West Coast Express

Tuesday, October 2nd
South Pacific Day 3
ms Westerdam
At Sea
Mostly Clear - 57 Degrees

Wednesday, October 3rd
South Pacific Day 4
ms Westerdam
At Sea
Overcast - 62 Degrees

We are getting our sea legs and settling in to life on board Westerdam as we cruise down the West Coast to San Diego.

Our Cabin Stewards Solihin (Sol) and Ipunk are taking outstanding care of us.  As are Concierges Margaret and Jane in the Neptune Lounge, a comfortable and tempting oasis at sea.  They serve continental breakfast, midday snacks, afternoon tea, and evening canapes, literally just a step away.

Four decks down, 3 strolls around the Promenade Deck is one mile.  We are walking it and rocking it.

Ted and Tres have passes to the Hydropool and Thermal Suites, showers running hot and heavy tempered by a cool mist, steam rooms scented with eucalyptus, and a mineral-enhanced saltwater pool with jets aimed at every part of the body.  It's just one big wet heaven.

The enrichment lecture series debuted with Dr. Jack Hardy, professor emeritus of Western Washington University, and his "Half Century Exploring the Underwater World."  Small world.

The ship gets CNN International via satellite, so we were able to watch the presidential debate tonight.  What an epic disaster.  It couldn't possibly have been worse.  Game-changer.

For those who think cruising is all about shuffleboard and buffets, you are missing the boat.  It's the vastness of the sea from horizon to horizon, the gentle pitch and roll of the ship, the surge of the whitecaps, the infinite shades of blue in the churn of the surf, the dance of the sun and the moon in the waves.  It's the sense that the whole world is out there, but always just out of reach.  It's the journey. And it's ours until the next port of call.