There are a few things in life that make me a little afraid. Just thinking about it makes my heart beat faster. When I look at the definition of “fear” and also phobias, I realize that I probably have an irrational fear or rather a phobia. In my case, phobias…
I have a phobia for small planes, boats, swimming in the sea, heights and cable cars to name just a few. Yet I have no fear of a large plane flying over an ocean. Staring out of a plane at the small world below gives me a superhuman calm. But that same calm was nowhere to be found when I had to get on a ship for the first time.
Peer pressure from sisters-in-law and friends was the reason why I had to get on a big ship for the first time at the beginning of 2023.
As we get closer to the quay, my heart starts to beat faster. To think that I will have to get on a boat, which will be my home for three days. My frame of reference of a big boat is the movies Titanic and my last small-boat ride around the quay of Hout Bay is not a good retrospect moment either. I can’t even swim properly.
For a moment I mistook the ship for a large block of flats. Big, stately, strong. I can’t believe this is the ship we’re going to sail on.
The moment I enter the ship, I forget about the outside world. Immediately my fear turns into a feeling of excitement and right there the ship bug bites me properly. For three full days you are given over to bliss and the most important choices you have to make are what you are going to eat (especially in the buffet restaurant), which shows you want to watch or whether you would rather sit quietly in one of the lounges and listen to an artist strumming his guitar. And of course, what’s the next cocktail on the menu to try.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, we disembarked at the Portuguese island – again a choice, do you want to stay quietly on the ship or do you want to disembark together. The sea there is also different from the sea I am used to – no rough sea currents and big waves.
We swam, ate and had a good time with old and new friends made on the ship. It was absolutely a three-day festival. And when I got off that ship on Monday, I knew I would never be able to look at a ship the same way again.
Fortunately, my other half and I were then invited to join Kurt Darren on the Super Sokkie boat trip. So exactly two weeks later, completely unplanned, I get back on the boat. What a festival!
Many people have asked me why the boat is so different, what makes it so nice. And for me it is definitely the feeling of total relaxation. Nothing happens that you have to do. There is just so much happening on the boat that you have the freedom to come and go as you please. You can even go for an early morning walk or work out in the gym. There is a salon that gives the best back massage, a series of shops where you can shop to your heart’s content tax-free, entertainment around every corner, or you can just relax all day by the pool with that book you’ve always wanted to read.
And yes, my next boat trip with girlfriends is already booked. And yes, I’m going on the Super Sokkie boat trip again next year with Kurt Darren. This time RNews’s team is also going along and they will provide great entertainment during the day on the deck. There is so much to look forward to. Nine of the most famous African artists are going together and they are going to make sure there is going to be a lot of fun. RNews and MSC are also taking two young budding artists along for a little extra fun for the young crowd.
Of course I can’t wait to get on this boat. Even bigger, even better. Just think how nice it would be to have a record number of Afrikaans speakers there.
That’s why we invite you to come and sail to the Portuguese archipelago from 8 to 11 March 2024 with RNews, Kurt Darren, kykNET and nine Super Sokkie artists. If you have never boarded a ship, now is your chance. It’s just going to be fun.
For more information, click here and to make sure you don’t miss the opportunity, book here. A deposit of only R3 000 is required to secure your place.
We’ll see you there!
- Annelize Brits is RNews’s operations manager.
