and then ran into my other British friends. I am trying to speak like them.
It was the second day of the golf tournament and Jerry losm t his lead. I am still somewhere in the middle of the pack. Some people are cheating on their scores.
There is a bad storm in the area and the captain has taken a one-hundred mile detour for our safety and comfort. The seas are getting rougher and are now at about 14 feet and climbing.
This afternoon we went to a wine tasting party so the more I drink, the less concerned I am about the wave heights. Actually, if I don't start resting soon I will be exhausted by the time we arrive in Europe.
Still sunny but very windy. Still happy to be onboard Equinox.
Chocolate buffet tonight. I am bouncing off the walls! Calmer seas. Jerry is not seasick at the moment. All is well.
Equinox
Somewhere in the middle of
the Atlantic Ocean
May 4, 2011
Aboard Celebrity Equinox
We are comfortably ensconced in our stateroom. Boarding went very smoothly and quickly. We have met many of our shipmates and are enjoying being part of this happy shipboard family. Even before we left the dock in Ft. Lauderdale people we lined up at the Shore Excursion desk to buy the ship's overpriced tours. We have select dining, which means we can eat dinner anytime we choose. The entertainment and food have been wonderful so far. We have been exercising. Both yesterday and today we have walked several miles. I even did some jogging. Today we entered the golf tournament, which will go on throughout the cruise. So far, Jerry is tied for first place so you can imagine how the others play. I am somewhere in the middle. We told everyone we were from Pebble Beach. Right now we are ready to go on a cabin crawl where we go around the ship in prearranged groups to see all the different types of cabins and suites. So far, so good. I am a happy camper.
the Atlantic Ocean
May 4, 2011
Aboard Celebrity Equinox
We are comfortably ensconced in our stateroom. Boarding went very smoothly and quickly. We have met many of our shipmates and are enjoying being part of this happy shipboard family. Even before we left the dock in Ft. Lauderdale people we lined up at the Shore Excursion desk to buy the ship's overpriced tours. We have select dining, which means we can eat dinner anytime we choose. The entertainment and food have been wonderful so far. We have been exercising. Both yesterday and today we have walked several miles. I even did some jogging. Today we entered the golf tournament, which will go on throughout the cruise. So far, Jerry is tied for first place so you can imagine how the others play. I am somewhere in the middle. We told everyone we were from Pebble Beach. Right now we are ready to go on a cabin crawl where we go around the ship in prearranged groups to see all the different types of cabins and suites. So far, so good. I am a happy camper.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Getting Ready
The itinerary for our next trip is as follows:
May 2, 2011 - leave on Celebrity Equinox for 14- day transatlantic crossing.
May 16, 2011 -arrive Civitavecchia, Italy (port stop for Rome). Train to northern Italy.
May 16-23, 2011 - travel through northern Italy with various stops along the way, including
Lake Garda, Bologna, Brisighella stay at vineyard/farmhouse.
May 23, 2011 - board RCCL Mariner of the Seas for two week cruise of eastern Mediterranean.
June 4, 2011 - overnight in Verona.
June 5, 2011 - fly to Dusseldorf. Overnight.
June 6, 2011 - day in Dusseldorf (D-Day). Fly home.
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