FINLEY ISLAND/LATRABJARG CLIFFS/PATREKSFORDUR, ICELAND - DAY 9

Eileen so glad to hear you are enjoying the Blog.

Adelina...The toilet seats in the suites are not heated as they were on Mozart.

On all the Crystal Vessels they have implemented COVID-19 contact tracing.  Typically you utilize a tracer which works like a watch band.  You can also place it in your pocket and it will work.  We wore the bands for the first day.  Daniel mentioned another option which is to wear the tracer inserted in a band you wear around your neck.  Sold!!  The tracers are not waterproof so we felt it was easier to go this route.

At 5:30 yesterday afternoon we attended the Life Board Drill.  Our muster location was located near Reception.  Drill was very well organized and when the instructions were given from the bridge not a peep from the guests which was a first for us.  Unlike Ocean Vessels lifejackets are not located in the suites but at the muster stations and other difference was the strap goes between your legs.

Afterwards we attended Captain Thomas & Senior Officers, Expedition Team & Entertainment Hosts Welcome Presentation at the Crystal Cove.    The Captain spoke, he introduced the Senior Officers, Entertainers performed and the lead members of the Expedition Team spoke.  It was a great introduction to Endeavor.  The reception was at the Crystal Cove which we thought had a little bit of the look of Star Dust on Serenity with the stage, raised floor and bar in the back but more open.

We enjoyed dinner at Waterside and what a special dinner it was. 

These are the Waterside menus.

Dinner was amazing.  How about Mama Mia.

It was superb.

Waterside is beautiful and as we sat there we could see all of the details which went into it.

Unlike the Ocean Vessels it was very quiet with food stations not visible and not noise from trays with dishes on them as trays are not used to get the food from the galley to the dining area.  Service was impeccable as it is throughout the ship with 200+ crew and only around 115 guests.

Restaurant manager Slavko stopped by and Head Waiters Igor and Jarrett check on us several times and Sommelier Milo and the Waiter never missed a beat.  

As to the food.

Caviar for Keith and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail for Anne Marie, Garden Salad for both of us as well as Fresh Lobster.  For dessert, some cheese for Keith and ​Ice Cream for Anne Marie.

The lobster was out of this world.  It was by far the best lobster we have had at sea.  It was moist, at the right temperature, not rubbery, and the taste was wonderful or better yet amazing.  Waterside was not very crowded nor loud.

Kudos to team Endeavor

While we were eating the ship departed and you would never know it.  This ship is very quiet and sails very well.  

These are additional photos of Endeavor; exterior, interior and a couple showing the recessed TV at the foot of our bed.  These TV's are only in rooms on Deck 8.

When we returned to our room last evening there were two of the packages on our bed.  A very nice touch.

It's nice to be at sea again after our overnight in Reykjavik.  There is often something to observe while at sea and it is a very special time for many seasoned cruisers including ourselves.

While at sea we are reminded of a quote from former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.  He said:  "I really don't know why it is that all of us are committed to the sea.  I think it's because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and the ships change, it's because we all came from the sea.  And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean.  And therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean.  And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going from hence where we came."

Keith made use of the Fitness Center this morning with an early morning workout.  He utilized the Elliptical Machine.  It was early and he was by himself which was the Plan.  

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Keith made his way to the Pantry which is open 7x24 and has coffee, tea and other beverages and made himself coffee.  This is something offered on the Crystal River Cruise Vessels.  If COVID-19 was not an issue they would have light snacks available as well a fruit and pastries.  

We enjoyed breakfast in the suite as we got ready to begin our second full day on the ship.  

The original itinerary called for a brief stop at Patreks/fjordur where nesting seabirds could be observed. However, we learned yesterday this had been cancelled because unfortunately the birds have left the cliffs following the breeding season.  In lieu of this stop Flatey Island was scheduled for today.

We first walked outside on the Promenade.  It was cool but very nice and we ran into the Captain and chatted for a few minutes.  We also attended the mandatory meeting, although they didn't have us sign-in about the Zodiacs and it also covered todays destination Flatey Island which does get its name because it was flat.  The meeting was informative.  We found that having sailed Northwest Passage we had a solid background about safety and care on the Zodiac.  

We had two members of the Expedition team speak with one speaking about the Zodiacs and the other about Flatey Island and a third member asked lots of questions to ensure various topics were covered.  

Afterwards, we could visit the mud room area.  We were shown our assigned lockers (one for each of us) and the boots were next to them which we tried on.

Three guided tours were added for this afternoon but we decided to stay on-board Endeavor though the information we received today will prepare us for taking the Zodiacs.

Some views of Flatey Island from the ship as well as the lowering of the first of the Zodiacs and photos from the Expedition talk we attended.

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Due to the tours Waterside opened for lunch at 11:30 AM today instead of Noon.  

This is today's Waterside Luncheon Menu.

We are signing off now.  

Cheers,

​Anne Marie & Keith