August 19, 2025 – At Sea – North Atlantic Ocean –

August 19, 2025 – At Sea – North Atlantic Ocean – Cloudy - Probably 50F

A no photo day.

My talk this morning, “Forensic Detectives: The Search for Jack the Ripper”, is at 10 AM so I was up (too) early and was at the Windows Café when it opened at 7:30 PM.  There were only a handful of people up there (due to the time change).  It took a while but I got my pancakes and the cottage cheese was there; the sour cream was most likely some kind of yoghurt.  Along with a smidge of cereal, the breakfast was good.

I went to the theater a little early and noticed that about 20 people or so were waiting for the doors to open.  The doors did and I went in and set up.  The attendance was good – a near full house.  I am competing today with the Quest Brunch and food is a worthy adversary.  I started and noticed that the clicker wasn’t working.  I unplugged the dongle but no luck.  I exited program mode and re entered – at the same time, the AV guy came down to help and before he got to the computer, the clicker started working.  I’ll have to check into this because this was the first time this clicker hasn’t worked.  Battery maybe?

The talk went well and a nice final round of applause.  I have gotten more direct positive feedback on this ship than on any previous cruise.  So, the final count was seven presentations – all full houses.  I chatted a bit with Ron Orenstein and he mentioned something I might be able to use – the term “gumshoe” might be related to the Metro cops putting rubber strips on their boots.

I changed my clothes and Ellen and went to the brunch.  I am always hoping for herring and there was none.  I had some lox and cream cheese on a brioche.  I don’t think I had any lox on this cruise and it was very good.

We spent a little time up in the Living Room and then Ellen started on the packing.  We timed our laundry bags just right (four of them) so that the last one arrived in time for the packing.  Essentially, all of the clothes in the suitcases are clean.

I did a final check on our disembarkation instructions and noticed that while I was told we would be Group Green 7, our tags said Green 14.  I went to Guest Relations and they indeed were the wrong tags (a result of changing rooms).  I got the right tags and checked the account – all good.

I got an email indicating that check-in for our flights was now open.  I checked both of us in and indicated how many bags we would have.  I got an electronic Boarding Pass that said “TSA Pre” but I doubt there is such a thing at KEF.  When we flew Icelandair here, we needed paper boarding passes to get on the plane.

We took in VIBZ pre-dinner set before going to the Discoveries Restaurant for the last dinner.  I pre-ordered Pasta Pesto – I also had an iceberg wedge with blue cheese dressing (I ordered it but then we were told we had the wrong menu – our waiter still ordered that salad for me and it was really good).  The Pesto was absolutely perfectly prepared and I finished it all.  Ellen had the broiled salmon (the standard menu) on a large Cesar Salad.  I put some of the salmon on my pasta to add some protein.  All good.  We stayed for a rare dessert and coffee – I had the NY Cheesecake (still not served cold) and Ellen had Molten Chocolate Cake. 

A final Mosaic Café stop for coffee and tea and to the room.

The bags went out at 9:30 PM.

The lights went out at around 10:20 PM.