Aug 10, 2022, At Sea

Depending on what happens on sea days dictates whether I post or not, today was one of the exceptional days where I do post. Today was the Mariner recognition day aboard the Zaandam. We donned our platinum medallions and headed to the Main Stage show lounge for a very nice presentation. I was fortunate enough to have a picture with our Captain Michiel and Guest Relations Director, Florin, on the way in. Glenn Michael did a very nice job as MC, a very nice event. At this current point there was no usual lunch to follow, that’s okay, we had lunch in the dining room anyway. Following our lunch we had a very special meeting at 3 o’clock in the Ocean Bar, some 100 plus guests of the former Amsterdam from the 2020 World Cruise got together. At points very emotional as Glenn went through some of the sequent of events aboard the ship, especially the retirement departure of Captain Jonathan Mercer… I am including this in the blog as this was a great event not only for me but for many in the room, it was such an unprecedented time  that needed some closure. We are fortunate to have Glenn on board to provide this. I had posted about the passing of, long time world cruiser, Dolly Smith. Well as an entire group we all raised out glasses and gave her a cheer, she was a unique character on the ship and her personality will be missed. 

Jan and I then headed up to the Thermal suite to take advantage of our, once a cruise freebie here. Coincidentally the last time we were in a thermal suite was on our last day on the Amsterdam in Perth, the day before we left her. This visit was a little less tense let’s just say.

Tonight was our last formal night aboard the Zaandam. All officers lined up as we entered, dinner was the traditional surf and turf - well for me it was surf, surf and turf because well why not.

A great day at sea, tomorrow we are in Halifax and are getting to spend some time with some old friends from Vancouver that moved out here a few years ago. Looking forward to a great way to end this most interesting cruise.

Only a few pics of our day, hope you enjoy…

Quote of the day, “Travel is still the most intense mode of learning”. - Kevin Kelly