Day 3 - Thursday 18th May - Cruise Ship Volendam at Sea

Mary has two classes to attend before we go for breakfast, which once again we take in the Rotterdam restaurant.  There is a huge amount of choice and here it is relaxed and leisurely with waiter service.  The view from the picture windows at the stern of the ship is of islands, ocean and sky.  There is no hurry as we shall be at sea all of today.

We spend most of it watching the islands slip by on a calm sea, hoping all the time for at least a glimpse of wildlife.  We scan the sea but all we get are "log alerts" caused by a broken surface as we glide past huge tree trunks.

Heading up the Inside Passage to Alaska

We have booked into an onboard event and after a light lunch at the Lido buffet we head for the Restaurant for a guided wine tasting with the ship’s sommelier.  We are at a table for six and have an enjoyable ninety minutes tasting two whites and two reds before finishing with a glass of sparkling wine.  The sommelier gives us an animated and enthusiastic presentation and when it is over we sit with our fellow participants for a chat.

Later it is back on deck for a stroll around the promenade, further fruitless nature spotting and a blanket covered seat and a relaxed read.

Once again we head for the Ocean bar for a pre-dinner drink and then join Simon and Helen for the gala dinner which we all enjoy.  At 10.00 we head for the entertainments lounge but only give it a short time before heading back to the stateroom for bed.  I am asleep before Mary is even in bed!

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