On the Red Sea. November 14-17,2014 We are now to travel for 4 days down the length of the Red Sea passing Eritrea , Djibouti and Somalia on the west and Saudi Arabia and Yemen on the east. It is about 1800 miles to Salalah our next port in Oman. This is also the area of the many Somali pirate attacks which have been occurring over the past several years. Accordingly water cannons and electronic alarms have been set up along the ship sides. There are guards standing watch day and night watching for the small pirate boats. We even had to have a drill where we had to listen to an alarm and go stand in the hallways of the ship until an all clear signal. Reminded of when I was a kid in school and we had those air raid attack drills in the 50s. where we had to stand in Cure of Ars' halls with our coats over our heads.  I pass the days reading and attending lectures and talking with new friends. I have learned so much about Arab culture and feel I have a better understanding of it. Interestingly enough I have learned that this ship , the Oceania Nautica was one of the only 2 cruise ships attacked in the past. Apparently the captain gunned the engines and they were able to out run the pirates. good to know. Actually I think it would be kind of exciting and a great story to tell. as long as no one got hurt, of course.