Gulf of Alaska

A Sea Day is a day off. There are no excursions because the Viking Orion doesn’t dock today. We are simply sailing to tomorrow’s destination at Dutch Harbor.

So what do you do on a Sea Day? It’s very restful. Because we don’t muster for excursions off the ship, we get the chance to sleep late. The serving of breakfast in the World Cafe and Restaurant are delayed by half an hour. For us early risers, coffee is available in the cafe, and a continental breakfast is offered up in the Explorer’s Lounge. That’s where I go to hang out until Glenda finishes with her beauty sleep.

After breakfast we hung around at the World Cafe and talk to new friends. Next we went up to the Star Theater where Chef Martin gave a cooking demonstration, making his delicious Filet Mignon with foie gras, as well as the Penne Arrabiata, which was available at lunch today. General Manager Peter and Assistant Hotel Manager Johannes were on hand making the dish fresh for us passengers. We had an extended conversation with our new friend Clancy about an experience he had providing IT resources for Scotland Yard.

Dr. William Thayer gave a very interesting lecture about the Naval Battle of Midway in World War 2. I had always thought that by the time of Midway the United States had developed its military resources to a level superior to that of Japan. Thayer made it clear that such was not the case. The Japanese had more warships, better aircraft carriers, and a superior air fighter, the Zero. The overwhelming U. S. Victory at Midway was due partly to the fact that Lt. Joe Rochefort, a young Navy cryptanalyst, had broken the Japanese Navy code. The rest of the cause of the victory was sheer, dumb luck. Although the American planes were fewer and inferior to the Japanese aircraft, by pure accident they happened to be in the right place at the right time. In six minutes half of the Japanese Navy and almost all of their functioning aircraft were destroyed. Because the U. S. Navy could read the Japanese encoded messages, Admiral Nimitz knew that the air attack on Dutch Harbor and the invasions at Attu and Kiska Islands were diversionary. Japan’s real objective was Hawaii. The Eleventh Army Air Force was dispatched to the Aleutians to expel the Japanese, while Nimitz continued to focus his efforts in the mid-Pacific Ocean.

Yesterday we got an email from the neighbors who are watching our house. Our security alarm has repeatedly sounded off, calling the security company and the police as it did so. They checked the house, saw no intruders and turned off the alarm, but after a short time it sounded again. We got in touch with the security company, who assured us that there was no reason for worry and said they would check it today. Once before the alarm went off unexpectedly, and we found that in our absence, a small spider decided to make his web up in the corner of the room where the sensor is fixed. As he spun his web he kept setting off the alarm. Glenda’s final words to the alarm repairman was, “Let us know if you find Bigfoot in the house.” Today he sent us the photograph of our intruder. Check it out in the attached photos.

Glenda put the laundry in, and then went to a presentation by Hamed, the Future Cruise Consultant. Passengers who book a future cruise while onboard get some special benefits. I came back to the room to read another chapter of a book about the history of Japan.

At dinner we had the wedge salad, filet mignon with foie gras and madeira sauce, and apple strudel, though Glenda had chocolate fandoodle. A cup of coffee finished the meal, and then we went to the atrium to hear pianist Filip from Poland play some classical favorites. When he finished, a string duo finished the evening with selections from Les Miserable.

So when you’re on a ship, that’s what you do on your day off.Read more