Tuesday, April 1, 2025

11:30 am GMT-2

For the second straight morning we got a late start. Between losing an hour and enjoying evening activities on board, we are sleeping well.

As of 9:39 this morning, we were at 43°29.1N, 049°50.2W. Our speed is 18.5 knots and we are due south of the southernmost point of Greenland. It’s 10°C/50°F under foggy skies. Wind force is 6 and sea state is slight.

I’m now sitting in the Queens Room by a large window overlooking the ocean. There is currently a rumba lesson going on. There must be 30 couples in attendance. They seem to be having a good time.

Back to the evenings on board—we’ve done a lot. I forgot to mention this before. On Sunday night we went to the Golden Lion Pub after dinner, where we heard the A&F Duo—he on keys/vocals and she on vocals. The music was kind of jazzy. We continued the jazz theme by going to the Chart Room for the Mark Hodgson Trio. I like the Chart Room yet it would be nicer with more seating.

2:18 pm GMT-1

Another fabulous meal (lunch) in the Britannia Restaurant—steamed mussels in a saffron curry sauce. Also, pea and ham soup.

Before lunch I stopped on Deck 8 after to take a photo in the general vicinity of where Titanic sank. (She rests at 41°43N, 49°56W.) There was no announcement as we were not directly above her. Still, I paid my respects. It was very foggy, unlike the clear sky her 2,208 souls experienced 113 years ago this month.

3:53 pm

I had a lovely nap by the covered pool on Deck 12 while Neil and Marty played in a golf putt contest. The chairs are very comfortable.

Upon waking I realized I had not yet had my tea today, so we rectified that by going to afternoon tea in Kings Court. Casual, but still very nice. Sandwiches, scones, and sweets are handed out from behind the counter, and tea is served from bags. But that’s fine. This Twinings English breakfast tea is perfect.

Late evening

We had a most wonderful dinner tonight, courtesy of a good friend who is on this sailing. They invited us to dine with them in the Steakhouse at the Verandah.

To start, most of us we had Caesar salad prepared table-side. Neil opted for roasted marrowbone with roasted garlic, crisp shallot, and sourdough toast. It was huge!

For my entrée, I selected a 6-ounce filet of 21-day dry-aged Angus beef with steak butter, with sides of mushrooms and broccolini. Marty devoured the Dover sole. For dessert, New York style baked vanilla cheesecake. All was fabulous.

While the meal was superb, the best part was the company. (Thank you again to our dear anonymous friend!)

Later, we went to the Chart Room to listen to jazz by the Mark Hodgson Trio. A highlight was when the bands drummer switched out with a passenger who was also a professional musician. He jammed with them as if they’d played together for years. I love moments like these.

It was at this venue I got my first drink that wasn’t a Diet Coke, water, or tea. It was a nonalcoholic cocktail called Cedro a Go-Go. Seedlip Spice 94, handcrafted mango and Kaffir lime leaf reduction, freshly squeezed lime juice, cedrata syrup, and soda water. So tasty and bubbly!

Bonus entry

Now for some levity. At the bottom of the page I left this note for myself, in red ink. “Tomorrow: buy a black-ink pen as I seem to have lost mine.”

I updated it the next day, writing “success!” in blank ink.