Geo: 55.3554, 15.6487The second of our two scheduled sea days is here. These usually prove to be less demanding than the days when we're in port and going on shore. Today, however, we find ourselves trying to get to a number of events completed during the morning hours. Our list consists of a souvenir sale 9-1pm, award presentation at 10:30am, Mariner Society Brunch at 11am and our Pinnacle lunch from Costco at noon. We were up at 7:30am but didn't get to breakfast until around 9. I did get some pictures posted to the blog while waiting for Karen to get ready. Unfortunately, while gathering our breakfast together at the buffet, Mom decides to share a table with two ladies from Arizona. While they're very pleasant, the three of them carry on over a myriad of ... read more

Geo: 60.1608, 24.9525We hear the ship's engine revving and feel the movement as we roll back and forth. Wanting to savor every bit of rest we can muster before tackling Helsinki, I close my eyes and wait until the engines stop which would signal we're docked. But that never happens and through our room speaker, the captain makes an announcement. "Ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. Due to gale force winds and a forecast of deteriorating weather conditions, we will not be docking at Helsinki harbor. Our approach at our assigned birth was most difficult due to its exposure to the Baltic Sea and the decision was made for the safety of our passengers and crew to abort the docking and continue on directly to Stockholm. Thank you for your understanding".We had looked forward ... read more

Geo: 59.939, 30.3158Up this morning at 5:30am. It's going to be a nice day, sunny and in the low 70s. Mom is not excited about going into Russia. Actually, she's been dreading it for months. We will be with a guide the entire time as required by Russian immigration and our our guide team is rated #1 on Trip Advisor. So Mom prepares to go, under protest, into St Petersburg. St Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia. It was established by Peter the Great in 1703. The Communists changed the name to Leningrad in 1924 and then back to St. Petersburg in 1991. It's an all weather port sitting on the Baltic Sea. We finish a quick breakfast and exit the ship a little after 7am. With our passports and tour docs in hand, ... read more

Geo: 55.111, 18.692Up this morning at about 8 and straight to breakfast. Afterward, Mom heads poolside for the big sale while I work on the blog nearby. Later Karen heads down to deck 3 to check out some shops and I stay nearby, continuing to work on the blog using my newly purchased Internet minutes. I repair two previous days, complete a third and send all out. Finally!It's a beautiful sunny day in the low 60s. The sea is as smooth as a lake and we spend time out on the rear balcony, watching a Celebrity cruise ship shadow our position as we head toward Estonia. Protected from the wind and exposed to the sun, our balcony is the perfect location to lie and relax like millionaires. At 4pm we go to a lecture on Russian ... read more

Geo: 55.6763, 12.5681You know. From the musical "The Music Man". Whatever. If you remember, we went to bed early last night, trying to shake the last of our jet lag. People were out wandering the streets, the normal shopping and dinner crowd. The Italian singer from the restaurant next door was doing his "O Sola Mia" which, I must say, is very good. The band is playing at Charlie Scott's across on the corner but it's all good. Then comes 10pm when all those people leave and the bar crowd starts gathering strength. They're not drunk yet, just loud and boisterous. Next comes 1am and the hooting and hollering commences. At 2 and 3am it just gets louder. Some just walk or stagger quietly while others shout, sing and scream. Three guys were carrying a large ... read more