Barging through books at three to
five a week, I needed a couple of breaks from the
solitude and the holiday tourists aboard the ship, so I
called Maggie – she and Kim and I went “boat shopping”
at Target and Wal-Mart in Ft. Lauderdale for stuff we
just can’t get in Panama. Kind of boring for a “girls’
day out” but boy did I feel like a millionaire hoarding
the stuff we have been looking forward to getting! The
only problem seemed to be getting off the ship and
getting a taxi without ripping somebody a new one. I
HATE crowds, and a turnaround day in Ft. Lauderdale is
enough to turn me into a complete recluse.
 We
were able to get a great Christmas tree for the cabin,
and I went decoration shopping in San Juan so we could
make the place look wintry and cozy. Our friends Dale
and Linda Bixler joined us for an 8-day cruise just
before Christmas and we had a wonderful visit. It was
fun showing them the stomping grounds of San Juan, St.
Thomas, St. Maarten and Labadee – and fun replacing the
digital camera! Hence we have some pictures to share
again. They were kind enough to give us our 12th
Monopoly game – this one a new edition with no cash –
just a little computer and an “atm” machine! Cool.
Captain Arnolf Remo and his wife,
Tove, joined the ship in early December, and we
organized making Krumkake together in our cabin for the
few Scandinavians we have aboard. The ship did a great
job of organizing special Scandinavian food on Christmas
Eve in the officer’s mess for Arnolf, Tove, Johan (from
Sweden) and his wife, and the few others aboard. And
the week between Christmas and New Year was feast after
feast of holiday food from all over the world, served in
various parts of the ship. Roast pig for the
Phillipinos; steak and salmon tartare for the Poles;
seafood and pasta for the Croats and Italians; and music
everywhere. We really like the philosophy onboard
Independence of letting people feel like family while
they’re so far away from home.
New Year’s Eve was really
spectacular. The “Royal Promenade” along the center of
the Independence was packed with at least 3,000 people,
the orchestra was playing, the Cruise Director and his
team were out in force for the countdown, and Captain
Remo, Staff Captain Johan, Chief Ole, and their
respective families were all invited to descend from the
skybridge for the countdown ceremony, balloon drop, and
champagne toast. I’m sure it was more crowded than
Times Square – sure felt like it. Perhaps the most
amazing part of the whole thing was the fact that it was
cleaned up and sparkling not two hours later – as if the
whole thing never happened. Wish I had staff like that
on OUR boat!
Happy New Year to All – and may we
experience love, joy and prosperity, every one of us!
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