We left Kushiro and Japan and launched ourselves into the Sea of Okhotsk beginning what amounts to six sea days in a row. From the Sea of Okhotsk the ship navigated into the Bering Sea. We understand that the seas have been relatively calm during our crossing comparatively. The Bering Sea can be very rough and we felt some of that but not anything major. The shipboard crew does an amazing job of filling time for those looking for things to do during this down time. In our case, working out, treating ourselves to a few spa treatments, playing trivia, attending “conversations” in the Grand Salon (speakers that share their expertise and experience in everything from history to sea life, and what a US diplomat does) and meeting friends for dinner filled our days and nights.
Some exciting and unusual things happened as we make our way toward Alaska. We crossed the International Date Line, which happens to be an imaginary line on the Earth’s surface, mostly following the 180 degree meridian where the date changes as one travels east or west across it. It serves as the demarcation between two consecutive calendar days. Crossing the line from west to east results in a gain of one day while crossing from east to west results in a loss of one day. The line zigzags to accommodate political and geographical boundaries primarily passing through the Pacific Ocean, but also traversing some landmasses. Its exact location is determined by international agreement, and it has no physical markers. One of the players on our trivia team had a birthday on April 26 – it was a day we repeated – so, in essence she got two birthdays this year. Happy Birthday, Monica! Joe accused her of stuttering. 🙂
The other thing that is happening is that we have turned the clocks forward each night by one hour. This makes for a shorter night each night which adds up to sleep issues for many of us onboard. The sunset gets later and at some point after repeating April 26th, we ended up with clocks running behind Minneapolis instead of ahead of it the other days prior. It is more gradual than jet lag and gets the same job done but it is beginning to take its toll with both of us. We feel as if we haven’t slept as well as we had been. We got an announcement when at approximately 1:00 pm on the 27th , we crossed the 180th Meridian, also known as the antemeridian. In the realm of geographical intrigue lies the enigmatic 180th Meridian, a line of longitude shrouded in mystique and significance. Stretching from pole to pole, it marks the antipodal counterpart to the Prime Meridian, dividing the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres with mathematical precision. Beyond its cartographic utility, the 180th Meridian signifies the meeting point of past and future, where the calendar flips and time itself seems to shift.
We are now in the North Pacific Ocean, situated between Japan and Alaska. The area is a vast expanse of oceanic wonder marked by its diverse marine life and rich maritime history. At its center lies Unalaska Island, a rugged outpost where nature’s beauty meets human resilience. Spanning the 54th parallel north, this maritime realm showcases the convergence of Arctic and Pacific currents, fostering a unique ecosystem where whales breach and fish dart beneath the watchful gaze of seabirds. These waters have served as a vital conduit for exploration and trade, connecting distant shores and cultures from wooden ships to modern navigation. We are due in Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska tomorrow morning. It will be welcome to set foot on solid land. We have been very frustrated with the internet during our crossing and realize how dependent we have become on our phones and devices. Since we haven’t had data for six days and have been madly changing our clocks without them logging on to where we are locally, I’ve received many text messages that are delivered telling me that they were sent tomorrow. We’ve been trying to make the best of these funny situations and not complain too much and enjoy what we do have access to.
Our waiter last night told us that with each passing day we run out of what he referred to as staples. No more berries and raisins were the examples he used but, trust me when I say that absolutely no one is starving. We have gotten to know many of the crew members and are sad when they leave but rejoice with them knowing that they are generally going “home” to reunite with their loved ones. Each port there seems to be some coming to start their contracts and others leaving as their contract expires. The other fun item we have discovered is that many of these crew members are paired up as significant others which makes sense given the environment. It has been so fun to find out after knowing one or the other that they are connected by either marriage or dating. My friend, Sandy, and I turned into Nancy Drew to try to find out who George ( the maitre d’ in the fancy restaurant) was dating onboard. We did have a celebrated success when we discovered it was Amisha (the facial esthetician in the spa) on this one. Can’t wait to tell George we cracked the code.
The time on board ship is coming to an end and after spending the 68 days that we have onboard Odyssey, we have had a wonderful experience. We still learn something new almost every day and have somewhat of a reputation as the couple that had never cruised and signed up for 80 days. The culture on Seabourn is a group of people that have found they love to cruise, they love to be pampered the way they have been, they love the crew members they have come to know and see over and over on this ship and others, and most of all, they love what this cruise line offers them. That may change from person to person but when it works and they feel that way, they are all in. Most have been on multiple cruises on different Seabourn ships in different ports and know the ins and outs of life aboard, we are the poster children for “Cruising for Dummies.” And, by the way, are good with that. It has been fun to discover things either with a slap to the forehead, a wide-eyed wonderment, or with a huh? It tends to force the bearer of the news into a giggle and we can enjoy a laugh together.
I hit a wall around 60 days and was ready to go home. I miss my people (family, friends, and neighbors), my home, my day to day life and my dog. So, for me, the challenge is to enjoy these last days in Alaska and all that is offered there and then look forward to you…my people.
