We were getting ready for our kayaking trip to Montenegro when the announcement from the captain came over the speaker outside the cabin.
Not, however, inside.
Not being sufficiently covered to open the door and not wanting to traumatize the room steward, I didn’t crack it open to hear better.
Much like placing a McDonald’s drive thru order, I struggled to understand the message. I did catch the part about how we needed to pick up new crew members and the people left behind in Santorini.
<<SNORT>> I knew those cable cars were overwhelmed.
Or maybe it was irresponsible cruisers who indulged in excess ouzo, but my money is on the line to get back.
Mutterings from the captain about wind (feels calm to me) and he wished us a pleasant day.
Okey-dokey. There’s swimming as well as kayaking, I went back to slathering on the sunscreen.
In my usual anxiety ridden haste, I hustled Beloved down to the theater where we were to meet up with our fellow kayakers. I got doubly anxious when I saw there were no towels – we were instructed to bring one, but Beloved had assured me they had them waiting for us.
Then I heard the dreaded words: “we will provide a full refund to your shipboard account.”
Oh noooooooo…
Winds were too strong to safely land in Kotor, Montenegro. All tours cancelled.
Damn. So, considering we were already fully greased up, we (and the other 3,658 passengers on the ship) decided to head to the Lido Deck and bake a little bit.
Despite the cruise line’s prohibition on saving seats, every last deck chair had a sandal, book or other miscellaneous item laying claim to the recliner. Inevitable, I suppose. Crap. But we were lucky enough to find two large chairs together (after moving to avoid a man hacking up a lung, who knows if it was allergies or COVID, with nearly two weeks left on this trip, I’m taking no chances. Buh, bye.)
So we sat and watched our departure from the Bay of Kotor… or more accurately, Beloved went to the window and snapped pics while I repeatedly said no, that seat’s taken… sorry, it’s hers… nope, not available…
After a while we decided to go swimming, and offered our seats to a couple of women who agreed to keep our stuff (cellphones, watches, towels) next to them while we hopped in the pool.
Learned a couple of things:
1. That water is damn cold.
2. Do not, in an attempt to overcome the chilliness, accede to your Beloved’s encouragement to simply fall backwards into the pool unless you hold onto your glasses.
3. Ensure Beloved is nearby to help find your specs at the bottom, as without them you’re blind as a bat.
4. Cruise ship pool water is not clear. It’s sea water into which people wearing varying amounts of sunscreen have already dipped. It’s cloudy as hell.
Didn’t spend long in the pool. Showered and decided to head back up to sit outside, and by some grace, in the midst of the crowds, our original seats were empty again.
Tomorrow is Sicily, and we’re the only ship there. Hooray! At Naples, however, there will be us (3,660 passengers) Celebrity Beyond (3,200) and Odyssey of the Seas (4,100). We opted for the Pompeiian tour. Expecting crowds. Lots and lots of crowds.
Examining Misadventures 