Well, we are now underway and our first day was very different from some other cruises we have taken. To begin with, the crew is much more attentive and we believe it is a sincere effort to respond to the guests rather than mere fawning.

We have had two meals on board today: lunch and dinner. Both were above average in menu selection and service. We also had our first walk through the ship. The experience can best be told in two words: understated elegance. The ship is small by most modern standards. It can carry 382 passengers if all cabins are occupied with all berths (some threes and fours). Right now, it is our understanding that there are only about 250 aboard. The full crew is, however, about 306, so the service is, as mentioned before, very good.

Today was spent mostly getting acquainted with the ship and unpacking. It is amazing how much stuff you need to bring for a four-month cruise. Wonder of wonders, everything managed to fit in the space available – if we can remember where we put it all.

Tuesday was the first sea day. It gave us an opportunity to really explore the ship and to see how we will be spending our sea days. Keep in mind that although we will be visiting over 30 countries and have about two months ashore all together, we will also have about two months at sea, split into one, two, three, and longer day intervals. The ship is small as I said earlier, but we have already discovered four bars and five restaurants, so we don’t have to worry about going hungry or thirsty.

I also had an opportunity to listen to the first of a series of enrichment lectures given by highly credentialed authorities on a variety of subjects. The first in the lineup is a series of discussion/lectures about the Middle East: its history; the oil issue; political infrastructure; the effect of US policies, or lack thereof, on the world; the Russia/China conundrum, and other similar weighty matters. The speaker is a Middle East policy expert and author who has served several presidents, met with Arafat and Abbas and Israeli leaders, and has specialized in these types of issues since the 60s. This is the type of heavyweight we can expect for the remainder of the enrichment series.

We also got our first glimpse of the upcoming port stops. Our first is Nuku Hiva in French Polynesia. You may remember that is where Survivor 2002 was filmed. We believe our short stay will be slightly more comfortable than theirs was…

At dinner we were invited to join the Port Lecturer and his wife. She teaches photography techniques for the guests. We had a very nice time discussing some of the places we had all been to and several that are on both of our “bucket lists.”

 Here is the sunset this evening from our balcony:

Sunset - somewhere in the Pacific heading toward Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

More to follow...stay tuned...