This morning we awoke to find a Health Advisory Update from the Captain outside our door. We weren’t particularly special, all guests received one. The letter indicated that they have noticed an increasing number of COVID cases amongst guests onboard. Staff have always worn masks while on duty. Holland America is once again strongly advising guests wear a masks indoors. The letter also encouraged hand washing and to report to medical if you notice any COVID symptoms! This information correlates with our knowledge from a fellow Canadian who told us his bridge partner from a few days ago tested positive. We generally would wear masks in the Mainstage area or any other place where lots of people congregate for a period of time - and now we are even more conscientious about wearing a mask even when just walking the hallway!
J went for his usual workout this morning and we both went to hear Kainoa speak about our next three ports in Fiji - Suva, Dravuni Island and Lautoka.
We had the good fortune to meet our friends from dinner up on the Lido deck while eating lunch. They had found a table in the shade (tough to come by at lunch time!) and invited us to join them. We told R that they had rocky road icecream for dessert - knowing that was his favourite! So we all sat and laughed and visited while periodically getting up to get a serving of icecream!
J went to bridge and I spent some time in the Crowsnest before going to the excursion desk to cancel an excursion that has been severely modified from the original itinerary. Then Mama Mia seemed like a great movie to watch in our stateroom!
J and I went to the Sea View Pool area at the back of the ship and I ordered a virgin pina coloda to enjoy in the fresh air (well almost fresh - smoking is allowed on the starboard side back there so we tried to stay away from that area - but we wanted a table in the shade!) We visited with another cruise critic member who is travelling solo from the Kitchener Waterloo area!
While back in our stateroom, getting ready for dinner, at 5:15 the captain came on to make an unexpected announcement. He said we might have noticed we increased speed from 10 knots to 19 knots as there is a medical emergency onboard and they are trying to get to Suva a day earlier than expected. So the plan is to arrive in Suva tomorrow by about 3 pm (instead of the following day at 8 am). The unfortunate guest will be transported off the ship (likely on a tender) at that time. Then the ship will pull up to the pier somewhere between 7 and 8 pm tomorrow night. Another ship is at the pier until 6 pm, so that is why we are not pulling in as soon as we arrive at port. So that is very sad news for one guest who has the misfortune to end his/her cruise early - and hopefully that doesn’t mean the patient doesn’t lose his/her life.
J had his favourite meal of the trip so far tonight. When he saw the menu he thought of a three course Italian meal and he settled on a Trio of Salmon, Fettuccine Fruitti de Mares pasta and the Mustard Roasted Leg of Lamb. Every course was wonderful and the combination of great tastes and too many calories made him very happy. Generally we find Holland America portion sizes appropriately small for the amount of energy we are expending. Offering small portions in the dining room is a good way for Holland America to miminize food waste.
I then went to the MainStage, where I write my blog while waiting for the performance to begin. I found a counting error on my blog so you will note I am now accurately writing the blog for Day 23! The performance was the Zuiderdam singers and dancers and they performed “Encore”, funnily, for the first time! All the shows on the Zuiderdam are being performed for the first time since a big choreography revamp.
I hope everybody is staying safe and sound where they are!
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