THE SEABOURN ODYSSEY HAS A COVID OUTBREAK

This is April 1 where I am.  The following are not April Fool jokes:

• Donald Trump got indicted.
• Finland joins NATO, or at least will in a few days.
• The Seabourn Odyssey has a COVID-19 outbreak.

You can read about the other two, but last night the ship's captain made a startling announcement.  There is a covid outbreak and beginning tomorrow, all staff will be wearing masks.  He advised passengers to also do this when indoors.

In June of 2021 we took a Norwegian cruise through Hawaii, and three months ago were on Regent Seven Seas from Dubai to Singapore.  We suspected there was this virus on board, but everything was kept hush hush.

We've been noticing orange colored bags outside of cabins, and already suspected something was wrong.  There are five on our floor.  Sort of reminded me of 15 Craigside, which placed scary signs on the door of those quarantined.  Our retirement community finally got hit with this coronavirus one month before we were scheduled to leave for Sydney.  We pretty much kept to ourselves, wore masks when leaving our apartment, and it worked.  We got to Australia and are now into week four of our Seabourn cruise.  We have one month left.

We were scheduled to have dinner at Thomas Keller's Grill when the announcement was made.  We went anyway, but one person I know wore her mask and somehow also ate and drank.  She was the only one.

A couple finally sat next to us, and I explained that we were being discourteous because of that announcement.  We talked anyway, and turns out they have been cruising on Seabourn for a long time, are Diamond members accumulating 280 days, and were honored in the Captain's Reception this week.

We avoided the Grand Salon show last night and decided to avoid any indoor activities as much as possible.  Meals, for example, can be delivered, with no extra charge.  The Patio Restaurant has outdoor tables, and today tacos are being served, so we will have margaritas, beer and a Mexican lunch there.

Friends are joining us in Fiji, which is only a few days away.  Maybe they should consider delaying this cruise if possible.

Yesterday our main activity was a tour of Noumea.  First, lunch.

Then on to our tour of Noumea.

People were coughing on the bus, so of course we wore masks.  

We stopped at le Roof for wine and cheese from France.  Emmental from France Comté, Rhône Alps, Le Brie and Bleu d'Auvergne, with White Bourdeaux from Bourgogne, Château Claoset Bordeaux, and Sirah et Cinsault Rosé from Provence.

Then the touring continued in a coughing bus.

A Le Meridien. 

Downtown Noumea.

After being dropped off at the ship, there was a supermarket across the street, so we went exploring.  They would not accept Australian or U.S. money, and we didn't want to use of credit card, otherwise we would have a bought a tube of wasabi.  Crabs and a lot of cheese.

The Odyssey left at sunset, and we had another sailaway serenade around the pool.

This was where the Captain announced our outbreak.  But we had dinner at The Grill.  Note that there is a container of salt to add to the butter.

A White Bordeaux.

We had complained that the soups were all too thin and salty.  So the chef made us a special New England Clam Chowder, to which some pork was added, that was not salty, had a good dairy quality, and was the best soup we ever had on this ship.  I paired mine with something called New Gazpacho, which I think had avocado in the broth, which also was okay.  Added a Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon.

The second course was a beef consommé, which was too salty and thin, creamed spinach, a rib of lamb, which was outstanding, and iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing.  Note that dish of french fries.  Huge, but crispy and very tasty.

Walked 7050 steps today.  My Happiness #1 state of mind is being challenged by this outbreak.

Woke up this morning to see Easo, Lifou, New Caledonia.

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