Norwegian Encore - Transatlantic - Day 10

Norwegian Encore - Day 10 - December 12, 2024 - AT SEA

Woke up in time for my first broken ankle sunrise!

It was a relief to find that I had two pairs of pants that would fit over my cast and I didn’t have to cut anything or visit the shops on the ship. And, even better, I had returned from my injury to find my clean laundry in a basket on my bed. There are laundry services on board. It can be a bit pricey, but they have a “deal” to fill one of their paper laundry bags for $34. With my Gold status, I got 50% off. And I still had all that onboard credit for being a shareholder. So! It was actually free for me.

I was hungry. After getting dressed, I made my first call to reception for a wheelchair and hopped to the door when it arrived. Taking Medical seriously, I left the crutches in the cabin every time I left it, so I’d have to rely on wheelchairs and lower my risk of doing more damage.

There were many people who wheeled me around for the rest of my time on the ship, but one showed up the most. It was Sharon, who had first brought me back to the cabin from Medical the day before. She became my favorite crew member, always so warm and caring.

That being said, I think it was someone else for my journey down to The Local.

When I arrived, Paul (my Beatles/Choir of Man friend from a couple nights before) was already there and surprised by my new condition. He joined me at my table and poured me some coffee from his pot. It was so nice to see a friendly face and I caught him up on the events as we ate.

One frustrating thing about not being able to get around on my own is that it was more difficult to stay hydrated. I had to remind myself to bring my refillable bottles with me when I left the cabin. A crew member at The Local filled them up for me, to my relief. (There were a couple pay options in the mini bar in my cabin. I eventually decided to spring for the $6.50 San Pellegrino. If you have to pay for water, it may as well be fancy.)

That night I had a reservation for Le Bistro, a specialty restaurant on the ship. I had made a reservation for two (as I usually do), in case an opportunity came up for someone to join me. I invited Paul. He already had a reservation elsewhere, but told me to check in with him in the afternoon and maybe he’d do Le Bistro instead.

When I got back to my cabin, I decided to use the rest of my onboard credit and go into my own money to get wifi (the basic option, not the streaming option) for the rest of the trip - $74.97. I’d be in my cabin more than usual. I wanted to be able to call Rod and my travel insurance and my mother. I wanted to browse the web and post on social media if I felt like it. I was kicking myself a little for not deciding to get it in the first few days, when they had a deal for about $11/day.

I continued to read The Magic of Believing, which felt timely. I took a nap.

I called a wheelchair for a light lunch and discovered they had my favorite dessert (orange chocolate mousse) for the third time!! Hallelujah! I considered asking for a second one to bring to my cabin refrigerator, but refrained.

A quick call to Paul confirmed that he would join me for dinner at Le Bistro. Yay! I don’t mind eating alone, but good company is always welcome. Our mutual love for travel made conversation easy, though his travel has been way more physically active than mine overall - lots of famous mountains and trails checked off (and to check off). Inspiring! But not for me in the near future - ha!

My meal was delicious - one of my favorites on Norwegian. I had a salad with goat cheese croquettes, lamb, and the cheese plate for dessert. The cheese plate is on the menu at Le Bistro (as opposed to a special request in the main dining rooms). No saltines or oyster crackers here. A generous portion with three nice cheeses, fruit, nuts, and bread.

Not a bad day, considering. I was surprised, though, that no one from Medical (or Security) followed up with me in any way. Though I got out for all of my meals, I kept my leg elevated in-between, which was definitely better and more comfortable. Pain continued to be manageable with Tylenol and ibuprofen.

Many passengers asked questions and showed concern for me. A common thought was that it was too bad that we weren’t closer to home. My take was a little different. There was nothing I had to do and could relax as much as I wanted or needed to. My meals were taken care of. My cabin was cleaned daily.

It seemed like a perfect opportunity to get back to the crochet or writing or anything else that requires sitting still or being in front of a computer. The injury itself took a lot out of me, though, and sometimes taking it easy can be the most productive thing to do. I was on vacation, after all.