At Sea Enroute to Hong Kong - March 12- 13

The ship is sailing through the South China Sea along with many freighters in this major shipping channel.  The seas were calm until today when the wind has picked up and the waves are around 9 feet.  Some of the people on this cruise segment (Sydney to Hong Kong) haven’t experienced any of this so they are having a bit of a problem.  There will be over 1,000 people getting off the ship in Hong Kong and then some more in Singapore.  We guess an equal number of passengers will board the ship to make their way to the U.K.

Today brings the institution of high-alert hygiene procedures again – where we can’t get our own coffee and all food is served to you – because a few fellow passengers have gastronomical distress, which could result from rough seas, or worse a virus, or a combination thereof.  The positive of this procedure is that you don’t eat as much since you have to ask a buff young waiter for food and not just load up your plate yourself.  And there are few in the gym exercising since people are presumably sick or, more likely, fearful of contracting a virus.  Of course the high seas help that too – pretty difficult to walk on a tread-mill when the seas are tossing you around!

Professor Hutchinson - climate change

Dr. Losey Lecture

The final lecture on Climate Change and Marine Biology of the South China Sea are today.  Both professors will be available later in one of the cocktail lounges for a joint question-and-answer session.  As you can imagine, with the amount of people on this ship, this will be a lively conversation.  There are other marine biologists, scientists and professors on this cruise who may definitely ‘know more’, or at least think they do, than our lecturers.  Sounds like Longboat Key!



String Quartet

Last night at dinner, the end-of-cruise-segment event was held in the Britannia Dining Room.  This is a fun event which we enjoy.  The dining room and galley staffs are all recognized for providing us with delicious meals and serving them every day on our cruise. Also, have we mentioned previously that on formal nights we have live music during dinner?  Last night it was the women’s string quartet.  We will have to play our iPod for entertainment when we get home during dinner to get the same ambiance!

Chefs in Britannia Dining Room

We are making our shopping list for Hong Kong today.  So far our planning on our personal supplies has been successful.  We are half way through our toiletries – just about right.  However, there are some clothing items we feel we could use.  Not sure we will get any deals in Hong Kong but it will be fun looking.

The Captain says we will arrive in the Hong Kong harbor tomorrow at 6:30 am (5:30 pm EST) in case any of you are watching the webcam.  Weather permitting, it should be an amazing view.