Formal Night and Medical Emergency

Photo stations are set up all over the ship to capture everyone.  

The Horizon Court is hosting a Captain’s Gala Buffet.
The production show tonight is Colors of the World 8:15 and 10:15.

The Casino is smoke free tonight too.

Movies Under the Stars is showing Battle of the Sexes at 7 pm and 10 pm.

There is a new trivia called Dizzy for Disney Trivia.  And then the Where in the World Am I Game Show – we played it last cruise so we won’t go again.

The Alley Cats are back for the Acapella Doo Wop show in Vista Lounge 8:30 and 10:30.

Buzzword Gameshow at 10:15.

We meet up with Alice in Vines for a drink.  

While enjoying out drink the Captain comes on.  Again we know this is not normal and something is up.

Captain Nash announces that there are three passengers on board that have serious medical conditions that require treatment ashore.  They looked at all options, including landing them somewhere, and even helicopter evacuation. 

The best option was to head back to Port Everglades as fast as we can to get them to medical attention in the United States.

Captain stated that we should be along side pier 2 at around 9 pm on the 7th of February, around 10 hours earlier than scheduled.  

When we arrive the three patients will be allowed to disembark but all other guest must stay on board until the next morning when custom agents are there to clear the ship and pass the guests through the proper channels.

We are praying for the patients and that all will be well.  
In all our cruises we have experienced many people having to disembark because of medical issues.  We have had helicopter evacuations at sea.  But we have never had to return to the port early to disembark passengers and then wait on board until the next day.

The remaining evening was rather quiet.

We had dinner at the Horizon Court where they had amazing food.  They had three different platters with shrimp in three different sauces.  Bernie was excited to see bowls with caviar!  

There was a Where in the World Am I game show where the points decreased the later you answered them.  We fared well but not good enough to win.

We are tired tonight and we wander the ship not sure what to do?  We both would like to see the Alleycats, or the Production Show Colors of the World but we both agree we would probably fall asleep during them.  So we head back to the cabin.

Note because we are heading back to Fort Lauderdale and will arrive tomorrow we have to put our clocks back an hour tonight instead of tomorrow.

Victoria

We didn't get back to the cabin until around one am and we crashed.

Around 8 am we start to hear people getting up around us. There is a family group near us.  They have the cabin beside us, and two across the hall, and a few elsewhere. For some reason they congregate outside their cabin doors and carry on their visit.  Even at 8 am!  Not very considerate.

I catch up on the blog as Bernie heads down to get the coffees.

Our arrival into Victoria is not until 10 am.  Since this ship/itinerary feels so crowded most of the time, I don't want to rush out to breakfast at the peak times.  To read more blogs about Victoria click here.

While in the cabin we hear an announcement in the public areas looking for a crew member.  After a few minutes the same announcement is broadcast in the cabins looking for the crew member.  Of course this is not normal and I wonder what has happened.  Hope they are okay, and I really hope they are not in a passenger cabin - that could have very bad results.  We later find out that the crew member was stuck in the elevator for over two hours. Guess he won't get in trouble then - I am glad.

Today we are meeting up with our dear dear friend Alice Schmidt who we have sailed with numerous times.  Alice is sailing on the Westerdam that is docked beside us.  Our other friends Connie and Derek are here from Powell River and they will meet up with Alice, then Bernie will join them when we dock.  I will wait on board until Daniel and Alla finish work and we will go out the five of us to show them the sites of Victoria.

Observation:  Not sure if it is this particular short itinerary (although we have done others and not had this) but entertainment events are very sparse.  The Patter is padded with items like what show is shown on the Mutts, in cabin TV and Spa events.  For example - Victoria day afternoon events in the Patter show the following:  noon to 3:15 World Atlas USA; 1:00 Mrs Doubtfire; 2:00 The Revenant; 3:00 Daddy's Home.  And that is it, no other activities during these times, and this is similar to other days.

We head ashore and decide to walk towards town.  It is an easy walk to town.  Flat and about 20-30 minutes.  We walk along the water to Fisherman's Warf and check that out.

Then to the British Columbia Legislature where we go in and show them the stunning building and where our Provincial matters are dealt with.

For lunch we head to Milestones right on the harbor and sit outside.  It is very very hot out and it feels great but I did get a sunburn.  Should of worn sunscreen.  

just a little Sangria for Alla and I

Cold drinks, good food, and great friends - who could ask for anything more.

Since this is Alla and Alice's first visit to Victoria we have to get them to try some essential Canadian items.  A Beaver Tail!  There is a little restaurant just off Government Street the specializes in Beaver Tails.  We got the regular one that I grew up with.  Just butter with cinnamon and sugar on it. We all shared the one.  Yum, just as I remember it from my childhood. 

Around 3:30 we start making our way back as Alla has to get back to work.  Daniel had to leave earlier as he has to do the Afternoon Tea service.

Bernie and I try to nap but there is a lot of noise coming from the hallways with people coming back from being ashore, and those going up for dinner.

Tonight is the last night with Daniel and Alla.  We are sad, but we are so happy that we got to spend some time with them.

the Curtis Stone Chicken and Leek Pot pie - very good

We are in bed just after 11 pm - we sail at midnight and we are ready to get off tomorrow.

Sea Day and Sea Day – Thursday and Friday

Feels nice to know I don’t have to rush and get ready for the port today.  We take our time getting ready, we would love to have breakfast in the dining room; however it closes at 9 here, I much prefer the 9:30 that the Star closed at. 

We make our way up to the Horizon Court and well how do I describe it, a Zoo!  Not surprising since many are sleeping in today and missed the dining room just like us.  We have a light bite to eat and then head down to International Café for our coffee/tea and to catch up.  But the Bijoux sale is about to start and they are lining up and events in the Piazza are gearing up so finish up and then decide what next.

Beverly our waiter in the Coffee Bar every day - such a joy to see every day too

Bernie wants to do trivia again and I head out to find a quiet place to read and think the Wheelhouse would be good but darn it, it is closed because the pub lunch would be in there in an hour.  So I head aft to Club Fusion where the trivia is going on but sit at the back and read.  I can hear Bernie’s team, he is happy with his team currently they are having fun and I can hear the laughter coming from them.  This is more like it I think.

Today at MUTS they are showing The Devil Wears Prada so I throw on my bathing suit, lather on the sunscreen and head up to the Sun Deck.  The place is busy but I am able to find a lounge chair on the Sun deck, there were no chairs around the pool available but that is okay I prefer it up one deck where there are less crowds.  I grab two slices of pizza and start watching the movie and an hour into it I remember why I hate watching Movies Under the Stars during the day, the band at the next pool starts up and even though I love the band I hate having to hear it when I am trying to watch a movie.  I give up and head in. 

I decide now is as good a time to relax and maybe get a nap in.  When Bernie comes back to the cabin he naps too and when we wake we are rested and ready to enjoy the evening.

Bernie and Elda with Jasper

We meet up with Lori and Jeff and Alice prior to dinner and we head to the dining room at 7:30.  Elda and Nathanlian aka Nathan are waiting for us.  We ordered a bottle of wine that everyone had been recommending, London Fog and it was delicious and now I can highly recommend it.

Bernie Alice Lori Vickie and Jeff

For our meal I started with the Salad Roll (one of the new items) then the goat cheese with grape tempura soup, both were so yummy.  For my entrée I decided on the Beef Wellington and it was cooked perfectly and very good.  Of course I had the cheese plate for dessert to finish off my wine.

Tonight the show is Blame it on the Boogie, this is their new show and so I want to see it.  We get a seat up close and we are dancing and singing in our seats.  Great show, my only negative comment is the wigs the women wore…. They did not flatter them, but loved the costumes and the singing and the dancing.

We are in bed at 11:30 and ready for our last sea day and last day of this cruise.

Elda turned Bernie's souffle in an a piece of art

Nathan our Junior Waiter

I wake and realize we are rocking a bit more this morning.   This is not uncommon and something we experience when coming back to Florida.  It is overcast and raining, and we both comment oh it is going to be busy inside today.    Bernie ventures up to the Horizon Court and I decide to head to the International Café where I meet up with Alice and Anita and I grab an egg sandwich and yogurt.

There is another sale in the dining room today and the people are lined up twenty minutes prior!  Really!  I do make my way into the sale when the crowds have died down a bit and buy a wallet and a top, the line up to pay was long but it moved fast.

I am back in the cabin relaxing and watching the movie “the Words” on our tv.  I think room service is going to be the ticket for lunch today and more relaxation.

Oh I forgot to mention, when we saw our cabin steward this morning we told him not to worry about our cabin tomorrow, then he told us he was moving to another section starting tomorrow.  Not sure if I am happy or sad, in the end he worked out quite well just took a few days for him to settle in.  He is shy and I think he is new but he definitely has potential.