Saturday, May 18, 2019

May 17 - Second day cruising the Red Sea


It’s 11:30 AM local time as we cruise along at 14 knots in the Red Sea.  On our port side is Sudan and on the starboard side we are roughly off Jeddah and a little further inland Mecca in Saudi Arabia.  There is quite a bit of traffic around us according to the Live Ships Traffic map but we don’t often see anyone.  The night before last we passed uneventfully through the strait which is the major choke point in these parts.  We still have our security with us but they are very discreet.

It’s still very hot and muggy.  Since we made a northerly turn our veranda is now in the shade in the afternoon which does help.  We’ve been to several lectures on all sorts of topics from plastics to the Falklands War to WWI.  We’re getting an education as we cruise along. In a little while it’ll be time for trivia.  Our team, the Persian Pirates, did miserably yesterday.  But as we are often reminded, “it’s only a game.”

This afternoon late we have a meeting of the 18 of us going on an overnight journey in Israel.  I guess we’ll be told what we may and may not do.  Tonight is also the party for people who have cruised with Seabourn before and a second formal night.  People have become much less formal since we first began cruising and we actually like that.  Al no longer brings his tux, just a nice suit, and I bring something sparkly but no longer formals as in the old days.

A few words about the food are in order.  We both agree that the food has been really excellent.  There is great variety and it all seems to be well-prepared.  We’ve dined several times with some people who have cruised with Oceania, which always gets rave reviews about their food.  They’ve told us they think the food is as good and in some cases better than what they experienced.  Whatever the case may be, there is no way someone can go hungry on the Encore.

Well, it’s time to put on my thinking cap.  If I come up with anything more to write I’ll do so later.

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