Home At Last!

Bill and I arrived safely home around 2:30 yesterday afternoon.

So, that is the end of the story, but let’s take a look at the last couple days at sea. As, I mentioned earlier, the ship activities were as normal as possible for a day at sea. Lot’s of daytime poolside games, dance classes! Tango and Samba anyone?

During Friday evening cocktails in the Sky Lounge, one of our “our songs” was playing. Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting” came out in spring 1989, during our early time together and while we were still in a long distance relationship. We have always considered that song special, so we got up and danced to it, joined by our new friends, Ron and Stephen.

On Saturday, I was in our stateroom and noticed a cruise ship headed south. With the binoculars, I could just read the name. It was the Holland America ship, MS Rotterdam. As it turns out, Rotterdam was headed south, to aid her sister ship, Zaandam. Zaandam has over 130 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on board, with, apparently, 4 deaths and had been awaiting on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal for permission to transit the canal and head to Florida. Rotterdam was dispatched by Holland America to sail to Zaandam’s aid. The Rotterdam brought medical and food supplies. Also, healthy guests were transferred from Zaandam to the Rotterdam and, as of this morning, both ships have transited the canal and are off Jamaica headed to an uncertain reception in Florida, where state and local officials are reluctant to allow them entry. It does remind me, how fortunate we were that the Celebrity Eclipse was virus free.

So, Saturday evening was our last Evening Chic night, Celebrity’s version of Formal Night. Also, after dinner was to be a End of Cruise, Farewell Party. Well, between the words chic and party, Bill got to work, and it was a lot of fun.

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I don’t know what happened, there is a picture of Bill and me together in dress and tux, but I may have accidentally deleted it.

After dinner, the Captain addressed the party, thanking the guests, his crew and in an especially emotional moment, expressed how proud he is to work for a company that did right by the guests in this exceptionally difficult time. A sentiment that Bill and I whole heartily agree with. Yes, it was challenging and frustrating. We were well taken care of, always felt safe and secure and knew that we would eventually get off the boat.

Finally, in the early hours on Monday, March 30th, we made our way into San Diego Harbor.

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So, after 10,238 miles and 30 days underway, we docked in San Diego. Interestingly, right next to another ship I spent time on, the USS Midway. I was stationed on the Midway, now a museum ship in San Diego, from 1973-1975, while home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan.

Another adventure is over. It was not what we had planned, but it was an adventure nonetheless. We are home, safe and sound, settling in and trying to understand what our new normal is.