Water, Water, Everywhere: At Sea on November 21, 2023

Since we are on a ship making a Transatlantic crossing, we have several days at sea. Today is one of them. We are headed to Sao Vicente Island, Cape Verde, off the western coast of Africa.

Nothing much happens on days at sea, although they try hard to provide entertainment. For instance, beginning at 8 AM today’s schedule includes the following: a corn hole tournament, a crafter’s corner (I guess people get together and knit?), a lecture titled “History of West Africa,” a Tanzanite Seminar (probably to hawk jewelry), a Ship Building Class (I am assuming a model ship), Future Cruises Presentation (assumably to hawk future cruises), Team Trivia, Social Bridge (not to be confused with antisocial bridge), a Wine Tasting (more than likely to hawk wine), an Origami Workshop (back by popular demand), Viking Jupiter Choir (where you learn a fun song), a Mini Golf Tournament, an Afternoon Tea, another lecture titled “Maiden Voyages,” yet another lecture titled, “Mars–It Does Take a Rocket Scientist,” a film of the Metropolitan Opera’s “The Magic Flute” in the theatre (sounds like a bit of a snoozefest), and finally, “Dancing Under the Stars” with a live band at 8:45, followed by live music in the ship’s night club, Torshavn until midnight. Oh, yeah, and a BBQ on the pool deck at 6:30. Good heavens.

We went to live show in the theatre last night. Tom Lowe, billed as a West End Star (England’s Broadway), was starring in his one man show, “A Song for You.” He was apparently also a runner-up on maybe season six of American Idol. Maybe we didn’t give him a chance, but his songs were a bit lounge-lizard. He probably has to tailor his repertoire for the older crowd, so that might have been part of it. I would have stayed for a few more songs, but after he butchered Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, Doug was out of there.

In the public restrooms, they have a recording of nature and outdoor sounds, like birds chirping, children playing, toads croaking, etc. One of them sounds almost like a rowing crew on a river, softly talking. It’s a little unnerving at times, particularly the frogs. Some of the sounds make you wonder who is in there with you and what the heck they are doing.

We haven’t made any friends on this ship, so I am reduced to eavesdropping. You can sit at a table for four or six with someone different every night at dinner, but I find that exhausting, so we usually ask for a two-top. Last night there was a six top next to us with three couples who had never met. One of the men pretty much dominated the conversation the entire evening. He talked loudly (probably hard of hearing), and prefaced every few sentences with, “Now that’s another interesting story.” Then he launched into a monologue where he was the main character in the “interesting” story. I guess it was of interest to him. At first his wife laughed hilariously at his stories, but by the end she looked bored and fed up.