Lost at Sea by Margaret Rhijnsburger

For the last 16 days we have had 14 sea days and only 2 days at a port. I know many of you are wondering just what we do on “Sea Days”? Well, that depends on a few things and here is a list of the criteria. What body of water are we on? Are the seas rough or smooth? What is the weather like? What activities have the cruise staff dreamt up for us to do today? From whose perspective do you want to hear from? What calorie consumption can we justify based on the amount of activity we have undertaken?

Let’s see (no pun intended). Why is it important to ask what body of water we are on (Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Tasman Sea, or the Bass Strait)? Well, there are definite differences from colour, from being rough or calm, to type of weather, to temperature, to one’s ability to see birds, fish, whales, or dolphins, to affecting the way you feel, to what kinds of activities you can partake in.

Some days we just eat, sleep, read, eat, sleep, do some school work with the kids, then eat, sleep read again. I know, this sounds like a really rough life. But one thing I didn’t know was that the salt water can make you very sleepy. The water can also make you very sick. There have been a few days where you can do very little because the water can be very rough as it was the first few days on the ship when we were getting our “sea legs”. When we were on the Tasman Sea, near New Zealand, the water was so rough at times one thought the ship might break in two. The waves splashed high over our balcony and we are on the sixth floor!

There are many other days where there are so many fun activities on board that you have scheduling conflicts. There are activities to do and people to see. On most days, Brad and I can only see Erin by booking an appointment on her “schedule”! Ping pong championships, ceramic classes, lectures to attend, bridge for Adam and Brad, movies, and library work for Erin (no, she isn’t reading in the library, she is working by helping the staff librarian – they have even given Erin her own cruise staff name badge and uniform!).

Land ahoy! Tomorrow we hit Australia with a visit to Burnie on the island of Tasmania. Then one more day at sea before we hit the mainland for 5 days in Sydney, Alice Springs and Cairns.