A Generic Sea Day

Feb 16

Our last sea day of this outstanding cruise. We slept in, and missed breakfast and the line dance review.

Around 11:00 we decided to find some coffee and pastries. The Patisserie had no seating, so we decided to wander over to Rich and Joan's room because I had to give them something. As we were about to drop it in the mailbox, Rich came back so he invited us in.

I have never seen anything like their room (and, Rich and Joan, in case you're reading this, I mean it in the nicest possible way) - the walls, which I just learned are magnetic, are covered with magnetic clips with all kinds of spreadsheets, maps and other documents about their four cruises. They also showed us the various tools and medicines they take with them. I thought I was hyper organized, but I bow to the masters.

We spent some time discussing future cruises, and looking through a cruise atlas that the future cruise guy had given Rich. We hope to cruise together again sometime. By this time it was lunch time, and they invited us to tag along with them and the CC folk that were going to Montevideo with them. We won't be having dinner with them tonight because some of those people are treating them to dinner at the steakhouse as a thank you for shepherding them around in ports. It was a nice lunch.

After lunch, it was almost time for the boat race. Glen didn't feel well, so I went to the boat race. What's the boat race? teams build boats (or as our guide in Punta Arenas said, a boat on a boat) that have to be able to haul a 12 pack of beer across the pool and back without sinking. If more than one boat makes it, the winner is based on style points as decided by the audience and the cruise staff.

Our friend's boat was a whale made (at least externally) of duct tape. The belly held the payload. The team name was "Moby Drake", and they all had hats commemorating that. There is apparently a story, but it wasn't read. Hopefully someone will post it on our roll call. I got to be the official cheerleader and photographer for the team.

They were able to successfully send it across the pool and back, and a hose clever let Ralph, the driver, blow water out. However all three boats made it, so the winner was another boat that looked like a miniature ocean liner. However the audience vote (by applause) was so close that they were awarded duplicate first place - medals (plastic) and 12 beers. That lead to a problem - how to drink all those beers when the cruise was ending soon. They wanted to have a small gathering to drink it, and no one except us had room to host it. So we decided that at 4:45, just before sailaway from Montevideo, we'd have all the roll call people we were close to come over with their left over drinks and we'd have a small good bye party.

After a break it was time for our last trivia game. This time, Glen came with me and we both played and (and lost - so no trivia win for me). Following trivia, we went to the Elite lounge, then dinner prep, then dinner.

Rich and Joan were at the Crown Grill that night, so Glen and I were going to invite the couple at our waiter's other table to join us (they were alone at a table for 6 every night), but they didn't show up either. So, we had a nice "chef's gala dinner" together. After dinner, we went Explorers to hear Groove Babies, but they were finishing a set. We hung around during the break, and Glen gave the band some contact info to get them in touch with his brother, who has connections in the music business. By the time we finished talking with them, it was time for their next set, so we danced that entire set (sitting out a couple). The highlight was that we decided to follow the vocal line of Love Shack and dance a tango. When all you have is the rock band, you get creative. We had a great time.

We had an early day at Montevideo the next day, so went to bed soon after.