Today is our lone sea day on our way to our first port in the Maldives. There's conflicting ways to pronounce Maldives. The English say it with a long I and Americans say it with an E like in leaves. I'll let you choose.
There was a full range of lectures and events today. First on the docket was the reveal in the Explorations Cafe of the dedicated EXC In Depth library with books devoted to the itineraries we are sailing on. There's both fiction and non fiction offerings. I also learned there that Terry Greenberg will be returning to the Maasdam after it reaches Japan in August and will be on board until Australia. He's a terrific and engaging speaker well versed in Asian history, politics, and culture topics.
Terry Greenberg led off the lectures with a short history and general information talk on the Maldives. He was followed by Matthew, one of the EXC guides, who presented information on the ports of Male and Utheemu. After lunch, Jason Kelly spoke on the formation of the Maldives from a geologist's perspective. Most of these islands formed by volcanic mountains that are receding. The highest point on the islands is 3 feet and with the rise in ocean levels, within 80 years all of the inhabitants are projected to need to be relocated.
During the lecture I submitted an online suggestion through the mobile App and was surprised to get a phone call back within a few hours from KK. The 9pm story time may be coming back down in the Hakf Mion Room! She also passed on to the Cruise Director my suggestion that coffee chats not be juxtaposed to main lectures. We'll see if that changes.
He was followed by Marie Falconer, the lady photographer who presented her pictures of dancers. I wasn't impressed from the standpoint of how the photography related to the type of voyage we are on. There was also a mild sales pitch for prints she brought on board to sell. We're halfway through this segment with little emphasis on photography, but I realize have three ports before a sea day makes scheduling hard.
Tonight was gala night but we ate in the Lido as the Main Dining Room menu wasn't appealing to us. Kristy King gave a good Evening Insights presentation on whale sharks before the Jersey Tenors presented their 3rd and last show for this cruise. It was packed and the crowd was enthusiastic! We went back for the 10pm final show which was also very enthusiastically received.
It's a tender day tomorrow in Male and we'll see if good weather returns after overcast and showers today.
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