| Date: | Port: | Arms: | Escort: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9th Jan. 2020 |
SoToN Hants UK |
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- | Aboard at 2:30 |
| 13th Jan. 2020 |
Funchal Madeira Portugal |
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Scenic Madeira |
Refreshments at the golf club & at Blandy's! |
| 14th Jan. 2020 |
Santa Cruz de La Palma Canaries |
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Biosphere and Tendal |
Glorious day! |
| 15th Jan. 2020 |
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Canaries |
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Easy Teide |
Glorious day! |
| 16th Jan. 2020 |
Las Palmas Gran Canaria Canaries |
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Leisurely Gran Canaria |
Glorious day! |
| 17th Jan. 2020 |
Arrecife Lanzarote Canaries |
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Viewpoints and Caves |
Glorious day! |
| 19th Jan. 2020 |
Lisbon Portugal |
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(Coastal Drive and Wine Tasting) |
Too windy to berth! |
| 22nd Jan. 2020 |
SoToN Hampshire England |
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- | Home at 9:15 |
I awoke at 7:40, but didn't get away until 12:30, as my laptop was still updating Windows! I had an easy run to SoToN, where I met up with dance hosts Alison, Alan and Fred together with guest Shirley from St. Albans. Boarding began at 2:15 and I was on board by 2:30. I said hello to pianist David Sims in the Living Room, but as usual my key card wouldn't work. I had a forward facing double cabin on deck 9, but no balcony. I had a small snack in the embarkation buffet, but didn't have time for a siesta. At 4 o'clock we had the entertainers cocktail party where I chatted to Mancunian photographers Dr Philip and Janet.
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At 5:15 we had the safety drill, but my next door neighbour bridge instructor Brian and I were the only two people at our muster station! I then touched base with Tanya at the Explore Ashore desk. At 6 o'clock we had the first dance set, where I had several dances with Alison and one dance with Shirley, recovering from her knee replacement.
At 7 o'clock I dined on a large pork chop with chips, sat with Richard from Hastings and a couple from Hayling Island. Back in my cabin, I started work on this blog. At 9 o'clock I went to the second dance set, but it was only recorded music. I had a couple of dances with Alison, before going down to the theatre. Here I sat with the gent from Buxton to watch the excellent Chris Dean's version of the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. This was a huge 14 person band, with extra vocalist, playing Glenn Miller classics. When the show ended, I went to sleep at 11 o'clock.
I awoke at 6:30 and dozed until 7 o'clock. At 7:30 I had the special breakfast of poached egg, corn beef hash and baked beans. At 9:45 Nat gave his ten minute introduction to Explore Ashore, followed by my 42 minute talk on Funchal, Madeira. I immediately adjourned to the Explore Ashore corner, where I sat for fifteen minutes without a single question being asked of me.
At 11 o'clock I went to Scouser Howie Poole's 50 minute talk entitled "Swing to Bop", which was actually about the pre-war big bands. At noon I showed my face at the Solos Get Together for fifteen minutes, before lunching on the chicken curry AND cottage pie sat with Dr Philip, Janet and Patricia, the Brigadier's wife.
At 1:15 I went to the Swing dance class. They spent the first ten minutes teaching the Cowboy Charleston one wall line dance, which they called the Charleston Stroll. They then proceeded to teach the basics of Lindy Hop to seven couples. They did rocking on the spot, rocking as you turned, the underarm turn, the cuddle and the shoulder slide. They introduced the syncopated chassée, but then immediately dropped it. They kept us changing our partners, which was a good idea, throughout the one hour class.
I then slept for 70 minutes, until awoken by a call for the stretcher party. I touched base with amusing Tanya again, before having to update my next two port talks with two brand new tours.
At 6:15 I went to the early evening dance date to the excellent trio. I danced mainly with Alison, including the Sindy Swing and a ballroom Tango. At 7 o'clock I dined on the sirloin steak with chips, sat with a couple from Guildford and their daughter from Leytonstone. At 9 o'clock I went to the recorded music session which was very thinly attended.
At 9:25 I went down to the theatre for the excellent West End to Broadway musicals show. They covered West Side Story, Mary Poppins, Oklahoma, Chorus Line, Les Mis and ended with the Wizard of Oz. I then went back up to the Britannia Lounge for the Fifties & Sixties party. I danced with Alison and some other ladies. When the trio finished at eleven o'clock, I retired to watch my Funchal talk on the TV until 11:50 when I went to sleep. During the day I had done nearly ten thousand steps, equivalent to nearly four miles of walking!
I awoke at 7:20 to a tannoy announcement of an upcoming helicopter evacuation, so I got showered and ready to go quickly. At eight o'clock I had the special herb omelette with back bacon for breakfast, as the sun came up across a calm Bay of Biscay.
At 8:20 the helicopter arrived, which I watched from the Lido deck. I then moved back down to my forward facing cabin to watch the medical evacuation. The whole process took half an hour to lift the sick gentleman away.
At 10 o'clock I gave my 40 minute talk on Santa Cruz de La Palma. I then sat next to the Explore Ashore desks to answer a couple of questions. At 11 o'clock I went to Dr Philip's interesting talk entitled "Tenerife, Astronomy and Me" which went on for nearly an hour. When he finished at noon, I lunched on the gammon, chips and beans sat with a gent from North Norfolk. I then slept for an hour and a half interrupted by my steward and my alarm.
At 3 o'clock I gave my 45 minute talk on Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Back in the cabin, I watched Dr. Philip's first photography lecture, also nearly an hour long. I then had fifteen minutes in the jacuzzi, as the cool pool was roped off.
At 6:15 I went to the Captain's welcome cocktail party, where I chatted to various people. The string quartet was playing, so it was not possible to dance. At 7 o'clock I dined on the beef sat in the waiter service side of the Grill with an ex-Army Major and his wife from Wells in Somerset. At 9 o'clock I went to the recorded music dance session, where I danced with Alison and a few of the single ladies.
At 9:45 I went to hear the excellent Opera Girls in the theatre. They did all the famous arias (Carmen's Habanera, the Flower Duet, Nessun Dorma etc), together with some musical theatre and crossover pop songs. Back up in the Britannia Lounge, I caught the second half of Robbie's cabaret. When that ended at eleven, I went to bed.
I awoke before six o'clock and dozed for an hour. At 7:30 I breakfasted on the special scrambled egg with smoked salmon on a slice of brioche bread. Back in the cabin, I did some laundry and updated this blog.
At 9 o'clock I touched base with Tanya to get the updated tours information. At 10:15 I gave my 40 minute talk on Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, followed by fifteen minutes sat opposite the Explore Ashore desks. Here one lady remembered me from our cruise on the little Black Prince out of the Bootle docks back in 2008!
At 11:30 I was on duty ready to host a table at the singles luncheon. We had sweet corn soup, roast beef and rice pudding - just like school dinners! As usual the guests rotated around the tables between courses.
At 1:30 I dozed for an hour ready to give my 35 minute lecture on Arrecife: Capital of Lanzarote at 3 o'clock. At four I touched base with Tanya again to get my canary yellow escort uniform. I then dozed for another half an hour, before jacuzzi-ing for 25 minutes. I had my first ice cream cone of the cruise beside the sunny, but cold, pool. I changed ready for the Newcomers cocktail party, where I had two dances with Alison.
At 7 o'clock I dined on the king crab legs, the mixed grill and the ice cream, sat with Richard again and Jim, whose wife was ill. At 9 o'clock I went to the recorded music dance session, where I danced with Jan and some other ladies. At 9:30 we had the excellent second big band show from Chris Dean's Syd Lawrence Orchestra (SLO). Back up in the Britannia lounge the Melange trio and singer were in disco mood, so I only did the conga, before going to bed at 11 o'clock.
My alarm woke me at 6:30 ready for the enormous special breakfast at seven o'clock. This was a fried egg on top of a burger, on top of sliced avocado, on top of a toasted bagel with crispy bacon on the side!
At 9 o'clock I escorted my sixth choice Scenic Madeira tour, alongside Third Officer Yanko Velkov from Bulgaria. We first drove up to the central peak, where I struck off away from the Petrel Centre down a semi-paved path to the spectacular viewpoint overlooking the northeast side of the island. We then descended to the posh golf course for our refreshments. I had one cup of tea, two small pieces of toast with butter & jam, and a slice of lemon Madeira cake.
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Our next stop was the viewpoint over Machico, the former capital. The last stop was the wine tasting at Blandy's Wine Lodge in Funchal. I had one glass of the dry and two of the sweet Madeiran wine.
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Back at the ship, I had a late lunch of spaghetti carbonara, sat with Alison and Alan in the Grill. I then slept for an hour and a half. At 5 o'clock we had the sailaway, dancing to Stuart by the pool. I danced mainly with Alison, but also Jan and some other ladies. When it finished I did six lengths of the pool which was at last warm enough, before spending ten minutes in one of the hot tubs with a Scottish gent from Teignmouth in Devon.
At 7 o'clock I dined on the asparagus soup, the king crab legs, the entrecote beef and the butter toffee ice cream, sat with a couple from Cheshire in the Grill buffet. I went to the recorded dance session at 9 o'clock, followed by the "That's Life" swing production show. The hanging bedsheet acrobat was incredible, but Robbie had technical problems with his head mike, and so had to resort to a hand mike halfway through the show.
When the show finished, I went back up to the Britannia lounge for the second half of the Melange Band's "Can you feel the love tonight" set. Jan came over and asked me to do the jive with her and I also danced with Alison and Maureen as usual. I had cruised with the latter a couple of times on Fred. Olsen (FOCL). When the set ended at 11 o'clock I adjourned to my cabin and after watching one of my lectures on the TV went to sleep at 11:30. During the day I had done over fifteen thousand steps, equivalent to over six miles of walking!
I awoke at 7:40 and had the smoked kedgeree special for breakfast sat with Maureen and Pam. I was one of the first off the ship just after nine o'clock, going in both the tourist information offices. The brand new elevator had already been mothballed as the cliff face is unstable, what a waste of money that was!
I went in the public library, but the top floor museum was cordoned off. In the main square, I went in the Town Hall and the Parish Church. I also went in the covered market and the Salazar palace as usual.
I walked back along the Sea Avenue to the main street where executive Peter from Saga HQ spoke to me. I told him that I would be doing the destinations lecturing on the Greeland cruise in the summer, to which he surprised me by saying that some of the ports of call had changed since the itinerary had been published. I gave him my contact details so that I can be updated!
Back at the ship, I had lunch of roast lamb at noon sat with Dr Philip and Janet. At one o'clock I escorted my second choice UNESCO Biosphere & Tendal Archaeological site tour. We began at St. Batholomew's viewpoint before continuing to the new La Tendal museum, overlooking the native dwellings in the ravine's caves below.
We drove up to Los Tilos laurel forest visitor centre, before descending to Les Sauces church, which was unfortunately closed. In San Andres we had a short refreshment break where I shelled out 1.50 euros for a café con leche. We walked around this pretty little village, before heading back to the ship.
I got back to my cabin at 6:15 and was dancing again at 6:30. Here I did my first proper slow foxtrot with Alison. I dined on the rib eye steak sat with three SLO fans: Les from Peterborough, Terry from Leicester and a chap from Bolton. Back in my cabin, I got told off for not drawing my curtains at night!
At 9 o'clock I danced with Maureen, Alison, Jan and a married lady, before moving down to the theatre for the Opera Girl's second show. On the stairs I was greeted by newly returned cruise director John Parton. This show was just as excellent as their first. When it ended, I went back up to the Britannia lounge, where I danced with Alison, Jan and the married lady again. ACD Michelle declined to jive with me, but the professional lindy hop dancer did agree. The set finished at eleven and I went to bed at 11:30. During the day I had done over 25,750 steps, equivalent to over ten miles of walking!
I awoke at 7:20 ready for the full English breakfast, as I didn't want the pancake special on offer. I was one of the first off the ship walking to the Fundacion tram stop. I bought two single tickets for 2.70 euros and hopped on the next tram to La Laguna. I headed for the tourist information office which had an early opening, but the guide was available in all the main languages, except English! I spent an hour and a quarter walking around the old capital, before catching the tram back to La Paz. I then walked back to the ship via La Rambla and the City Park.
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At noon, I had the burger and chips, but with no bread, al fresco on the Verandah sat with Shirley. At 12:45 I escorted my fourth choice Easy Teide tour. It transpired that I had been given this excursion in order to train Katarzyna from the Spa, who was escorting for the very first time! We drove up through the Canarian Pine forest to a restaurant on the plateau for refreshments. We had half an hour at the famous Rocques de Garcia, which used to appear on a peseta bank note. On the way down from the majestic volcano, we had another photo opportunity at the multi-coloured layers of ash.
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Back at the ship, I quickly slipped into my Spanish polo shirt ready for the paella party on the Verandah and the flamenco show beside the pool. At 6:15 I danced to the trio mainly with Alison, but Jan did ask me for a quickstep. At 7 o'clock I gave the paella a miss and had the sirloin steak for a second time inside, sat inside with Les from Peterborough again. We talked mainly about dogs, after last night's discussion mainly about football!
Back in the cabin, I finally got around to backing up my photos from the previous three days. At 9:15 we had a folkloric show around the pool. It consisted of one guitarist, one drummer and three lady dancers. It went on for 50 minutes until Stuart came on and I led off the first dance with Alison and the second with a married lady. I then went to bed at 10:45. During the day I had done over twenty one thousand steps, equivalent to over eight miles of walking!
I awoke at 7:15, fifteen minutes before my alarm, ready for the egg Florentine special breakfast, sat with Les an another lady. At 8:30 I was escorting my fourth choice Leisurely Gran Canaria tour. We began at the famous viewpoint in Playa del Ingles overlooking the extensive Maspalomas sand dunes.
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Our second photostop was overlooking Puerto Rico, before arriving in Puerto de Mogán. We had to park by the bus station and walk for ten minutes into town, but this proved too much for some pax who fell by the wayside. We then had an hour's free time in this lovely little fishing village and seaside resort. I walked all the way round the harbour taking pictures in the hot sunshine.
Back at the ship, I had a late lunch of chicken, pork AND salmon al fresco sat with Shirley and two other ladies. I then slept for an hour and a half, before walking into the city. I went in the foyer of the new aquarium, which had gone up from 25 to 29 euros, to buy another one of their one euro baseball caps.
At the famous circular AC Hotel I took the lift to the top at the suggestion of my morning's guide, Elly the Dutchwoman. From the circular cocktail bar you have to climb two extra sets of steps to get to the rooftop swimming pool which has fantastic 360 degree views. Next I popped into the tourist information office in the Spanish revival architecture building. I walked across the isthmus to the fabulous Las Canteras beach, before returning via the Mole shopping mall to the ship.
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At 6:15 I had my busiest dance set so far, dancing three times with Alison, twice with Jan, once with Maureen and also with a couple of married ladies too! Back in my cabin, I drew my curtains and updated this blog. At 7:30 I dined on the rib eye steak for a second time sat with Linda & Terry from Horsham. Unfortunately Terry has Motor Neurone Disease (MND) which may have killed my brother last summer. Their son had played hockey for GB in the Sydney Olympics and their grandson plays rugby with the Harlequins!
At 9 o'clock I went to a very thin dance set after the earlier one had been so busy. At 9:30 I watched the excellent World in Motion production show with the usual songs from England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy and the USA. Back up in the Britannia lounge I did sambas with saxophonist Liz, with Jan and with Alison. We finished the set with the party samba. I went to bed at eleven o'clock. During the day I had done over twenty three thousand steps, equivalent to nearly nine miles of walking!
I awoke at 6 o'clock and dozed for an hour. At 7:30 I had the special Spanish omelette with crispy bacon, sat with an ex-GP from Wingham in Kent, now living in Hungerford. At 9:30 I escorted my third choice tour: "Highest Viewpoints & Fantastic Caves". Unfortunately the pax hadn't been told to collect their packed lunches from the dining room, so we were 15 minutes late leaving after some picnics had been brought out for them.
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Our first stop was at the Mirador Los Helechos with views of the North of the island. Our second photo opportunity was at César Manrique's famous Mirador del Rio overlooking the companion island of Graciosa. Here I had a complimentary café con leche. Our final, extended stop was at the Jameos del Agua lava tube. We descended to the cavern containing the blind, white crabs, before ascending to the elongated swimming pool. We detoured into the auditorium, before emerging outside again. People then ate their packed lunches sitting on the walls around the car park. I went round redistributing the food as necessary, before walking down to the sea.
Back at the ship, I missed the last shuttle bus into town, so slept for one hour until awoken by the Captain's announcement. I did six lengths of the warm pool and then spent half an hour in one of the hot tubs. I chatted to a lady from Derbyshire who had been evacuated from her home directly beneath the reservoir dam that nearly burst last year!
At the Britannia Club cocktail party two married ladies asked me to do the Viennese Waltz with them to the playing of the string quartet! I then sat with Shirley, who I invited to dine with me in the waiter service side of the Grill. We sat with a couple from North London who now live in Cambridgeshire. I had the Chateaubriand beef.
At 9 o'clock I danced with Alison, Jan, Maureen and a married lady to the recorded music. At 9:45 I went to the SLO's excellent third big band concert, this time playing movie music. Back up in the Britannia Lounge, the MoTown show had already finished and the trio's disco had already begun, so I didn't linger. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock. During the day I had done nearly 12,750 steps, equivalent to about five miles of walking!
I awoke at 6:50 ready for the poached egg on seaweed special breakfast. At 10:15 I gave my 40 minute talk on Lisbon. Sat by the Explore ashore desks for fifteen minutes, I answered a few questions, but I missed the line dancing been given to 16 pax upstairs.
I changed into my Spanish polo shirt for the early and poorly attended tapas lunch by the pool. The trio were playing and I did the party samba on my own and one dance with Maureen. Next up came the 'jazz' session by half the SLO in the Britannia lounge. However they were still playing big band swing music, so I did two dances each with Jan & Maureen, plus one each with SLO singer Sarah, SLO saxophonist Liz and guest Bo.
Out on the Verandah, I had the star gazey pie with chips and peas, but no starter or dessert, sat with Shirley and dance instructor Simon. Rolly was still doing my cabin, so I tried to sleep on a top deck lounger, but gave up after fifteen minutes.
Back in my cabin, I slept for an hour and a half, before watching my Lisbon talk on the TV. I went up to the Lido, but the clouds had come in and the pool was cordoned off, so I descended to the hydrotherapy pool in the spa.
For the first time this cruise there was no early evening dancing in the Britannia Lounge, so I went to the Grand Dining Room for the only time this cruise at 6:30. After fifteen minutes, I was joined by Jill from Somerset, then ladies from Chiselhurst, Haywards Heath and Saffron Walden. Later still Brian the bridge teacher arrived, followed by another lady. I had the game consommé to begin, followed by the green salad, the sirloin steak for a third time with jacket potato and veggies, finishing with the hazelnut macaroon.
At nine o'clock I had a few dances before descending to the theatre for Gerry Graham's usual comedy routine, but with some extra amusing songs. Back up in the Britannia lounge, I danced a few times with Jan, Anna and Alison to the trio, before going to bed at 11:15. During the day I had done nearly ten thousand steps, equivalent to about four miles of walking!
I awoke at 6:45 ready for my mushroom ragout with poached egg and crispy bacon special breakfast sat with Les from Peterborough. At 8 o'clock the captain announced that it was too windy to go into Lisbon, so we would be having an extra day at sea. I had been due to escort the Coastal Drive & Wine Tasting tour as another first time escort needed training! I rushed down to the entertainments office to offer my services, but no one was around. Back in the cabin and Michelle phoned me, so I offered my Tommy Cooper lecture, which was slotted in at 10 o'clock in the new sea day programme. I then gave my 40 minute talk to an appreciative audience.
At 11:15 I went to Howie's Ella Fitzgerald lecture in the Playhouse Theatre, but fell asleep. At noon I lunched on a smoked salmon salad with just a few chips, sat with Shirley and a couple from Kenilworth. I then slept for over two hours, so I must have been tired! I backupped my photographs from the last two ports, before having a mug of red bush tea in the Grill.
I foolishly gave Captain Nick's birthday party a miss, which turned out to have the eight piece SLO playing, with Sarah singing and scope for dancing! Instead I went to the hydrotherapy pool for fifteen minutes of wallowing.
At 6:30 I went to the excellent "We are the Champions" production show. When this ended, I dined on the roast leg of beef, sat with Les & Bob from the SLO appreciation society and Nick from Plymouth, whose wife was sea sick. The latter told me about the Royal William Dockyard in Devonport, which I didn't know about.
At 9 o'clock I danced to Stuart in the Britannia Lounge, before the SLO took over. I danced with all the usual suspects several times including dance instructress Anna, social hostess Hilary and dance hostess Alison. I had an attack of heartburn half way through the set, but a sachet of Gaviscon liquid soon had me dancing again. When Chris called a samba, I led off the party samba with Maureen, but it was mostly jiving to the lovely big band. They did a full one hour set with several songs sung by the lovely Sarah. I went to bed at 11:15 after a super evening. During the day I had done over ten thousand steps, equivalent to over four miles of walking!
I was awoken at 3:30 by a huge wave which came over the bow and struck my window on deck nine! I awoke again at 7:45 ready for the Arnold Bennett special smoked haddock omelette. At 9:30 two of the professional dancers taught three line dances to a dozen pax. Whilst we were dancing, Chief Engineer Mark Cameron arrived to inspect the window in the Britannia Lounge on deck 12, that had been smashed in the night by the huge wave! I had to slip out before 10 o'clock to hear Howie's interesting talk on British Trad Jazz players, including all the famous names.
At 11:00 I went to Dr. Philip's 50 minute talk with amazing photographs entitled Heavenly Bodies and the Northern Lights. At 12:15 I lunched on the steak & kidney (snake & pygmy?) pie sat with Dr Philip & Janet. Towards the end we were joined by Fred, who regaled us with his tales as a film extra. I then slept for nearly two hours, before updating this blog. I spent twenty minutes in the spa's hydrotherapy pool, before getting into my formal wear.
Back in my cabin, I received a message from one of my agents offering us some more Crystal cruises, including a Big Band & Ballroom Dance cruise, which I must bid for! At 6:30 I dined on the surf & turf in the waiter service side of the Grill, sat with Catherine from Witney and a couple from Lancaster. The gent had been a lecturer in French at the university there, so we knew some people in common, like Luciano Cheles, Al Cohan, Philip Reynolds and Fanny Leach!
At 9 o'clock I danced with Alison, Jan, Maureen, Liz and a couple of married ladies to recorded music in the Britannia Lounge. At 9:45 I went to the Playhouse Theatre, where Simon and Anna danced a historical sequence of jive dances to open the show. Then comedian Gerry gave his second comedy show with some amusing songs. When he finished at 11:10, I adjourned to my cabin. I went to sleep at 11:45.
I awoke at 7:30 ready for the full English breakfast sat with Les from Peterborough. At 9:30 Nick & Belinda taught a couple of new line dances to 13 pax. At 10 o'clock I went to see the wonderful wildlife pictures from South Africa taken by Dr. Philip & Janet. Halfway through, I had an attack of heartburn, but couldn't easily get out. However it quickly passed, without medication.
At 11 o'clock I listened to Howie's talk on (Be)Bop to Pop. He played a series of great pop songs from artists like the Beatles, which were massacred by jazz artists. I do hate jazz music!
At noon, I lunched on the gammon, chips & peas sat with Shirley and ladies from Melksham and Kirkwall. The latter will be flying up from SoToN to Edinburgh with FlyBE tomorrow and then on to Orkney the following day. I then slept for nearly two hours.
At four o'clock I photographed the window on deck 12 that had been smashed by a freak wave the night before last. I had a mug of red bush tea as I deposited my glossy magazines in the library. At five o'clock I had just fifteen minutes in the spa's hydrotherapy pool, before packing.
At 6:15 I was on duty in the Captain's farewell party. I chatted with Les, Shirley and Tanya, with the latter on my Greenland cruise. I danced with Alison and Jan, but only smooches to the classical quartet. After the Captain had spoken, John told his naughty Noddy story.
I dined on the cauliflower cream soup, the mixed grill with chips and mushy peas, followed by some cheeses, but no dessert. I sat with a lady from Presteigne in the Welsh Marches. She had read geography at Bedford College London and wanted to know how I did my animated flags ready for her own WI presentation. She will also be on my Greenland cruise in the summer.
We then had a marathon dance session lasting two hours, firstly for 45 minutes to recorded music, then 75 minutes of Chris Dean's SLO Savoy octet. I danced many times with Alison, Maureen and Jan, plus some other ladies. I also bagged dances with ACD Michelle and Guest Relations Manager Annie Popova! I didn't get to sleep until 11:30 and then had a disturbed night!
My alarm woke me at 6:30 ready for the full English breakfast sat with Maureen from Enfield and a couple from Herefordshire. I said goodbye to Dr Philip, Janet & Simon in the Grill buffet, before updating this blog one last time on the ship. I had tag A with a set time of 7:50, but we didn't get off until 8:10. I got home at 9:15 after another super cruise!
One lady later wrote: "I am the lady from Presteigne in the Welsh Marches who joined you on the last evening of the Canaries cruise. I was amused at your blog entry for that evening, that I got a mention!"
Alan wrote: "Thanks for dancing with Alison on the cruise, she very much enjoyed it"
Another lady wrote: "Loved your blogs. I did not know that you had been wakened by that [shall I say freak wave], not nice, reminds me of seven years ago on Sapphire when we hit the force 12. It was most enjoyable having your company for lunch so many times and of course the formal dinner. But I would have been much happier if I had been able to dance with you. Sorry to admit I gradually got worse as the cruise went on. I trust that next time we meet I will be back to normal with 'itchy feet'."
A third lady wrote: "I greatly enjoyed reading your very detailed log about our Canaries cruise and was very flattered that I got mentioned!"
I scored 1.77 in the pax end of cruise questionnaire.
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13 Dining tables hosted 7 Lectures given 6 Port talks given 5 Ports revisited 5 Tours escorted 4 Cocktail parties (First, Britannia Club, Newcomers & Last) 3 Dance hosts 2 Dance instructors 1 Enrichment lecture (Tommy Cooper)
10 Cruise Lines: √ Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines √ Saga Shipping Company √ Voyages of Discovery √ Seabourn (Carnival) √ Princess (Carnival) √ Cunard (Carnival) √ P&O (Carnival) √ Celebrity (RCCL) √ Silversea (RCCL) √ Crystal