We had our Tuesday on Thursday. Tuesday’s sea day was supposed to bring both an all hands drill followed by the “Glampout” (Think glamorous campout). But the seas were rough, and the captain put it off until Thursday.

When Thursday came, they were serious about the drill. We got several warnings that our participation was mandatory and if we did not attend we “Will not be able to continue on Volendam.” I thought the threat made more sense on Tuesday since on Wednesday we were going to Robinson Crusoe Island and marooning recalcitrant participants is a tradition there. The threat had that much sting sailing away from the island.

We did not have a drill on our departure form Ft. Lauderdale. Here is what I wrote on my blog post at the beginning of the cruise.

Boarding was delayed because the ship needed deep cleaning. We are on some sort of code to prevent the spread of GI distress. For Instance, we did not have to attend a lifeboat drill, not even the new type of drill where you just go to your lifeboat station and check in. When we went to our lifeboat station no one was there to check us in. When we asked guest services they said, “You’re five star, you know what to do. But watch the video. okay”

This time there was no out. The Captain stressed that because we were cruising into Antarctic waters he wanted us all to know what to do in “the unlikely event.” And I did learn some things at this drill that even I, a “five star,” didn’t consider. For Instance, before the drill many of us gather on deck three at or muster stations early. I went down and was walking my laps on the deck so I would be there when the alarm sounded. The lifeboat commander told us that in case of a real emergency we MUST stay in our cabins until told to go to deck three. The last thing he wanted was a bunch of people hanging around in life vests as he was trying to lower the lifeboat. He did not, however, send us all to our rooms.

Glampout was a great party. Staff turned the Lido deck into a campground with “nonflammable camp fires” and hot dogs, chicken wings and sliders to eat around it. There was dancing,

a camp song sing along,

an invasion of penguin campers

and the captain attempting to launch a canoe in the swimming pool and succeeding in swamping it.

There were games and councilors with merit badge sashes to supervise them.

One two-year-old girl was the center of attraction. I don’t know how much of this she will remember but everyone else there, especially those with cameras, will remember her and mama will have lots of snaps for the scrap book.