Rami's Travels

Hello from Null Island

Hi friends, it is now day 120 out of our 138 day cruise, and a bitter sweet 18 days left of our journey. Bitter because we are leaving a wonderful environment and many great friends, but sweet  because we will be returning to our old, comfortable and familiar routines. I, on the other hand, am looking forward to many new adventures on different ships around the globe, sailing the high seas.

This is also an extended period of “sea days” where we tend to cluster in groups of friends with similar interests. These range from cooking classes, to Bridge, Mahjong, water-color, choir, tap dance as well as lectures and evening movies and shows. These are enjoyed in a pleasant atmosphere and clean environment. In addition, our beds are made, rooms cleaned, laundry done and great food and drinks anytime you want……what a life.

I have taken this opportunity to schedule a few behind the scenes ship tours which where super interesting. The ship bridge tour conducted by the captain detailed operations such as navigation, ship operations and safety drill responsibilities and details. My behind the scenes tour was also fascinating. Every US certified ship has what’s called I95, named after interstate I95 and traverses the ship from bow to stern. Everything comes in and and leaves the ship via I95. It has become the standard and crew members  use a ship I95 card for identification instead of carrying their passports (in US ports). I’m looking forward to my engine room tour tomorrow. I understand fuel costs about $500,000 to fill the diesel tanks which are enough for a about a week of sailing.

Yesterday we sailed into Null Island, a point at which zero longitude and zero latitude intersect. It is marked by a simple weather buoy in this vast ocean. It was quite interesting because our captain announced that we were going to cut the engines and circle the identifying buoy before continuing north towards Senegal. We arrived at the coordinates but alas, could not find the buoy and we presume it was stolen by pirates.  All is not in vain, however because, according to information found by a fellow traveler, Pollywogs are sailors who crossed the equator for the fist time, Golden Shellbacks are sailors who crossed the equator and international date line, but the rarest of all are sailors who crossed the prime meridian at the equator. Thus, we joined this select group named, Order of the Emerald Shellback  and received a fancy certificate to prove it. We are also considering getting Emerald Shellback tattoos.