More Randomness

Our 4th sea day in a row and everyone is anxious to reach Halifax! And we're looking very forward to celebrating July 4th in Charleston, South Carolina as well. Travel is fun, but it also serves to remind us that there is no country like ours. USA!! We are seriously blessed and we often take it for granted. 

 

Four sea days in a row is a little much. Since we left South Hampton, this last segment of the cruise has been completely full. A lot of ATW passengers got off in South Africa to go elsewhere, then returned to the ship for this last segment. Others are new to this segment only. We got used to having about a third less passengers, so the ship feels more crowded now, especially around meal times. 

This morning started with breakfast in our room, then Ronnie's ukulele practice followed by Bible study. We only meet on sea days so we have only one more "Sunday service" and a couple more times to meet for Bible study. Below is a photo someone took yesterday after our time together. As with most group photos, some people are hidden. You can also tell that we don't know if it's warm or cold, as we're dressed for a mixture of seasons. ha! Do you see the blond in the front row (4th from left) wearing pink heels? Are you ready? She is 90!! She's the one whose birthday we celebrated recently. (I posted photos I took at the party, but did not include her in those). And NO, I am not lying!

 

 

Yesterday morning was another Sunday Brunch where the food and presentations were absolutely over the top. We've had several of these and I've posted pictures of them before. 

 

omelet station

making my veggie omelet

 

no brunch should be without a string quartet!

In the afternoon, the ship had a silent auction with the proceeds being divided up and given to the crew. These young people work so hard to take such excellent care of us - and always with a smile! Whatever they get paid, it probably isn't enough but they are very thankful to have these jobs and be able to help their families back home.

Liz, a friend from Canada who we know through our Bible study bid $400 for a cross stitch picture. It was made by various people on the ship (each person making a pattern to represent where they're from), and someone else stitching all of them together. She will have it blocked and framed when she gets home. It is definitely one of a kind.

 

Liz from Alberta with ATW cross stitch - 2026

Today the ship is collecting donations of shoes, clothing or anything else that passengers don't want to carry home with them. The donated items will also go to the crew members and their families. 

More randomness - Here's a random picture of friends who won the boat making contest awhile back. Each contestant or group had to 1) make a ship 2) from "found" materials around the ship or on land and #3 it had to float. These 2 couples from our Bible study group were the proud 1st Place winners! Here's a picture of them with their winning entry. Congratulations Kevin, Wendy, Diana and John! 

 

1st Place - Boat Building Contest

We don't plan to start packing until the day before we dock in Miami because our 4 large bags are still in storage. It's not the easiest task for the staff to fish out 4 specific pieces of luggage given the hundreds of bags being stored. And even if we had them, they would need to stay in our room until disembarkation, which would limit our floor space. So we will probably wait until the day before we leave to get our bags and pack.

This afternoon we went for tea and scones in the Horizon lounge. It was sunny earlier today; now it is foggy again. I snapped this photo out the window in the Lounge which is on the back of the ship.

 

scones, jam, clotted cream

solid fog