20241225 Seabourn Sojourn Grand Africa Cruise Day 30/96 - Sea Day

Grand Africa Cruise Trip Day 30/96 - We Got A White Christmas!

Santa found us!

Merry Christmas from the southwestern coast of Namibia! We awoke to Christmas magic - a white Christmas. Well, not what you'd call a traditional white Christmas, but white, nonetheless.

We were socked in with fog - we've been periodically sounding our horn all morning

Unfortunately, we've had another development. I caught a bug that decided to have its way with my stomach. Being responsible, I contacted the medical team who gifted me with a wonderful Christmas treat - being confined to our suite until further notice. Because Arlona is symptom-free, she can still roam freely, but I'll be here for a while.

Thank goodness for comfy slippers

They also delivered blue bags for soiled linens, red bags for trash, and a pack of disinfectant wipes.

OK, the biohazard label on the trash bag seems a little excessive

It all began yesterday with my stomach letting me know it wasn't happy. Today, I feel fine but still have some minor residual effects. I hope I leave the suite tomorrow. Tomorrow is another sea day, so as long as I'm cleared before the 27th, I won't miss any ports.

Arlona went up for breakfast and brought me an English muffin and peanut butter. She then attended a Christmas morning service and popped up to catch Santa in Seabourn Square on Deck #7. Santa was handing out presents and she came back with another international plug adapter.

Arlona repped suite 533 for trivia at noon as I remained behind. I might have helped on one of two of these misses.

• Who banned Christmas in the 1600s?
• Oliver Cromwell
• The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square comes from what country?
• Norway
• What was the name of the snowman in Frozen?
• I would have helped here - Olaf
• How many types of birds are featured in the 12 Days of Christmas?
• I would have helped here too - 6 - partridge, turtle doves, french hens, calling birds, geese, swans
• What day of the week was Christmas in 2000?
• I would have helped here too - Monday - it moves one day back each year backward and two before a leap year - 24 years and 6 leap years means it was 30 days earlier - that's seven weeks and two days - it's Wednesday this year, so Monday in 2000

The Captain, in his Sea Day noon announcement, explained that we would remain in this foggy soup for perhaps 36 hours. Since this is a commercial fishing area, maritime law requires that we sound our horn every two minutes so that explains what we heard all day long.

We ordered lunch in the room and watched Love Actually as our Christmas afternoon entertainment. Arlona got all dolled-up since tonight is a formal night, and headed to the pre-dinner concert by the guest pianist. 

She met friends who asked her to join them for dinner. Since I was confined to the room, I was limited to ordering room service. I did have access to the menus from all the dining venues except Solis and the Sushi Bar. I chose the Chateaubriand from The Restaurant.

 

We did have some excitement tonight. A little after 8:30, an emergency signal rang - not the big seven short blasts and one long blast that indicate the type of emergency where you have to go to muster stations. This was a series of alternating short and long blasts. The long and short was a fire sensor activated on Deck 8 near the pool patio. Subsequent announcements said that it appeared to be a false alarm and a full investigation found no issues. So, a little excitement but no worries.

We were able to call both kids and Arlona called her dad so that made upgrading to the premium wifi worthwhile.

Arlona went to tonight's entertainer, comedian Tony Daro's show.

After that, we turned in for the night. My stomach seemed to have settled down so perhaps I will get sprung from house arrest tomorrow.

To all our friends and readers, Merry Christmas!