Cruise
on the Discovery
across the Indian Ocean
March/April 2009

(Please scroll down to see my photographs and report)

Date: Port: Flag: Escort: Comment:
14
Mar
2009
Port Louis
Mauritius
Gardens &
Sugar Mill
See photo
below
18
Mar
2009
Praslin
Seychelles
- Swimming
19
Mar
2009
Port Victoria
Seychelles
- Walked
around
town
20
Mar
2009
La Digue
Seychelles
- See photo
below
24
Mar
2009
Malé
Maldives
- Walked around
the entire
island!
26
Mar
2009
Goa
India
- No visa!
27
Mar
2009
Mumbai
India
- No visa!
30
Mar
2009
Porbandar
India
- No immigration
so bus into
town!
01
Apr
2009
Muscat
Oman
- Walked along
prom into town
03
Apr
2009
Salalah
Oman
- Took taxi
into town
08
Apr
2009
Sharm el
Sheik
Egypt
St. Catherine's Red sea hotel
late lunch
09
Apr
2009
Aqaba
Jordan
City Tour -
10
Apr
2009
Aqaba
Jordan
Petra Petra hotel
late lunch
11
Apr
2009
Safaga
Egypt
Luxor Luxor hotel
late lunch
Date: Port: Flag: Escort: Comment:




Andreea's beach on La Digue, the Seychelles

Andreea's beach on La Digue, the Seychelles



Botanical Gardens on Mauritius

Botanical Gardens on Mauritius



Old minaret in Malé, capital of the Maldives

Old minaret in Malé, capital of the Maldives



Gandhi's birthplace, Porbandar, India

Gandhi's birthplace, Porbandar, India



The promenade, Muscat, Oman

The promenade, Muscat, Oman



St. Catherine's monastery, Sinai, Egypt (C) Dr Tony Waltham

St. Catherine's monastery, Sinai, Egypt (C) Dr Tony Waltham



Petra, Jordan

Petra, Jordan



Karnak temple, Luxor, Egypt

Karnak temple, Luxor, Egypt



Doc. Martin's line dancers>

Doc. Martin's line dancers



Geoff, Lyn, John & Martin

Geoff, Lyn, John & Martin



Gertrude & Martin dancing on deck on tropical night

Gertrude & Martin dancing on deck on tropical night



Joan & Martin

Joan & Martin



Lyn, Ann & Gabrielle

Lyn, Ann & Gabrielle



Always smiling!

Always smiling!



Martin & Pauline

Martin & Pauline



Dancing on deck on tropical night

Dancing on deck on tropical night


Here's my report on the cruise:

Just to let you know that I have just got back from my month in the Indian Ocean on board the M.V. Discovery. She's a lovely old ship but was only half full so I got my own cabin! I worked with John Banfield who was amusing and the lovely Lyn & Geoff Dye who shared the dance classes. The first fortnight's cruise director liked deck parties, line dancing and a passenger talent show; the second fortnight's didn't.


Good points were:

  1. Cheap internet (from 3 US cents per minute).
  2. Wi-Fi in most lounges (Windows only, not Linux).
  3. Hosting a table in the main dining room as on Saga ships.
  4. No rules to obey (e.g. access to pools and jacuzzis).
  5. No contracts to sign.
  6. Flexible dress code.
  7. Retractable sun roof over lido deck and pool.
  8. Line dancing troupe in the passenger talent show taught and led by me.
  9. Excellent 5 piece band.
  10. Excellent classical trio playing dance music in second lounge not in a corridor as on FOCL.
  11. Duo, Trio and Band played lots of Sambas, Tangos and line dance country music as well as the usual stuff.
  12. Excellent programme of up to 4 lectures per sea day.
  13. Some good theme nights (St. Patrick's, Arabian, Indian).
  14. Speciality dance classes (tap, belly, Argentine tango etc).

Usual evening programme:


Here was my itinerary:


The pax, cruise directors, CEO and captain all said they were very pleased with our performance. Perhaps my finest cruise so far!