[Worldtrippers home] [Europe Cruise home]
Today Russell hosted his third lecture. It was a rare morning slot, at 10:30 am before we arrived in port.
When we prepared for this cruise, our goal was to use our uniqueness, quality, marketing and personal relationships to build a brand. We believe we have succeeded. Passengers have started attending our lectures because of our names. After this morning’s lecture – a more serious topic about the Holocaust – passengers came up to us in tears. Instead of asking questions, they shared their own stories and experiences.
At breakfast earlier this morning, Gail was chatting with a female passenger about our lectures. A male passenger overheard them and declared, “I don’t like lectures. And I don’t like any of the lectures on this ship.” The female said, “Have you seen any of the lectures by this woman’s husband?” The male adamantly replied, “No. And I’m not going to.”
Gail stepped in and urged the man to at least give us a try. He could sit in the back and leave quietly if he didn’t like it. The man insisted that he had no interest.
After this morning, the man came up to Gail and said, “I should eavesdrop more often.” He had stayed through Russell’s entire lecture. Later in the day, he told Gail, “That was very, very good.”
Passengers ask where Russell earned his Ph.D. (he doesn’t have one) and where he teaches (he doesn’t). Members of the crew have started standing in the back of the theater to watch us. The video manager (who records every shipboard presentation for television replay) said, “I have seen a lot of lectures. I have never seen a lecture like yours.”
We are absolutely thrilled by the experience we are having here. Other than Gail’s illness, things could not be going better. We are loving the cruise, the ship, the people and the ports. Every day is a new adventure.
Today’s port was the beautiful city of Bruges, Belgium. Gail was assigned to escort the “Bruges Sightseeing & Canal Boat” excursion. After this morning, she wanted to cancel and spend the day with Russell, but he urged her to keep the assignment. We really want to be as helpful as we can throughout this cruise. Gail kept her assignment. The excursion was enjoyable, but the weather was very cold.
Our actual docking point was at Zeebrugge. Russell took the free shuttle to Blankenberge, where you can catch a train into Bruges. He befriended another passenger – Peter, a tax solicitor from Australia. Halfway through the bus ride, Peter realized he had forgotten his wallet. He was going to take the bus back to the ship, but he would have lost more than an hour out of this short day. Russell bought him a train ticket and lent him 20 euros.
Tonight, we had the rare opportunity to have a private dinner with the cruise director at Manfredi’s specialty restaurant. We shared a wonderful meal and conversation. Even better, two different passengers came over during the meal to talk about how much they enjoy our lectures. We will have the same cruise director when we rejoin the Viking Jupiter in mid-July. We couldn’t be more pleased.
