Aruba > A Bit More Swell at Sea

I wake up at eight o’clock. Today we are at sea. We are traveling from the Dominican Republic to Aruba, a distance of about seven hundred kilometers. Tomorrow morning we will arrive in Oranjestad, Aruba. When we go to breakfast around nine, it turns out many others have chosen the same time. Although we do find a free table, it takes a while before someone is available to bring the coffee. That doesn’t really matter. We have all the time in the world today. After breakfast, we walk around the ship. It’s busy and practically all the sunbeds are in use. On the aft deck, there is a bench free with a view of the sea. The ship’s propeller leaves a white trail behind the boat. The sea is clearly rougher than on our previous day at sea. White foam caps are visible on the waves, and the ship rolls more than before. At the theater, a presentation begins about the upcoming destinations Aruba and Curaçao. We join for a bit while ordering coffee. The cities Oranjestad and Willemstad look like nice destinations—something to look forward to. On deck six, right at the bow, there is a viewing platform at the front of the ship. Here you can see the vastness of the ocean well. There is no land in sight anywhere. We take the elevator to the highest deck. There is also a viewing point here overlooking the sea. From here, we return to our cabin.

Aruba - The bow of the AIDAPerla

On the sun decks there is quite a lot of wind. On our own balcony, we sit out of the wind. Our own chairs are also available here, while practically all the chairs on the deck are occupied. In the afternoon, we go to the pool. The ship’s motion is noticeable even in the water. The water sloshes against the edges, creating a kind of wave pool effect. Just as we get out of the water again, the sky clouds over. A wind picks up and it starts to rain. Everyone quickly looks for shelter. In an instant, all the sunbeds are free. We don’t use them. We go to the lunch restaurant. The expectation that many people would do the same now that the weather is turning out to be less so. An employee checks at the entrance. It is not allowed to enter the restaurant in swimwear and towels. We are allowed, provided we put the towel away in the bag. After that, we return to our cabin. When we walk to dinner in the evening, you can really feel the ship moving. Walking carefully is necessary, especially in the buffet restaurant with a plate of food in hand. Without too much trouble, we get our selected food to our table and enjoy it. We end the evening in the theater. Tonight all the singers and performers present solo songs and acts. A nice show. The acrobat struggles a bit to balance on one hand but manages it. Impressive!