We arrived in Dakar around 7 am, but at 8:15 am, Capt Frank announced that the port was changed to a service call due to expected protests in the city, and guests would not be permitted ashore.  

The World Stage was filled with guests when the Capt made the announcement.  Our smaller group was staged in the Ocean Bar, waiting for the port clearance that never came.  Many people remarked that it felt like a “snow day”  when your expected plans get changed at the last second.  

I conducted an impromptu “walking tour” of Dakar around the Promenade Deck.

We ended our walking tour by the Seaview Pool

HAL quickly distributed a revised schedule with as many sea day activities added back to the schedule as possible.  

As we looked down into the port area, we noticed that a forklift was pushing cars around to get them in position.  We assumed that these cars are waiting to be shipped out or have arrived and are waiting to be picked up.  

A converted forklift pushed three cars toward the parking area

The forklift then moved the car sideways to its final position.  Check your alignment if you have a car that was shipped from Dakar!!

As we left port, we learned that the seven containers of supplies the ship was trying to get on board were never located, and the Zuiderdam left empty-handed.  The containers were subsequently located and diverted to other ports for use by other ships.  A few containers with supplies unique to the Zuiderdam are still chasing us around Europe.