Cruise of a Lifetime – Travelog 4

 

 

 

Everyone scrambled to take a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise.  They had a Sail In with samosas and sourdough as we sailed under the bridge.  San Francisco was our opportunity to get off the ship and do some strolling.  Ok, I strolled, the other three rode on their scooters.  We were our own little parade.  We waited until the mad rush off happened and then the employees helped the three riders down the plank and on to ground. 

We walked miles, I think… well, it felt like it.  But I found out that that double cortisone shot worked awesome. 

Passing under the Golden Gate was truly inspiring.  Seeing Alcatraz was something to see.  I had no idea it was so close to land.  We spent some time watching the seals fight for territory on the docks.  They are feisty. 

We strolled past The Midway and it felt so strange.  Behind The Midway  was Facebook’s Mark Zuckerburg’s yacht being loaded with supplies.  Later, the movie onboard was The Fall Guy and the comedian, Jose Sarduy, regaled everyone with his impressions.  For those who came back early from the day long in port, there were art classes and bingo.  I won.  The three bars had different genres of music going on.  The menus were Pacific salmon, Pan-Asian, and Halibut.  The Lido was loaded with dishes from around the world, great banks of breads and desserts.  The food was absolutely amazing. 

After the long walk through the port, seeing the Welcome Home Statue and being respectful and contemplative, we were tired so we retired early.  Again, the gentle amniotic rocking of the ship helped us sleep soundly. 

©Carol Desjarlais 10.2.24

 

Cruise of a Lifetime – Travelog 3

 

 

September 30 was a was day as we headed south.  Those days are filled with lots of activities to choose from.  Mornings always started with Tai Chi for those so inclined.  A Cooking Show followed.  Then, a shopping show.  In the evening the Captain did a welcome and toast.

Later there was a Shore Excursion presentation for San Franscico and San Diego.  A daily movie “The Big Miracle” and the next one was “The Boys In The Boat”.  And the night’s main activity was Step One Dancing, learning the tango.  But, throughout the day, there was a coloring art project a wine auction, Technology for travelers, and a Q and A about visiting San Francisco.   There was a presentation on the Marconi Story.  Evening’s entertainment on the  World Stage was a singer with the Music of John Denver.

The Lido had Royal Dutch Tea, and Yellowfin Sole Filets were in the main buffet.  But there were several high-end restaurants, as well:  The Canaletto, The Pinnacle Grill, The Tamarind, the formal dining room had Cod dinner with all the trimmings.  and a complementary Asian meal was in the buffet.  Late evenings you could have hotdogs or hamburgers and fries at the Dive In and Pizza on the back deck.  Food.  Always food and desserts at the Sweet Shops.  We could circle round and round and have so many tasting bites on one’s late that we could not eat it all.  We found the most amazing girls to wait on us, that we followed around, and they became our favorites who knew our names from that first few days. 

Of course there was the all-day spa, fitness center, hot tubs, pools and casino (when we were out in international waters.  There was an abundance of things to do, to eat, and one was grateful to fall into bed earlier at night than we ever did at home.  We were lucky to have a front middle outside room so that we hardly felt the gentle rocking.  We spent a great number of hours up in the Crow’s Nest, watching the ocean and the cruise ships that shadowed us all along the way.

The Bee Man went up to who he thought was John… nope, but a definite doppelganger in a scooter, too.  And, my friend and I got to know each other more and more.  An instant connection. 

We geared up to go on land at the port at San Francisco and San Diego.  The Bee Man was ready to do so.  Our daily game of No Peek-um carried us through the times up in the Crow’s nest where he could put up his feet.  A great deal of his time was spent there as the ocean fell quietly and darkly behind us.

 

 

 

Cruise of a Lifetime - Travelog2

 

 

We lucked out on a disability room that was one of the largest on the ship.  Our deck was large with enough room for three scooters or up to six deck chairs.  We ended up not using it much because it was either cold to begin with and boiling steamy hot for the majority of the trip.  We had an extra-large king-size bed and lots of room to move around in the scooter.  The bathroom was a walk-in, all tiled and lots of room. 

As daylight fell, we moved under the bridge in Vancouver and we were on our way. I hung up and put away our clothes (took me two weeks to find there was a luggage compartment under the bed).  The Ligo Market Buffet was full stocked and a wonder, seriously.  There was an informative presentation on California Ports coming up, on the World Stage.  The Company Men, a Motown quartet sang us off and away.   A Sail Away Celebration was held on the back deck and we spent time in the Crow’s Nest while The Bee Man won at the casino and we had to stay up four hours, sitting at the machine, because he won big.  Our cruise started off both frustrating but fineeeee. 

It was after the dinner that I happened to sit with a woman who became a fast friend, indeed...in fact, she was from Lethbridge and her father had a band I, and my partner, danced to in the late 60s and early 70s. As well, she was so astounded because I looked, acted, sounded like her mother.   As we met over the next few days, we discovered that we even had common ancestral names… We became fast friends. 

Not much sleep happened that first night with all the excitement and his big win.  It gave him money to play with and paid all our extra incidentals on the trip.  We ended up only owing $178 which was a bonus.     The gentle rocking of the ship gave us a wonderful sleep.

Carol Desjarlais 9.29.24