Day 1 (Embarkation)
Never having done this before (at least not on a ship not painted Haze Grey) it has all been interesting. I was especially fascinated, as a former operations andlogistics planner, to observe how efficiently Holland America processes passengers and baggage off the ship, and a new set onto the ship, offload trash and sewage, and take on new comestibles, water, and fuel. Theorganizatino of it allis impressive. Not that I expected it wouldn’t be – these people have to make money, after all.
We’re currently dashing (for a cruise ship) across the Atlantic north of the Bahamas. I say dashing because they usually make this passage at 15 knots or so, and we’re doing it at 22 knots, which is full-bore for Eurodam. The reason we are doing this is Hurricane Paloma, tracking south of Cuba as I type. We in clouds and small squalls right now, but the Captain Mercer assures us we’ll make Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, early and will avoid the storm. If Paloma doesn’t behave, we’ll apparently skip Providenciales and head for San Juan, Puerto Rico, where we’ll commune with Denizen Boquisucio’s peeps.
A word on Captain Mercer, who is, I’m sure a fine mariner, having had his Masters’ ticket since 1979 and captaining large vessels for many years – nonetheless… we’re on Monty Python cruise lines. I look for the Crimson Permanent Assurance to appear as we move through the formerly piratical waters of the Caribbean. Why? Because the master of our ship sounds, over the intercom, just like Eric Idle. Who knows, we may have a witch-burning at some point.
As for the “National Review” part of the cruise thus far, let’s just say if you’re a fan of the magazine and it’s writers, you’d be in heaven. Last night Jonah Goldberg and I sat at the bar knocking back Mojitos and trying to outdo each other on Monty Python triva – Jonah was relieve he wasn’t the only one who thought Eric Idle walked the bridge. In small groups I talked Iraq and Afghanistan with Bing West and Bernard Lewis – money comment from that was Bing talking about Barney Frank’s looking for a 25% reduction in the Defense budget – “We’ve been fighting a “rich war” in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we’re going to have to continue doing so – good luck with that, Congressman!” I chatted briefly with Mark Steyn (and yes, Wendy, he still reads your email). I mostly listened as Jonah talked the Politics of Palin (thus far, people on the cruise prefer her to Peggy Noonan 12-0).
I was wearing a Castle Argghhh! shirt and discovered that we have quite a few readers aboard – but we’re still second tier. When people get pushed for time, it’s Blackfive and Greyhawk who get the nod. Castle Argghhh! is a luxury… but there is some gravitas attached to being one of Jonah’s Military Guys – keep that in mind, Dusty!
Saw Victor Hanson, rubbed shoulders with Mitt Romney, though I missed Fred Thompson. Hey, it's only day one.
By far the most fruitful discussion personally was with K-Lo. Your humble scribe’s scrivenings may soon appear in The Tank, NRO’s milblogs, and I’m supposed to send K-Lo a book review which, if it passes muster, may find itself published on NRO, too.
And to top it off, we had a nice dinner with Charles and Julie, a wonderful couple from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where Julie is on the City Council, and Charles is a oil industry lawyer - and one of those who reads the blog...
Not bad for the first day, eh?
Never having done this before (at least not on a ship not painted Haze Grey) it has all been interesting. I was especially fascinated, as a former operations andlogistics planner, to observe how efficiently Holland America processes passengers and baggage off the ship, and a new set onto the ship, offload trash and sewage, and take on new comestibles, water, and fuel. Theorganizatino of it allis impressive. Not that I expected it wouldn’t be – these people have to make money, after all.
We’re currently dashing (for a cruise ship) across the Atlantic north of the Bahamas. I say dashing because they usually make this passage at 15 knots or so, and we’re doing it at 22 knots, which is full-bore for Eurodam. The reason we are doing this is Hurricane Paloma, tracking south of Cuba as I type. We in clouds and small squalls right now, but the Captain Mercer assures us we’ll make Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, early and will avoid the storm. If Paloma doesn’t behave, we’ll apparently skip Providenciales and head for San Juan, Puerto Rico, where we’ll commune with Denizen Boquisucio’s peeps.
A word on Captain Mercer, who is, I’m sure a fine mariner, having had his Masters’ ticket since 1979 and captaining large vessels for many years – nonetheless… we’re on Monty Python cruise lines. I look for the Crimson Permanent Assurance to appear as we move through the formerly piratical waters of the Caribbean. Why? Because the master of our ship sounds, over the intercom, just like Eric Idle. Who knows, we may have a witch-burning at some point.
As for the “National Review” part of the cruise thus far, let’s just say if you’re a fan of the magazine and it’s writers, you’d be in heaven. Last night Jonah Goldberg and I sat at the bar knocking back Mojitos and trying to outdo each other on Monty Python triva – Jonah was relieve he wasn’t the only one who thought Eric Idle walked the bridge. In small groups I talked Iraq and Afghanistan with Bing West and Bernard Lewis – money comment from that was Bing talking about Barney Frank’s looking for a 25% reduction in the Defense budget – “We’ve been fighting a “rich war” in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we’re going to have to continue doing so – good luck with that, Congressman!” I chatted briefly with Mark Steyn (and yes, Wendy, he still reads your email). I mostly listened as Jonah talked the Politics of Palin (thus far, people on the cruise prefer her to Peggy Noonan 12-0).
I was wearing a Castle Argghhh! shirt and discovered that we have quite a few readers aboard – but we’re still second tier. When people get pushed for time, it’s Blackfive and Greyhawk who get the nod. Castle Argghhh! is a luxury… but there is some gravitas attached to being one of Jonah’s Military Guys – keep that in mind, Dusty!
Saw Victor Hanson, rubbed shoulders with Mitt Romney, though I missed Fred Thompson. Hey, it's only day one.
By far the most fruitful discussion personally was with K-Lo. Your humble scribe’s scrivenings may soon appear in The Tank, NRO’s milblogs, and I’m supposed to send K-Lo a book review which, if it passes muster, may find itself published on NRO, too.
And to top it off, we had a nice dinner with Charles and Julie, a wonderful couple from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where Julie is on the City Council, and Charles is a oil industry lawyer - and one of those who reads the blog...
Not bad for the first day, eh?
That should keep JMH off your case, anyway...
Did you send them a little note on what you learned on YOUR last cruise??
You are my hero.
Don't puke.
Love,
Attila
John doesn't have to worry, there is no troop berthing on Holland America.