Around the World in 128 Days - Valentines Day Activities Galore and a Surprise

 Travel Day 42 - February 14, 2024 - 15,617 Steps

Not quite as spectacular as yesterday's sunrise, but still it was worthy of an Ah! when first seeing it.

Our server at breakfast was definitely into the Valentine's Day Spirit.

I don't think we have ever seen her without a big smile.

Fairly gentle seas today.

The surprise coffee with Kimberly guests were the the Captain and his lovely wife Alexandria. Needless to say the questions all revolved around how they met (she thought he was interested in the girlfriend she was with, the girlfriend said he had eyes only for Alexandria), who pursued who ( he was relentless in his wooing, she saw him as a divorced man with children who spent most of his life at sea). in the end they discovered they were a perfect match even though they came from different countries and had completely different backgrounds.

The question was: Was it Love at first sight?

After stopping in a few days time at Guam followed by Saipan and then more sea days, we will have a number port calls in Japan.

The Shore Excursions Manager could be a standup comedian.

His way of forewarning us about toilet facilities and toilet paper, or the paucity thereof in Asia.

Valentine Day dessert at lunch.

The topic at today's creative writing class was the power of words. We were to take a hard candy put it in our mouth, then describe the sensations without writing naming what the candy actually was. Below is my scribblings.

The intense flavor of wild cherry overrides the tongue curling initial first feeling filling my mouth. The taste smooths out, the expression of surprise on my face fading away just as change in the intensity of the overriding flavor mellows, bursting forth in a new sensation and bring a smile to my face, completely replacing that first eye popping sensation that had me hastily swallowing the taste emanating from the hard piece of candy to try and cleanse my mouth. 

She's way more than just a marine biologist.

Myth's and misconceptions about dolphin behavior is the norm as old wives tales are repeated ad nauseum instead of current and ever evolving scientific knowledge.

If brain size relates to mentl ability, what does the dolphin having a brain larger than a human suggest.

The set for the Zuiderdam's Valentine Day Game of Love Featuring four of the ship's officer's and their spouses.

The Executive Chef, The Hotel general Manage, the Captain and the Beverage Manager. Video excerpts below. Why was it I would video the interesting parts but then always just watched the awesome parts?

Kimberly explains the rules, asks the first question: When and where did you meet? And we watch as they answers.

This time it was: What is her favorite dance move?

The perfect way to start our Valentine Day Happy Hour on the aft deck.

Bird photo of the day.

Dinner dessert tonight. Being the true Valentine Day sweetheart that I am, I gave Linda a hand made card and had the sugar free vanilla ice cream added to her plate. Sometimes I can do just the right thing.

Kimberly in her special Valentine day dress posing for me before starting her Cocktails with Kimberly evening chat with her guests, The Bird Dogs, the Everly Brothers performers from last night.

The big surprise was Oliver Hoare, the younger of the two brothers had played Dave Davies of the Kinks in the West End production Sunny Afternoon which we saw at the Harold Pinter Theatre some 8 years ago. We had seats right beside the runway and couldn't believe it was Oliver who had pranced up and down the runway beside us that night. He was so gracious and commented that it delighted them that Americans commented about how they had sound the Everly Brothers sound and mannerisms during their performance. He also was astounded that on the cruise ship in the middle of the Pacific there were people who had seen him on the West End. it's truly a small world.

Valentine day towel art greeted us on our return our cabin.

it's little things like this note on our bed tonight that have made the cruise so special. It's not just a note, it's an expression of what we constantly from every crew member we come in contact with.