128 Days Around the World

March 21, 2020

Fremantle, Australia

I woke up just after 8 and we were pulling up to the pier. We managed to make up the time lost with the medical emergency yesterday. Also in port are two other ships that were doing world cruises – Pacific Princess and Seabourn Sojourn. Rumor has it that some people are being allowed to sail back to the states on Pacific Princess.

It was a very strange day because there were very few scheduled activities. A few of us went to the Crow’s Nest and worked on our knitting/crocheting. Bonnie stopped by to say good-bye because she was getting off – or at least planning to. The original plan was that people could disembark starting at 11 am. By the time Sherita and I left for lunch at noon, the time had been pushed back.

After lunch I worked on throwing some more last minute items into my suitcases. Anyone ever notice how things seem to materialize out of nowhere when you think you are done packing? I also wrote thank you notes to some of the wonderful crew that have been so helpful.

I then walked out onto deck 3 and ran into Sherita and her friend Karen sitting in deck chairs. I stopped to talk to them and saw Judy (Lee) walking down the Promenade deck. I hadn’t seen her in two days so we all chatted for some time. An announcement was made that the Australian authorities were prohibiting people getting off the ship and going to a hotel. You had to go directly to the airport even if you flight was almost 24 hours away once you got off the ship.

Finally, at around 3:15, it was announced that the authorities were ready to start processing those passengers getting off today. I went over to the starboard side so I could wave good-bye to Marilyn and Rodney since I had not bumped into them today. There was yet another holdup and the first passenger did not step off the ship until 3:35. I was able to speak to Marilyn and Rodney as they were disembarking. After watching a few more people leave (there were not lots because originally we were not going to arrive until tomorrow so most people did not have flights today).

There was an afternoon trivia so I went to the Crow’s Nest and got a Coke and knitted for a while. The captain came on again to say that the Australian officials had changed their minds and you could stay in a hotel before your flight.

Debby, Rick, John (from the “We Don’t Need Google” team), and I played together. We had 14.5 correct out of 18 and the winners had 16.5.

1.What are the names of the King and Queen of the Netherlands?

2.What is the largest animal to build a nest?

3.What part of the plane gives the bumpiest ride?

4.TAP is the national airline of which country?

5.Arachibutyphobia is the fear of – rain, peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, jay-walking?

6.Which celestial body appeared just in time to be a good luck charm for William the Conqueror?

7.Black swans are native to which continent?

8.How many seconds are there in an NBA shot clock?

Another announcement was made that an evening immigration period was cancelled and if your flight was before 1 pm on Sunday, you had to be off the ship by 6 pm. (By that point, people were groaning every time an announcement started.)

I went to a last visit to “my deck” after trivia and then returned to my cabin to pack the things that had materialized since I left and did some knitting.

The dining room was ¾ empty. We talked to Billy who said he was not sure if or when he would be sent home. The ship will head to Durban, South Africa to get provisions and refuel before heading back to the US. Depending on when the provisions reach Durban, it may be 30-40 days before the ship gets to the US.

I stopped by the Piano Bar and listened to the piano player (she got on in Sydney and I can’t remember her name). Her set was over after a couple of songs and I returned to my cabin to get my bags ready to set out before midnight. Sherita stopped by to say good-bye as I was putting my bags out.

As it stands now, immigration for those with flights tomorrow will be between 8 and 11.

Trivia

1.Willem-Alexander and Maxima

2.gorilla

3.tail

4.Portugal

5.peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth

6.Halley’s Comet

7.Australia

8.24