Sunday Sept 7, 2008
Today, all day, we’ve been free to enjoy luxury shipboard-life to the full as the Statendam’s giant diesel engines take us slowly through the Alaskan Inside Passage into one of nature’s most isolated wonders. Weather has been mixed – periods of thick sea-fog mixed with spells of clear blue sky – and the ocean has become calmer and flatter as the hours have passed.
A few whales and seals have been spotted today, although you’ve gotta be in the right place at the right time (and I haven’t been). But the spectacular wildlife, sky-splitting peaks and crunching glaciers are mostly up ahead. Not that it matters – shipboard life is as full and fascinating as you want to make it.
If you’ve never been on a luxury cruise ship, it’s probably hard to imagine. But living on the Statendam is very much like being in a floating town-centre/mall – with lounges, bars, restaurants, cafes, casino, shops, theatres, pools, and glittering lights-fantastic everywhere you look. Oh, and with your very own king-sized bedroom and ensuite just down the corridor. Plus, you don’t have to do ANY housework, cooking or clean-up! And instead of carparks out the window, you’ve got a never-ending video of ocean, islands, fishing boats and sky.
It’s entirely your choice what you get up to and when you get up to it – lectures, golf, cooking classes, bingo, pilates, spa and massages, cappucinos in the coffee shop, high-tea in the restaurant, and food-glorious-food. And in the evening you can tap your feet in the Piano Bar, dance the night away in the Crow’s Nest, or sing and shout at the Broadway Show in the Van Gogh theatre.
In short, if you get bored on board, it’s entirely your own fault! But that, I assure you, is definitely not happening to any of our mad midlife Kiwis – they’re having a BALL!
PEOPLE NEWS: The first of our hotly sought-after Midlife Madness Awards were announced today:
* The ‘Don’t Follow Me I’m Lost Award‘ to Roger – who led the group on a marathon-length route march yesterday, in search of access to the gangway.
* The ‘Thar She Blows Award‘ to Tim & Dianna – who were the first in our group to spot some whales: a pod of orcas, surfing along beside the ship right outside their cabin window.
* The ‘Hit The Jackpot Award‘ to Monica – who scored big-time on the pokies last night, and found herself buried in coins.
* The ‘Open Wider Please Dental Award‘ to Pam (Strong) – who fell asleep during the Alaska lecture this morning, her head thrown back and her mouth like an O.
TOMORROW: We reach Alaska’s capital, Juneau, early afternoon, and go whale-watching – up close and personal from the deck of a catamaran. So don’t change channels …
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on ‘COMMENTS’ (or ‘NO COMMENTS’) under the title for the day’s blog, and type away! And if you want a better look at our route map and some of the photos here, just click on them and they’ll enlarge – magic!
Hi Mum and Dad,
This boat sound amazing. I am just a little envious and wish I was with you.
Dad, watch out or you’ll get the ‘wandering around the ship at night looking for food award’
Alaska sounds beautiful, can’t wait to see some more photos. All well at home,
lots of love Sally.
To Floyd Family:
Thrilled to hear from you. Thank you Izzy. So far so good. Both well and enjoying ourselves. Love to everybody. Mum & Dad
To Margaret Birtles
Hi Mum, how are you? That ship sounds incredible, I’m not jealous at all !! All’s good here, though the only wildlife I see out my windows are the kids 🙂 Hope the whale watching goes well.
Luv Sarah and co
To Margaret Birtles
Hi Margaret
It was great to get your email and good to hear your trip is going well. Did you enjoy Vancouver. We spent half a day there and thought it was quite a nice city. I tried to call you on your cellphone on Friday to wish you a great trip, but couldn’t get through. It was good to catch up with Heather, Josh & Katie and Kevin, Emily & Oliver on Friday evening. We are all well up here. Karl is going to the Otamatea Ball on Friday night with Chelsea and then he is going to Mt Ruapehu snowboarding for a week with Bream Bay College.
Enjoy your cruise!!
Love Glenice, Larry, Karl & Laura
Hi guys, sounds like never a dull moment, make sure you have a gamble on the pokies for me!! Can’t wait to hear if either of you win any awards!!! Hope you weren’t involved in the pillow throwing incident on the plane Mum. All good here, two littlies missing you like crazy, you would think Olivia knows you have gone away, she wanders around going “Poppa” “My Poppa”. Ethan wondering why there was no postcard in the mail today, trying to explain these things take time!! Anyway better go to bed, love to you both, Rachael, Mark, Ethan & Olivia
John I did a double take on the title of this one … ouch!!
UP THE INSIDE PASSAGE! Did it hurt much??
So glad you are all having such a great time. We’re all fine .. tis wet here for a change … we can’t get to complacent after all, and we did have a brilliant weekend … the rain just had to come. Love to you & Robbly and the DeH women & Parents 🙂