Sandra and Donita have gone to their staterooms. Tonight they will wear long formal dresses for an elegant cocktail party and dinner.
Sandra is wearing a blue chiffon dress with a matching jacket. The dress has small iridescent crystals sewn in a floral pattern. Donita is wearing a beige flowered chiffon dress with shades of pink flowers. They have arrived at the captain's party.
Captain: Good evening, everyone! I am your host, Captain
Rolf Draper. Please take a glass from the
waiter's trays and raise it high while we
share a toast to this wonderful trip.
(The passengers raise their glasses.)
"May your voyage this week be as happy and
free as the dancing waves on the deep blue
sea."
Passengers: To the voyage!
Captain: Now with your permission, I will tell you
a little about this big fellow! I'm sure some of
you have been curious who this man is and what
is his training to be in charge of this ship.
(laughs) Is that true? I will be happy to answer
any of your questions.
Passenger: I have two questions: Where were you born
and how did you get interested in becoming a
ship captain?
Captain: Good questions! Well, my family is very
international. My mother is from the United
States. She had a scholarship to study in
Bremen. It was there she met my father; they
fell in love and got married. I was born in
Bern. When I was a small boy, my uncle would
come for a visit from Florida. He was a retired
Navy captain and would tell me great Stories
about his travels. So I decided to be just like
my uncle and become a captain, too.
Passenger: So you went to Florida to study?
Captain: No. Remember when I said my family is very
international? Well, my father has two brothers.
One of them moved to Sweden and the other lives
in Holland. I lived with my uncle in Sweden
while attending the naval academy there.
Passenger: Then you became a captain?
Captain: No, it wasn't that easy. (laughing again)
I worked on cargo ships, fishing boats, and oil
tankers until I was able to become a chief
officer. After I got my Master's license, I was
hired to work on a cruise ship. It was a great
day for me! I was allowed to invite my family
onboard for the trip.
Passenger: That must have been fun to have your
family with you.
Captain: Part of the time it was, but it was also
a little embarrassing. I think my uncles and
my parents told all 1800 people onboard stories
about my childhood! I was a very mischievous
little boy, so they had lots of tales to tell
about me.
Passenger: I guess parents are basically the same
everywhere. They all like to brag about their
children.
Captain: I think that's true. I enjoy talking about my
son and daughter.
Passenger: Can you tell us a little about the ship?
Captain: Of course, it's my favorite subject. What
would you like to know?
Passenger: I'd like to know where it was made and how
big is it? I'm also curious about how long it
takes to build a ship this size.
Captain: Very good questions! I do have some pamphlets
here about the ship, (he passes them to a staff
member) Just raise your hand if you would like
to have one. Perhaps this can answer most of
your questions.
Passenger: I'd like to know about the beautiful
copies of art.
Captain: They are not copies of art. The ship has a two
million dollar collection of art and artifacts
onboard. (Passengers gasp in amazement.)
Passenger: Are you concerned about theft?
Captain: No, we have a variety of security systems
in place.
Passenger: It's an amazing collection!
Captain: Yes, it is. It's really become a trademark of
the company fleet. It has used treasures from
the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries to show how
the Dutch explored the world...
All names used in this story are fictitious.
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