Life on the very high seas

Currently 48 knot winds and ploughing through some decent swells.  I will be covered in bruises!  One minute I am securely braced against something, and next I am being body slammed into a wall 5 paces away.  Very grateful for the roll bars on my bed last night.  I am so pleased I availed myself of the anti motion sickness patch on offer last night.  I still feel slightly queasy, but not too bad given what is outside my window.  Ah-mazing!  The outer decks have been closed to passengers all day.

Only about 2/3 of passengers made it for breakfast and lunch and Greenland lecture.  They have just cancelled this afternoon's lecture saying it is safer if people don't move about.

Presumably things will settle by early tomorrow as we reach the shelter of Scoresby Sund. 

So lucky yesterday afternoon to see pods of Humpbacks, very close to the ship for around 30 minutes.  That was just an hour or so after sailing, before all the rock and roll started.

My cabin is good, probably around the same size as RCI, Sam, but with a lot more storage space but of course nowhere near as posh.  Nice to have a kettle and the fixings for a cuppa in the room as well as the round the clock availability in the lounge.  Food is basic but adequate.  It is normally Buffett for breakfast and lunch, however table service was provided today.  Our chairs were shifting around during lunch, quite funny.  Surprisingly nothing spilled, not even the soup!  Of course I have immediately turned my back on sensible low sugar eating, having pastries at breakfast and dessert at lunch.  Am regretting the dessert now, so it may be easier to say no tomorrow.

Dinner is table service with a starter, choice of two mains and dessert.  I'd happily trade my dessert for cheese and crackers, alas this is not on offer.  

The ship is very quiet and relatively small - takes up to 120 passengers.  When my greeter led me to my cabin yesterday I asked if there was a map of the ship.  He smiled at the poor old woman and said "it's really not that big".  All the staff have been delightful.

Most of the 106 passengers this trip are from Germany and Netherlands.  Announcements are made in English and German, and most of the Dutch speak English.  I would say lass than 12 native English speakers are on board.  There is one guy who looks and dresses exactly like Frank Gallagher US Shameless.  Quite disconcerting. There are quite a number of travellers doing this cruise for second or third time, which is a good sign.  Mind you, they live a 4 hour flight away, not at the other end of the earth.

I won't be able to attach any photos to the blog until the end of the cruise, but seems I might be able to send word only updates from the ship email account.  I have no access at all to my email or other internet so I don't really know what makes it to the blog.  I can receive emails at lindacad@plancius-oceanwide.com if you feel like letting me know something of the outside world.