It's the last full day. We are at sea today. I'm up early to enjoy the quiet, to reflect, to breathe in the sea air as much as I can. A few Brown Boobies are following the ship as I sit here in this moment out on the Waterfront after a great breakfast at O'Sheehans. This trip was more than I expected.
I have made full use of the thermal suite and plan to head there shortly. It has helped me relax and slow down in a way I could not have comprehended when I first booked the pass.
This trip has also helped me tap into an inner confidence that although was there all along, I didn't fully trust. I've met some amazing people at bars, in the thermal suite, and in the solo lounge. Some interactions were more fleeting and the memories of them will fade with time. Others will stick with me a lot longer, like that woman bubbling with joy in the thermal suite. I keep hoping I will bump into her again.
And the trip has brought out so much fun, from that sparkly outfit I wore the night the photographer captured my spunk to dancing salsa to sharing my bird knowledge on the mangrove excursion to all the solitary meals I had that I thoroughly enjoyed to the hours I spent at the Sail and Sustain Bar to this gorgeous Brown Booby that just flew by where I'm sitting.
This trip will go down as one of the best not because I did anything particularly memorable but because of the fullness and richness of life I experienced in the moments. And because this feels like the beginning of something incredible.
Up in the thermal suite, I had an even closer look at the flock of Brown Boobies that seemed to be guiding our ship back to Nee Orleans.
The snow in the snow room had been building up all cruise to the point someone had made snowballs.
After a couple hours in the Thermal Suite, I went back to my room to shower and change and discovered they had delivered my framed photos and they are so beautiful!
I then spent some time on the Waterfront near the Sail and Sustain Bar. The weather was perfect and I really enjoyed this Cucumber Cool. I have tried every drink on this menu and enjoyed them all!
I met that man I had dinner with the previous two nights for lunch in one of the main dining rooms and then we walked out to the Sail and Sustain Bar to have one last drink together. He left me with his phone number and an offer to meet up either in my city or his and he capture a selfie of us. I don't yet know if I will do anything with that phone number. This was probably just a vacation connection.
I enjoyed some quiet time alone on the Waterfront and then went up to my cabin to start packing and dress for dinner. At the last minute, I decided to book a 7:45 pm reservation at Food Republic so I had time to wander the shops, people watch, and have another drink or two.
I loved my meal at Food Republic. I had a window seat and although it was dark, I could still watch the white caps of the waves bouncing off the ship. And the food was so good!
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| You order your food on a tablet. Included with the cover charge is any four items on the menu which is a lot of food for one person! |
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| I ordered saki which you drink out of this tiny thimble of a cup - my sister says this is normal. |
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| Dragon Roll |
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| Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps |
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| Kanpachi Wonton Tacos |
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| Miso Chicken |
After dinner, I spent a few last minutes on the Waterfront to listen to the sounds of the sea although it was a bit cold so I wasn't out there too long. And then I headed back to my cabin to finish packing. It was sad to see all the suitcases in the hall. That's the signal they are going to kick us all off the next day as the trip comes to an end. I decided to let them deal with my suitcase this time (instead of walking off) since I wasn't in a hurry the next day so I put my suitcase outside my door before I went to bed.
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