The Silver Lining - Reasons I'm Glad The Cruise Was Cancelled

UPDATE:  We were expecting news tonight on what HAL was planning for us when we got to Fremantle. Instead, the Captain announced that Australia has closed all ports to ships in transit.  HAL and Australian government officials are having a conference call tonight to determine exactly what that means.  I'm hoping we'll be allowed to dock (with no passengers or crew leaving the ship), replenish diesel and supplies then head toward Florida. 

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I am NOT happy the cruise was cancelled.  I understand it.  I think it was the prudent decision but would be MUCH happier if the damn corona virus was just a blip and not a pandemic.

Rather than stressing about things over which I have no control, like how I'm going to get home to Florida from Fremantle, I've focused today on not the sad side of this situation, but all the good stuff.  Here are some things I'm grateful for and looking forward to.

Here's the list, in random order.

• I've been posting updates on FaceBook to let friends know where I am and what's happening.  I'm am touched by the support I've received.  In particular, all the people who have business associates or relatives in Australia and are offering to put me in touch if I need assistance while I'm here.  I'm feeling the love and it means a lot.
• What a great travel story this will be when I'm a geezer in a nursing home.  I can repeat it ad infinitum and bore all the other geezers.
• I can't wait to hug my friends.  It may be a couple of weeks after I get home but still.
• Fast internet.
• Taking a shower and being able to use both hands since at sea I need one hand to hang on.
• Pajama days, when I can shower and not worry about hair, make-up or wearing a bra all day.  Sorry for TMI.
• Sleeping in my own bed.
• My shower, which is an oversized walk-in shower with a 4'X6' window for natural light.
• Being able to walk just a few steps to get tea or coffee.
• My surround sound tv set up with Amazon, Hulu and Netflix.
• Good pizza.  There are differing views on board but I think the pizza tastes like frozen (it's not).  Eddie's Pizza in Longwood, I've missed you.
• Mexican food.  They have stuff they call Mexican on board but it is not even close.  It's tasty, just not Mexican.
• Driving my car.  Just being able to hop in the car and go.
• Having internet on all my stuff, all the time.  Phone, Chromebook and Kindle.  What a concept.
• Silence.  There always seems to be some noise on board.  Most of it is good - ocean against the ship, etc. but silence is good.
• Children.  I love kids.  My career started as a teacher and ended as a teacher.  I look forward to being around kids when I get home.
• Cooking.  I'm going to regret this one because I do love the incredible food options at every meal but I am looking forward to cooking.  
• Inexpensive massages.  J. Sterling Wellness Spas, I'll be making weekly appointments as soon as I can.  $39 for an hour of great massage?  Yes!
• Dental care.  I chipped a tooth in Brazil.  So far, so good but will be good to get back to the dentist.  
• My pool.  I love looking at it, especially at night when it is lit up and I love swimming in it.  Or just sitting out by the pool in the evening.
• Using my gas grill to fix dinner, enjoying grilling by the pool.
• 4 Rivers Bar-b-que in Longwood.  The Messy Pig is my favorite - a stack of cheesy grits, pulled pork, cole slaw and jalapenos with sweet and spicy sauce.  Yum.
• The privacy of my house where I have space to dance, sing at the top of my lungs and just be.
• Cheap wine.
• High ceilings.  My house has vaulted ceilings which is wonderful and gives such a feeling of space as opposed to the low ceilings in my cabin.
• Being alone. Not seeing another human for days at a time.  Bliss.

I'm sure there are things I'm missing.   What are things that you love about your home?

March 14-15, 2020 - Days 70-71 - The Cruise Is Cancelled

Usually sea days are pretty uneventful but not yesterday.  I got a text from my friend Heidi, who ironically is on her way home from Santiago where she'd gone to embark on a cruise that was cancelled by Norwegian at the last minute.  The text said my cruise was cancelled along with all the other HAL cruises.  She included a link from a HAL statement but internet was too weak to open it.

As I continued to try to access information on line, Heidi texted me details from the HAL post.  Most cruises would be ending within one or two days, at their original destinations.  We'd be ending in Fremantle on March 24.

About an hour later, at noon, Captain Jonathon came on the loudspeaker.  He typically makes daily announcements at 12:30 p.m. on sea days.  He sounded a bit annoyed when he announced that he was talking to us now because several people had seen things on the internet and he wanted to address them.  I suspect his irritation was HAL posting the information for the world to see before we were informed.

He went on to say that because of the rapidly changing situation, with an overabundance of caution, yada yada yada, that the cruise was done.  BTW, this is his final cruise because he is retiring at the end.  Certainly not the final cruise he dreamed of.

He confirmed the March 24 disembarkation in Fremantle but had no other information.  He did ask that we did not go to Guest Services because they had no additional information.  Seattle corporate was working on how to get us home and we should wait for information.

Passenger reaction was fairly subdued.  I was standing in the hall outside my cabin chatting with other passengers after the announcement.  Shared initial concern wasn't about keeping healthy on flights home, it was how we'd pack all the stuff we'd bought.  When I mentioned packing as an issue (I packed assuming I'd be driving to/from the ship, not on a plane) one sweet elderly lady (ok, she's maybe a few years older than me) said "Shit!" with great feeling as she realized the implications and then apologized profusely for the profanity.  We all laughed because we were thinking exactly the same thing.

Next I ran into Fathur, one of my cabin stewards.  We talked for a minute then he left to keep working and help Asep, the other steward process the information.  This is disappointing for us and getting home is challenging but this could be devastating for the crew.  As Asep told me later, there is no work where he lives in Indonesia which means no money.  And he has a newly pregnant wife.  Fathur came back from bereavement leave shortly after the cruise started because his sister had passed away suddenly.  He's now providing financial help for her children as well as his own family.   Those are just two examples of the impact on crew of not knowing when/if they'll work again.  And yet they still had to do their jobs, with a smile.

As the day went on and we went about our normal sea day routines, the impact started to sink in.  No freaking out that I saw but definite concern about how we were getting home.  A number of us spread the word to send a message via the HAL Navigator app suggesting that we cancel all ports and head back to the USA on the ship.  We'd have to stop for supplies/diesel but no passengers/crew would be allowed off the ship.  That way, we wouldn't have to fly.

At least 1/3 of the passengers have limited mobility.  Because the cruise is ending in Fremantle, the rumor is that we'd need to be bused to Perth, which has a larger airport.  Or, get their on our own.  Then, fly to Sydney then on to our final destination.  For me that would mean, best case scenario, three flights.  Plus, a lot of new cases have popped up in Sydney since we left so that's not ideal.  Someone suggested chartering planes to get us back to the USA.  I'd prefer that to commercial flights but it could devolve into the shore excursion from hell.

I heard from a passenger last night, who spoke with the EXC shore excursion manager that we can't cruise back to the USA because "they" won't let us dock.

No new news by the time I went to bed, which wasn't surprising.  I woke up about 3 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep and checked for info outside my door and found a notice from the Hotel Director saying that they had received a number of complicated questions which were being referred to corporate and due to the complexity and volume we probably wouldn't receive responses for a couple of days.

There are three Cruise Specialist reps on board and I haven't heard anything from them.  Not a surprise since although they have a close relationship with HAL, I don't think anyone knows details of what is going to happen.  Nothing we can do now but wait and have faith that HAL will support us as well as possible.

For many on this cruise, ambivalence is not their happy place.  Having been self-employed for so long, I'm more accustomed to it and more comfortable.  Yes, I'm anxious to know if I should be booking my travel home or whatever but I'm ok with it.  I suspect the anxiety level overall will increase as more time passes without news.  Not different than everybody else in the world who don't know what's coming next.  At least we are safe and comfortable.

In most ways, life on board is normal.  Last night was a Gala Night and lots of passengers were formally dressed.  As usual, I passed on that but did have dinner in the Lido with a friend where I dined on caviar, shrimp cocktail, cod and key lime pie (which was really, really good).

We received an updated notice of special events (Orange Night, HAL anniversary celebration, Gala Farewell Dinner, etc.) and a pillow gift.

Ironically, the pillow gift was the traditional Delft platter showing our itinerary (which we aren't doing).  It is lovely but large, heavy and fragile.  That would have been no problem when I was driving home from Ft. Lauderdale.  How I'm going to pack it, I don't have a clue.

This morning is sunny, smooth seas and temps in the mid-80's.  Time to get out and enjoy the day.  As usual, internet isn't adequate enough for photos (or to check flights) so those will come later.  I'm going to find a deck chair and enjoy the view of my new pedicure and the ocean.

February 27 - Crossing the International Date Line

I broke down and bought the ship's internet yesterday.  Partly because the price fell to a rate that didn't give me palpitations and partly because as we start visiting ports I've never been to before I don't want to spend limited port time on my computer.  So here I am, sitting in the Crow's Nest enjoying a panoramic view of the very calm sea.

Feel free to skip directly to the photos at the end.

Here are some random observations from the last couple of days.

• Yesterday I went to the Dive In for lunch.  I love their burgers and sweet potato fries more than I should.  As I waited for my food to be ready a gentleman asked if he could share my table.  We ended up spending almost two hours together, chatting over our burgers.
  
  Jim is a 90 year old widow from Las Vegas who has done five world cruises plus a LOT of other cruises and travel.  His stories were fascinating.  His dad was a career Navy officer and got Harry Truman to recommend Jim to the Naval Academy.  Wow.  He went on to tell me a story about a rowing competition.  He was on a team with Jim Lovell who went on to be Commander of Apollo 8.
  
  Jim went on to tell me stories about his career as an engineer in the Army Corps of Engineers and then for Boeing where he tested missile launches.  We also talked about his 57 year marriage and then chatted about child rearing and respect and the changes we've both seen over the years.
  
  It was a lovely couple of hours.  One of the things I really enjoy on this trip is talking to seniors who've lived such amazing lives and have wonderful stories to tell.  I'm going to steal one of Jim's lines - when asked what he does on such long cruises, his stock reply is "As little as possible."  He shares my view that it's nice that they have a variety of entertainment options but that doesn't mean you have to go to them.
• I hate elevators.  I've been stuck in elevators three times prior to this trip.  Once, on a Sunday morning, in a closed bank with no one else in the building (I worked there and was putting in some overtime).  Then on an elevator in San Francisco, between the 22-23 floors.  And one horrible time in Jamestown NY. 
  
  It was Superbowl Sunday and I'd met a couple guys on my flight in that morning and we met in the bar at our hotel to watch the game and drink some beer.  I left at half-time to go back to my room.  And got stuck in the elevator.  Do you know how long it takes to get an elevator repairman during the Superbowl?  It seemed very long since I'd had a couple of beers and had been heading to the bathroom.  I held it but set a land speed record getting to the bathroom once they finally had the doors open.
  
  The elevators on the Amsterdam seem to have problems.  It is not unusual to have at least one in a bank of four to be out of order.  This morning, the forward bank of elevators that I typically take had two of the four out of commission.
  
  Twice so far I've been "stuck" briefly in the elevators here.  Both times only lasted a few minutes but were scary.  The first time after I pressed the floor I wanted, the doors shut then all the floors lit up but the doors wouldn't open and we didn't move.  After a few minutes of me breathing hard and pressing the "door open" button repeatedly, the doors did open.  The second time I pressed the floor I wanted, the doors closed and we started moving but stopped at every floor but the doors wouldn't open.  The elevator finally took me back to deck 8, where I'd started and the doors finally opened.
  
  It always makes me happy to be on an elevator with someone carrying food and drinks.  At least if we get stuck we'll have sustenance. 
• Big news about breakfast in the Lido.  Seems they took the suggestion of a passenger to have a daily breakfast special.  I noticed the other day they had a plate on display with steak and eggs.  Yesterday was stuffed French toast.  I didn't pay much attention and didn't realize they were only there for that day.
  
  Today I sat next to a woman who was happily eating biscuits and gravy.  I had my standard fruit and shot of muesli.  She explained that the dish was the new daily special.  Dang.  Good for my diet but I LOVE biscuits and gravy.
• The ship celebrated Mardi Gras yesterday, in a very low key way.  They handed out bead in the Lido and MDR and had special lighting for a party in the Crow's Nest.  I didn't go so don't know what they did or how many people were there.  One of the bar servers and I were talking yesterday and she said after 8 p.m. there are typically only 10-15 people there.
• The flowers are back!  I've enjoyed all of the creative fresh flower arrangements around the ship (there were no fresh flowers on the Zuiderdam and Westerdam last year when I was on) so was very disappointed when suddenly all the large vases were empty.  Good news, new flower arrangements have appeared and they're beautiful.  A bit surprising that the theme seems Asian instead of Polynesian but who cares.
• Rumors are flying!  As the Corona Virus spreads, the speculation about the impact on our itinerary grows.  I can't imagine how challenging this is for HAL corporate.  One of the hot rumors is that we'll skip anywhere in/near Asia and instead spend more time in New Zealand and Australia.  Since we're due to arrive in New Zealand in a few days, they'll need to make the decision soon, if there's any truth to the rumor.
  
  I was at Guest Services today on my regular movie run and overheard a guest asking about what changes might be coming.  The official answer is that as soon as HAL in Seattle informs the Captain, he'll let us know.  As of now, we're continuing on our planned itinerary.
  
  The other rumor is that Orlando Ashford, HAL President is coming on board.  His wife, son and others have been on board since Ft. Lauderdale.  I'm guessing that he's a wee bit busy since the entire fleet is being impacted by the virus and their stock prices are tanking.  But, could be a good PR move since some of the most loyal passengers are on this ship.  Who knows?  I just know I'm very happy to not be the one making the decisions.
  
  Bottom line, it's out of my control and I'll be ok with whatever they decide is most prudent.
• Well, that's disappointing.  I just got a voicemail message from a stranger.  He's mad because I called him two days ago and hung up on him.  Except I didn't.  My guess is that one of the evil robocall companies is using my phone number to make their calls.  I did the same thing last year - called back the local number that had called me.  It was a very nice lady who had no idea her number was being used.  If you know of something I can/should do about it, please let me know.
• I'm off to lunch now.  Tomorrow is Tonga and I'm looking forward to a new country and seeing how it compares to Samoa since I almost ended up in Tonga as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
  
  Here are some photos.   Just kidding.  After trying to upload photos for a couple of hours, I give up.  I'll try again later.  Currently the internet is just too slow on the ship.

 

Took a minute to wrap my brain around this one.  Today is February 29 and Google says it's March 1, just to make things more challenging.

No Wednesday for me!

Sooooooo good.  I'm going to learn to make cappuccino mouse.

The flowers are back.  Ironic that they have a Chinese theme, given the virus situation.  Also interesting that we're deep into the South Pacific but no tropical flowers.

Everyone was talking about how calm the seas were all day.  Literally, all day.  Beautiful and happy we weren't under sail.