Sea Change

A SEA CHANGE!

We have now changed itineraries. Instead of going to the Carribbean, we now go North. Halifax, St. John’s, Boston, and Martha’s Vineyard. Last week, the kid’s center had 800 kids. This week, there are 75. THE CRUISE SHIP IS TRANSFORMED.

We have a passenger safety drill every week that they announce over and over again “in 45 minutes time” “in 30 minutes time” “in 10 minutes time” “please return to your stateroom and read the card on the back of your door.” Then they sound the alarm, which is seven short blasts, followed by a long one. It was silent on my hallway, except for that alarm, an old lady angrily opened her door and said “who is that. Who is making that noise—that beeping.” And immediately, the announcer said “this has been a test of the emergency system” and the old lady shut her door.

So we have old people and no kids. This place is silent. It’s insane. I might love it. We went into the hot tub, we played ping pong, everything is quiet. And best of all, there is the fabled Eggs To Order line. This is the line that usually backs up 50 feet, even though some people don’t even want Eggs to Order. This morning (well, 11, when I get up)? I walked up. To the line. And ordered an omlette. If you had been on this cruise this summer, you would go like this: “You’re lying! Shut up! No! That is a lie! How dare you spread such LIES!????! LIAR! LIAR LIARLIARLIAR!!!!” and push me off the boat. Eggs to Order is our Holy Grail. And I do not possess the patience for it. Usually. But NOW—EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT!