Atlantic Crossing: Day 5

Brrrr! Shouldn’t we be removing layers as we get closer to Miami? Well, that’s definitely not been the case today.

Woke up to overcast skies and strong winds … and a light veil of fog. There was a damp in the air that added to the chill factor.These conditions lasted throughout the day. The sea state was fairly rough … the most movement we’ve had since leaving Southampton on 3 December. The Navigation Channel on the TV says that we are Beaufort 5 … winds in the 19-24 mph range; waves in the 6-10 feet range.

Disembarkation instructions for 15 December have been delivered to the cabin. After consulting Deniz — first time in Miami for him — we decided to get luggage tags for 9:15a … the earliest departure time for passengers with independent plans. I’m curious to see how they will manage the process for 3,000 people.

There was a gingerbread house competition earlier in the crossing. I did not participate, but did get to see everyone’s creation as the head pastry chef and some of his team members set up gingerbread villages to add to the holiday cheer around the ship … one in the deck 6 midship atrium, where the aroma of gingerbread adds to the ambiance, and one in the Garden Café. Good job by all.Les mer