San Juan

December 17^th, 2023

It was hot and humid and raining. We decided not to venture ashore. The Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan was beckoning in the distance, but the dark clouds, heavy with moisture, were sure to drench us as soon as we walked down the gangway. No, it was safer to stay on board.

We had heard that you could do tours of the Bridge (Bridge experiences?) when the ship was in port, so we went to Guest Services to sign up for the next tour.

We arrived promptly at the appointed time, only to be turned away as I was wearing open toed shoes. Now I know that open toed shoes are an infection control issue in hospitals, but really, what damage could they do to the bridge? I only have open toed shoes with me, so it looked like a bridge experience was not in my future. Despondent, I started to return to our suite, but the host took pity on me, and decreed that MY open toed shoes were ok. I could go on the tour.

We were not allowed to take our phones with us, so I don’t have any photos, but I have to say it was the most beautiful bridge I have ever seen The shiny black consoles containing the navigation and steering monitors were sleek and minimalist, looking like an interior designer had placed them there with great thought being put into spatial orientation and balance. Maybe even a touch of feng shui.  A true work of art.

The leather-bound steering wheel was smaller than that of my car. My, how things have changed.

Looking at that steering wheel, memories of my Queen Elizabeth transatlantic crossing came flooding back.

It was 1962 and my parents and I were sailing on the Queen Elizabeth from New York to Southampton. We had had an eventful year traveling around the world, and this was the finale. In a few weeks we would return to our mundane lives, and I would have to go back to school.

For me, the highlight of the crossing was to be the fancy dress competition. When we went on sea voyages, my mother always made me fabulous costumes, and I was so proud to participate in the parades.

This time I was a geisha girl, with my mother’s black petticoat doing a splendid job as a beautiful black wig for me.

The captain was enthralled with my costume, and I easily won the competition. He proudly offered me my prize, a small sailor doll with a cap that said Queen Elizabeth.

Not wanting to seem ungrateful I thanked him for the doll, but blurted out that I really would rather have been able to steer the ship.

He seemed a bit taken aback. Then kindly told me that I could keep the doll, and enquired as to what my plans were for the afternoon, and could he interest me in a tour of the bridge?

I was more than excited, and my parents and I dashed back to our stateroom. In a flash the geisha girl was gone, and I had on my best party dress.

The bridge was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. It was all shiny brass and dark wood, with dials and wheels everywhere. And there was the biggest wheel of all. The captain’s steering wheel. I stood in awe looking at it.

“Go ahead, give it a try” smiled the captain. I grabbed it with both hands. It seemed taller than I am, and I really couldn’t see where we were going. Were we out of range of icebergs? What if there was another ship in front of us? I trusted that the captain would grab it from me if I was steering us into danger.

This is the highlight of my life, I thought. Here I am steering the largest ship in the world. Would I ever have another honor as great as this? I am the luckiest girl alive.

Suddenly the vision of that big wheel faded. I looked around the bridge of the Explora 1. Sixty  years have changed a lot of things. The Queen Elizabeth is no more, but I am still so lucky to be on the bridge of this beautiful ship. Lorenzo, our guide, is not going to let me steer the ship. That probably makes sense as we are tied up in the port of San Juan, and the ship isn’t about to go anywhere. This was so much more fun than going off the ship and being caught in the rain.

In the afternoon I met with Bev Beckham, the Boston Globe columnist and author, and I sat with her in the lobby as she critiqued my assignment. She was so normal and warm for such an accomplished writer, and her feedback was invaluable. The 2 luminaries with whom we have interacted on Explora 2, Bev and the photographer, are both excellent. Explora Journeys are certainly searching for exceptional speakers for the enlightenment program.

We had dinner again in Fil Rouge with our friends. It was excellent, although the souffle of the day was passion fruit and mango once more. I had been hoping for chocolate or Grand Marnier, but I really can’t complain. It was very tasty, and had the perfect combination of sweetness and tartness to end a French meal.

The experience in the Journeys Lounge tonight was the much anticipated Billy Joel tribute experience. It was OK, you really can’t go too far wrong singing Billy Joel songs in my opinion, especially when the singer has the audience singing along with him. Drinking another glass of champagne also helps.

We didn’t get to go ashore in San Juan, but we had a great day on the ship. My only problem is that this cruise is going by way too fast.