Lynn Danaher of Friday Harbor, co-founder of the Pacific Islands Research Institute (www.islandexplorer.org) and a member of the Explorers Club, visited The World cruise ship when it anchored off San Juan Island July 5-6.

Here is her account of her visit:

I was invited out to the World by an associate of mine in the Explorers Club. I got a complete tour by the program director for the ship, of all the public areas and decks.

The lobby and restaurants were tasteful and beautifully appointed. It was not overdone in any way — “understated elegance” is how I would describe it. There was a tennis court, a putting green and video golf room, a fully staffed hospital and numerous restaurants.

I had the good fortune to be invited to lunch by one of the residents, a PhD of economics from Germany, who has lived aboard since the ship was launched in 2002. I was invited to dine with him because he had learned of my knowledge of Polynesia and, specifically, rock art. He has a keen interest in all styles and types of rock art and is studying it in each place he visits.

It was a delightful lunch of fine food and wonderfully esoteric conversation. In the future, there is a chance I will work aboard as a guest lecturer or snorkel master when next they voyage into the southern Pacific.

— Lynn Danaher, Pacific Islands Research Institute, Friday Harbor

EARLIER STORY:‘The World’: It’s luxurious. It’s big. And it’s coming to Friday Harbor