Day 92 - At Sea

Day 92 – Saturday 12^th April 2014 – At Sea

Today is all change in the Lido Restaurant, which is self- catering, is no more for the time being, because of an increase in the number of reported cases of gastrointestinal illness which are strongly suggestive of Norovirus.

You can no longer make your own cup of tea or use the drink dispenser; these are all made for you by the attended staff.  All food you have to ask for before it is handed out.  There are even more hand sterilisers and the crew are constantly going around with buckets disinfecting and wiping down all handrails, door handles and anything else which takes their fancy.

The Verandah Restaurant has been closed down for the staff to help in these other duties, though the Britannia Restaurant is functioning as normal.

There are three stages, as far as food hygiene goes, green when everything is ok, yellow when all salt/pepper, sugar packets are removed from the tables and red which we have now.

There was a lecture in the theatre given by Richard Eedle a Royal Navy Liaison Officer on ‘World Piracy is explaining what is piracy, where it occurs and what they are after.  Focusing on the Horn of Africa, explaining the precautions taken by transiting ships, and the action taken to combat the menace.

During his talk he also informed there are three armed guards on board, ex-Royal Marines and very professional.  He also thanked those amongst the passengers who are ex-Military and offered their services, but preferred to leave it to the professionals.  I think most people are itching to have a go, to shoot at anything which threatens the ship.

It was laundry day and found a lull, and spent the afternoon getting that chore out of the way, before retiring to the sun loungers for the early evening vitamin D intake.

We are making our way up close to the Indian coast, still the same as last night, not a full black out of the ship, but more of a pretend.  Tomorrow this will all change, as we arrive in Mumbai.