During the night, the ocean waves became very rough. They pitched the ship high and low. Fortunately, Sandra and Donita slept through the turbulence. Other passengers were not as lucky. Almost half of the people on board were seasick. The on-board doctor and nurses were kept busy through the night giving out medicine.
Sandra: Wake up! You have to look at this. Look at the
size of those waves!
Donita: Wow! Those are incredible; we better take our
motion sickness medicine before breakfast.
Sandra: I want to go up on the top deck. Hurry up and
get dressed!
The women get dressed and take the elevator to the top deck.
There are very few people watching the waves. A few attendants
are serving coffee.
Donita: I wonder where everyone is; what time is it?
Sandra: (Looking at watch.) it's 7:00 a.m. We better
have breakfast and get ready to go ashore.
Donita: Breakfast? I don't think I want to eat
anything. Let's eat when we get on shore.
Captain: (Over the loud speaker system). This is your
captain speaking. I regret to inform you that
we will not be stopping in Half Moon Cay. The
waves are to rough for the Tenders to safely
take passengers to the island. I know this is a
big disappointment for you, back it is my
responsibility to keep everyone safe. Now here
is your activity director.
Dave: I think I heard everyone onboard groan in
disappointment. However, there will be a
newspaper delivered to your rooms in about 30
minutes listing all the fun activities to do
today. There will also be a lecture on Half
Moon Cay at 8:30.
Sandra: That is disappointing, but the captain knows
what is best for us.
Donita: I'm going back to the room and lie down.
Come down after you eat.
Sandra: Sorry you don't feel well. Take your medicine
and I'll see you soon.
After breakfast, Sandra returns to the room and finds Donita
asleep. She quietly leaves the room again and goes to the
lecture.
Lecturer: Good morning, everyone. It's too bad you had
to miss going ashore, but I'm going to give you a
little history and other information about Half
Moon Cay. First of all, does anyone know who owns
it?
Passenger: Holland America?
Lecturer: You are absolutely right! Holland America
Line bought it in January 1997 and built the
private 45-acre Half Moon Cay resort. Now,
any ideas where they got the name?
Passenger: Is the island shaped like a half moon?
Lecturer: That is a great guess, but it's wrong.
(Everyone laughs.) Actually, you are partially
correct; the beach is a perfect crescent. But
the name also comes from the antique ship, Henry
Hudson's “Half Moon”.
Passenger: Did the island have another name before it
was bought?
Lecturer: Yes, it was called Little San Salvador
because it covers just 3 ¼ miles.
Passenger: Who were the first people to find the island?
Lecturer: Good question. It was the early Spanish
explorers who referred to the Bahamas as
“bajar mar” meaning shallow sea. The islands are
in fact the peaks of a long steep undersea mountain
chain. When the sea levels receded, a limestone
foundation remained which formed the foundation of
the islands.All names used in this story are fictitious.
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