Cruising the Tasman Sea
Buongiorno, for the next two full days and a good part of the third day the Mariner will be transversing the Tasman Sea. The Tasman Sea is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, located between Australia and New Zealand, duh. It is where the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet. It is infamous for its rough seas. That does explain the walking track on deck twelve being closed, the pool deck furniture all being bundled up and tied down, the swimming pool being closed, and the veranda furniture being turned upside down. This does not bode well for the next couple of days.
Well, it is on with the sea bands first thing in the morning. The night has been somewhat rough. Although it isn’t bothersome as you are asleep. So just in case, the sea bands are employed. The first order of business today is laundry. However, this time it will be just mine. Mary has decided to send hers out. Why not its free. The is something relaxing about doing laundry.
Breakfast was upstairs in La Veranda. We were hoping to play cards with Stuart and Chrissy today, but it doesn’t look good. Chrissy has a 10 am bridge class. There is a 14:00 writers’ workshop for me. Mary’s phone call with Kim is at 14:00 or 14:30.
So, Stuart and I meet in the connoisseur lounge just after it had gone ten for a cigar. It had just gone noon when we parted company to reconnect with our wives and head to lunch. The pool area was very windy so we took lunch in La Veranda.
After lunch it was nearly time for the writers’ workshop, so I headed up to the Obervation lounge of twelve. I realized I was aft on the ship and needed to get forward. I took the elevator to twelve and then realized that deck twelve was closed so it wasn’t possible to walk forward. Taking the stairs down to eleven to make the transition, when I was confronted by the fact the pool deck was closed. Down to ten where I was able to transition forward, then to the elevator to twelve where I could enter the observation lounge.
The workshop ended at 14:45 and I headed back to the suite. Mary was still on her call, so it seemed a good time to grab a cigar and make myself scarce. We had spa appointments at 16:30.
Returning to the suite at 16:00 I found Mary still engaged with Kim but finishing up. Mary finished up her call and we headed to the spa. Mary was having her hair conditioned. I was having a facial, shave and a haircut.
It had gone 18:00 by the time both of us made it back to the suite. Upon getting back we were faced with a time change tonight. We gain another hour. Turns out not only do we gain an hour tonight, but tomorrow night was well. The only real issue with the time changes is that they are scheduled not when the time actually changes but when it is convenient for the ship time to change. Yes, our next port of call is Sydney, and Yes, it is two hours behind our current time. The time changes somewhere in the middle of the Tasman sea. Where? Does it really matter? Just suck it up and get used to it.
We also received a list of some of the excursions in Africa. Wanting to be timely and knowing it was first come first served, or at least it is supposed to be, we took an hour or so to go over the choices and complete the booking card to what list we were given. Still lots of holes in the dates but they are at least working on it.
We dropped the reservation card off at Destination Services on our way to dinner at the Compass Rose. We had a nice dinner with Stuart and Chrissy. Then Stuart and I went for a cigar, or two. Stuart and I left the Connisseur Lounge about 22:30 which was now really 21:30.
Tomorrow is another day!
Buonanotte e Ciao, Enrico
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