Oh what a day to SLEEP IN! There is a downside to our lovely suite at the front of the ship – it is at the FRONT OF THE SHIP! That is where the anchor is dropped and pulled up and it seems where they like to use the bow thrusters endlessly to get us into port! However TODAY is a day at sea and none of that will happen so we will get to sleep in! Wahoo! So what happens on a day at sea? Well, as I was not woken up by ship operations, I got to see the sunrise! Then back to bed! Just in time we showed up for breakfast in the dining room (closed at 9am and we got there at 8:50am) and as we had a full breakfast I figured the next time to eat would be trying out the English Tea service at 3pm. So I let them know that I would be participating so I could get some gluten free goodies… on the Nieuw Statendam I forgot to let them know and just got a sandwich and cookies – nothing new. So to work off breakfast and to keep my step count going we walked the decks and I took some pictures of the happenings there. All of a sudden it was Tea Time! (there might have been a nap in there somewhere too). Off we went and was I surprised! WOW! So much on offer to me! They asked if we wanted to share our table and I hesitantly said OK – I just did not want anyone taking my GF goodies! Then we checked out the shops on board – nothing that we needed (we are still trying to figure out how to spend our cruise credit as the Excursions we bought on the ship have both been cancelled now) and then the captain came on the PA system indicating we were about to go through the Messina Strait and we had taken on a pilot to assist us. Basically it is a narrow strip of water (but deep) between the island of Sicily and mainland Italy where the strong currents can be detrimental to craft passing through. Sounds like Active Pass in the Gulf Islands if you are a sail boat however does not bother BC Ferries. It did not have a turn like Active Pass does – it was just pretty narrow! The interesting thing was we were in our stateroom when this “announcement” happened and we have a window that is forwardish facing. I was lying on the bed working on my laptop and all of a sudden this man (not an employee) and his camera stood in front of the window taking pictures off the side of the ship! So I went out our cabin door and sure enough – they were letting guests onto the “balcony” in front of our cabin that normally the ships crew only go. So I went out too and explored and took some pictures! Then we went to dinner. This is going somewhere… eating dinner the captain came on the PA system AGAIN (this was the 3rd time today including his noon announcement) and said that we were passing the Stromboli volcano and it is currently erupting lava down the side of it. WELL, that is not something I am going to miss! So while Andrew waited for our dinner I wheeled up a deck and took some pictures and came back down all before dinner was served! Wow – what a day and a day at sea is supposed to be relaxing!
