Thursday 15 May at sea.

A restful night's sleep was had. Breakfast in our room at 8.30 meant a very leisurely start to our day. We initially heard a loud noise outside and thought it might be a plane overhead but when the noise didn't abate, I went out onto the balcony and saw a pilot ship shepherding us through some islands.

It started with us quite a while. I then noticed that we were being followed by another cruise liner. z eventually our little pilot boat turned away and left us to our own devices.

Jeffrey had planned a 10am meeting which was not at all convenient for me as I wanted to go to the line dancing at 10, but figured there would be other classes so we took ourselves to the 10am meeting. Just prior to the meeting, I asked Jeffrey how long his talk was likely to go to a there was a 10.30 meeting of military personnel that Jo and I intended going to. I told him that as his meeting might be R minutes long, we would need to leave early and for him not to think us rude at doing so. He then asked me what my name was and I said Susan. Hopefully there aren't any Susan's in our group. I've already upset the comedian so didn't want to fall out with Jeffrey too. At 9.25 we left our meeting and headed up to the top deck, 9, to the Crows Nest at the very front of the ship for an infirmary get together with other people who have served in the military. It was only a small group but that was a good chance to talk with everyone there. We even got a free drink just for showing up! Walking past the swimming pool on deck 8 on the way to deck 9 we noticed that there were a lot of waves splashing over the sides of the pool. I hadn't been aware how rocky the ship had become. We were late services that there were 2 metre reserves. My phenergan tablet and my sea wrist bands are doing the trick because so far I am feeling extra well. Let's hope it stays that way. We had coffee with some of our group and then headed to lunch in the main dining room. Most people are eating at the buffet but that's just a simmering petri dish of bacteria with so many displaying very poor hygiene. For lunch I had the spinach and mushroom salad followed by chilli con carne in a bread roll. Oh... and I had a glass of Sav Blanc too.

It was then time for the trivia challenge so we head back to the Crows Nest and showed how little we know about geography, but it was a bit of fun. Back to our room and heading past the pool again, we now see that it has been drained and a net put over it. The waves are certainly more obvious now.

Afternoon tea is in the dining room and has a Dutch theme. We thought we'd go for a look but as there were literally hundreds of people lined up waiting for the dining room doors to open at 3pm, we opted to go for a coffee and take it back to our cabin. Had a quick look in the shops on board and they have nothing I want and certainly wouldn't be prepared to pay what they are asking! Jeffrey had printed in his newsletter that there was a catch up with fellow travellers in our group at 4pm. We werent interested, assuming it would be similar to yesterday so didn't go. Half an hour later I got a message from Patrice to say that some of our group were having drinks in the Orchard bar and asked us to join them. I said that we would. Only problem was that by the time we got to the bar,Jeffrey had found them and gotten them to move to where the rest of the group were so we two rocked up 40 minutes late and lots of chairs had to be moved to fit 2 more in. Jeffrey had been telling everyone what their respective disembarkation times and details were, so we had completely missed that. What sort of tour group director creates an optional informal get together to tell those who do attend, important details that everyone needs to know? Not impressed. Anyway, I now have those details, but I shouldn't have had to go and ask him for them... What didn't help with my opinion of him was when someone asked him what he did when he wasn't tour directing and he said that he is Father Christmas at corporate events! What the ??? I'm telling you right now that there is no way I'd be sitting on his knee telling him what I want! Being gluttons for punishment we went up to the Crows Nest again for another round of trivia, this time on male singers. Patrice and Ian joined us but we didn't fare well. Had a bit of fun though. Time for dinner so we headed up to the main dining room. It too 30 minutes for us to be seated. It is a bizarre system on how they work who gets seated first. It isn't a first come first served. Anyway we finally were seated at a table and dinner was good. I had a prawn cocktail and then a strip tenderloin which cut like it was butter.

It was 9 o'clock so P and I headed off to the comedian's show while Jo and I headed back to our cabin. There is no doubt what day it is as each lift has a floor mat reminding you.

When we got back to our cabin we had 2 chocolates on the bed and a reminder to turn our clocks back an hour, plus an elephant towel.

We had started watching a movie earlier, but decided to give it a miss for now. The ship is certainly doing some rocking and rolling but I'm wearing my sea bands and still take the phenergan before I go to sleep. Time to do the blog and then lights out. Hopefully I can keep the sea sickness at bay. Juneau tomorrow and I am trying to be optimistic that the weather will be okay for our helicopter ride onto the glacier.