We are now speeding away from the highlight of this cruise; our visit to Svalbard, Magadalena Fjord, the Polar Ice and the research station at Ny Alesund.   We certainly enjoyed it and thought our visit to the Top of the World was worth it.   However our cruise is not over yet; another two sea days coming up, this one has a Meet.   Although we are heading back south we are still in the Arctic Circle, so Carol went out at midnight to capture the midnight sun.   Due to the cloud this was not possible, but there is a line of light on the horizon where the sun is still shining.

Today was the first of the Mariners Lunches, for those with one or two stars.   There were so many mariners aboard, i.e. just about all of us, that it had to be split into two.   The seniors, 3 and 4 stars have theirs tomorrow.   Thom introduced a special mariner to us before we started, one who had over a thousand days to his credit, (gasps all round).   It was the captain of course.   We were all given a commemorative Delft tile as a complimentary gift.

Captain Albert's Blog: At Sea heading South.