Sea legs

We are really rocking today! The captain said we’re in near-gale-force winds and they are coming in the direction that makes for the most rolling of the ship, even with the stabilizers working their best. So we are all looking pretty silly walking about the ship! Fortunately this hasn’t happened many times on our very long cruise so we certainly can’t complain. The big question, as the captain mentioned, is whether or not we’ll be able to dock tonight, as planned, in Agadir, Morocco. If not it would be a big disappointment to the many people who are planning on a two night overland trip to Marrakech. There have already been so many missed ports! I hope this one isn’t!

We’ll be staying on the ship tonight in any case. So, since I don’t have packing to do and the wash was done early this morning and there’s not much going on today as so many get ready to leave, I thought I’d just say a bit more about life on board the Viking Neptune.

There were originally 930 passengers but now only about 550 remain as so many opted to leave when the itinerary changed. The crew has it a bit easier now and they get a bit more time off and opportunity to get on shore. We’re all happy for them as they work so hard and so long for our benefit. We have gotten to know several of the wait staff fairly well and enjoy talking and laughing with them often.

Being on a ship for this long is similar to living in a college dorm — you see the same people multiple times each day, eat with them and go to “classes” together. Most people are friendly and after you’ve greeted them a hundred times you actually are friends. We’ve made lots of friends here and regret that we will probably never see many of them again but happily we already have plans with some.

Because of our constant contact here we share many things. We share every ailment that comes along and then we share the medications that we brought with us. Currently the ship and its stores are totally out of cold remedies but friends have been delivering them to the rooms that need them. We share information, like “There are whales on the starboard!” or “It might be cold at the higher elevations so be sure to take a jacket”, and books that we’re finished with and don’t have room for in our suitcase. It’s been fun sharing the little things that the Ship or a tour operator gave us with someone who has a better use for them than we ever will. More room in our suitcase.

Last week was Passover and the Jewish people invited anyone who desired to to share their Passover Seder with them. The Ship did a fantastic job of providing the appropriate food and other components of the dinner and about 70 Gentiles joined the 30 Jews which, as some told us, was an encouragement to them at this particular time.

The Viking Sky, a twin sister ship, is two days ahead of us on the same itinerary so we benefit from their posts online about the various ports. Today they gave an important heads up to those going on the overland trip — much more walking than expected and no handrails anywhere. It’s going to be a challenge for some. But I think they’ll meet it head on. It has been inspirational, to say the least, to watch some of the people onboard get around with the handicaps that they have!

We have stopped quilling after 4 sessions because there just isn’t any more time, and the puzzles are not drawing people in because we’ve done them all before, maybe several times. The food is still interesting (the watermelon, roasted red pepper, feta, onion and bacon salad today at lunch was a delicious surprise!) but we’re getting tired of eating. Yes, that’s what I said. Many of us are starting to count the days and wondering how those who are staying onboard for the next cruise can do it. Don’t they have family and friends that they miss??

We’re looking forward to seeing three cities in Morocco, more of Spain, some of Portugal, and Paris and Canterbury but it’s going to be a whirlwind now with only one more Sea day before we’re done. We’ve changed time zones so many times I can’t remember (sometimes forward and then back again, sometimes only a half hour!) and crossed and re-crossed the Equator, been to Null Island, seen different constellations in the night sky and very different cultures and climates. We are about ready to see home now.