| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
26th May 2022 |
BoMoH, Harlow & Tilbury |
On board by 2:30 |
 |
29th May 2022 |
Aberdeen Scotland |
Aberdeen @ Ease tour |
|
30th May 2022 |
Kirkwall Orkney Scotland |
Scenic Orkney tour |
|
31st May 2022 |
Portree Skye Scotland |
Portree on foot tour |
|
1st June 2022 |
Tobermory Mull Scotland |
Wildlife Exploration Boat Trip |
 |
2nd June 2022 |
Belfast Northern Ireland |
Belfast @ Ease tour |
 |
3rd June 2022 |
Cobh Southern Ireland |
Cork & Kinsale @ Ease tour |
|
4th June 2022 |
New Grimsby Tresco Isles of Scilly |
Tresco Abbey Gardens |
|
5th June 2022 |
St. Peter Port Guernsey Channel Isle |
Fortified Guernsey tour |
 |
6th June 2022 |
Honfleur Normandy France |
Pays d'Auge @ Ease tour |
 |
7th June 2022 |
Tilbury Essex UK |
Home by 2 pm |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke at six o'clock and left the house before eight. On the M3 the signs said there was a twenty minute delay on the M25, so I stayed on the M3 into town. Unfortunately there were road works at Kew bridge which delayed me. On the North Circular road the signs said more delays ahead, so I headed north on the A1 to pick up the M25 passed the blockage.
I got to my sister-in-law Pam's house in Harlow at 11:30, ready for tea and warm cheese scones. After over an hour of chat, I returned to the M25 getting to Tilbury at 1:30. Here I dropped off my large suit case and followed the signs to the complimentary secure off site parking lot. I then caught the double decked shuttle bus back to the cruise terminal, where I had my GBP 30 RALF test. Once this was over, I could start on my packed lunch.
I was fast tracked through check in and was on board at 2:30. I explored the ship and finished my packed lunch, giving the buffet a miss. At 4:30 we had the safety drill followed by the sail away party by the pool. Unfortunately we didn't sail away as the ship was awaiting a crucial spare part!
At 5:45 I met up with light entertainments manager David in the coffee bar for my briefing. We were joined by sugar crafter Steve and his wife Karina. Back in my cabin, I slept for one hour until Hein (pronounced Hain) came to service the cabin at seven o'clock. I then received a contract as an enrichment lecturer for P&O's Iona going to Norway in June. This required filling in two forms, so I shelled out GBP 120 for 12 days of wi-fi!
At 7:45 I went to the solo travellers cocktail party, but it hadn't been set up on embarkation day. At 8:15 I dined with Steve & Karina in the Buckingham restaurant. I had the leek & potato soup, the sirloin steak with jacket potato and the ice cream sundae for dinner. During the meal, the Ambassador MD came on to the tannoy to say we couldn't depart Tilbury until the critical spare part had arrived.
At ten o'clock I went to the taster show time in the Palladium theatre, where CD Jonny mentioned my first lecture. I went to bed at eleven o'clock, having done over nine thousand steps, equal to nearly four miles of walking during the day. Unfortunately the air con wasn't working, so I had to sleep on top of the duvet with just a bathing towel over me!
I awoke at 6:30 ready for two mugs of decaff tea in the cabin. I then started work on this blog. After abluting, I got dressed and sorted out my paper work. At 7:45 I had a freshly made cheese omelette with bacon, sausage, hash brown and two tomatoes, in the Borough Market buffet, overlooking the bright sun shining on the Thames estuary.
Back in my cabin, I updated this blog and checked over my Macbeth presentation. Yesterday my former student Ralph had asked to see my slides and he came back to me with the thought that Shakespeare was making a point about the weakness of man in the hands of a seductive woman. He also drew comparisons with the Adam & Eve story in the Old Testament of the Bible!
I then did six circuits of the top deck walking track above the pools. At 9:30 I met up with Kegan and Adrian in the Palladium theatre to set me up for my first lecture. Despite using an HDMI connection, they also had to use the headphone socket as well.
At 10 o'clock Jonny introduced me and I gave my 40 minute talk on Macbeth: the Scottish Play. At the end, one Scottish gent came up to congratulate me on my talk. Another gent thought that Sir Anthony Sher had been the waiter in Fawlty Towers! Then Andy Nash and his eldest brother (of five sons) spoke to me. I had first met Andy at the Rivoli ballroom in south east London and then as a dance host on my 100th cruise back in 2015.
At 11:30 I went to the solo travellers cocktail party where I chatted to ladies from Dorset, Essex and Kent. At noon we all moved in to the Buckingham restaurant for the singles luncheon. I had the killing skunk soup, the fish & chips and the cinnamon & pistacio ice creams. I had just one glass of red wine. I was sat next to a lady from South Zeals in Devon and opposite a lady from Rainham in Kent, not Essex.
At 1:30 I slept for two hours, thus missing the chance to dance session and the ceilidh dance class. When I awoke, I had two mugs of decaff tea. I took the lift up to the top deck to get some exercise, but forgot my old smart phone which has the built in pedometer, so I had to go back down to my cabin.
Back up on the top deck, I noticed some people in one of the rear jacuzzis, so I had to go back down to my cabin again to change in to my cozzie. I then spent ten minutes in one of the hot tubs, but the bubbles were a bit thin. The back of the ship was out of the cool wind and the sun was shining. There was a lovely view across the Thames to the church in Gravesend where Native American Princess Pochahontas is buried.
At five o'clock I touched base with Shorex Man Leo, who I had sailed with several times on the lovely little Saga Pearl II. At 5:15 I went to the first sitting solo travellers cocktail party, but no one turned up. Back up on the top deck, I did half a dozen circuits as we finally left Tilbury. I then chatted to Andy and his brother. At 7:45 I went to the second sitting solo travellers cocktail party, but only Sue from Martlesham in Suffolk turned up.
At 8:15 I dined with Steve and Karina in the Buckingham restaurant. I began with the butternut squash soup, followed by the salad with quails eggs in blue cheese dressing. I main coursed on the roast lamb and finished with the peach Melba. Back in my cabin, I updated this blog.
At ten o'clock I went to the first hour long production show time which was based on the Chicago musical, but with additional numbers like ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All". For the first time in over 160 cruises, the cruise director Jonny was the lead vocalist in the show. Furthermore he immediately went up to the Observatory to give his cabaret performance!
I went to sleep at eleven o'clock, having done only four thousand steps, just less than two miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:20 ready for my two mugs of decaff tea in the cabin. Having washed and dressed, I updated this blog and worked on my Vikings talk. At 7:30 I broke my fast with TWO eggs Benedict and TWO glasses of tomato juice in the Buckingham restaurant, sat with Janet from south east London. I then did six circuits of the pool deck, as the top deck had a cool wind in spite of the bright sun shine. At ten o'clock I went to Leo & Sara's 45 minute Destination Experiences Presentation. He did the introduction to shore excursions and she covered Aberdeen & Kirkwall, but read from a script.
I was unable to attend the cha cha class at eleven o'clock as at 11:15 I gave my 40 minute talk on the Story of the Vikings to a nearly full house. I had lots of questions to deal with at the end!
At 12:30 I lunched on spaghetti marinara with cauliflower cheese, followed by mousse, sat with Sue from Martlesham in Suffolk. I then slept for two hours, thus missing Sara's talk on Portree, Tobermory & Belfast.
At 4:30 I spent ten minutes in one of the hot tubs, but the bubbles weren't working. The sun was bright, but the wind was cold! Back in my cabin, I got in to my Scottish formal outfit with my Black Watch tartan kilt.
At 5:15 I went to the solo travellers table in the Botanicals bar for half an hour, but everyone was at the first sitting cocktail party. At 6:45 I went to the second sitting cocktail party in the Palladium theatre. I had one glass of bubbly and one glass of fruit juice as the Norwegian Captain introduced the senior officers. The only one I knew was Leo the Shorex Man from Roumania.
At 7:45 I went to the second solo travellers meet up, where I chatted to two singles ladies and some couples. At 8:15 I dined on the mushroom soup, Caesar salad, raspberry sorbet, proper beef Wellington and cherry trifle, sat with Steve & Karina.
After dinner, I popped in to Leo's office to pick up my escort's back pack. At ten o'clock I went to Lloyd Hollett's comedy show time. He was quite funny and cleverly used spoonerisms to avoid using four letter words! I enjoyed his impersonation of Shirley Bassey and his Elvis medley finale. I went to bed just after eleven, having done nearly seven thousand steps, equal to nearly three miles of walking during the day.
I awoke just before my alarm at six o'clock, ready for my two mugs of decaff tea in the cabin. Having abluted, I had a freshly made cheese omelette with full English for my break fast in the Borough Market buffet. There was a dense rain storm off shore, but the skies over Aberdeen looked clear.
At 8:30 I was on escort duty in the Palladium theatre, but a medical evacuation delayed our departure. Eventually I led my group down to the tender and then up from the pier to the coach. Here we were greeted by driver Adrian and guide Andy. Our first stop was in Old Aberdeen, but King's College chapel was closed. Marischal College was also closed as it was a Sunday.
At Footdee fishing village the sun came out. Our final stop was at Duthie park where the Winter Gardens were fabulous. They included a humid tropical rain forest and an arid desert glass house. The park was hosting the finish of a charity kilt walk, but only a minority of walkers wore kilts!
Back at the tender pier, I immediately caught the complimentary shuttle bus back in to the city. I visited the Provost's house museum, the art gallery and the maritime museum, all of which were excellent and had free admission! I bought a piece of Stilton cheese in Tesco's in stead of lunch. I then walked back to the pier, taking photos as I went. I had difficulty finding the pedestrian entrance to the pier and ended up climbing over some railings! On the tender going back to the ship we saw the famous pod of dolphins which live in the entrance to Aberdeen harbour.
Back at the ship at 4:30, I slept for one hour, before up dating this blog and backing up my day's 72 pictures. When Hein came to service the cabin, I went up to the Observatory and admired the distant view of Aberdeen. At 7:45 I went to the solo travellers meet up where I sat with Sue & David. At 8:15 Sue invited me to join her table with Ken, Val, Ann & Jane for dinner. I began with the asparagus soup, continued with the ham & bean salad, main coursed on the tagliatelle with smoked salmon and finished with the ice cream sundae.
At ten o'clock I went to the excellent Dance, Dance, Dance production show with a virtual Anton du Beke. This had lots of different genres of high energy singing and dancing, but I had trouble keeping awake! At eleven o'clock I touched base with Leo, but my back pack was no where to be seen, so I went to bed having done nearly seventeeen thousand steps, equal to nearly seven miles of walking, during the day in Aberdeen!
I awoke at 5:30 to the dawn, half an hour ahead of my alarm. I had my usual two mugs of decaff tea, before abluting. At 6:30 I had a cheese omelette with bacon, tomatoes and a hash brown for break fast.
At 7 o'clock I discovered that my escort's ruck sack was at Reception. At 7:30 I was on duty by coach number one on the quayside. We left at 7:50 with 45 guests, guide Jane & driver Brian.
Our first stop was at the view point looking down to the cause way across to Birsay Brough Head. The tide was in, so you could only just see the cause way snaking across the strait beneath the waves. I was the only person to venture down to the beach.
Our next stop was at the Smithfield Hotel in Dounby, where we had tea or coffee plus carrot cake and short bread. The next photo stop was at the impressive Yesnaby cliffs, which I have seen several times. Jane managed to find some rare primroses (Primula scotia) which are only found here, but I had wandered off to the cliff edge.
Our final stop was at the neolithic Ring of Brodgar stone circle. Here Jane took a picture of me in my new GBP 6 red, white & blue macintosh from Primark. We drove passed Scapa Flow back to the ship.
At 12:30 I had gammon, chips and vegetables in cheese sauce for lunch in the Borough Market buffet with views across Orkney. I then slept for an hour and a half. Afterwards I had two mugs of decaff tea updating this blog and backing up my morning's collection of just 21 photos. At 4:15 I went to former Israeli Ambassador Francis Cornish's talk on the monarchy, but it lasted an hour and delayed the start of Sara's next talk. This was a twenty minute presentation on Cobh & St. Mary's.
Back in my cabin, I up dated this blog and slipped in to my cozzie. I spent ten minutes in one of the hot tubs with views across a very calm Pentland Firth, unlike the time on the Black Watch when we got caught in a whirl pool!
However, I was then asked to leave as they were conducting a medical evacuation by helicopter over the back of the ship. I changed for dinner and did five circuits (nearly one mile) of the top deck jogging track, but was again asked to leave. I adjourned to the Borough Market buffet where I had a bowl of cream of spinach soup, whilst watching the helicopter arrive over us. Here I chatted to a couple from a village near Huntingdon. She had already twice worked as a craft instructor on this ship, including the maiden voyage, but was now travelling as a paying guest. The helicopter then circled the ship for nearly half an hour, but I don't know what was the delay.
At 7:45 I went to the solo travellers meet up, but again only Sue arrived. I invited her to join us for dinner, but her special menu, her bottle of wine and her special chair proved problematic, so she returned to her usual table and I stayed at mine with Steve & Karina. I began dinner with the spinach soup again, followed by the Scandinavian salad with smoked mackerel and smoked salmon. I continued with the lovely escalope of pork and finished with the ice cream sundae.
After dinner, I touched base with Leo, but my original tour, Isle of Skye @ Ease, now had no room for an escort, so he gave me the one hour Portree walking tour in stead. At ten o'clock I went to the really excellent one hour long "Wouldn't it be Lovely" version of the musical "My Fair Lady", complete with dialogue. Again the cruise director Jonny had the lead vocalist role. All the famous songs were there! At eleven o'clock Leo and his team were still working on the next day's programme when I went to bed. During the day I had done twelve thousand steps, equal to nearly five miles of walking.
My alarm woke me at six o'clock ready for my two mugs of decaff tea and my ablutions. I picked up my escort's bag pack and found that I wasn't on duty until 8:30, so I took it back to my cabin and updated this web log. At seven o'clock I broke my fast with TWO eggs Benedict and a glass of tomato juice, sat with Janet from S.E. London, ladies from Kent & Devon and a gent from Lancing in the Buckingham main restaurant.
At 8:30 I was on duty in the Palladium theatre ready to escort the Portree on Foot tour. I led my group down to the tender and then up from the pier. Here I met up with guide Rosie who led us around town on the one hour walk. We climbed up to the famous Apothecary's tower and finished in the main square by the mercat cross with war memorial.
On my own, I walked around and took some more photographs. I went in a couple of charity shops, one of which had formal Scottosh jackets, but they were forty quid each!
Back at the ship at noon, I had my first cheese burger and chips al fresco on the pool deck. I then slept for over two hours, so I must have been tired by all my early starts. I had two mugs of full strength instant coffee to wake myself up for the afternoon and evening.
At 3:30 I was the only guest on the tender back to Portree. I walked east along the coast to the waterfall, the well (actually a spring) and Black Island where the ship was anchored. I then walked inland to the new library & swimming pool. At 5:35 I caught the penultimate tender back to the ship.
At 5:55 I spent ONE HOUR in the very hot tubs chatting to two ladies from Bishops Stortford, one of whom grew up in Harlow. We were in glorious sun shine with a fabulous view of the Skye mountains! Back in my cabin I up dated this web log. At 7:45 I went to the solo travellers meet up where I chatted to David, a lady from Banstead in Surrey and an interloper couple from Braintree!
At 8:15 I dined on the cream of broccoli soup, the salad, lamb shank and ice cream sundae, sat with Steve & Karina from Trowbridge near Bath. At ten o'clock I went to see the not very funny farce with cruise director Jonny playing a leading role again. I didn't nod off, having had a full strength coffee in the afternoon and had trouble getting to sleep later. During the day I had done seventeen and a half thousand steps equal to seven miles of walking.
My alarm woke me at six o'clock ready to break my fast at 6:30 with TWO eggs Benedict and a tomato juice in the Buckingham main restaurant. I was sat with Mick from Ely, a couple from Cheltenham who had lived in Johannesburg and another lady. Up on the top deck I took pictures of the cloudless sky!
At eight o'clock I was on duty in the Palladium theatre ready to escort the Wildlife Exploration Boat Trip. I led the party down to the tender on time ready for the ten minute commute across Tobermory bay. I was first off the tender gathering the party on the floating pontoon, before leading them just 20 yards to the awaiting boat. We headed out passed Tobermory light house and then turned right (north) for Ardnamurchan light house. Off shore we found large numbers of common dolphins close by and some minke whales some way off. We had lovely views of Eigg, Muck, Rhum and Canna in the bright sun shine. We came back via the north coast of Mull, but didn't see the famous white tailed sea eagles, but we did see Manx shear waters, cormorants and great skuas.
Back at the pier, I took a few photos, before catching the noon tender back to the ship. Here I had a disappointing Pizza Margherita and then slept for an hour and a half. At 3:30 I caught the tender back to Tobermory. I headed along the main street and up the steep hill to the Arts Centre which was just closing. The manager recommended that I visit St. Mary's well, named after the founder of ToberMARY. Unfortunately the well tap was dry.
Back down on the front, I walked north east from the RNLI office along the hill side walk. There was one waterfall, the oyster hatchery and one little valley, before I got a shot of the ship from the point. Having started my walk mapping app, I headed back along the length of the promenade popping in to various establishments along the way. I walked passed the tender pier to the coast path going south west, but when I reached the stairs up the hill side I turned back. I caught the 5:15 tender back to ship. Here I spent half an hour in the hotter of the two hot tubs with fabulous views across the Sound of Mull in the bright sun shine.
Back in my cabin I updated my blog and back upped my photographs. I then sat out on the rear deck with Dave to enjoy the sail away along two sides of the Isle of Mull, but our departure was delayed for some reason. At 7:45 I went to the singles mingle where I was joined by Eva for the first time, together with Dave & Sue. The latter invited me to join her dining table again with Val, Ann (x2), Jane, Janet and Ken. I began with the cauliflower soup, continued with the chicken salad, main coursed on the meat balls with penne pasta and finished with the ice cream sundae.
I had to slip out just before ten to catch Lloyd Hollett the comedy word smith's second show. This was a funny performance, again cleverly using spoonerisms to avoid the four letter words and so was a bit naughty! At eleven, I collected my escort's back pack from Leo's office and went to bed, having done nearly twelve thousand steps, equal to nearly five miles of walking during the day!
My alarm work me at six o'clock, ready for my two mugs of decaff tea, as we sailed up Belfast Lough with views of Carrickfergus castle. At seven o'clock I had a freshly made cheese omelette with bacon, tomatoes and one hash brown. I then went up to the top deck to see the berthing at the new cruise terminal on the other side of Belfast Lough.
Just after eight, I was on duty on the quayside with guide Billy & driver Jim for the Belfast @ Ease tour. Our first stop was at Stormont for a photo opportunity and the toilets. Our second stop was at Belfast castle. We then had a short photo stop at the Titanic memorial outside the city hall. Our final stop was outside Queen's University, where we walked to the Palm House in the Botanic Gardens.
Back at the ship, I had the roast pork followed by the chocolate mousse for lunch. I then slept for an hour and a half. After having my two mugs of decaff tea, I caught the 2:45 shuttle bus in to Belfast. I whizzed around the tourist information office, before heading to St. Anne's cathedral. I took a picture of the huge Irish cross on the side of the building, but only a few inside as they charge for admission. Back at the city hall, I photographed the garden of remembrance and the Titanic memorial garden. I also walked around the extensive food and drink fair in the grounds, before catching the last shuttle bus back to the ship at 3:45.
Back at the ship, I had a toasted cheese and ham sandwich in the Borough Market buffet. At five o'clock I went to Chris Gidney's 45 minute audience with Stuart Holmes who worked at Westminster Abbey for 37 years. Back in my cabin, I watched the Sky News coverage of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
At seven o'clock I spent fifteen minutes in the warm hot tub as the other one was TOO hot! There were views of both Northern Ireland AND Scotland. At 7:45 I went to the solos meet up in the Botanicals bar with Dave, the lady from Banstead and an interloping couple.
At 8:15 I went to dine in the Buckingham restaurant, but Steve & Karina must have dined elsewhere. Dining alone, I was through in under one hour having started with the baked cheese. I continued with the curried parsnip soup and main coursed on the gammon with roasties, red cabbage and Brussels sprouts. I finished, as usual, with the ice cream sundae.
At ten o'clock I went to the Style by Rock production show in the Palladium theatre. I particularly enjoyed the Queen songs, but not the heavy metal ones. Unfortunately I kept falling asleep after so many hectic days.
At the end, CD Jonny said that one of the show team had tested positive for CoViD, so they and their partner had had to isolate. The rest of the team had only one hour to rehearse with out them. This was the last time we saw Jonny before he too contracted CoViD! This meant that ACD George took over as acting cruise director. I went to bed at eleven o'clock having done eleven thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:30 ready for my two mugs of decaff tea, before up dating this web log. At 7:30 I had TWO eggs Benedict with a tomato juice in the Buckingham main restaurant, sat with ladies from near Barnard Castle and from Newcastle-under-Lyme near Keele University.
Back in my cabin I worked on my next three lectures: Irish Sea, Elgar & Saint-Saens. I then did six circuits, about half a mile, of the top deck in the bright sun shine, with views of the south coast of Ireland.
At 9:30 I went to Sara's 30 minute talk on St. Peter Port, Guernsey and Honfleur, Normandy. I then did another six laps of the top deck in the warm sun shine. At 10:30 I went to the Thanksgiving service in the Palladium theatre.
This was followed by the live stream from St Paul's Cathedral in London. I watched this until Prince Charles and Camilla arrived at 11:30. I then had an early lunch of fish and chips followed by a small blanc mange.
At noon I collected my escort's ruck sack and up dated this blog. At one o'clock I was on duty on the quay side ready to escort the Cork & Kinsale @ Ease tour. We began with a panoramic coach tour of Cork city centre, which was busy with the June (?) Bank Holiday. We had a photo stop at King Charles' fort, before descending to the pretty fishing village. Here we had an hour and a half of free time. I bought half a litre of semi-skimmed milk for 62 cents from the SuperValu supermarket, before exploring the village for the FIFTH time!
Back at the ship, I had just ten minutes on the quay side to take pictures. At 6:40 I wallowed in the less hot of the two hot tubs, with views of the Old Royal Naval base on Haulbowline Island. After ten minutes, we departed and I had a lovely view of Cobh, formerly Queenstown, from the hot tub. After another ten minutes I got out as it started to rain.
At 7:45 I went to the singles mingle with Janet and her friend from Yorkshire plus the lady from Banstead. At 8:15 I dined with Steve & Karina on the cream of courgette soup, salade nicoise, the mixed grill and the mojito sorbet.
At ten o'clock I went to the Night on Broadway show time of Brazillian tenor Thiago Lemmos. He began with a Phantom medley, followed by three songs from West Side Story. The next Disney song I didn't know, followed by songs from the Lunch Pack of Notre Dame! I enjoyed his Les Mis medley, but not so much the selection from Sunset Boulevard.
His Sondheim medley included, inevitably, Send in the Clowns. He finished with Jesus Christ Superstar. I had remained awake through out, despite not having had a siesta after lunch! I went straight to sleep at eleven o'clock, having done nearly sixteen thousand steps, equal to over six miles of walking during the day.
My alarms (sic) woke me at six o'clock and I had a cheese omelette with bacon, sausage and tomatoes at 6:30. Back in my cabin, I up dated this web log and got ready to escort the tour to the famous Tresco Abbey gardens at 7:30. We were called at 8:10 and the local tender left at 8:20, taking twenty minutes to reach Tresco.
The boatswain (bosun) told me that since it was high tide we wouldn't be able to alight at Carn Near, but would have to go around to the main harbour at New Grimsby (sic). In the event, we were able to get off at the more convenient Carn Near, which lives up to its name. When I had helped every one off the tender, I powered ahead along the ten minute walk to the gardens.
I spent one hour walking around and taking photogrphs, before heading off around the island, as it started to drizzle. I walked to the main village of New Grimsby (sic) where I found the pub, the shop and the main harbour. Back at the gardens, Leo had arrived with two more groups, but that meant we had to queue for the 11:30 tender back. In the event, I got on to the second, better protected boat along with Leo.
Back at the ship at noon, I lunched on the roast pork and fruit cobbler with custard, sat with Sue from Suffolk. I then slept for nearly two hours. At four o'clock I gave my 45 minute talk on the Story of the Irish Sea. I then spent half an hour in the cooler of the two hot tubs, chatting to Angela from Boston in Lincolnshire, but the mist had come down and we could barely see the other islands.
Back in my cabin, I watched the Jubilee events on Sky News. At 6:45 the Captain came on to the blower to say that there were 32 cases of CoViD on board. At 7:45 I went to the solos meet up, but nobody else showed up. At 8:15 I dined with Steve & Karina on the cream of carrot & ginger soup, the anti pasta salad, the Burgundy beef and the ice cream sundae.
At ten o'clock I went to the excellent Fusions production show time. I particularly enjoyed the rock 'n' roll and country & western medleys. Having collected my escort's back pack, I went to bed at eleven o'clock. I had done over sixteen thousand steps, equal to over six miles of walking during the day!
My alarm woke me at six o'clock ready for my two mugs of decaff tea. At 6:30 I broke my fast with TWO eggs Benedict, sat with a couple of vax volunteers from Burton-upon-Trent.
At 8 o'clock I was on duty in the Palladium theatre, but one of the staff told me to get some fresh air and come back after a quarter of an hour. At 8:20 I led group one, as usual, down to the tender. At 8:40 I led my group up the slope in to St Peter Port.
Our first stop was at the German underground hospital, but it was still closed at 9 o'clock. Instead we went to the famous little chapel. Here I saw a sign saying FREE ice creams for cruise ship guests, so I was given a strawberry tub in the silver smiths shop! At 9:30 back at the hospital, the caretaker had arrived. This is an enormous underground complex which we had to shoot around in just half an hour.
Our next stop was at the Dollmann battery with its enormous gun recently restored. At the Guernsey Pearl centre we saw the remains of a Roman boat discovered in St. Peter Port harbour. I took the opportunity to photograph Fort Grey opposite. Our final stop was at Fort Hommet which was built on top of a Napoleonic Martello tower.
Back at the port, I explored the Sunday street market, the tourist information office and the old high street. Back on the ship, I had the roast beef for lunch (it was Sunday)! I then slept for one hour, before having my two mugs of decaff tea.
At 3:35 I went to the Palladium theatre, but no one was around. After five minutes, Kegan appeared and apologised saying he didn't get to bed until two in the morning! Unfortunately a chandelier had been installed in the ceiling ready for the evening show, but it blocked the projector. When Adrian and another chap arrived to help, the cherry picker had to be manhandled on to the stage and erected to remove the light fitting! This meant I was a few minutes late starting my 45 minute talk on Elgar.
At the end I had questions about his Hereford connections and about his personality. I then spent twenty minutes in the hotter of the two hot tubs as the usual one was cold! There were lovely views of Herm & Sark and, in the distance, Alderney & Jersey. Here I chatted to a chap who was a gluten intolerant caeliac. He said the evening meals were excellent, but that there was no suitable provision at afternoon tea. He said that they were instead pandering to the trendy vegans!
Back in the cabin, I updated this web log and up loaded my photographs. I then changed into my semi-formal red tartan waist coast and union flag bow tie. (I hadn't worn my formal dinner suit at all this cruise, having worn my kilt on the first formal night!) Up on the top deck I chatted to Andy Nash and his brother as we sailed away. I then spoke to Steve as we passed the Barclay brothers castle on Breqchou off Sark.
At 7:45 I sat with Dave in the singles mingle. When the duo of Kazakstani identical twins finished their classical set, we had a short two person play about Harrison's chronometers! At 8:15 I dined with Steve & Karina on the sea food pate, the coronation chicken salad, the Gaelic steak and the bombe glacee.
At ten o'clock I went to the excellent Concerto Goes Pop production show with the seven vocalists, but not the dancers. I enjoyed the Elton John and David Bowie songs, but kept falling asleep. At the end, I collected my escort's back pack and went to bed, having done over thirteen thousand steps, equal to over five miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at five o'clock, but it was now six o'clock on French time. After my two mugs of decaff tea, I got ready to break my fast at seven o'clock. I had TWO eggs Benedict as usual in the main Buckingham restaurant, sat with four single ladies. One of the ladies had had to move cabins at ten o'clock last night when her bathroom had flooded!
Afterwards, I went up to the top deck to take pictures of Honfleur in the bright sun shine. At 8:30 I was on duty by the buses ready to escort the Pays d'Auge @ Ease tour. We drove out in to the Normandy country side for an hour and a quarter, before arriving in Beuvron-en-Auge. This was a charming little village full of pretty half timbered houses. We had half an hour here, before returning via the motor way to the ship.
I immediately jumped on the complimentary shuttle bus in to the town. Here I rushed around taking photos in the hot sun. I went in the tourist information office and the famous wooden church. There was a Pentecost (Whitsun) procession in town with bag pipes, bands and floats. I walked back the one mile to the ship.
At one o'clock I lunched on the Tandoori chicken with rice and vegetables followed by two small desserts. Back in the cabin, I up dated this blog and up loaded my morning's photographs. At 2:30 I adjourned to the Palladium theatre to set up for my fifth and final enrichment lecture on Saint-Saens. At three o'clock (CET), two o'clock (BST), I gave my 40 minute talk to a small audience since we were still in port, the afternoon tours hadn't come back and the sun was shining!
At 3:45 I slipped in to the solos farewell cocktail demonstration. We were each given three different cocktails to drink. I then slept for three quarters of an hour. Up on the aft deck, I wallowed in and out of the hot tub for over half an hour as we sailed away from Honfleur in the hot sun. Here I chatted to a gent from King's Lynn about the Hanseatic warehouse and other buildings there.
At 5:45 I started packing, when Hein came to service the cabin I gave him a GBP 25 tip. At 7:45 I chatted to Dave on the solos reserved table in the Botanicals bar. At 8:15 I dined for one last time with Steve & Karina on the lobster bisque, the lemon chicken salad, the roast beef and the baked Alaska. The latter was introduced into the restaurant by a parade of waiters and chefs, but with no fireworks! I gave our two waiters GBP 10 each.
At ten o'clock I went to the excellent Magic of the Musicals production show time. I went to bed at 11:20 CET (10:20 BST) having done over eleven and a half thousand steps, equal to four and a half miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 5:15, excited to be going home after a super cruise. At 6:30 I had a freshly made cheese omelette with bacon, sausage, tomatoes and a hash brown to break my fast. Back in the cabin I updated this blog.
I left the cabin at 8:20 and was off the ship at 8:30. Our big bags were loaded in to a Luton van and we got on a double decker bus to take us to the off site car parking. I was first to drive out of the gates at nine o'clock. Unfortunately the M25 had one hour delays, so I stayed on the A13 and went round the North Circular road instead.
At 10:30 I stopped off at the IKEA store in Neasden, where I had a one GBP bacon roll and a free drink. On the way out I splashed out on a 60p ice cream! I travelled along the A40, the M25, the M3 and the M27, getting home at two o'clock.
161 Cruises 36 Cruise ships 25 Cabin drawers! 12 Night cruise 11 Cruise lines (A, CY, CT, CN, FO, P&O, PC, SG, SB, SS, VoD) 10 Restaurants & Bars 9 Ports of call (A, K, P, T, B, C, H, S, H) 9 Tours escorted 8 Old ports 7 Eggs Benedict break fasts! 6 Royal correspondents! 5 Enrichment lectures 5 Islands (O, S, M, T, G) 4 Bed cabin 4 Scottish ports & tours 3 New villages (Footdee, Dounby & Beuvron-en-Auge) 3 New enrichment lectures (Macbeth, Elgar & Saint-Saens) 2 Old enrichment lectures (Vikings & Irish Sea) 2 English ports & tours 2 Irish ports & tours 1 French port & tour 1 New cruise terminal (Belfast) 1 New cruise line (Ambassador) 1 New cruise ship (Ambience) 1 New port (Aberdeen)
Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Spirit Silver Whisper Silver Dawn Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex Black Prince Black Watch Balmoral Boudicca Braemar Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure (Old SofA) Spirit of Adventure (New SofA) Spirit of Discovery Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) Queen Elizabeth (QE) Queen Victoria (QV) Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Sapphire Princess VoD Discovery P&O Oriana