Day 16 - Aruba

Day 15 – Friday 24^th January 2014 – Aruba

Awake for 08.00 and off to the Britannia Restaurant for served breakfast of fruit salad/omelette/ toast prior to our 09.15 arrival in Aruba.

Situated in the southern Caribbean, Aruba is just eighteen miles north of Venezuela and belongs to the Netherlands Antilles.  The island is 19 ½ miles long and 6 miles wide.

Noordam and Queen Elizabeth

We were on the same berth as the Holland America’s cruise liner ‘Noordam’ and were ashore by 10.00

We visited the harbour’s submarine excursion office to see if there were any places available but unfortunately not for the times we required.  Along to Starbucks for iced tea and internet connection, once again let down by their free wi-fi and I will never bother with them again.

We found another bar on the main street and on the upstairs shaded veranda made contact on the internet and while sipping our beer sent as much as we possibly could, before it became something resembling work.

A stroll along to the bus station and boarded bus L10 and for $2.30 we went along to Palm Beach about three miles north of the town.

Colin in relax mode

The bus stop was outside one of the big hotels and a walk through the grounds brought us to the palm lined white sandy beach.  Lots of sun loungers for the many tourists enjoying the surroundings with lots of activity just off the beach with swimmers, snorkling, power boats and paragliding.  Not wanting to be too energetic it could not be missed, a plodge in the Caribbean.  A long time since I have been plodging,(walk barefoot at the water’s edge).  Next time I will remember to bring my bathers.

An hour on the beach was quite sufficient and back to the bus stop, when a mini-bus pulled in and asked us to jump in. All part of the transport system for the same fare $2.30 took us back to Oranjestad, the port capital.

Still relaxing

We arrived back a little early to go back on board and went into the market and bought ourselves hats and proudly wearing these found another veranda bar for our last beer ashore.  Our six hours on the island was a great experience, the locals were very obliging and friendly and you could easily pick out the Dutch influence in its architecture and culture.

Back on board, I retrieved and switched on my mobile phone and found a signal, the Dutch influence.  Prior to sailing, spent the next hour, sending and receiving texts to family and friends.  At 17.00 we left following the other cruise liner out of the port leaving behind fond memoirs of Aruba.

The dress code tonight is casual, which means no jackets are required; are they letting the standards slip, anyway, it is most welcome, as we sipped our Aruba Mojiotos in the Café Carinthia.

For dinner enjoyed sea food salad/pork/crème flambé.

Onto midship’s Deck 9 next to the swimming pool, the band Nexus were belting it out for the Caribbean party.  All were jumping about and thoroughly enjoying it under the warm starlight canopy, this all ended at midnight but not for us; into the Commodore Club and with only us two and the bar staff finished the day in a mood of glowing happiness.

Day 14 - At Sea

Day 14 – Thursday 23^rd January 2014

Day 14 - Thursday 23rd January 2014 - At Sea

The morning in the gym and sauna are spent with the usual suspects, I am surprised there are not as many takers to this fine facility.  The Pilipino attendants are used to me now and we chat away about anything and it is all very friendly.

Even managed to go on deck for a bit of bronzy but not too much as the sun is very strong and I have plenty time to work on the tan.

Today’ lecture in the theatre was given by John Laverick  on ‘The Panama Canal – Its History, Construction and Operation’.  This was most informative and as this will be one of the highlights of the cruise, the theatre was full and it can hold around 700 people and covers three decks at the forward end of the ship.

There are many and varied activities and today I joined another group.  The ‘Singers at Sea’, a choir, and this was to be our first rehearsal.  Lead by Leah, a canny lass from Sunderland; about thirty of us turned up and accompanied by Robin on the piano, we went through our assigned songs.  For our first go it was not too bad but it was a laugh

.

Tonight was another Captain’s welcome party for all of those Americans who have just joined us.  It was a formal night and the Americans really get into the dressing up.  The champagne reception was great, our Captain with his wonderful banter introducing his senior officers.  I also re-introduced myself to the Chief Engineer, found the Staff Engineer and chatted with him before going off to dinner talking with the Apprentice Engineer, a Sunderland lad who is studying at South Tyneside college where I studied took all of my tickets.

Dinner was salmon/plaice/parfait which all were excellent.

Our wine waiter Goran has got the measure of us, as at night he presents the wine menu alternatively to us for our selections.  The wine is grand with a very fine selection; we choose normally $35 to $45 a bottle and have not made a bad choice yet.  Of course we stay away from the ridiculously expansive wines.

Today’s cocktail is Black Russian very nice, every day there is different special price on one of the cocktails, reduced price of $6.

After dinner we are having these in the Golden Lion listening to the karaoke before ending up the Yacht club for night caps.

A very enjoyable day and look found to tomorrow’s visit to the Caribbean island of Aruba.

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 13 – Wednesday 22^nd January – 2014

Up early and into the gym followed by the sauna, the only way I have found on here to recover from the lethal drink.

Spent the morning tiding up the cabin and placing them in places which I can remember where I have put them.

The dance lesson today was going back to the slow waltz and I am getting the hang of this one.

This was followed by lunch in Weatherspoon’s, our new American guests have started to find this place as it was just about full.

The weather is set fair and warm and the first time on the trip, I went up to the aft end of Deck 9 which is one of the sun decks,  on which there is a swimming pool with two Jacuzzis’, a bar and a food preparation area.  Sun loungers and towels are provided and cover the whole deck area.  A half hour lie in the sun was most beneficial.

Spent the rest of the afternoon, doing the blog site and even found time to get the banjo out of its case, for a bit of practice.

The cocktails in the Café Carinthia were Harvey Wallbangers.

It was another formal dress night and for dinner I had soup/sirloin steak/chocolate cake.

In the ballroom going on was the Black and White Ball while we passed by on our way to the theatre.  The show was a musical called ‘Hotel Royal’ and a very good production.

After the show, it was off to bed as the clocks were advancing one hour.

Day 12 - Fort Launderdale

Day 12 – Tuesday 21^st January 2014 – At Sea

Awake 06.30 and up on deck for 07.00 for our arrival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It is a bright morning, overcast but most importantly it is warm.  The view from Deck 9 of the full port area surrounded by palm trees and the greenery of the everglades makes a pleasant change to the bumpy sea of green, we had seen for the past couple of days.  Twenty miles to the south and we can see the tall buildings of Miami.

Breakfast at 07.30 in the Britannia restaurant of Eggs Benedict sets you up nicely for the day.  After the port formalities we were ashore by 09.45.  Into a taxi and little did we know the fun starts shortly afterwards.  Driving down the road in the morning traffic, a police siren starts wailing behind us and the police motor cyclist wants us to stop and the taxi pulls up in the centre of the road.  The cop dismounts and ambles up to our coloured driver accusing him of a traffic violation of shooting a red and wanting to see his license and papers.  All I can see and attracted to through the window is this big handgun strapped to the cop’s hip.  We did not see the cab going through the red light and while we were being investigated the driver turned off the meter.  The driver was given a ticket and we were on our way again. We had only been ashore fifteen minutes.

Beach

The taxi dropped us off at the ‘Jungle Queen’ a river trip boat to take us round the canals.  The ticket office informed the next sailing was not until 13.30 so we had three hours to kill and were directed to the nearest bar behind the office as it had started to rain.

In the Bahia Cabana we tried to link into the internet but failed again while we had tea/coffee and French toast, feeling full now.  We strolled along the beach boulevard which is very pleasant with its clean beach lined by palm trees.  We even went shopping and bought a pair of shorts each.  We gave the bars along the front the once over looking for a likely spot for later in the day.

Jungle Queen

We strolled back to the ‘Jungle Queen’ who was now back on her berth and took up a place on the top deck, at the stern for the taking of pictures and movie.

The three hour trip was amazing passing along the river and canals to see the houses where the rich people live and the yachts which they owned.  This is how the other half live and it is overwhelming the amount of wealth.

Wealth

               

Wealth

Alex and Wally

Half way through the tour you are allowed shore at an island for a beer and an alligator show.

 In a pond, this guy with a twelve foot alligator about 70 years old and a younger one about eight feet long which he starts dragging around.  This ends with the guy putting his head into the alligators open mouth, scary stuff.  He let me have my picture taken holding the little three and half foot long alligator called Wally, which is which.

Speilberg's Yacht

Back on board and sail back going the same way past the wealth of the rich and famous. 

We pass this two hundred foot yacht owned by Steven Spielberg.  Informed he has a similar one tied up on the west coast of America.

Long Island Ice Tea

By the time we leave the boat it is raining but it is warm and wandered off back along the beach to a bar we had spotted earlier.  It was happy hour with 2-4-1 drinks. 

Colin introduced me to a drink called Long Island Iced Tea served in gold fish bowls for $30.  At last we have internet connection and got to work on sending some of these blogs.  The drink was exceptional so we ordered another one, half way through this, it became difficult to understand how my computer was working as I began missing and pressing the wrong keys.  I was tiddilee, so ordered a taxi and back on board for 19.30.

I was in no fit state to go to dinner but Colin made it, he even went to the theatre.

I went on deck 9 to watch the ship sail and I was the only one up there.  We had a great day in Fort Lauderdale but no more of those Long Island Iced Teas for me.  I was in bed for 22.00.

Day 11 - At Sea

Day 11 – Monday 20^th January 2014 – At Sea

Early rise, go into the gym for a proper session, followed by a relaxing sauna.

Today has been assigned as laundry day while our dress white shirts go off to the ship’s laundry at a cost of $6 a shirt.  For the rest of washing, on each deck there is a laundrette with three washing machines and driers with washing powder being provided, there is also an iron and ironing board. Colin was assigned to this task but he was not too happy on his return.  Not with the facilities but the other guests who were using the machines for only three of four items and not reading the notices, on how to operate the machines properly.

At 11.00 went to a lecture given by John Laverick on ‘One hundred years before Panama – the birth of canals’.  An insight, into the early history of the British Canal system, and how they are maintained.

The lunch time dance lessons, the salsa which is more wiggling about.

The rest of the afternoon is spent getting to grips with this blog site and siesta.

Today’s cocktail is Sundowner, which is Tequilla and pineapple, very nice.

 Dinner of salmon/lamb/ice cream.

Tonight’s show in the theatre is John Nations, an American juggler and he was good.

Bed after the show, as an early start in the morning for arrival in Fort Lauderdale.

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 10 – Sunday 19^th January 2014 – At Sea

Woke up this morning feeling very stiff, after all of yesterday’s walking, so had a quiet session in the gym and an enjoyable sauna.

We were in the Golden Lion for 11.00 for the match between Chelsea and Manchester United.  Good session with bangers and mash for lunch.

Went to bed and out like a light for the rest of the afternoon.

The evening’s cocktail in the Café Carinthia is Mint Julep, strange this one, stuffed full of mint, not to my liking.

Dinner is cheese tomatoes/sirloin steak/figs and ice cream, all very nice.

Missed out on the theatre but watched others dancers in the ballroom before going to the Yacht Club to finish off the day.

Day 9 - New York

Day 9 – Saturday 18^th January 2014 – New York

Awake at 06.00 and up on deck for the arrival in New York.  We had crossed the Atlantic and sailed 3200 miles at an average speed of 18 knots. You pass under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and head up New York harbour.

Statue of Liberty

At 07.30 we were passing the Statue of Liberty and in the early morning light with it’s floodlights still on, I can see how the immigrants to this country were so inspired by it.

It is a wonderful monument in a unique position within the harbour.

Next to it is Ellis Island where the immigrants were processed before being allowed into the country.

The sky scrapers are becoming more evident as you approach lower Manhattan on Staten Island to the right and New Jersey to the left and you are now in the Hudson River.

The tallest building in lower Manhattan is the replacement for the demolished World Trade Centre. 

Lower Manhattan

  Though it is a cold cloudy morning the visibility is good.  After passing the piers and an aircraft carrier now used as a naval museum on which there are parked various aircraft including a stealth bomber, while alongside it has a submarine and on the quayside the Concorde aircraft. Also on the deck of the aircraft carrier in a newly constructed hanger is a space shuttle.  I would have enjoyed visiting this lot with it being very close at the next pier but time was going to be short and not achievable.

We were tied up alongside Pier 88 at 08.45 and went down for breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant to be served with eggs benedict and very nice.  The ship is now being processed by the Immigration and Border Agency with 2800 people to be seen, while the ship’s crew are put through their paces by the Coastguard Inspectors.  There are also 700 passengers leaving the ship today, to be replaced later with an equal number.  We were given permission at 11.45 to go ashore and off the ship, we were held in the quayside shed in a crocodile line to pass through immigration and were outside by 12.15.  With seven hours allowed ashore, it was New York here we come.

Central Park

We turned left and headed up towards Central Park a stroll of about half an hour.  This is not the best part of the city but we slowly got used to the grid street system of the avenues run from north to south and the streets east to west.  Around 72^nd Street we passed the Lincoln Centre, the arts and culture centre.

 New York being in winter with an icy blast the week before, all the trees are without leaves and the grass short and weary.  There are lots of people around, joggers, dog walkers and tourists; some have taken advantage of the horse drawn carriages which meander around the park.  The spectacular bit is the park is surrounded by sky scrapers and this is an oasis of peace in this hectic city.

United Nations Building

   We left the park and headed in the direction of the East River

and started to walk into the busier areas with the Avenues being six lane highways, crossing  streets is a bit daunting and you have to have 360 degrees vision.  Reaching the United Nations Building was a bit of a disappointment, with the security you could not get near and from the many flagpoles which stand outside, not one flag was flying, except one UN flag at the entrance.  This is where they bring peace to the World. I feel like writing to the boss, Ban Ki Moon for my money back.

Chrysler Building

On our way now the short distance to Grand Central Station and the description is in the name.  You may never see another station of this grandeur. 

  The marble interiors on all levels are magnificent with its ornate grand hall.  Just before you enter, there is the Chrysler Building, a wonderful sky scraper with its Gothic design, stands out amongst the other buildings.

Subway

  Down into the subway and we took the downtown train.  Always wanted to do this, after seeing a few years ago Rod Steward’s video of his song, On a Downtown Train.  After about twenty minutes came out at the City Hall and made our along the Brooklyn Bridge linking Manhattan to Brooklyn. We walked half way along above the East River and wondered on the fine views of Manhattan, to the north and the Empire State Building and to the south of the newer Lower Manhattan buildings.

      

Colin

Alex

All dressed up for the cold, the wind is blowing a little and it is raw.

Off the bridge and on our way to Wall Street, the financial district, I was surprised at the narrowness of the street .  Crossed over Broadway and came to Ground Zero, there were big queues trying to go in.

Ground Zero

The replacement building for the Twin Towers is very impressive and of course around this area there is still a lot construction going on.

We are now starting to lose the light as the evening sets in and it is back to the subway and a half an hour train journey to Times Square.  We come out into the not so square and it is full of people, it is dark with lights everywhere.

             The amazing light shows with the hustle and bustle of the place.  The temperature now is at freezing point and we head into Starbucks for a warming coffee and try their free wi-fi; but still no luck in contacting the UK.

Times Square

We leave there and head back to the ship about a ten minute walk to Pier 88 and get back on board for 19.15.  A wonderful run ashore, taking in most of the city sites, in which Colin turned into a most knowledgeable guide and I had only spent six dollars, it could be a record.

A good wash and brush up and into the ship’s Weatherspoon’s, the Old Speckled Hen went down a treat.  Dinner consisted of sea food salad/salmon/ice cream.  My abiding memory, during dinner, of being sat at the dinner table while out of the panoramic window, the flood light, Statue of Liberty, gliding by.  

In the theatre, the show was for our new guests, the forthcoming artists who would be appearing in this part of the voyage.  We ended the night in Café Carinthia and by 12.30 the ship was dead with everyone off to their beds, it had been a long day.

New York certainly a bonus, as I had previously been here fifty years ago, a pleasure to return and I would once more like to come back.                      

Day 8 - At Sea

Day 8 – Friday 17^th January 2014 – At Sea

Somebody’s prays have been answered, the wind and seas have gone down and we going for it, at our maximum speed of 23/24 knots, this is the fasted for me on any ship, I have sailed on before.  The downside of this for Cunard, at this speed, the ship will be consuming 250 tons of fuel in 24 hours.

The morning gym exercises were followed by a tour of the Britannia Restaurant galley, a look around behind the scenes.  A short but informative tour and all of the chefs were very happy to answer any of our questions.

Today’s dance session was the quick step, amazingly, I got the hang of this one and managed two laps of the dance floor before being told to stop.

Lunch in Weatherspoon’s, cheese pasty and a pint, I must be cutting down.

Dress code for tonight is informal and the special evening cocktail is Pimms No.1 not quite to my liking but we got it down, preferred the canapés.

Theatre entertainment was London Palladium night with a take-off of the stars who had appeared there.  I was really impressed with costumes and dance routines, it really is very, very professional and I have not spotted a step out of place.

After the show we had already made the decision, no night caps, and went off to our beds knowing an early start in the morning for arrival in New York.

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 7 – Thursday 17^th January 2014 – At Sea

Today the weather has not really improved with a Force 7/8 gale with cloudy skies.

The morning session in the gym and sauna certainly gets you in the right frame of mind and sets you up the rest of the day.

The 11.00 lecture in the theatre was given by Ellen Baker, our astronaut, with a talk on My Favourite Plant, Earth and how life may have evolved here and what may be out there in space.  Once more presented with some amazing pictures and thought provoking, keeps the brain cells moving.

Dance session today was the advanced waltz, I have not even mastered the basic waltz, so it was in at the deep end though I managed not to kick anybody.

The Golden Lion (Weatherspoon’s) lunch time session with cottage pie which then moved into an afternoon siesta.

Dress code today is formal and all spruced up for pre-dinner drinks and canapés.  Tonight everyone was at the dinner table and I had prawns/lobster/baked Alaska which was excellent.  The night in the restaurant ended with a parade of the chefs, dressed in their white suits and hats, they walked around the tables in a crocodile line while all of us clapped and cheered until they gathered at the main restaurant staircase for a photo shoot, it was very impressive.

Into the theatre for a variety show which included the dancers, the very funny comedian and the brilliant piano player.  We ended the night in the Golden Lion, a karaoke with nut case Laura, the presenter in charge.  She sure puts a smile on your face.

Alas, the seas are building up again, as we try to make up for lost time and maintain our speed, we are bouncing about and it is going to be another rocky night.

Day 6 - At Sea

Day 6 – Wednesday 15^th January 2014 – At Sea

At last the wind and sea have eased with a force 3/4 wind and a sunny day.  There are even better views today of the sea from the gym and sauna.

We are starting to get into a routine on board with exercises in the morning, lunchtime dance session, today being the jive, followed by Weatherspoon’s for lunch.  With the afternoon spent wandering about trying to take in the lots of wonderful things on board.  Colin tends to go off to the movies which are held in the theatre in the afternoons.

This morning the crew held an emergency exercise which simulated a cabin fire on Deck 4 midship, it was not ours, it all went very well.  Questioning the Pilipino crew members they all enjoyed taking part, which is very reassuring.

We receive every night a daily program which is very informative of all the activities which will be going on the following day.  Giving you plenty of time to plan the next day and pick which of the many and varied activities you wish to join in.

Tonight the dress code is informal and today’s cocktail special is Mojioto, gin with a lot of mint, strange taste but they went down well with the canapés in the Café Carinthia.

Dinner consisted of shrimp soup/steak diane/apple tart and once again, very nice indeed.

A stroll along to the theatre, after dinner, to see a production by the singers and dancers of Vanity Fair.  The costumes were magnificent and the dance routines spectacular.

At the end of the show we went to the ballroom where the orchestra were playing big band music.  When it all finished, it was up to the Yacht Club but there were not many people around, maybe they cannot stand the pace.  We ended another very enjoyable day with our Mojiotos. 

Day 5 - At Sea

Day 5 – Tuesday 14^th January 2014 – At Sea

It is nothing like this as the Atlantic gale persists and we are down to just over 12 knots.  The skies are overcast and the deck areas are still closed off and those with balconies are advised to keep the doors closed.

The morning of gym sessions were very enjoyable as the exercises are becoming a little easier.  Today, I found just behind the gym on the starboard side, a door leading to a changing/locker room, with an adjoining shower room and a sauna.  I am a great admirer of this type of relaxation, so it is kit off and into the sauna.  Now these are normally a wooden box in which you gradually cook until you perspire profusely.  The difference here, the box has only three wooden sides with a stove in the corner with the coals on top to throw the water on.  The fourth side has a clear window from the deck head (ceiling) to deck (floor). So, here you are, sat on the wooden bench on Deck 9 in your birthday suit, lathed in sweat looking out to the sea, watching a gale raging in the Atlantic Ocean, it is surreal.

Today’s dance class was the samba, more wiggling with little else to show for it, though the ship’s movement helped everyone in a strange sort of way to get round the floor.

The lunch and pints in Weatherspoon’s was accompanied by the ship’s orchestra playing traditional jazz and they were great.  At 14.00, there was an informal masonic meeting held on Deck 10 in the Admiral’s Lounge, ten of us turned up.  We could not really achieve or organise anything, as most of the others are leaving the ship in New York, but two of us are going all the way round and await to see if others may attend forthcoming meetings.  We all received certificates, stating we had all met on the Queen Elizabeth.

Took advantage of Deck 3 being open and with movie camera took pictures all the way round the deck, to show how this ship operates in bad weather.

Dress code tonight is either formal or informal, monkey suit for me.  Pre-dinner drinks and canapés in the Café Carinthia, we were back to our normal G&T’s which were cheaper than today’s cocktail special.  Dinner consisted of scallops/lamb/caramelised banana, it was delicious.  For the first time our table for six was full, with Colin and myself, Linda and Richard a couple from Norfolk who run a bed & breakfast business.  Alison and Joanne, who are both lawyers from the Bristol area.   

On leaving the restaurant, everyone swaying along the lavish corridor making our way from the stern to the forward end and into the theatre to see again the country singer Zac Winningham and this show was even better than his first.

Finished the night in the Golden Lion with a trivia quiz, hosted by Laura, (a look alike of Kate Bush) and she is unreal, a complete fruit and nut case.  We all went to bed with a smile and the gale maybe starting to ease.

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 4 – Monday 13th January 2014 – At Sea

View of the stern from Deck 3 with two azipods driving in a force 8 gale.

Another good day’s start in the gym then into the Theatre to listen to today’s lecture, ‘Working and Living in Space’, given by Ellen Baker, an American Astronaut, who has spent 24 days in space on three separate shuttle missions.  The lecture was given with many amazing photographs taken from space and how they live and work on the space station, thoroughly enjoyed the talk and it is not every day you get to meet an Astronaut.

Dance class today was the tango which proved a little difficult but a lot of fun, as we skated around the floor to the rolling of the ship. 

Weatherspoon’s, for a fish and chips lunch with a couple of pints. I good get used to this.

In the afternoon, wandered around the forward end of the ship, taking pictures of the Commodore Room, Gym and Yacht Club, then the afternoon siesta.

Cocktail of the day in the evening at the Café Carinthia was a ‘Mai Tai’ which consisted of five different spirits, it was beautiful.

Dinner’s selection was prawns/sirloin steak/ice cream, all very nice.  After dinner wandered along to the theatre at the forward end to be entertained by Marie Keane, a pianist from Manchester and she certainly could rattle those ivories, a wonderful show.

Finished off in the Commodore Room, with cocktail night caps. 

The seas are building again and the decks are closed off and expecting another bouncy night.

Day 3 - At sea

Day 3 - Sunday 11th January 2014 - At Sea

Day 3 – Sunday 12^th January 2014 – At Sea

                                    Atlantic Ocean as seen from the ship’s stern doing 19 knots.

Awake at 09.00, it had been a slightly rocky night with force 6/7 winds outside. Into to the gym for over an hour then to a meeting held by the staff entitled the flat belly seminar,  wasted on me.

Into the ballroom for the lunch time dance session, made an idiot of myself trying to do the cha-cha-cha., more wiggling required.

It was into the Golden Lion for the match, amazingly over a ploughman’s lunch with pints of Speckled Hen (my favourite) watched the Manchester City versus Newcastle game on the tele, with a perfect picture.  Pity about the score but we were 400 miles North West of Cape Finnesterre in Northern Spain.

Second formal night and all done up again, my penguin suit came with a waist coat, afraid it will be left in the wardrobe (that’s the flat belly seminar for you).  It was the Captain’s Welcome Party, we all had to form an orderly queue before being presented to him, hands shook, pictures taken and after a few friendly words, ushered into the ballroom to be given champagne and canapés.  We mingled with the ship’s officers and other invited guests (we were the second sitting lot).  I introduced myself to the Chief Engineer, Jason Truman and discussed the forthcoming voyage.  The Captain/Master, Chris Wells, this man is a star, introduced in a very light hearted manner, each of his main officers, from all of the different departments who keep this ship running.  He also informed us of the guests on board.  There are 240 doing the world wide cruise (which includes us), with a total of 1900 passengers on board, speaking 24 different languages.  A crew of 900, who spoke 40 different languages, giving a total compliment of 2800 persons on board.

For dinner this evening, it was crab/lemon sole/cheese cake.  The service is wonderful and of course, a bottle of wine with the meal.  Myself and Colin will alternate each night on the choice of wine.

Part of the night’s entertainment was the London Ball and some of the guests were into the occasion with full union jack suits and dresses.  The best one for me was the man dancing with his lady, on his head balanced a bobby’s helmet with a flashing blue light, brilliant.  For us, it was into the theatre to watch the comedian, he was very funny for someone with the ship rolling and pitching in a full gale.  The theatre is situated at the forward end on Decks 1,2 and 3.  The stage curtains were swaying back and forth, as the ship occasionally slammed into the waves. The comedian sliding about trying to keep his balance while doing the impossible of stand-up comedy.

On Deck 10 back into the Yacht Club for an Abba night, a lot more people in the room tonight, after the night caps, return to the cabin; another eventful day.

 Not advisable to go on deck, the weather is deteriorating. 

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 2 - Saturday 11th January 2014 - At Sea

Day 2 – Saturday 11^th January 2014 – At Sea

 Day 2 - Saturday 11th January 2014 - At Sea

Awake at 08.30 after a good night sleep in a very comfortable bed.  It is a sunny day with a slight sea swell from the North West and a slight breeze.  Informed at 08.00 we had passed the Bishop’s Rock light house on the Scilly Isles and now into the Western approaches doing 19 knots.

Stateroom (4120)

A visit to the gym at the forward end of Deck 9 with its many fitness machines to hopefully keep the weight down to reasonable levels.  The area covers the full width of the ship with panoramic views over the ocean, as you pedal your bicycle or straddle a rowing machine and may imagine you are rowing across the Atlantic.

Also on deck 9 is the Lido, a 24 hour eating emporium, trying to impress, I only had a light breakfast.  The fitness instructors hold seminars during the day and at 11.00, I went along to one about Detox which was alright, as I learnt about all the things, I have been doing wrong.

At 12.15 down to the Queen’s Room Ballroom situated on Deck 2 for my first dance lesson, the slow waltz.  These two skinny instructors, Darya and Eugene from the Ukraine were very good looking after a packed dance floor of nervous beginners.  We all managed to get through it.

At 13.00 back up to the Lido for a very light lunch.  On this same Deck there is the Garden Lounge in which for a couple of hours in the morning and afternoon an area is cordoned off for us worldwide cruisers to relax and have our own tea/coffee and selection of hors d’oeuvres. We also have our own hostess Rachael to look after our every needs.

Stateroom (4120)

This is all getting too much, so its time for the afternoon nap.  Early evening is spent getting polished, as it is our first formal night with the Cunard Ball.  We all looked splendid in our penguin suits and the ladies in their gowns.  For appetisers, we went to the pub, the Golden Lion on Deck 2, for gin and tonics before dining in the Britannia Restaurant on crab spring rolls/beef/apple pie which were superb.  Our French couple have moved on to be with their country folk, as I do not think they wanted to go home an English Geordie accent.

At 22.30 into the theatre to watch and listen to a young American fork/country singer, Zac Winningham, playing 60’s/70’s music and for someone who has just been playing guitar and a ukulele for 10 years, he was great.

Where to next after the show, the Cunard Ball was still going in the ballroom but we decided on what we know and back up to the Yacht Club to finish us off.  The weather had been steadily declining and for everyone’s safety they had decided to close access to Deck 3, the only one where you can actually walk all the way round the ship.  If you do 3 laps of the deck, you will have covered 0.9 mile.  I will leave that for another day when the sun is shining.