Tomorrow there will be no 2 o'clock.

May 6 - 8, 2017, At sea from Fort Lauderdale to Bermuda

"Tomorrow there will be no 2 o'clock."

We had a very uneventful journey from Kennesaw to the Prinsendam. It bodes well for the trip when we AND luggage arrive at the same place at the same time.

The Prinsendam is the smallest of the Holland America ships, only 793 passengers. It's been refitted, fluffed and buffed since we were last aboard in 2011. Fortunately the powers that be did not go for flashy but rather just enhanced the old school elegance. The time of year, size of ship and amenities on board are ever so popular with a certain mature demographic. No zip lines, water slides or rock climbing for this crowd. As one woman said to me, "I used to call them elderly until I realized I was now them!" Let me just say that the cane count is high. But it's a spunky , well-traveled group from here, there and everywhere.

We walked into the dining room the first night and ran smack into our busboy from the World Cruise in 2013, now a manager in the DR. If a passenger tells any crew member, "We've sailed together before" the crew member ALways says, "Oh, yes, I remember you well." Yeah, right. But this guy wasn't faking it. He asked "Mr. Jim" if he still drank a double bourbon on A rock. Evidently he remembered as lowly busboy about three weeks into that World Cruise being sent to search every bar, cupboard and closet for another bottle of Wild Turkey  for Mr. Jim and then drawing the short straw and getting to tell Mr. Jim there was none left on the ship. The poor kid was quaking in his boots until Mr. Jim assured him that anything bottled in Kentucky would do. You betcha he remembered Mr. Jim!

The ship was scheduled to leave the Port Everglades cruise port (so conveniently located a rock's throw from the Fort Lauderdale airport) at 11 pm, our first ever night time departure. The captain announced that as  soon as all passengers and crew were aboard we would cast off, so we actually pulled away from the dock around 10:20 with calm seas, balmy temperatures and the moon above.

Bermuda is a couple of sea days away. As I write this it's midday on Monday, the second sea day. The weather has been delightful, the seas fairly calm and the service top notch. With only 793 passengers (sold out cruise), you've but to ask someone with a name tag and your bidding is done. On the first night the water in our shower came out everywhere BUT the shower head. A call to the front desk brought an engineer within minutes who installed the missing do-hickey in seconds. Oh, that there was a "Guest Services" button on the phone at home.

We've had very companionable dining companions so far. If offered we choose "open seating" rather than fixed so we can meet more people. I sat next to a couple from Mission Viejo at breakfast. Turns out she is also an alum of Harbor High, but before my time. She lived in Costa Mesa back then so sort of bristled when she found out I lived in Newport. Old vestiges of the haves and have nots.  I assured her I wasn't a Lido Isle kid (Big time "haves') but rather a Balboa Peninsula kid. It may be the land of the one percenters now, but in the 50s and 60s it certainly wasn't! We parted amicably.

Everyone seemed to spend the first sea day wandering around, scouting for the perfect activity or alternately a spot to do as little as possible. Jim made a bee line for the Explorers Lounge with the very comfy chairs with window views across the Promenade deck and the walkers to the seas beyond. I've still got a bit of wanderlust which is 90% accountable to my complete lack of a sense of direction. Trust me, on a ship this size you really have to work to get lost!

Last night was the first of three Gala Nights. HAL has ditched the term "Formal." They request that men wear a collared shirt and perhaps a jacket and ladies more cocktail than prom. Jim left his black Marrying and Burying suit at home in favor of a classic navy blue blazer, shirt, tie and khakis and blended right in. There are still some guys opting for tuxes or dinner jackets. I'd say that most of  the women took the opportunity to wear something sparkly. One couple at our table was years younger than the rest of the crowd. They both worked in the Assisted Living field. A business trip? Research?

And last night was also the first performance by the house singers and dancers. (I'd met one of the singers that day at lunch when he was demonstrating how to put all your salad bar choices in one bowl, add dressing, then top with another bowl and shake. Just as I was about to say, "How clever of you," the top bowl slipped and the salad went flying just as one of the chefs walked by. If looks could kill...) The show was 45 minutes of covers of various tunes by British artists from the Beatles to Adele. The cast was energetic and sang on key. What more could you ask?

At the end of the show the vivacious cruise director, V, announced, "Tomorrow there will be no 2 o'clock." Huh? Some kind of Bermuda Triangle thing? Evidently tomorrow we would be setting the clocks forward, not in the middle of the night but at 2 pm. It's now tomorrow at 1 pm. One hour to go. Should be interesting.