The Radisson High Seas is a fine ship and most unusual from your ordinary cruise ship. It is smaller, with fewer passengers, but all of the amenities are there. Because of this, its rates are higher. In fact it is quite luxurious, and the passengers tend to be wealthier and more elite than on a common cruise ship.

The ship spends most of each year traveling to different ports of call around the world. There are two five month cruises each year that cover substantially different ports of call. The remaining two months are spent in the Los Angeles home port for maintenance and cleaning. The staff is consistently the same and well trained. The rich are different. And the staff, from stewards to captain, know precisely how to handle, with tact, congeniality and efficiency, her ultra rich patrons like Marlene and Roddie Malone.

The top executive deck has four staterooms. Marlene and Roddie have two adjoining staterooms. One for each of them. One private maid and one butler. Useable space is about 3500 square feet plus a large, open deck with private pool. A huge amount of space as far as ships go. For the five month cruise, the cost is $500,000 or about $100,000 per month. This does not include tips paid at the end of the cruise.

Although there is plenty of privacy, Roddie yearns for each port of call. He loves his posh surroundings and sunbathing on the deck but by evening’s end, his patience with Marlene is wearing thin. Every afternoon there is the requisite bridge game, with specially invited guests. Roddie never quite understood the game, but he gives it his best because it is Marlene’s favorite. Then, every evening there are cocktails, a prolonged dinner with invited guests either at Latitudes or the Cordon Bleu Restaurant where reservations and a designated table await. The Malones are well known and Marlene has even been known to enter the galley and lecture the chef on some recipe. At either of those ship restaurants, the staff remained on guard at the Malones’ approach.

Late evenings were spent playing Rummicube, another of Marlene’s favorites. She loved beating Roddie and winning the game. Marlene was a poor loser, whether it was one of her race horses or just a game on board ship.

On occasion, Roddie would walk the teak floored decks below after Marlene had gone to bed. Or, he would visit the Observation Lounge. After an evening of sipping Pinot Grecio, trying desperately not to eat too much, but typically not being able to resist the Tiramisu, Roddie felt that he needed to walk it off. But not only that, it was quiet and non-demanding away from Marlene. The fresh sea air felt soothing on his face. The breeze blowing through his long blonde hair gave him a majestic feeling. Each morning with anticipation he would look forward to that night’s walk, not only because it was his time alone, but there was always that inner seed of excitement that he might meet some young man that he could actually talk to.

As Roddie returned to his stateroom he heard Marlene calling to him. “What is it, Marlene? What is the matter?” Roddie stated in a rather cold tone, as he entered Marlene’s bedroom. “Oh, Roddie, I don’t feel too well, and look, my leg has swelled some more!”

“Here, take these diuretics and sleeping pill that the ship’s nurse gave me for you. Tomorrow, we’ll get you in the whirlpool and have the masseuse work on you. You’ll feel better,” Roddie responded with half hearted concern.