CRUISE DAY 1 - Aboard The National Geographic Explorer - Tuesday August 29

We were allowed on board at 4:30 pm. Our cabin was on the starboard side mid ship and comfortable, though oddly configured with a floor to ceiling post in the middle of the space between the bed and the TV, with two modest-sized chairs on either side that were too close to the TV.

The TV is where we could get information on the day’s activities and watch presentations being given in the lounge from our room. And there were many interesting presentations, from the history of the cod fishing industry (now much reduced due to over fishing), the geology of the islands that we visited, the underwater life around several ship wrecks, the various species of fir/pine trees on/ the islands, local music traditions, and photographs taken by professionals on board with us. 

On the second to last day we finally discovered that we could also watch movies, though the collection was very thin. I would recommend watching My Cousin Vinny - a classic comedy, if you missed it in 1992.

The cruise includes all the top shelf liquor that you can handle (served in the lounge every evening) and wine with lunch and dinner. I got to try Hendricks gin for the first time, and now understand why it is so expensive. 

The food was okay - we gave it a B rating - and plentiful. Some of the included wines were so so (you could buy a bottle of better wine - but then you would be tempted to finish it after the cocktail in the lounge…)