Day 10 (6 days on sea): Disconnection at Sea: A Blend of Frustration and Freedom

Impression of the day

Gray on gray

Adventure of the day

Filling out the Arrival / Departure Forms for Namibia according to Immigration Control Act 7 of 1993 (Section 8, 9A & 29 Regulation  2 and 3).

Scam of the Day

We’re on an all-inclusive cruise where you can drink to your heart's content—no limits, all for free! They even offer "sugar-free" and "halal" cocktails, like Piña Coladas, Caipirinhas, and Singapore Slings.

But today, there was a special setup by the pool: a "Special Singapore Sling for Connoisseurs." Only 8.90€ (or 40+ MYR) – what a deal! And you wouldn’t believe it, but people were lining up for it.

Funny thing is, these cocktails are already included in the all-inclusive package… So, what's really going on here? Looks like a clever marketing trick to get a few extra euros from unsuspecting guests!

Insights

Being at sea for days brings a surprising sense of disconnection—a feeling I didn’t expect in our gadget-filled world. Over the last 15 years of my professional life, frequent travel became second nature. My colleagues rarely noticed, except for the occasional midnight email that hinted I was in a different timezone. With laptops and reliable internet, I remained connected, and by 2010, phone and video conferencing were integral tools.  

Onboard the ship, connectivity remains possible but with significant limitations:  

TV Signal Loss:  
After leaving the Canary Islands, the satellite TV signal weakened and eventually disappeared. No news, no talk shows—a welcome escape from the constant barrage of reality.   
 
No Mobile Network: 
Predictably, there’s no mobile signal at sea. Surprisingly, it’s a blessing—no late-night phone calls to disrupt your peace.  

Internet by Satellite:  
Internet is available but via satellite, which affects both bandwidth (slower) and cost (higher and often capped).  

At first glance, this semi-disconnection feels liberating, but it comes with a few frustrations: 

Two-Factor Authentication Hurdles:  Critical web services like banking have moved away from SMS-based two-factor authentication, but some insurance providers still rely on SMS exclusively. This means I can receive email alerts like "Check your billing statement," but I can’t download the actual document.  

Geolocation Restrictions:  Many websites and streaming platforms use IP addresses to determine your country of access. At sea, your "country" becomes "ocean," which isn’t supported. Streaming services, for example, simply refuse to process requests when they can’t pinpoint a valid geographic region.  

This blend of limited connectivity and disconnection creates a unique experience—freeing in some ways, yet inconvenient in others. It’s a reminder of how much we take constant access for granted, and how the ocean, vast and indifferent, has its own rules. 

Logbook

Position: 14°11.91' S, 4°52,16' E
South of Cabo Verde, North of Namibia
East of Cabo Verde, West of Namibia
Timezone: GMT+1

Speed: 33km/h. Wind: 55km/h. Heading: 136°
Time to next port: 2 days

Risk of sea sickness: NONE
Risk of hallucinations: MEDIUM

Feels like home


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