Feb 11 - 15, 2017 at sea

February 11 - 15, 2017 at sea en route to Apia, Samoa
This is the part of the cruise were things got a bit messy. Between Hawaii and Samoa, we have to cross the International Date Line. To keep calendars and clock in check, we have to either add a day or lose a day crossing the Date Line. In our case, we are going from East to West and lose a day. In the original Cunard schedule for this voyage, we were to lose February 14th. Somewhere in the high offices of Cunard, someone realized that to lose February 14th meant that there would be no Saint Valentines Day. Also, no increased flower sales, no increased champagne sales, no increased card sales, no increased special venue dinners, etc.
The good people at Cunard found a solution. The ship would cross the date line early, at least for those on board, and we would lose February 13th. And the daily programme for February 13th was not printed or handed out. However, we were presented with a certificate that says we crossed the International Date Line on February 12th. On the other hand, I had great fun telling everyone that February 13th was free beer day at all the ship’s bars.
Back to life on board, Saturday, Feb 11. Speakers included Claire Balding speaking on “Golden Moments - Tales from The Olympics and Para Olympics.” ; Professor George Losey on “Legends of Hawaii and Polynesia”; Pip Burley speaking on “The 60s - Beginning of an Era.” The last individual is doing a series of lectures about the early American music composers. His lectures include video clips and his own piano playing to demonstrate the composers’ techniques. After dinner, the evening show was vocalist, Ben Mills from the United Kingdom.
Sunday, Feb 12. A quiet day at sea. A traditional maritime church service in the morning, the Cunard Singers and Dancers presentation of Palladium Nights in the afternoon and a comedian, Jeff Stevenson, for the evening show.
Feb 13 disappeared into the void, see above discussion.
Feb 14, Tuesday, St. Valentines Day and Crossing the Equator. This is a full day of events including Professor Losey speaking on “The Coral Reef”, Pip Burley on “The Golden Age of Song - Jerome Kern.” Just after the Captain’s Noon announcement, the Crossing The Line Ceremony started around the pool. This is a ceremony to turn Tadpoles, those who have not crossed the Equator into Shellbacks, those who have crossed the Equator. The evening show was in two parts, Vocalist, Ben Mills and Flautist, Clare Langan. Somewhere in the middle of the day, there was a aeroplane (paper planes) flying competition in the Queens Room.
Feb 15, Wednesday, This morning, Captain Aseem Hashmi gave a virtual Bridge tour presentation. He included information on the ship, our engines, the controls and information available on the bridge, how the propellers work and the navigation lights displayed when dark. He also gave his history and training to get to be a captain.
I attended the movie “Sully” about the landing in the Huds.   on River. Sandra has seen the movie in Merced, so she took a nap instead. The evening show was a combination of the singers and dancers and the comedian Jeff Stevenson.