Sailing to Cape Town, South Africa

Leaving Durban, South Africa heading to Cape Town is an incredible three day sail.  We arrive in Cape Town in the morning.  We have been close to shore all the way with a very big island off on our starboard side (Africa).  This was a very interesting and fun weekend.  Saturday night we were treated to a concert by the Soweto Gospel Choir.  They have won many awards and in this part of the world they are considered the world’s best choir.  Utahans might take exception to that.

 

 

 

Sunday morning we went to Archbishop Tutu’s Sunday Eucharist Service with the Soweto Gospel Choir.  In fact, as I write, he is sitting at the table next to us shaking hands, visiting and blessing the passengers.  One can never have too many blessings, don’t you think?

 

                                    Ann definitely made a new friend.

Sunday afternoon Archbishop Tutu spoke again in an informal setting discussing topics such as marriage, his relationship with his wife, the apartheid struggles and their victory crediting Nelson Mandela and de Klerk, the leader of apartheid South Africa, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  Of interest, he spoke of God knowing us “before we were in the womb”.  He also spoke of leaving the ninety and nine to rescue the one.   

 

In addition, we have Stein Kruse, CEO of Holland America Group, which includes Holland America, Princess Lines, Seaborne, and P & O onboard.  The Holland America Group has over 200 cruises a year and he considers the Grand World Voyage the pinnacle of their cruises.  Also onboard is Arnold Donald, the CEO of the parent company Carnival.  Today we have a meeting at which these executives seek input from the passengers.

With Stein Kruse and his wife

Having all these people onboard has been interesting and fun.  You don’t see the CEOs out and about the decks shaking hands like Archbishop Tutu and the choir, just saying.