September 13 - The party's nearly over

It’s Saturday, September 13 and tomorrow I’ll have to say goodbye to the Sojourn for the last time.  She has been sold and I won’t be on her again between now and when she’ll be turned over to her Japanese owners.  That makes two Seabourn ships I’ve said goodbye to.  

Yesterday Katie, Stan and Alfred came on for several hours when we were docked in Boston.  It was very nice spending time with them.  I especially wanted Alfred to have a chance to see a ship and to know where his grandmother has spent so much time.  We went from top to bottom but unfortunately we didn’t have the opportunity to visit the bridge.  Boston was the Sojourn’s first US port of the season so there were all kinds of Coast Guard and other federal inspections that had to be done and a visit to the bridge was impossible.  (A little aside is warranted here.  Yesterday evening everyone on the ship was commenting on how pleasant, friendly and accommodating all the US Customs and Immigration personnel who came on the ship and with whom we dealt were.  If one paid attention to some media outlets, one would think they were all grizzly bears with teeth bared and guns drawn.)

Isn't my grandson a cutie?

Katie, Stan and Alfred

We had lunch in the Colonnade and then played cards out by the pool until it was close to time for them to disembark.  It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and I think we all had a nice time.  Alfred said he would like to go on a ship, but I told him he would probably be happier on one with water slides,  bumper cars and kids’ programs which this one doesn’t have. 

I had a drink before dinner with my new friends Jenny and John in the Club and through the windows we could see that there was going to be a lovely sunset so I went out to the stern and got some shots of the sun going down behind the Boston skyline.  Jenny and I had dinner together because John wasn’t feeling well and then I went to see a magic show.  I’ve seen this magician before and he’s very good but it was so much more low key than the previous night that I think it was a little of a letdown.  

Today we’re anchored off Newport.  I decided not to go ashore because I really need to pack.  The choices of excursions all involved drives along Bellevue Avenue (Millionaires’ Row) and truthfully I am not that interested in seeing that.  Additionally this weekend is the Newport International Boat Show so it will be absolutely packed. Maybe I’ve developed a fear of crowds but I just don’t like being in the midst of throngs of people anymore.  

Looking back on what I’ve written about this voyage I realize it doesn’t sound very exciting and I guess that’s true.  The fun part is meeting new people and getting to learn how they think about things from their perspectives whatever they may be.  My contact list is getting bigger as I make new friendships and I expand my understanding of people from different cultures and places. That’s my favorite part of cruising.  Seeing new things and everything else that goes into a cruise is like the whipped cream on top of a sundae but the people part is the best.

Tomorrow will be a long day.  Sailing into New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty is pretty spectacular so I’ll have to get up early.  Cabins have to be vacated by 8 AM to give the hard-working crew time to get ready for the next lot of passengers.  Seabourn has arranged for me to be taken to a hotel to have lunch and spend a few hours before a car will take me to the airport.  Hopefully all will go according to plan - United Airlines won’t have any glitches out of Newark and I’ll be home before dark.  I had been a little worried about crossing the North Atlantic at the peak of hurricane season, but Mother Nature cooperated and it has been a lovely cruise.   I guess that’s it until the next time I sail away.  Bye for now.