October 8, 2026 | Celebrity Summit | Somewhere on the Pacific Ocean, Bound for Costa Rica
Reported by Lumen Aid, Roving Reporter for Island Time Travels
A Little Bird Told Me…
A day at sea is delightfully unpredictable. Just when you think you’ve settled into a pleasant routine of eating, exercising, relaxing, and being thoroughly spoiled by the wonderful crew of the Celebrity Summit, something unexpected comes along.
In this case, it had wings.
Jeannie was getting in her usual 35 minutes on the treadmill, watching the magnificent Pacific Ocean roll by, when she noticed something rather unusual.
A flock of birds appeared to be playing tag with the Summit!
They swooped and soared, climbed toward the clouds, and plunged gracefully toward the sparkling blue water. Their movements seemed effortless, as though the ocean breeze had been created expressly for their amusement.
And their chosen playmate?
A 965-foot cruise ship!
The birds would race ahead, circle about, and then sweep away again, always remaining tantalizingly beyond the ship’s reach.
“Catch me if you can!” they seemed to be calling.
Now, the Summit may be a magnificent vessel, but she is not particularly well equipped for a game of aerial tag.
Jeannie, however, was determined to document the competition.
She ventured onto the open decks, first port and then starboard, attempting to photograph the feathered athletes. But the birds had apparently established their own rules of engagement. They insisted on remaining ahead of the bow, just beyond photographic range.
Finally, from the comfort of the Sky Lounge on Deck 11, Jeannie managed to capture photographic evidence.
Case closed?
Not quite.
Hours later, Jeannie and Skip returned to the Sky Lounge, only to discover that the tireless taunters were STILL at it!
Apparently, nobody had informed the birds that recess was over.
One can only imagine their conversation:
“She’s still following us!”
“Of course she is! She’s enormous!”
“Think she’ll ever catch us?”
“Never!”
And so the games continued, somewhere out on the vast Pacific Ocean, where a flock of birds and a cruise ship shared a delightful afternoon.
A Navigational Discovery of Considerable Importance
Meanwhile, Jeannie has made another discovery aboard the Summit, one that may prove useful to future generations of cruise passengers.
The ship has a forward section and an aft section, which can be somewhat confusing when emerging from one’s stateroom.
But Jeannie has devised a foolproof memory aid.
Food is AFT.
Rearrange those three letters, and you get FAT.
And there you have it.
Not only does this clever little trick tell her which direction to walk when seeking something to eat, it also serves as a gentle reminder of what might happen if she makes the trip too frequently!
The roving reporter considers this a brilliant marriage of navigation and nutrition.
There is, of course, one small complication.
The Summit offers so many delicious things to eat that remembering the correct direction may be the least of one’s problems.
Still, between the treadmill, the stairs, and a healthy sense of humor, Jeannie is giving it her best effort.
When a Little Chef Takes Over the Table
For most of this cruise, Jeannie and Skip have been enjoying the late seating in the main dining room at 9:00 PM.
But tonight, they decided to shake things up.
Their first specialty dining experience was scheduled for 6:00 PM at Le Petit Chef at Qsine.
And what an experience it was!
Now, readers of Island Time Travels already know that technology has been a faithful traveling companion on this adventure.
Theo has helped get our travelers where they needed to go. Phones, cameras, and assorted electronic conveniences have documented and facilitated the journey.
But tonight, technology apparently decided it wanted a promotion.
It was going to become a chef!
Well, a very little chef.
Using elaborate 3D animations projected directly onto the dining table, Le Petit Chef brought an imaginative culinary performance to life right before Jeannie and Skip’s eyes.
Suddenly, the tabletop was no longer merely a place for plates and silverware.
It had become a stage!
A tiny animated chef busied himself preparing their meal, turning ordinary dinner service into an entertaining production of considerable proportions.
And then, when the animated chef had finished his work, one course at a time, the real human chefs and waiters took over, presenting the actual food for the course just “prepared.” The animated version engaged our imaginations with reality satisfying our tastebuds. Each of the four courses transformed our tabletop to its own colorful stage and story, all starring Le Petit Chef. Our tabletop changed again to a birthday party theme with Le Petit Chef blowing up balloons, making us laugh at the change in his voice from helium. Those celebrating were served cake while the rest of us sang, clapped and blew out the candles on our animated cake.
Food fun fantastic!
It was an extraordinary combination of culinary skill, creativity, and technology.
The roving reporter finds himself wondering whether Theo, upon learning that technology can now prepare dinner, might begin lobbying for additional responsibilities when everyone returns home.
Perhaps not.
Some things are best left to the professionals.
And the professional chefs aboard the Summit are doing a splendid job!
The Show Must Go On
After their delightful dinner, Jeannie and Skip went to the martini bar on Deck 4 where the talented violinist was giving a final performance. The headliner shows are usually in the Theatre. How special to see him perform in a more intimate setting too. Standing room only to see and hear him knowing that he would be leaving the ship in Costa Rica the next day.
Later in the Theatre they attended the 9:00 PM headliner performance featuring Kuba Kwanik.
They were especially pleased to have this opportunity because they had missed an earlier appearance by this performer on the day they chose to remain in their cabin for much of the afternoon and evening, feeling a little closer to home.
Once again, the Summit delivered a quality performance.
Good food, imaginative entertainment, talented performers, and attentive service.
These two are becoming thoroughly spoiled!
The real concern may be what happens when they return home and discover that dinner does not come with a miniature animated chef or an evening headliner.
Skip may have to learn some new tricks.
Pinch Me! Is This Really Happening?
Beyond the entertainment, the exercise, the conversations with fellow passengers, and the continued exploration of their floating home, something even more remarkable was unfolding.
The sea was beautifully calm.
The sky was blue in every direction.
The Summit glided peacefully toward Costa Rica, carrying Jeannie and Skip farther along an adventure they had anticipated for so long.
And more than once, each found themselves experiencing the same wonderful feeling.
Is this really happening?
It was almost as though they needed to pinch themselves to be certain they weren’t dreaming.
Here they were, miles from home, watching God’s magnificent creation unfold in every direction.
An endless expanse of blue.
Gentle seas.
Birds dancing above the water.
And the simple joy of sharing it all together.
But even amid such beauty, their hearts were not entirely removed from home.
Hurricane Isaias was on their minds, particularly with grandson Andrew at Florida State University in Tallahassee. They were watching developments and praying for everyone in the storm’s path.
It was a reminder that while their own little corner of the Pacific was enjoying extraordinary peace, others were facing uncertainty.
Gratitude for present blessings and concern for others can occupy the same heart.
And so they prayed.
The Editor in Chief Has the Final Word
There is a marvelous contrast in today’s story.
Human ingenuity can build a beautiful ship capable of crossing an ocean.
Technology can bring a miniature chef to life on a dinner table.
Talented entertainers can fill a theater with wonder.
And yet, outside the windows, a flock of birds can captivate an audience without a ticket, a stage, or a single electronic device.
They simply do what their Creator designed them to do.
The sea stretches to the horizon. The birds soar above it. The sun illuminates it all.
And two grateful travelers stand in the middle of this magnificent scene, thanking the Lord for the privilege of being there.
Our technology may help get us there.
God created the there.
And today, the there was especially beautiful.
Until the next dispatch from the Pacific…
Lumen Aid
Roving Reporter, Island Time Travels
