Beginning of the End

Sunday, November 9, 2014, our Transatlantic, Repositioning cruise aboard the Celebrity Equinox is coming to an end.  We packed yesterday so that we could enjoy our last day at sea without the hassle and downer of packing up to go home.

The day started way too early, quarter to four, for me as I woke up coughing and couldn’t get it under control.  I hid in the bathroom for a while and then tried bed again but to no luck.  I finally put on my robe and went up to 14 for hot tea.  The joint was already jumping as a shift turnover was in place.  Crew and officers were having breakfast or bedtime snacks – not sure which.  I retreated to the Solarium and tried to doze in a lounge chair.  No success but at least the coughing stopped or lessened.   Eventually I moved to our usual spot and curled up in the big basket, caterpillar chair.  I think I dozed because then I hear Elva asking someone what time coffee was served.

I let her know I was there and then took some pictures of the sky on my phone.  Bright puffy clouds then the mysterious black front moving in.  Elva went up for coffee and came back in time for them to be just uncovering the hot tub at 7:00 am.  Boy!  Did it feel good!  I didn’t last long because I was so sleepy but went down to take a hot shower and dress.   Elva came down and got ready and together we went to the talk by Lisa which was Part II of the American Madams.  I missed part one.  Too bad because it was good.  I am going to have to do some research on Storeyville when I have time.

This was followed by the last morning trivia followed by the last history of art lecture.  It was great about Gaudi which of course was interesting because we were just in Barcelona.  But do you get the theme here –The Last…

The morning was so packed with activity that we sort of skipped breakfast but we didn’t want to miss the Egg Drop.  We found a spot on Deck 7 across from where the droppers were to watch them release their cradled eggs for the descent to Deck 3.  Very creative people with all sorts of gerri-rigged contraptions made from hand luggage, balloons, cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, coat hangers and napkins.  We watched six or eight and then decided that we wanted lunch so did not watch all 26 teams in action.  Each drop took five or more minutes because they would have to drop, then the partner had to unwrap the three eggs and give to the judges.  The scores were based on hitting a hula hoop target, and how many eggs survived.  The tie breaker or bonus points were based on how long it took to unwrap and present the eggs.  First time I have seen this on a ship.

We had lunch in the dining room and kind of wish we had had time for it more often.   Because of the timing of lectures and games we had not been able to fit it in.  Apparently this is where they keep the chilled fruit soups.  Blueberry was good, then Pad Ti Noodles and Key Lime Pie.  Food on board has been pretty consistently very good.

Right after lunch was the Crew and Guest Show and it was surprisingly good.  Pete the Activities Director welcomed everyone and then went off and came back on and did a funny song and dance.  This was followed by the Flash Mob dance that people had been practicing all week.  Three of the crew did individual things.  The HR Manager sang a Manilow song.  A galley helper did some hip hop dancing and a Sous Chef did a traditional dance from his native India.  All very good.  Three of the dance cast danced with guests who had been taking the ballroom lessons.  Then Baldo came out in his Western shirt to do YMCA but had no one to do it with so got guys from the audience.  They all went off stage and after the dance from India came back for a hilarious rendition of the classic and of course everyone sang along.  The finale was the Choir.  This was chosen from the people who sand the Karaoke.  I kind of missed Ruth Hunter here because she did the same thing on our Sunshine cruise!

Trivia followed in the same location and my record is intact.

We needed some last minute sun and sat up on 14 for with fruit and scones and tea.  Then since we were near the hot dogs I had one because I hadn’t during the whole trip and this was the last chance.  I ate a couple bites.  Their burgers and dogs are nothing to write home about but I knew you would want to know.

Back in the cabin we changed for dinner and finished packing the odds and ends or as the British would say, our bits and pieces.  We were wishing we hadn’t agreed to meet Pete and Carol for dinner.  No way either of has the energy to stay up for the final night show which, because we are eating late, will be at 10:15!  We are scheduled to debark for the transfer to the airport at 6:45 in the morning!

I watched an episode of Top Chef New Orleans to stay awake.  It is On Demand on the ship because the finale was filmed here on the Equinox.  Then we went down to dinner and got to the restaurant right as Carol and Pete arrived.  I am so glad we didn’t cancel.  It was so much fun.  The dinner was good, the service was great, we even had dessert and chose Crepes Suzette.

On the way back to the cabin we saw Chris who has been so much fun at all the games.  I stopped to find out how they did on the Egg Drop.  Their eggs all lived but they didn’t get the bonus points for hitting the target.  The friends they are traveling with won and are taking home the hand blown glass trophy.

Elva was almost tucked in by the time I got back.  I was finishing up but went to get tea before packing the clothes I was wearing.  As I approached the elevator I heard a man talking and I saw when I turned the corner that he was on the emergency phone and another man was sprawled on the floor by the elevator.  Turns out he had gotten light headed and just collapsed.  The man helping was great.  Kept talking in a light calm voice.  I steered people away to keep him clear and give him some privacy.  This went on for several minutes when the man who had helped had me phone again.  Just then two medical officers arrived and took over with lovely calm voices asking all the right questions.  I went on the get my tea but gave the helper a big smile and a thumbs up. 

Coming down in the elevator it stopped at 10 and the helper man was at the door.  I told him that I thought he had done a great job and that the man had been lucky he was there.  He said they had been in the elevator together and the man seemed confused and stumbled a little so he got off at 7 with him while his wife went up to their deck.  He asked me if I had seen a red camera at the scene because now he and his wife couldn’t find it.  He thought maybe she had left it in the elevator.  I expressed concern and this real gentleman commented that a camera can be replaced.  The implication was clear.  I really hope they find it.

When we got off again on 7 the medical staff had the man on his back and was giving him oxygen and was doing blood pressure and vitals etc.  I hope he will be okay.  The Medical Team looked like they were very knowledgeable and knew what they were doing for sure.  The guy was really lucky and also, in case it is something serious, to be heading home and not in some foreign port.

Back in the cabin I told a sleepy Elva of my adventure, finished packing, and put the suitcases in the hall.

Good night!

And Now the End!

Good morning.  You can always kind of feel or tell when your ship docks which ours did at 4:00 this morning.  Something in the stopping of the never noticed engines, or the change in the light just wakes and tells you, “Welcome Home!”

We went ahead and got up.  And I don’t feel unrested as last night was earlier to bed and I wasn’t doing a lot of coughing.  Took a head clearing shower, got some tea which I apparently spilled all over the only shirt I have not already heading to the dock and brought it together with coffee for Elva back to the cabin.  She showered and we chatted with our neighbor on our balconies and watched the crew parade ashore for immigration.  When dining opened at 5:30 we went and ate a light breakfast.  We had planned to make sandwiches but were threatened about the seriousness of taking them ashore.  So we didn’t.  Don’t want to be embarrassed if they use dogs to sniff out the ham!

We sat for a while to just kill time then returned to the cabin and made sure we had not left anything behind.   Our waiting area was the Deck 4 Level of the dining room so we headed there.  We took the stairs down the three flights since we had only a small carry on each.  The wait was short and as the whole experience has been on a ship that clearly likes to be on time.  At 6:45 our number was called and we walked up one flight to the debarkation area and quickly exited having our card scanned out one last time.  Baggage claim was smooth as the bags were not all jumbled together since we were among the first ones off the ship.

There was no wait for the transfer bus and within 45 minutes we were at the airport getting our boarding cards.  I lucked into TSA Pre-Chek again!  Not sure how but that makes it short and sweet.  I had to wait for Elva who even though she has the senior privileged security was delayed.

The airport is so small that finding gates etc. is quick and easy.  I had a nice long talk with Christine and got all caught up on the latest family news.  She sent me a cute picture of the dog and Elva and I are just killing time until our flight.  It is scheduled at five to twelve but the earlier flights have all been delayed.  I hope we aren’t.

Thanks for reading all my updates.  I am sure at least some of it is interesting and I hope to see you back here in a couple of weeks when I am again on the high seas on a Caribbean cruise aboard the Oasis of the Seas.