This morning, though not like it was when we woke up yesterday, was still mild and the forecast for the cruise back to Vancouver was calling for sunshine. We started the day with another wonderful breakfast while we pondered over the activity schedule for our final day. We have come to realize that if anyone on this ship is bored or has any complaints, they are the type of person who looks for something to find fault with. Cruising on board a 900-foot vessel is the ultimate holiday with an abundance of food for all palates and activities for all ages.

The over 900 staff on board represent 60 countries and work together like a finely tuned machine even though they are onboard for 8-10 months at a time, depending on their contract. They have two dining rooms, a gymnasium and a couple of lounges where they can relax when they aren't working, though they do work 7 days a week. They share with a roommate of a different nationality, which forces them to use and practice the one language they all have in common, English. Having managed 40 staff in a live-in environment at Grandview Lodge for 12 summers, we can only imagine what it must be like here with 900+ and we are enormously impressed.

The service on board Norwegian Cruise Lines is outstanding and the ship is incredibly clean, with ship stewards constantly maintaining it. We have had dozens of live shows to choose from nightly, onshore excursions at every port, sporting games, exercise classes, art auctions, raffles and draws daily. There are so many places to sit and relax that we are still finding new spots daily and a vacationer can be as busy or relaxed as they want to be. We have met some of the nicest people on vacation from Australia, Scotland, England, Wales, South Africa, the US and Canada. It truly is a floating resort and something I can confidently recommend to anyone interested in a great all-inclusive vacation.