Sunday, March 9, 2025

Today was another sea day on the Norwegian Sun cruise ship. These days have become routine for us; buffet breakfast, school, lunch, workout, dinner & repeat.

Tory was feeling much better this morning, though she still complained of a sore throat. She was up for eating breakfast with the rest of us this morning.

We dined in the Garden Cafe again, but discovered a better spot to eat our meals. The Sports Bar Cafe, located across the hall from the Garden Cafe is air-conditioned and not nearly as busy as the regular dining room. The humidity is unbearable outside so we haven’t eaten outdoors for several mornings.

Aden went to Splash Academy after breakfast. He and CJ, the other 11-year-old boy on the ship, are becoming quite the buds. The boys discovered that they both homeschool and travel with their families several months of the year. CJ has a sister and a couple younger girl cousins on the ship as well, and the kids have kept themselves plenty entertained during sea days.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any other teenagers on the ship for Tory to hang out with & the Splash Academy staff won’t let her join the 6-12 year old group. Seems kind of silly, if you ask me, since she’s close in age and there are no other teens on the ship in the designated 13-17 year old room. Both Andi and I have asked a few times if Tory can join into Splash Academy despite her age of 13, but the answer is always no.

On the upside, Andi and I have had lots of one-on-one time with Tory during this cruise. She joins us on our walks sometimes, goes to the pool with me, or eats lunch with us when Aden is at kids club. And sometimes, Tory just hangs out in her stateroom alone which I know she likes doing, too.

I didn’t make the kids do school today since it was Sunday. Instead, Tory and I laid by the pool from 10:00am-Noon. The sun was hot, but it helped cooling off in the cool water of the pool.

Tory said she was going to lose her mind if we had to eat in the Garden Cafe one more time, but we went there for lunch anyway. The main dining room’s lunch menu didn’t look appetizing to us at all. “I’ll buy you a Coca-Cola or a coffee drink if we can eat in the buffet,” Andi bribed. Tory agreed to that. We figured out that the ship serves cookies between 2:00pm-5:00pm on the outdoors buffet, and now that I know that my focus on healthier eating will probably be out the window. I knew they had to have cookies somewhere on this ship, and now I’ve found them.

Aden didn’t even join us for lunch today; instead, he asked if he could eat lunch with CJ’s family & then join their family at the pool. He has the ability to make himself at home with other people’s families so easily. Since it was Sunday and we weren’t doing school today, I agreed to let him.

Andi and I walked on the Deck 6 walking/jogging track, and then exercised in the fitness center. It was busier in the gym today given that it was a sea day, but there was still space to workout. We’re starting to recognize the same people in the gym everyday, and it’s interesting to see what different types of workouts people do. It’s also inspiring to see people of all ages and fitness levels moving their bodies for exercise there.

I still can’t get over the gorgeous sapphire color of the Coral Sea. The surface of the ocean was like glass as we walked along the walking track; so smooth.

The four of us ate dinner in the Garden Cafe (again). Andi and I don’t mind eating there because we can always get a salad and a healthier protein, but Tory has resigned to eating crepes only.

Andi wasn’t feeling the best tonight, so he went to bed after dinner. Tory and I watched a few episodes on Netflix in her stateroom before calling it a night ourselves. Aden returned from kids club at 10:00pm, peeking his head into our room to say good-night.

The Norwegian Sun continues its journey north along Australia’s eastern coastline reaching Cooktown, on the Cape York peninsula, tomorrow morning.