Tuesday, June 18

Happy 47^th birthday to Jon.

Since today was a sea day, we were forced to do very little.  On port days, we will do the same voluntarily.  As usual, we had breakfast in the main dining room [MDR] at the “honeymoon table,” a table for two.  There is always the option to eat at a larger table and meet new people, but we tend to eat by ourselves although we often chat with folks at adjacent tables.  Today’s neighbors were from Arizona and we talked about the weather there, in Florida and in Norway; at lunch yesterday, there were two women from Wisconsin who were really jet-lagged.

We read and did puzzles after breakfast before MA took a nap.  By the time she was conscious, the MDR was closed, forcing us to eat lunch in the Lido.  It was a bit brisk by the pool, so we ate inside.  When we were finished, we headed to the showroom in order to get seats for Capt. Albert’s 3pm lecture.

Capt. Albert is Albert Schoonderbeek.  The comedians often call him Captain Scooby-Doo.  We have sailed with him on the Prinsendam twice, in 2010 and 2011, and were fortunate to have had dinner with him at “the big table” several times.  He often sails with his wife Lesley who is as delightful as Albert.  He calls her “She Who Must Be Obeyed,” “My Lord and Master” and “The Mystery Shopper.”  In 2011, MA spent the day with Lesley watching the royal wedding [William and Kate] and D once modeled a jacket in the ship’s shop so Lesley could decide if it would fit/look good on Albert.  They may not remember us, but we will never forget them.  We even sent them a note asking them to join us for dinner in the Pinnacle later in the cruise; as of this writing, we have had no answer but are not optimistic.

Albert no longer commands a ship.  Rather, he travels throughout the HAL and Seabourn fleets training new officers and conducting safety training exercises.  For many years, he has maintained a blog focused on seamanship in which he explains the machinations of tides, winds, weather and harbors for wherever he happens to be.  More important is his lifelong interest in anything HAL.  He has become an expert on the history of Holland America and, especially, the captains.  He is on the Prinsendam’s final voyage as a guest speaker, not as an officer [and even attended the safety drill Monday prior to departure].

Today’s lecture was part one on the history of the Prinsendam.  The use of the name for a HAL ship predates this particular vessel and he explained the derivation of the name in relation to the names of the other ships past and present.  He also spoke at length [and illustrated] the history of the current ship since its inception as the Royal Viking Sun in 1988.  Since then, it has also sailed as a Seabourn and Cunard ship joining HAL in 2002.

After Albert’s presentation, we returned to the cabin, relaxed and prepared for tonight’s formal night, the first of three.  We at in the Pinnacle Grill, the oh-so-fancy alternate dining venue which features high end beef and seafood with a Northwest emphasis.  The food was excellent [shrimp cocktails and scallops] and the setting calm. 

It should be noted in retrospect that dinner Monday was not calm.  While we had a lovely table for two by a window, we were disturbed by a loud group at a nearby table.  The diners were not rude but were very enthusiastic [read: loud] and made it difficult for us to hold a conversation.  D spent some time during dinner working with the dining room manager to find us a different, and we hope better, table for the rest of the cruise.

Speaking of disappointments, we were not able to get “our” cabin, number 451.  We have had this cabin on four of the previous five Prinsendam cruises [and should have had it every time expect for a mistake by HAL].  We are in 463 this time.  While it is similar [same hallway, shower only], it is smaller.  There is not enough room for two nights stands, just one.  This makes a big difference since there are now fewer drawers for storage and less “elbow room” next to the bed.  The biggest difference/inconvenience is that, for unknown reasons, there is a plexiglass panel over the window well.  We often have used this space for storage, especially as a hiding place for Christmas presents this past year.  And D keeps hitting his head on it when he tries to look out the window.

 We don’t know how special this cruise will be in terms of “extras” or surprises.  Albert hinted in his blog the other day that things are planned but he would not commit or comment on what they are in case things go wrong.  Nonetheless, when we returned from dinner tonight, we found a box of dessert plates on the bed along with the regular chocolates.  We already have a set courtesy of friends Alan and Annie who brought them back from a World Cruise in 2017; we now have service for 16.  We are curious to see if these goodies continue and wonder how to get this all home.

There have been rumors that some items peculiar to the Prinsendam may be auctioned off.  MA would like to get a life preserver even though we have no way to get it home and nowhere to put it.  More practical, but no more likely, would be an elevator rug; these change every day so that passengers will know what day of the week it is.  We would like to get Saturday or Sunday since every day at home is like a weekend.  For the most part, though, everything on board will go with the ship to its new German owners.

Tomorrow, the ship is in Stavanger, Norway.  If there is a town worth seeing within walking distance, we will venture forth in search of a local lunch.  If not, we will have a “sea day in port.”