One of the benefits of where I now live is that I’m just minutes from where the cruise ships come into dock in Victoria, British Columbia.
Having been on several Holland America cruises now (due to attending Abraham-Hicks seminars)… I’ve made friends with folks on board… including Lisa (awesome acupuncturist / Chinese medicine practitioner) and her partner Arie (engineer and safety officer).
Victoria is one of the stops on the Seattle-Alaska route that runs in the summer season. Last week was the final sail for the year and I had the fun of being invited on board The Oosterdam for lunch and an insider tour by Arie.
Walking down to the dock takes about seven minutes from my house (a little longer if you are wearing heels for the fancier restaurant on board). It’s still docked in my country, but I had to show my passport to get on and off board and be on a special approved visitors list arranged a few days before.
Having been a cruise passenger, I have a real appreciation for these ships and their organized crews – talk about a logistics feat. Was so great to get a peek behind the scenes to see the machinery, organization and all that goes into keeping this little city on the seas sailing like clock work. Truly impressive.
Great shot of the ship from the ocean:
Out in Alaska on a beautiful afternoon:
Ship board view of my place: it’s behind me in the trees:
Sitting down for lunch in the Pinnacle Grill:
The view from the bridge:
Can you believe the steering wheel (or whatever it is really called) is this tiny!
Easy buttons are everywhere! (this one I gave to Lisa and it made its way to the engineering room… notice the Curious George too… who’s says engineers are tough guys – wink)
Thanks Arie for a really great lunch! See you next year, that is if you don’t stay forever on the Mediterranean route.
[tags]Christina Merkley, The SHIFT-IT Coach, SHIFT-IT, Arie, Victoria, Seattle-Alaska, Mediterranean[/tags]
