Family Vacation--at Sea

Day 1 at Sea

I am a it worried that, with only 2 days out of 22 under our belts, the whole lot of us may be black-balled by the cruise line before we are done, as there have already been a number of incidents that could reflect badly upon us.

The Trivia incident--where a very competitive member of the group (see Game Nazi from the previous post) insisted strongly to the judge that there are 3 referees, not 2, in a World Cup Soccer Match. This despite the fact that we still wouldn't have been in the running as we missed the 2 point bonus  question regarding when Panama became independent of Columbia --- 1903. Plus the fact that we were playing for possibly the lamest prize in cruise trivia history--ms Zaandam lapel pins!

The "Accost any staff member with enough stripes and insist they answer random ships questions" incident where someone (ok me, but only because I was tired of someone whining about it) grilled the Beverage Manager about how the ship calculated "apparent wind speed". As he backed away, the poor man suggested that perhaps he wasn't the right person to answer that question but he could tell us how to make a Mojito.

The "ice cream in the dining room incident" where someone, who will be recognizable to those who know the parties in question, wanted a cone with his ice cream. Let's just say that he now has to bring his own damned waffle cone from the lido if he wants one.

Despite those few trifles, there have been other memorable events as we sail south from Victoria to San Diego. 

Mark informed Andrew that he had found an outlet to plug his sonic care toothbrush into. It was here in the bathroom---on the vacuum cleaner!

Some people really need to get out more!

(We are waiting to see him vacuum his beard with this one!)

There have been comments that the author of this blog doesn't include anything personally damaging. After a lecture on freedom of the press and constitutional rights, I give you this anecdote to keep the hounds at bay.

I was proud of myself walking 6 times around the Promenade in gale force winds, and tapped politely on Mark and Andrew's window on each lap. Well, it would have been their window if they had been on the Port side and not the Starboard!

Forgot to mention---coming through immigration Andrew got ahead of the group and when asked by the agent if he was traveling alone, he said "no, he was with his family". The agent asked why they weren't with him there, and he said "you haven't met them yet"!

2nd Day at Sea

There have been a rash of sports injuries today:

A number of neck strains from members of the party vigorously shaking their heads in disagreement with the cruise director that there are 21 guns in a "Royal Salute". Our party, and a number of others, contend that there are 7 guns, each fired 3 times! 

A Gluteus Maximus muscle pull, wrist strains, a sore back, hand blisters and knee pain requiring ice, from an energetic and hotly contested round robin family Shuffleboard Tournament--the winning team is still in referee review.

Tennis elbow--which is curious because, as of this writing, the parties had yet to hit the ball over the net.

Late update on the tennis. Still not sure if the ball was ever successfully volleyed, but they did manage to hit one overboard through a hole in the surrounding netting. And, they got one up on the ledge above the cage. That one went onto the roof when they tried to dislodge it with yet another ball.

Mark and Fritz managed to climb 2,000 feet and do 3 miles each on the Elliptical machines, before coffee, without any apparent injury, so they win today's Fitness Award!

Next, San Diego! (And hopefully some warmer weather).