Blog 0017. At Sea, en route for Penang.

Day 26 of 102, EPIPHANY 5, Sunday 5th February 2023.

This is the first of six sea days between Muscat and Penang. Our scheduled call at Columbo, Sri Lanka, unknown to me, had been cancelled presumably due to the volatile situation there, right now. Hong Kong was also cancelled due to widespread unrest. While I thoroughly enjoyed joining the Teachers’ protest in Lisbon, where I felt incredibly safe, I’m not sure I would want to end up arrested in Sri Lanka or Hong Kong, even if it would make a good story for the next Church talk!

I think those who joined at Dubai are settling in nicely. However, I have met one or two who, after an overnight flight from the U.K. were instructed to join the ship at the usual cruise terminal at Port Rashid. I’m not sure if anybody actually ended up there, as Cunard, as far as I know, meets those who have travelled to join the ship, and takes them to a fancy hotel for breakfast before transferring them for embarkation. But, there have been witterings of discontent. Also, our Dubai newcomers, rumours have it, were unaware of the covid-19 restrictions reintroduced as allegedly, cases of the “dreaded lurgy” continue to rise.

The Kings Court Buffet has become increasingly chaotic as self-service has now been replaced by waiting in line to be served. That’s a pity, and I don’t really see how this might slow down the spread of covid-19. While many take this situation seriously, others complain of unnecessary “overkill.” I caught covid-19 on a previous voyage, and believe me, I don’t wish to risk catching it again. Nevertheless, I frequently forget my mask, something I will have to address right now.

For the first time, having been awake since silly o’clock, I was up early enough to take breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant. If I go there again, I will “pass” on the cooked part, unless about to undertake a long “shore experience.”

Tonight, Captain Andrew Hall is hosting a reception, not as usual in the Queens Room, but outside on Deck 12. It’s going to be warm enough and will make for very pleasant prelude to dinner, wherever that might be.