Wednesday, December 22, 2010 was the first day of my cruise, which was scheduled to leave at 4:00 with my arrival at the Union Pier supposed to be at around 12:30. When I awoke I was nervous, about getting there on time and just all the unknown aspects of cruising. I didn’t want to leave early so I went for a walk on the beach, and then took a quick nap, then I showered and packed my stuff up. I left the room at 11:00 and once I got to the truck I spent 40 minutes sorting things out. I got so nervous that I had to take a Maalox tablet to calm my stomach. I did not consult my camping list or I wouldn’t have forgotten my tevas or my sunscreen, but I did not and I have no doubt I left something else I need in the truck, but that is a minor concern.
On the drive to the pier I called Kelly and she told me that she did not get the job at the University of Maryland, and her mother was already on her about getting another job, sending her an extensive, bullet pointed e-mail. Kellly said that Alfredo was going to write to her mom and I hope that will help. I told her that—considering her six months of severance—she should take a month off before she even begins to think about work.
When I got to the pier I had no idea what to expect but it was extremely well coordinated, from first checking in, paying for parking, dropping off my two bags, and then parking. There were people to guide you every step of the way and my nerves calmed quickly.
After I parked I took the shuttle to the ship and after having my backpack examined and x-rayed, I had to check in again and then board the ship. The rooms weren’t ready but they furnished us with a varied and tasty lunch, and after that I walked around the pool or Lido deck and above that for a number of laps.
It was almost 4 when they mustered us to 5 stations in case we had to evacuate, and showed us how to use the lifejackets. Shortly thereafter the book began to move from the pier and after going backwards for a while, we started forward and the cruise was officially underway.
I went to my cabin and settled in and then went back on deck to watch the sun go down to the left of Charleston, and see the shoreline disappear. I got a nap in and did some more walking and some TV watching and then went to dinner around 8:30. The waitress tried to slip me a 4 dollar bottle of water but I confronted her about it and her boss came over and apologized and said they wouldn’t charge me for the water. It was slightly unpleasant but I stood my ground and I made it clear everything should be transparent.
I walked around a little more and then I caught some of the welcoming show in the crowded universe lounge at 10:30, which was a little tacky, but perfect if you had been drinking.

The second day of my cruise was decent, although being with someone would have been much better. I woke early and saw the sun coming up, but a bank of clouds prevented it from rising from the horizon. I began my walks (I must have done five miles today) and then I went to visit the medical clinic because the continuing problem with my arms and wrists and hands has me genuinely worried, particularly whether the blood pressure meds are causing the problem and if there could be permanent damage. The doctor assured me that there would be no long term damage and thought I should stay on the medicine unless things got worse. She did think I should talk to Rob when I return. I loved the name of the clinic, the “Fantasy Medical Clinic” and I had some fun with the nurses with the name. Feeling much better, I did work on the computer, organizing my files, and working a little on my new poem. A noise started in my room (sounds like it comes from inside the outer wall) but the crew could do nothing about it. I will probably have to wear ear plugs tonight. I then went to the gym and rode the stationary bike for almost thirty minutes and then did some weights (using a pair of eight pounders). After lunch I took a nap and then went walking and met a choreographer, Nia, and her sister who was a field biologist. Nia was interesting and kind of cute but I don’t think I am capable of much so I just chatted with her. I watched some TV and then did some more walking and took a few pictures of the setting sun, not particularly exciting. I then caught the first half hour of the show, which was okay but none of the singers had much of a voice although they were all competent. After that I had dinner (lobster tail and tiger shrimp with Caesar salad and veggies, followed by one scoop of chocolate ice cream) which was adequate but uninspired.


I got up early on Friday, excited by the prospect of seeing a new place, in this case Nassau. I was ready to go at seven but passengers couldn’t disembark until a little after seven thirty. It was a long walk just to get off the pier (five ships eventually came in) and then I began walking around Bay street and some of the side streets. I was hoping to find and open store to buy sunscreen and flip flops, but nothing except coffee shops opened till eight, when a food store opened and I got some sun screen. Nassau was quaint, with some brightly colored wall art, but this section seemed touristy. I went back to the boat to wait for the nine o’clock starting time for my sail and snorkel trip and that went off a few minutes later. It was another long walk to the catamaran, and it was a little tricky to get on and move around, particularly on the floor which was a woven rubbery material. I sat next to a woman and her son, and quickly found out that she had lost her husband nine months ago (in March) in Afghanistan. I talked to her about writing her story (a story about her husband will appear in Reader’s Digest and an article mentioning him appeared in the Atlantic), and offered to take a look at it if she came up with something. I helped her and her son get ready for the snorkeling since they had never done it, and then it was time to jump in. I got down the latter okay, put on my fins and off I went. The reef looked dark and in pretty bad shape but there were some fish below so it was pleasant enough. I went back to the ladder to see how she and her son were doing and they seemed to be waiting till everyone else started. Finally she come down the ladder and when she got to the water she panicked and had to retreat up the ladder. Her son came down and I helped him in the water but he was pretty uncomfortable, although I did get him to put his head under a couple of times. After I got him back to the ladder, I wasn’t sure if I should go up and try to get his mother into the water, so I swam around a bit and then went back up the ladder. She decided to try again and I offered to help her so I went down without my gear, jumped in, and calmed here down enough to get her into the water for a few minutes. I held her arm and spoke gently to her the whole time and she did put her face under a couple of times. She lost her fin on the way back to the ladder and one of the crew members had to retrieve it. After she got back on board, she huddled up under my gore-tex jacket and stayed that way, looking down at the water, with her son huddled under a large towel. It was rather pathetic.
Once we returned to dock, I decided to stay in town and walk around and I spent more time on Bay Street and had lunch at Conch Frittes after failed to find the recommended Fish Fry. Conch Frittes was pretty bland. The conch fritters had almost no conch in them, and the sweet potato had been cut in half and wasn’t cooked very well. The snapper in a bag was okay (actually two small fish) but very bony so I had to be careful. It was expensive and not very good but the very nice waitress assured me that it was native food. I was now pretty tired so I struggled back to the ship and dropped off into a deep nap which I woke up from at around six, just as the ship was leaving. I was still very tired so I lay in bed, drifting off and watching a little TV, and finally got up enough energy to get up around eight thirty for dinner. I thought I might go to the fitness room or at least walk around after dinner, but I was done for and after watching TV for a few minutes, dropped off and slept from perhaps ten until after six. I was slightly worried that I had picked something up (or that my synthroid was old) but I feel better this morning, and I intend to go into Port Lucaya later this morning to see the market and perhaps go swimming on the local beach.
I must say that everything is geared toward mega shopping and shore excursions and banal entertainment and enormous eating possibilities, and though one could spend a lot of time walking on board and working out, that is not a high priority. If my hands and arms were better, this trip would have been more fun, but I am glad I am doing it, especially since I am not sure I will be physically able to do another one. I have almost made my mind up to return home quickly when the cruise finishes because I want to try to figure out what I can do to help my hands and arms, if anything.

I did take a private taxi to Port Lucaya but it was worth the comfort of Aniska, the driver, going slow. We chatted amicably about the island and its 51,000 inhabitants, the various industries (tourism being prominent, but some oil and manufacturing along with a little agriculture), and the various hurricanes.
When Aniska dropped me off at the Radisson at Port Lucaya, I walked to the public beach and immediately went swimming. I was the only one actually immersed in the chilly water and with my goggles I was able to see the sea grass but no fish. The ocean was very calm and that was the highlight of Port Lucaya. Since I have several degrees in non-shopping, the famed market at Port Lucaya held little appeal for me, but the setting was attractive particularly by the water.
Aniska picked me up two hours after she left me off and that was plenty of time, as she had suggested.
Back on the ship, I walked some, chatted with Nia’s sister and her mother, and for a few minutes, Nia, and then went to the fitness room to work out. I avoided anything which hurt my wrists, but I did manage to do some weights and a few of the machines.
Back in my room, I was lucky to see that the Heat were playing the Lakers at 6 and I watched that while I worked on my syllabi. The Heat were very good, particularly defensively, and won convincingly.
After that it was dinner time and I thought tonight’s meal (with a ahi tuna and salmon appetizer and a turkey and stuffing main course followed by the melting chocolate cake) was better than average. One of the hostesses chatted with me for a bit, and I wished her well in her attempt to get off the cruise ship and into a restaurant.
When I got back I was tired and went to sleep until 5 in the morning, and dawn found me writing.
I still have a day left but I am clearly not a great fit for a cruise, especially with the problem with my arms and hands. If that had not been such a concern, and if I were with someone, I could have had a much better time. I remembered my second trip to the Blackwater river in British Columbia, where my ex and I fished for two days and my knee caused me a lot of trouble, and several times I screamed out when I twisted it the wrong way in getting back into the raft. Still, I fished hard and had a pretty good time. If my hands problem remains, I am just going to have to get used to the constant minor pain and the limiting stiffness. Otherwise life will become very dreary indeed. I also thought of my father and how difficult things became for him around sixty. I certainly have his genes although my knee problem owes itself to an injury in my late twenties.

My final day on the cruise was at first slightly boring, although I did some work on my long poem. Things started getting interesting when the weather started getting bad, with gale force winds and ten to twelve foot seas. A lot of people got sick but I remained untouched, although I avoided coffee in the evening just to be sure. I walked around the Verandah deck three different times and I really enjoyed the power of the wind and the rolling sea. I worked out in the gym, riding the bike for twenty minutes (and I can see that I have to ride harder at home to really get my heart going), doing some weights and using a few of the machines for my arms. I am getting the tone back in my arms and shoulders, but my hands still hurt, although perhaps a little less. I watched some football and a couple of movies since the shows didn’t appeal to me at all. I did go to the casino and lost ten dollars in ten minutes at slots.
Monday morning, my last morning found me up at 5:00 and after a cup of coffee I decided to get my stuff ready. I had already missed the opportunity for the crew to carry my bags but I can do that myself. At breakfast, I spoke with a few people who thought the cruise wasn’t very good, especially how cold it was the last day and a half. It was cold in my room and I wore my sweater to bed. The couple I sat next to thought the food was mediocre (which I had to agree with) and that this ship had been quarantined once and that some of the Katrina refugees had used the ship. I thought the overall experience was decent, and it did prove that I could handle some rough seas. We will be docking in less than an hour and I am ready for the cruise to end.