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Day 27: Sea Day

Well, that was an exciting night! We got underway late due to some jack wagons at a pub about 500 yards from the ship that didn’t want their day to end. Not kidding, probably the 4 most disliked people on board.

As soon as we pulled away from the dock and moved into the channel, it was game on. I was tracking the maritime forecast on an app and was pretty unnerved when I saw our course right through the red part of Storm Betty. Talking with Mrs. Koog tonight I mentioned the 15 foot waves. She clarified, the waves were 15 meters (45-ish feet). Now things started to make sense. That would explain how my stateroom on the 4th guest deck got hit with a wave. On deck 5, 2 or 3 cabins aft from mine had a glass pane shattered by the wave and they also lost a deck chair. The ship sounded like it was being pulled apart.

I bet you are wondering if the kids were scared. Honestly, no. The Circle C kids club had some activities for them in the clubhouse. Each kid basically had a counselor that was responsible for getting them back to their parents. I know this because I went up to get them (at my own peril on the steps) and they didn’t want to come. The counselor explained the procedure so I reluctantly let them stay.

When I got back to the stateroom, dodging the housekeeping carts and room service delivery people being thrown about, I took the following: 1 hot toddy and 3 sea sickness tablets. I was about to take the nighttime cold medicine, but realized it was daytime and not for sleep. Drat! Nevertheless, I assumed my hot toddy and Dramamine hand crafted cocktail would knock me out. You know what they say about assuming...

Wide awake and plagued with dryness from the Dramamine, I was flipping channels on the TV and there were the boys. On the pool deck (pool was long drained and it has a roof) with the kids club people watching a movie. They were on lounge chairs and every up/down/left/right jerking of the ship those chairs were on the move!

As they walked into the stateroom, they noticed the TV and thought it was cool I could watch them and not be worried. (I was still worried) I asked them if the chairs sliding all over the deck with them on it was scary. They both said it was super fun.  Kids. I don’t think they were back for 10 mins before they were both sound asleep.

I was happy they slept through the waves hitting our balcony. When I got up to use the facilities through the night it was very difficult to navigate because the motion was so violent. Sleep eluded me until about 5:45 when the seas finally had a normal rock. The Carnival crew was impressive and did a great job keeping everything “normal” but also assuring passenger safety as people moved about the ship. I needed no additional help as I did not leave my room!

The boys were up around 8 to pack their bags. I motivated them by giving them an hour each of internet access for properly packing their bags. They did a great job! While they were on their tablet, I went to the Lido deck (deck 9) to get yogurt and tea. There were multiple groups of engineering crew inspecting the ship for damage. It solidified how crazy things really were last night.

I got back to the stateroom and the boys were off the kids club while I packed up my stuff. Once done, I had to put my head down. Didn’t sleep, but really needed to be “down.”

For lunch, I went to the sushi bar. I needed some miso soup to make my throat feel better. The warmth felt good, but it was short lived. I still felt crappy. Back to the stateroom to lay down again. B came back to check on me and about 5 mins later E walked in with a giant plate of the most random food I’ve ever seen assembled. Cheeseburger, fries, pineapple, vanilla cake, strawberries, brussel sprouts, broccoli, 4 hard rolls. I watched in awe as he ate every piece of food in no particular order. As soon as he was done, they were gone again for soft serve and kids club.

As I was finishing the last of the packing someone knocked at our door. It was the young woman that runs the kids club. She brought me a letter about the boys and stopped to chat about them for a bit. I was humbled as she described how kind and gentle and polite the boys were at the clubhouse. There was a girl that was pretty scared last night and was going to head back to her parents. The counselor said it was E and B that made her feel safe and helped her stay the remainder of the evening. They can be turds at home, but it’s nice to hear they are civilized in public. Well done B and E Koog!

We ate at the ship’s steakhouse tonight as a treat. E-Koog sucked down a 9 oz filet mignon, his side of Mac and cheese, 5 dinner rolls and 4 scoops of mango ice cream. Where does he put this food? Mrs. Koog is going to be cooking up a storm when we get back just to keep him fed!

After dinner, I went and settled our account and did a thorough check of the room to be sure we had everything and also to be sure we all had pants for disembarking tomorrow. (Sorry Mrs. Koog, I had to!)

While I very much enjoyed the cruise (not last night), I’m excited to leave and head back to Mrs. Koog in London for the last few days of our glorious holiday. I do wish I wasn’t feeling so ill, though. I’m sure I will feel better in the morning. Until tomorrow…

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