The amount of “entertainment” provided on a cruise varies widely across the cruise lines. Also, what is offered as entertainment also varies. I am not talking about access to the fitness center or the sales pitches thinly disguised by merchants or the spa. Rather, the actual games and challenges run by the Cruise Directors staff. There is Trivia in its various forms along with Pub quizzes. In the case of trivia – there is progressive (points accumulate over the duration of the cruise), general trivia, music trivia (eras, styles…)
The reason I am mentioning all of this is that in spite of the fact that we were docked in Colon from 0900-1800 with bountiful availability of tours and the usual merchants directly around the terminal, there were FOUR (yes FOUR) different trivia sessions today. I know this because these are run in the Sky Lounge which gives me a direct view of the proceedings.
There were two sessions this morning and two more this afternoon. I can ignore the progressive trivia, the two sessions of general trivia varied from boring to annoying. But the music trivia was Country…. which, besides having a snippet or so of the music being played was generally accompanied by various players singing along. Many can’t carry a tune.
We have been delayed leaving the port. I am not clear on all the reasons but suspect a combination of medical, a ship’s tour delayed on return and perhaps a few too many ships hanging out at the start of the canal.
Our original time for entering the Panama Canal was to be about 0630 in the line up – and we are going thru the old locks which I am delighted about. The last two times (NCL Encore & NCL Joy) both traversed the new locks. But in any case, I have the feeling that I won’t have the lounge to myself early tomorrow morning.
The only time I have done it (and a very long time ago) was through the old locks. It was an extra-ordinary experience. There was a tiny bird that flew the entire distance with us. One of the crew pointed it out to me very early in the morning. It would land on the prow occasionally and then fly on again. That alone made it an amazing experience.
I hope you can see past all the other passengers looking out.