London and 14-Day Arctic Circle Crossing: Edinburgh Evening Stay Holland America Cruise: Day 15 At Sea May 26, 2025

It was a sea day, but my husband K got up at 6:30 and went off to the gym. I finally gave up at 8:05 and got up after being up multiple times overnight. The temperature was 48.2°.

K got back and got washed up before our daughter J arrived to go to breakfast at 9. Having a little more time for breakfast was nice.

At 9:55, on our way to deck 12, J and I picked up virgin margaritas. We figured we ought to be getting more out of our drink package. We grabbed a crossword and joined the line outside of the art room. At 10:10, she decided to let us in, even though class didn't start until 10:30.

Today's class was watercolors and the subject was the Northern Lights. We had a good time doing them for 45 minutes. J's turned out better than mine, but mine isn't bad.

Afterwards, we went to my cabin to do the crossword, needlework, etc. Out of curiosity, I checked the temp at 12:02 and it was now 50°.

At 12:35, the  three of us went to the Lido deck for a snack/lunch. J and I made ours all desserts from the Chocolate Tasting- Creme Caramel, Chocolate Cupcake, Flan,  Dulce de Leche Cheesecake, Chocolate Cupcake, and Red Velvet Cupcake. K went with lunch from the Dive In- fries and a chicken sandwich.

At 1:30, there was some sun and J and I went to coloring. I was still trying to finish mine from the other day.

We went to the jewelry auction at 2 to pick up the daily give away and to try to win something, which we didn't.

At 2:40, it was raining, but we weren't going outside anyway.

At 3, all three of us went to the Victoria Tea. The tea was the same, of course, as were some of the sandwiches, but it was delicious.

 

When we left, we saw this nice tribute for Memorial Day. The captain even announced the day over the intercom at lunch, even though it is only an American celebration.

4:00 found us at the Effy VIP gathering. We bought nothing, but I drank champagne and we got a charm. When we left at 4:20, I stopped at a table that was set up across the hall from Effy and bought a vase to use up some shipboard cret.

It was formal dinner night and we vaguely dressed for it before going at 5:10. I got the Strongbow Cider, as usual, but J changed it up with a virgin mojito. K got a Conundrum White. Our appetizers were 2 servings of black bean soup and one apple, pear, and cucumber salad.

My main course was beef tenderloin Oscar. J got tangerine-glazed  duck breast, because she really likes duck. K spent $25 to get lobster 2-way. All were very good.

 

J and I both ordered warm chocolate lava cake for dessert. K got tiramisu, which neither of us went for due to the coffee content.

 

At 6:40, K went off to hear the trio play, although he was late. J and I were in our cabins at 6:40, when I looked outside and discovered a rainbow. 

 

 

 

 

 

When J arrived at about 7, there was another one and we went out and could see the whole thing. It was cold out there! There were moderate swells, too.

At 8:15, we went to Effy for another tag. We wound up talking to a Marylander, who even sails on the Effy loyalists cruises. A lot of money for a librarian.

At 8:45, we stopped by the bar to pick up a virgin mojito for me, Glenfiddich for K, and a virgin margarita for J. By 9, we were in our cabins.

K and I watched A Mighty Wind. By 11:30, it was actually dark! Such a shock after days of the Midnight Sun. The boat was still rocking.

At 1:30, I went to bed, but had trouble falling asleep. There was a creaking sound that sounded like rats. It was due to the swells, I'm sure.

The phone recorded 4,179 steps for 1.6 miles.