March 15, 2020



At Sea



Another day, another twist.  The Australian Government has closed all ports to cruise ships.  This means that we will not be getting off in Darwin tomorrow.  Scott Morrison (the Prime Minister) said that special arrangements will be made for Australian nationals returning to the country.  Our Aussies onboard (including my friends Rodney and Marilyn) have no idea what will happen.  We also have a group who has been on an overland trip to Uluru who are supposed to get back on the ship tomorrow in Darwin.  Will we stop and let off Aussies and pick up the overland travelers in Darwin?  No word on anything other that we will not be getting off the ship tomorrow. 



Before the government notice the captain had said they had sent the comments and the petition (to stay on the ship and sail back to Fort Lauderdale with no stops) to Seattle and we should know something this afternoon.  After the notice, he announced that no decision has been made but Carnival Australia was working on it.



From what I have read on-line about Australia’s newest restrictions if we were debarked in Perth we would have to be quarantined for 14 days.  That does not seem possible with 1200 or so people on board.  We will see.



Back to the day’s schedule which is going to be fairly alike for a number of days.



Sit and Stitch had a good number of people.  All of us have enough yarn to keep going for a few months so no worries from us.



In morning trivia we had 9 out of 15 with the winners having 13.



1.Which country borders France, Germany, and Belgium?

2.Ranidaphobia is the fear of what?

3.What is the definition of “Holland”?

4.What are the first four digits of pi?

5.Disco Inferno was on the soundtrack of what 1970s movie?



Our team went to the Sunday Brunch after trivia.  Marilyn and Rodney and I each had a bottle of sparkling wine which we brought to use up.  We had a mixture of our morning and afternoon trivia groups - Sherita and Margaret only play in the morning and Debby plays in the afternoon.  The food was good and we enjoyed ourselves.



In Afternoon trivia we made a Koala coaster filled with cinnamon and orange and spice tea.  We also got our last charm for our Australian charm bracelet.



I got ready for dinner since I was eating early with my friend Janet.  I met her on the Prinsendam last year. 



Afternoon trivia was called, “Where in the World”? and was about various locations around the world.  We had 14 out of 22 but the winners had 18.



1.Where did Alexander the Great die?

2.Where is the Sultan Ahmed mosque?

3.Which two countries have the same flag?

4.Which continent has the largest number of countries?

5.Which European city is known as the “Bride of the Sea”?

6.Name the seven countries that the Andes run through.



Janet and I walked together to the dining room after trivia.  Her table is served by Waya, who was my server last year on the Prinsendam.



I decided to go to the 7:30 show which featured Alana Conway who is a singer and harpist.  I had not gone to her first show but had heard she was very good, so I went tonight.  She is supposed to get off tomorrow in Darwin.  She has no idea if she can.



At 8:30 there was Game Night.  We had about 15 participants and played two games.



We received a message from Henk (Hotel Manager) saying we will take things as they come.  We will see what happens tomorrow.

Margaret, me, Rodney, Marilyn, Diana, and Debby

our bracelet

the coaster

Henk's message

Morning trivia

1.Luxembourg

2.frogs

3.woodlands

4.3.141

5.Saturday Night Fever



Afternoon trivia

1.Babylon

2.Istanbul

3.Monaco and Indonesia

4.Africa

5.Venice

6.Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia



Smooth sailing until next time!