Cruise Review: Aurora November 07

Friday 2nd November 2007

We set off for Southampton as soon as Mr C came in from work. I expected a long delayed journey by heavy traffic but in fact we were there within 2 hours and 20 minutes. Check in at the Holiday In was swift and we were given a lovely room up on 7th floor over looking the Mayflower Terminal. But no time for a rest, we were on holiday now and pretty desperate fro a drink. Amanda & Mick were already in the bar, oh what a surprise! We had a couple of swift drinks and then walked along to TGI, to sample their ‘enhanced’ hospitality. We had eaten there the night before QM2 and vowed never to return, but they enticed us back.

It was Christmas in TGI so me and Amanda couldn’t stop ourselves from singing along and jigging around our long awaited Silver Mercedes. Service was certainly on the ball, but they seemed to have forgotten to warm my dinner up. Oh dear they had to bring me a Silver Mercedes while I was waiting. In fact we think we had 5 silver Mercedes while were there. And I suppose if we are honest, that’s all me and Amanda went there for. We enjoyed our TGI experience but we decided they will have to ‘entice’ us back again, and it wouldn’t be amongst our preferred list given any choice.

We had a rendevouz arranged at the DeVere, to meet up with Neil & Ged, so we slipped in there on the way back. Oh yes, we are going to have a fab cruise. Mr C is ‘overtired’ and decides to nod off in the Devere for 40 winks! Time to get him back across the road and into bed. He didn’t hang around and he was under the duvet snoring his brains out before I had got my coat off.

Saturday 3rd November

I really needed a good nights sleep, but as usual it didnt happen.I was awake at 4.20 and that was me done. I opened the curtains and lay back in bed keeping one eye on the window. At 6.04am the bow of Aurora crept into view and there she was all lit up in all her glory slipping into berth 106 very quietly without fuss.

Breakfast in the Holiday in was very good,.plently of choice but supervisor needs to take a chill pill. Mr C had a bit of a fight with the tomato sauce and splattered everything within 6ft of his plate!

Oh I need to get to my ship and Im like a cat on hot bricks all morning. 11.00 and we decide we can hold back no longer. There are quite a few people there already but we are there at the front of the Goldie queue. Within 20 minutes the entire snaking queue system was full and people and they were queuing outside the door. Even the Gold queue was starting to snake across the back of the building. Check in opened at noon and I was very impressed when they declared half of the desks available for Gold members. Within minutes we were in the departure lounge but our stay was brief and once we got new clipboard woman sorted out she allowed Gold members to embark the ship. Because we were carrying invitations to the Crows Nest for Gold drinks we were directed all the way. I had my bags carried for me by the lovely white gloved stewards. We sat at our usual table by the window and at last we could chill. The service was superb. Champagne just flowed and flowed and when we decided we couldn’t take anymore the lovely stewards arranged the drinks of our choice. At 3 we decided that we really probably had better go and check out our cabins, but that took all of 30 seconds and we needed some Scooby snacks so we headed for the Orangery for sandwiches, scones and tea. For November it’s a very pleasant sunny afternoon but there is no denying that it very drafty.

We return to the cabin and know that there is no getting away from it. We have to unpack, and what a marathon job that is! I simply don’t travel light and all of my stuff has to fit somewhere. Put it this way, it’s a good job that Lizy wasn’t with us this time, because there was no way we could have fitted so much as another stitch in our cabin.

Mr C had one of his super turbo power sleeps but I couldn’t manage it, but I didn’t have the strength or the time. We were most amused to discover that we didn’t have a safe. The funny thing was that the cabin steward didnt even know about it! It turned out that he was new on that section of cabins today and he hadn’t noticed either. He was very shocked to open the cupboard door to find it empty. Mystery was solved by the deck supervisor who explained that the last lady had broken it and it would be a few days or maybe a week before it came back – Mmmmm we’ll see about that!

Sailaway was delayed tonight. We are sure it was because they realised that they really did have to re stock the bars and have back up supplies which caused a bit of a panic when the checked the passenger list. But this was disguised by the fact that we had been granted special permission (loosley translated to ‘P&O have made a hell f a contribution to the Southampton Roundtable firework display) and we were granted special permission to sail late and then tootle up to the Mayflower Park and turn sideways on to block the river and watch the display. It was a most spectacular sight, with all of the city light up and the fairground and big wheel set up on the park. We had a very quiet and unceremonious sailaway from berth 106 with no band or even anyone on the dockside taking the slightest bit of notice of us, so as soon as we were away we nipped across to the starboard side and took up position along the rail for a grandstand view. At 7.30 we had a horn blasting session and that signalled the start of the display for the fireworks. It must have been the most spectacular sight for all of the spectators shore side with Aurora all lite up in all her glory with the firewoks in front and behind. We had mulled wine to keep us warm and and prom deck was buzzing. All in all a pretty spectacular sailaway.

Time to take up postion on my barstool in Andersons and top up with a few southern comforts before dinner. We had been asigned our usual table in the Medina – I think that is officially ‘our table’ now.

After dinner we trotted down to Carmens so that we could put our dancing skills to the test. It wasn’t exactly kicking in her but I was shocked when Hughie welcomed us into the room and bought us a drink!! I think even he was shocked when he realised what he had done and he had to go for a lie down. Caravan kept us suitably entertained with their tunes. Neil & Ged turned up just in time for a quickstep and before I knew what was happening I was doing what felt like double back sumersaults on every corner of the round dance floor! Blimey I felt like I’d had a crash course for an audition on Come Dancing! I look forward to perfecting my quickstep though before the end of the cruise. Neil had to go for a lie down after that spin on the floor lol. We continued to give the barstafff something to do for an hour or so before we headed for last orders in Andersons.

Cant go to bed without a visit to Café B for Scooby snacks so toasted sandwiches and hot chocolate it was. The two Mr C’s got most excited to discover that they served Horlicks and declared it the best drink of the evening. It was a long way back to our cabin and Mr C seemed to hit the mattress before I had even got through the door and be snoring his little brain out. That Horlicks must be strong stuff. Ive almost managed a 24 hour day. Awake since 4.20 and to bed at 3.30! pretty impressive!

Sunday 4th November.

Aaah a really really long lie in would have been good, but I was hungry and needed some breakie. What a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning – a lazy Sunday morning breakfast in Café B. the tea is always hot and fresh in here and its served with a smile. A lovely glass of orange juice and a warm cheese and bacon croissant. I had pre booked my nail appointment in the spa before we left the UK with Harding Bros and was amazed that I had been slotted in at my requested time. Mary Ann was lovely and did my nails beautifully, but the prices are a bit steep. Mr C had his hair cut as he didn’t have time before we left home – £30 for a gents trim!!!! Now that’s steep!!

We really didn’t do much for most of the day, just had a lazy day at sea with a relaxed and lazy lunch and a few drinks in Champions, just the way it should be.

I needed some sleep so we returned to the cabin so I could get my eyes closed for a while. But there was a note informing us that they had an outside cabin available if we wanted it! Fantastic news! I had given up all hope of an outside cabin. We had been on the waitlist for months but nothing suitable had become available. But due to a no show in Southampton a D deck outside was available. So we went and paid our money and were given the keys to our new pad and arrangements were made to move all our belongings. Ive done this before and it has been relatively easy, but this time around things didn’t go quite so smoothly. For one thing I don’t think they realised just how much stuff I had hanging in the wardrobe. My dresses alone took two lads 3 journeys! You should have seen their faces when they saw my shoe mountain lol. I had to make life easier for them and load all of my shoes into a large suitcase. The new cabin was missing a bedside cabinet, so one of those had to be transported upstairs. When we got there it didn’t match the other one, so they had to be swapped, And then to my horror, I found that all of Mr C’s shirts etc were on the wrong type of hangers for the new wardrobe so we had to swap all of those. The new cabin was roasing and despirte wedging the door open and turning the aircon down we couldn’t get it to cool down. The two stewards that moved us were excellent and they had a difficult job as the deck supervisor didn’t provide them with much in the way of trollies and dress rails. They had such a fight with the bedside draws, it was so funny (despite being tired) to watch them as they continually swapped the combination of draws to try and get them to fit. Eventually it was job done. I ran myself a well deserved bath and Mr C slept!

Captains Cocktail Party tonight but we cant let that interfear with our Anderson Pre Dinner drinks so we meet there at 7.30pm. Party was up in the Crows and it was a little bit lumpy but we didn’t spill any drinks. Always a great place to people watch.

Restaurant Manager has sent us a table host to try and rescue our table. Oh well that made for a little bit more of a jollier table. I haven’t noticed anything enhanced about the Gal menu but maybe that will come later in the cruise.

Afterward we go dancing in Carmens. Mr Gittos whizzes me a round for a quickstep and one of those poncy sequence dance things which just didn’t make sense to me. Maybe it was because my alcohol levels were up a little? Ooh I think we may have had a cha cha chaaa too!

Mr C caved in early tonight and was screaming for his bed, so off he trotted while me Amanda and Mick went to Crows for a nice chilled out drink and a natter. The waitress wanted to know where ‘my son’ was this evening. Oh hell, maybe that spa treatment this afternoon didn’t do me much good. I must be looking old. Poor girl was mortified when I told her that was my husband. Bless her it was quite amusing watching her try to back track lol.

Monday 5th November

Oooh I woke up this morning and could see the glorious sunshine out of our new window! We had a lovely view of the bay of La Corunna

I could quite easily have laid in bed for a few hours but as we are only here for the morning and it’s the last bit of land we should see for a few days we needed to make the effort to go ashore. A quick breakfast consisting of tea and pastry in the Orangery and we went for a stroll around town. It was 10.30 already but most of the shops and bars were only just openening. It will be time for siesta by the time they get the doors open and the floors mopped. We went back to the same bar on the front where I had a vodka last new year. Geee whiz it was even huger this time around. He might have well of just stuck a straw in the Absolute vodka bottle and left it on the table. Every one else had to have two rounds just to try and give me time to consume it. Only €18 though so it was a bargain for an hour sitting in the sunshine.

Back on board we headed for Champions where we had our first cocktail of the day this cruise!

Sailaway sounds on Pennant with Tropical Vision and it was helped along by sangria. Oh we had a few of those! Seemed like a good idea to phone a few people back home while they were at work too just so they could soak up the atmosphere with us lol

I just had time to trott along to Sidewalk café for an hawiian burger and while I was sat eating it out on the back deck a whale went down the Port side and then the starboard side – how cool is that?

Im having a bit of pampering this afternoon so I have to get a move on to be at the Spa for 2.30. I had seaweed wrap which I highly recommend. Exfoliation, mud wrap and massage with oils was all very relaxing and has done wonders for my skin and well being (so she tells me!). Hollywood Toes next with MaryAnn, so that’s it Im all glammed up and have lovely skin that will cope better with the sun and have toes that will look fab in sandals!

The whole experience (coupled with half a bottle of Vodka this morning washed down with sangria has left me drained and Im straight back to the cabin and under that duvet. That was it, I was zonked and off away with the faries. If mick hadn’t of phoned the cabin to let us talk to his singing dog at 6.45 I think I would have slept until 3 weeks on Wednesday!

It was a real effort to get up, showered and dressed this evening, but hey it has to be done. Pre dinner drinks n Andersons and then we had to face dinner again. It was very nice though and we washed it all down with wine and then after dinner Baileys and port.

60 & 70’s night in Carmens and it was packed when we arrived but we were in the right pace at the right time and some people were just leaving so we dived in there. 60’s & 70’s was excellent and we all strutted our stuff a little. Nobody seemed to have made the effort with with 60’s attire but it didn’t matter. Johny G was on full form and a couple of the ents team were giving it their all, all evening.

Amanda and Mick ducked out a little early this evening (well only compared to previous nights lol) and we were invited over to join Neil & Ged & Co. it wasn’t long before it was only Neil, Mr C and myself and what happened next cant even be put into words. It was one of those bizarre moments (moments bloody hell it seemed like hours at the time) where you just had to be there to experience it. It was priceless! I’ll try and explain but none of you will understand. Basically there were a coulpe who had been dancing all evening. Over the years they had obviously devised there own little routine on the dance floor which was pretty unique! Neil could resist complementing their dancing skills as they left for Masuarades and what followed next is still all a bit of a whirl. Before we knew what was happening they had both sat down and were telling us all sorts of snippets from their lives both at the same time, very fast with lots of animation, in a very broad Irish accent I might add!!! We went in a ford Anglia, in a plane over the top of the world, went through Huston airport, had a huge T bone steak, went to Futermeter (Fuetaventura) broke the safe, changed the batteries, went to reception changed her jewellery, woke up on the wrong side of Corruna this morning, went on a beautiful baby (Black Prince) went around the world and back again, we might even have gone to the moon – We have no idea, because Mr C had nipped to the loo with his camera (oh that set them off on a another tangent) and Me & Neil were the new married couple and well yes it was all very surreal. Just when we thought we had survived the experience they got up to leave, but no! He had something else to tell us which I think involved getting back on the plane and flying over the top of the world, but by this time me and Neil were helpless trying to contain the laughter that was trying to escape out of our earholes! We had to leave and we practically pushed them out of Carmens in front of us before we dived out on deck and collapsed in a heap of hysterical laughter. We couldn’t stop and I think we needed the medics really. Im sure if the cameras were on us code Blue was about to be called. We eventually calmed down enough to get the door open and try and compose ourselves for the walk a long to Masquarades. But oh no!!! There they were in the Casino talking to a waiter and we realised that as they left him they would walk out of the other door and bump into us! That was it, I was crawling up that padded curved wall opposite Champions bar! I was helpless. Tears of laughter just ran down our faces . Neil and Mr C were no better and we got some very strange looks from the few stragglers still sat at the bar! I have no idea how we made it to Masquares and walked past them to make it to the bar in one place. We darednt look around until we could see out of the corner of our eye that they had sat down with their backs to us! Neil had one drink but I could tell he needed to go and lie down after his mad experience lol. So me and Mr C had one or two more for the road. It was busy in here again tonight which was good. I think it was 10 to 3 when I caved in and dragged Mr C with me.

Tuesday 6th November

Why am I awake at 7.30? mr c made me a lovely cup of tea and he settled down to watch a film. Lol he wasn’t too impressed though when the end got cut short and he missed the punch line! I love it when P&O do that he he he.

Breakfast in Café B this morning. Mr C chose the eggs Benedict and I had a warm ham and cheese croissant – mmmm yummy! Washed down with chilled orange juice and some lovely hot tea. Oh yes, and I snook in a lovely fresh iced pastry too!

I spent the best part of the morning trying to get on the internet and sorting out my emails. Gosh I had a lot this morning and they took some ploughing through, but it was eased with a couple of cocktails to the sounds of Caravan in Crows.

It’s a lovely sunny day today and many people are out sunbathing, but I neither have the time or the energy.

Tapas lunch in Alexandria Restaurant today and we sat by the window watching the sea dance around us.

We decided on a game of deck quits or shuffle board to blow the cobwebs away, but the pros were all out on top deck so us fun loving people could have a go. We watched the cricketers for a while, and again I wondered why everyone takes these things so seriously.

Im shattered and know what I have to do. Yes time for me to go slip under the duvet, and its not long before im in the land of nod! Trouble is I have no idea of where I am or what time it is when I return to the land of the living.

Informal night tonight and we have the choice of ‘who wants to be an Auroraaire’ in Carmens. Vocalist Impressions Gary T Thomson in the theatre or Tropical Vision steel band in Crows. Im leaning towards Crows but we shall see.

Did a bit of social hostesing in Andersons pre dinner. It seemed that every other table knew me and I just seemed to flit around the room in a social whirl.

Geoff was on form tonight, but then he has been every night so far. Gypsy Rose Lee was sat at the one end of the bar much to his amusement. Dress code is very strictly adheared to in Andersons. Casual night they asked a gent to leave because he had a t shirt on without collar, and tonight there was a couple of incidents where the gent didn’t have a jacket on so they were politely asked to move. Quite rightly so! One couple were also giving Geoff trouble because they wanted a smoking table and there wasn’t any vacant, so they took it upton themselves to extend the section. Geoff was having non of that, and why should he? They have a large section of Andersons as it is and get too close to it and you can smell the smoke.

After dinner the boys needed some air, but as we hadn’t finished our liquers we sent them out onto Prom deck and agreed to join them for a lap of the deck. Oh dear we should never let them out on their own. We went out onto Prom and it was lovely, a little windy in places but still very pleasant. One side of the deck was closed for cleaning so we had to re trace our steps, but n sign of the boys. As me and Amanda thought we had said we were going to Crows for Tropical Vision that’s where we headed. No boys up there. We stuck our head in the theatre and Gary T Thomson didn’t over inspire us to want to stay, so we hit that idea on the head. On our way out we were stopped by the charming Captain who chatted for a while and told us how lovely we were looking etc then we wandered into Andersons with him, and our hubbies became a distant memory. But the boys cant survive without us for long and it wasn’t long before a search party was sent out in the form of Mr C. we were just on the verge of being invited to the Captains private lounge as well for tea and biscuits!

So where were the boys? In Carmens watching crappy Who wants to be an Auroraire! Silly boys!

I managed half an hour of it and then declared I was going to Andersons to talk to Louise. It wasn’t long before they all came out to join me. Mr C was asked to put his jacket on but Geoff obviously hadn’t noticed the scruff at the bar with his jeans on (no they weren’t nice designer jeans) above the waist he was adhearing to the dress code with jacket and shirt but not below. Oh I could have caused a riot lol.

We were going to go and sit out on deck for a drink in the fresh air but it had started raining so we headed to Crows for our nightcap. We seemed to hit a few lumps in the sea and we started to jump around a bit. It was late and I was tired so I turned in for the night, but Mr C went onto Masquarades.If he makes as much noise again when he gets back to the cabin, I wont let him out late again. Noisy Bugger!!

Wednesday 7th November

Didn’t have the best nights sleep after Mr C came in banging doors and draws plus the sea was throwing s around a fair bit. Got up early to do a bit of work in the cyber study but the connection speed etc was not great and it was trying my patience. Being on deck 13 in a bobbing sea didn’t help either. We blew the cobwebs out by doing a few laps of prom deck and then we found a nice sheltered spot by the Riviera pool where we laid in the sun and consumed cocktails of the day in the form of Harvey wallbangers. We had a nice lunch on deck washed down with a glass or two of wine.

Big sleep for me this afternoon while mr C watched tv and then slipped out to the Sundowner club with Dave Holden

Formal night with ladies night ball in Carmens, but mr c couldn’t take it and needed his bed

We headed u to crows for a quiet drink and sat there until 2.30 just putting the world to rites as you do.

Menu in café b changed today so we simply had to have chicken goujons and barbeque sauce mmmmm

Thursday 8th November

Somebody had my sun loungers this morning – must try harder tomorrow! But we still had nice loungers overkooking the Riviera pool, it was handy for the waiters passing by for our orders anyway. It’s a glorious hot sunny day so we just laze around soaking up the sun and not doing a lot else other than fetch a bit of lunch from Sidewalk café and sit in the shade with some nice wine, chillin out and taking it easy.

The wine jus about finished me off and I needed my bed. I had a really big sleep this afternoon and it was great. Trouble is that you have to wake up and try and feel alert.

Informal night tonight and pre dinner dinks in Andersons were arranged a little earlier tonight as we were dining in Café B to the sounds of Caravan and we wanted to make the most of our time up there.

We had our usual table by the band but much to my annoyance we had the officer on the next table who we had the misfortune to sit close to on the Pennant Grill last Caribbean cruise. He monopolises the whole of the restaurant staff and the whole evening evolves around him and flippin heck his laugh is annoying! But it didn’t spoil our night and we had one of the best evenings so far. Caravan were superb s usual and we danced between courses. We had one of those funny little ‘complimentary’ starter things and oooh it was funny! But I wont spoil the surprise for anyone travelling in the near future. We made a full evening of it with a couple of bottles of wine and liqueurs etc. Caravan nearly bought the house down with their finale of Bohemiem Rhapsody – Excellent!!

We had a little stroll out on deck before heading into the theatre to see Ruby Washington!! Yes, it was the same Ruby that Mick ‘pulled’ in Masquarades on the first night. Blimey she scrubs up well!! I thought her act would have been better suited to Carmens though, but having said that she did have a packed house, mind you I don’t think there was a lot else going on tonight.

We headed up to Crows to finish of the night quietly with a little nightcap or three.

Friday 9th November

Mr C was on a mission this morning to get me my sunlounger up by the pool, so at 6.50 before sunrise he was out there, closely followed by me.

I trotted down to the Orangery to get some tea and pastries and was surprised to find the hand gel man just standing there all alone waiting for someone to pass by.

It was a lovely sunrise on the port side at the aft of us! The sunbeams were coming up from the sea long before the huge orange sun did. I chose the next hour to go and get some work done and when I returned to the deck it was full of busy sunbathers.

We had a busy day today and at 12 noon we had Gold Portunus lunch. I wasn’t too impressed with it being on a hot sunny day and Im am tired of the event, but we went along any way. We were allocated a table of one old guy travelling with 3 ladies, there was also a single lady travelling alone, plus Andy Willard the Deputy Captain. He sat on my left and Mr C on my right. I could tell that the rest of the table couldn’t work us out and were intrigued how somebody so young could have travelled so much. We had an enhanced menu today and very nice it was too. The wine flowed and in the end we quite enjoyed ourselves considering we didn’t want to go. I think the DC had a nice time too and he commented that it had been a ‘different’ Portunus lunch.

I couldn’t wait to get back out in the sun and Amanda tells me I missed a fantastic lunchtime by the pool with Caravan. Ents are working overtime today because there was actually a choice of Caravan by the Riviera pool or Tropical Vision by the Crystal pool – cant believe it can you! Amanda say that Caravan had the whole deck up dancing, so now Im miffed!

The sun was glorious all afternoon and we were joined by Dave Holden. Mr C and he decided that they didn’t drink enough at Gold lunch and so were on a mission to drink the bar dry- boys!

I had work to do but still managed to fit in a little snoozle.

I had to make Mr C hang a round to help me into my dress tonight. It was like the Krypton factor to work out all the straps etc and it took us a couple of attempts.

Ooo we moved barstools this evening in Adndersons. It was busy in there, or appeared to be busier than normal because the photographer was in there doing portraights by the fireplace so she was taking up a lot of space. Im guessing that 90% of the passengers now have a copy of that shot on the sideboard though because she hardly had any takers.

Debbie our host never turned up for dinner this evening so we sat with an empty chair. I could have managed without dinner tonight but it was posh night so we felt the need to attend. I had a lovely tomato soup followed by chicken and chips which was good. Amanda had a nice looking Salmon type things wrapped in pastry and the boys had beef but im sick of the sight of beef! It was warm in the restaurant and I just wanted some air.

After a lap of the deck we sat and had a drink on prom by outside champions. It was a lovely warm breezy evening. Mick sat under a drip though and now he has salt stains all over his dinner suit. Last drink in Andersons and we all decided that we couldn’t take any more, so bed it was.

Saturday 10th November 2007

We were both awake at 5.30 so I decided that I might as well be awake and on deck so 6.20 in the dark, there I am in my bikini lol on my usual sun lounger. It was so lovely and warm and breezy it was just wonderful to lie there and wait for the sun to come up. It is a bit weird sunbathing with stars in the sky though. I get some right weird looks from officers and crew as they walk past but I don’t care. Even hand gel man wasn’t on duty this morning in the Orangery, but I had a nice cup of tea and I even nabbed a danish pastry while the lads were setting up.

It didn’t take long for the deck to start filling with towels and books. Some people go to extrordianry lengths to make their chairs look occupied and then leave them unattended literally for hours! At least I sit on mine.

As soon as the bar was open we had our cocktail of the day although there was some confusion as the barstaff thought it was a rum punch today, but the cocktail experts set them straight and we soon had Melon Ball chasers. It was so hot today that we had to have several drinks throughout the morning and then when Tropical vision started to play we had to have another cocktail. Two bands playing on deck again today. The duo were by the Crystal pool and we had the steel band. Has Hughie turned over a new leaf and decided to entertain the passengers?!

Barbeque lunch just about finished me off, or was it that last cocktail? I needed to sleep so that’s just what I did on my sunlounger. Only problem with that is that you wake up feeling really dozey. Well I do anyway!

I returned to the cabin to catch up with a bit of work and a few cocktails and then closed my eyes for another hour in preparation of the evening ahead.

We were invited to the Captains Private cocktail party tonight, so again we had to have pre party drinks in Andersons early (like we don’t get enough drink lol) we were greeted by Captain and Jane the Exec Purser and then Brian was hot on our heels with champagne. The little sausages were plentiful as were the suoper size battered prawns – oh yum, who needs dinner? We couldn’t drink the drinks fast enough and we were having trouble fighting them off. Staff Captain Andy came across to greet us and that was it we were officially late for dinner now! He is a lovely Deputy Captain, as is the Captain of course. At 10 to 9 we had to excuse ourselves from the lovely Andy and run down to dinner. Naturally they pushed me into the restaurant first to butter up Issac apologise for our lateness. He wasn’t too impressed but he got over it, and somehow he turned us around so fast that we were on sweets before others who got there on time. We cant help it if we are such social butterflies!

Not a lot happening tonight, but there is a bit of a deck party outside on deck 8 aft with Lahsoo Leanne! Mmmm…. Have to go and take a look at that then! I haven’t got the best of dresses on for a windy night on aft deck and its not long before its making every attempt to flutter up around my earholes. For some reason I have had a pencil and paper thrust in my hand to do a quiz. There are no seats and Im stood with my dress between my legs to stop the wind catching it again, trying to write answers to a quiz!. I spot seats one deck up and so now I have open stairs to negotiate too! But oh that’s better, I can put my drink down and relax out of the blustery wind. They were serving hot dogs and pizza out on deck tonight for the ho down, but who wants feeding after a big meal? There were plenty partaking anyway. I have no idea what me and Amanda found so amusing tonight, but we did anyway. We just sat and giggled and giggled and giggled. The line dancers take life far to seriously!

Sunday 11th November 2007 ~ Antigua

Oh dear just thinking about this day makes my head hurt. Im in Antigua, one of my favourite ports of the Caribbean and we are going to my favourite beach Darkwood! We are breakfasted early, after watching us berth alongside Oceana, and in a taxi on our way for a couple of hours on the beech. We have to do a bit of haggling to get the taxi to take us there at the right price without throwing in the extra bit to Nelsons Dockyard but we are soon on our way. Already its very hot. We arrive at the beach and as always its practically deserted. Just how I like it. There was one of the locals doing his early morning workout on the sand and the old man in his wellies sweeping out the bar/shack. He tells us to get our own loungers and it will all be sorted later. By 9.00am im in need of a rum punch and the man in wellies very obligingly opens up the bar and poors us 4 rum punches, with an extra kick for being the first to ask, and again tells us to sort it out with the owner when or if she turns up. At first I take a bit of persuading to get into the sea as Im not really a sea lover and there is a steep shelf drop to get from the paddling to the submerged stage, but I think the rum punch gave me the confidence that I needed! It was so hot I barely ventured out of the sea after that, but when I did I perfected the art of standing at the top of the sandbank and elegantly gliding into the sea, much to the amusement of others. My drinks were ferried out to me and I just kept on drinking while keeping cool from the neck down. Now in hindsight (oh what a wonderful thing that is) staying in the sea with my head uncovered in the blazing scorching hot sun wasn’t the wisest thing to do! But I will tell you about that later.

After a couple of hours people started to appear on my beach – I think there was 8 of us in total by noon, shock horror! But we had arranged for the taxi to pick us back up at 1230 so it was good timing.

Back at the ship, we washed away the sand and got a fresh change of clothes then headed back ashore. I had arranged to meet Justin and Phil from the other ship and they took no finding at all. The bars were full to the rafters of crew. We had a bit of a snack at one bar before moving round to the bright coloured bar on the boardwalk. After that it all goes a bit hazy, although I do remember ordering a cola so I must have been drunk lol. Neil came along and spun me around in an American smoothy or swing or something – anyway Ive see the photos so I know I did it lol. I have vague recollections of getting back to the ship and passing my favourite tanzanite jewellery shop. Mr C had promised me a ring from there, and to be fair he did offer, but I knew that I would struggle to stand up let alone choose a ring.

Back at the cabin it was dreadful. Someone had turned the spinning machine on and it was really going fast. I was happy when I passed out and was oblivious to everything else that followed. I was really cheesed off though when I realised that I had missed the big sailaway party with Oceana,. Id arranged to wave to people as well! Im in a right humph now. And to make matters worse I missed the deck party! Needless to say I didn’t make dinner. Mr C chose to order room service and oh what a palaver that is! He wanted soup, spaghetti bolognaise and fries. No matter how many times he repeated himself he just knew it wasn’t going to be right. Much to his amusement the ‘fries’ turned into a bucket of ice – that was the first of many blunders that room service made and they always amused us.

Monday 12th November 2007 ~ Tortola

Oooach my head hurts – funny thing that sun stroke! Ok I admit that I was drunk but I most defiantly had sun stroke to and it wasn’t nice as I shivered my way through the night, so that’s a hard way for me to learn a lessen

So today we are in Tortola. Its Micks birthday and there is no way Im missing the celebration. After breakfast we head along the front to the waiting taxis and negotiate a ride over the mountain to Cane Garden Bay beach. It think it was $12 return each but I might be wrong, however much it was it was a heck of a lot cheaper than the P&O service to the beach.

Our driver was Egbert and we amused ourselves by calling him Egg but no bacon lol. The ride over the hill was a spectacular one as always and he stopped for Mr C to take photos when we reached a high vantage point. Cane Garden Bay looked fantastic and Mick was well impressed by his birthday venue. Again we were there nice and early so there were very few people about and the beach was idyllic and at its best. As Im still suffering I take to the shade of a parasol, have my wide brimmed hat on and keep my tshirt on (too little too late?) I do little more than wander slowly along the beach to the end and back and venture into the sea a couple of times. By 1130 the beach is rammed and none of us like it when its like that. The tours are coming in and I dodnt think many more people will physically fit onto the beach, so its time to pack up our stuff and head to a bar for some early lunch. Mmmm honey roast chicken and fries and a glass of ice cold cola. Mick tries to convince me that if I have a vodka in it, it will bring me round, but I think the barman was on a mission to kill me with half a bottle of vodka. No I couldn’t do it and even Mick tried it and admitted defeat. I had to order another cola to try and water it down to an acceptable level.

‘Egg but no bacon’ is back to collect us and we are soon heading back up over the hill to the ship. Just as we did so the heavens opened and you could barely see a hand infront of you. Perfect timing! But by the time we reached the town the rain had stopped – just a typical Caribbean down pour.

Back onboard we shower and change and rendevouz again to go to Pussers Bar for Micks Birthday drinks. Ive had to find something that covers me from head to toe and will keep me cool so I look a bit like a grrek godess floating around the place lol.

Oh dear the smell of rum at Pussers bar about churns my stomach. I cant drink and I order cola again! Oh will the old janie ever return? The lads are progressing through the Painkillers working their way up to the strongest ones. Oh I can see this getting messy. Mick is quite happy to show us his dancing skills with Neil. Ged is singing, infact everyone is pretty merry apart from me. Eventually after what seems like hours I manage to drag Mr C out of there and we have a little stroll around the shops plus any jewellers I can find that sell tanzanite. Don’t see anything I like though so that’s not good. Just as we approach the seciurity at the dock gate Ged is doing a sterling job of keeping Neil on his feet but only just. Neil is declaring his undying love for Jason the security guard and I think they have arranged a date for the same time next year. Oh its so funny to be stone cold sober and to watch someone else be totally wrecked by rum lol. Neil you were terrific entertainment as Mr C saved you from the several bushes that attacked you and saved you from taking a closer look at the sea as we walked from side to side along the pier. How Ged got you from the lift to your cabin I will never know but I hear it didn’t take long for you to pass out. Ged was later seen eating for two at sidewalk café before going for a swim and declaring his undying love for everyone in the whole wide world.

Gosh I needed a rest after that. Wouldn’t dream of missing dinner and the Medina choir did Mr Crossland proud with Happy Birthday clap clap clap! Somehow the chefs thought he was 60 though as there was a big 60 on his cake lol.

Tuesday13th November 2007 ~ St Kitts

Oooooh Ive been bitten by a million trillion mossies and its driving me insane, so Im up at 5.30am and sat in the library working. You would think the internet connection would be better with everyone else asleep, but it’s as slow as ever and just eats the money!

We had a very quick breakfast in the baking sun on the aft f deck 12 and then I literally ran into town to find a pharmacy to get something for my bites – yes I had bought all sorts of stuff with me but nothing is having much effect on them. I couldn’t wait to get beck to the ship and I literally threw poor Angelo out of the cabin so that I could dive under an ice cold shower and cool my burning legs down. Liberal coatings of cream to each bite and a long flowing cool skirt to cover the patches of cream and we were ready to head back into town to see the shops. The duty free area is very nice, still under development, but it has a good range of clean air conditioned shops and bars. Venturing into town was a whole different experience with a few odd balls about. Mick and Mr C went back to find the pharmacy to get me some anti histamine tablets while me and Amanda shopped! Despite then walking to the back of town and back we were still in the same shop lol! But its 30+ deg outsider so we need a bar – purely for medicinal purposes so that I can administer my tablets. An ice cold frozen daquari worked very well to give us a bit of brain freeze and prepare us to venture back to the safe haven of the duty free area. Mr C is desperate to purchase a spear gun for his fishing and diving trips (yes he has had clearance from the security onboard to purchase and store In ships hold until return to the UK) and we have found a shop that sells them today, but it seems to be on Caribbean time. The notice n the door indicates that they open at 12. But at 12 they are on lunch until 1. and after that, well I think they just went to afternoon tea because we went back several times and they were closed! Never mind, it meant we had to pass the rum sampling bar more times which the lads enjoyed immensely. We went in there this morning so sample the rum cocktails but it was too much for my newly accuired delicate palate and I had to convert to water and diet coke again! Mr Gittos was having a nice time though and he never moved from his bar stool all day. He was still there an hour before sailaway when we nipped in for another drink. I do hope he made it back to the ship in one piece after his 2 units lol.

We bumped into Neil and Ged, oh neil looks just how I felt yesterday. At least I remember Antigua wher as Neil has no recollection of Pussers bar in Tortola at all. Never mind, he can read all about it and see the photos here lol.

Back at the ship, we miss yet another sailaway while we sleep. Well I say sleep, I think my tablets kicked me into a coma because usually the bow thrusters literally throw me out of bed, but I never heard a thing this evening.

Getting out of bed and ready for Andersons was a real effort but as the bar was calling me I made the effort. Geof is on fine form and Amanda and Mick are sat at the bar waiting for us. Gypsey Rose Lee is in her usual spot, but no Great Uncle Bulgaria tonight.

No Pat and Brian at dinner again tonight. Either they have discovered the delights of self service dining whch they feel more comfortable with or the one to one with Amanda and Mick the other night was too much for them lol. Issac wasn’t in the cheeriest of moods this evening, but he had had a hair cut so maybe he dint like it. I was hungry tonight but my little belly just didn’t want the food so I ended up leaving t to the human dustbin sat beside me.

The usual in jokes and stupidness kept us more than entertained at the table aided by some paint stripper disguised as red wine.

We are like excited kids tonight because we are going on a tour in the morning – yes I will get my first P&O tour sticker!! We decide t have a quiet drink in Crows listening to Caravan before we head for our beds. Well I say quiet, but we just don’t seem to be able to be quiet anymore. Oh we can laugh and laugh and laugh, but you wont find it funny so I wont tell you!

Amanda had some problems with the lift door on the way back down the decks but we presume she got off at her chosen deck ok.

Wednesday 14th November 2007 ~ St Lucia

Im up early again sat at ‘my’ desk in the Library working away and watching out the window for St Lucia to appear. We dock on the town side of Castraise and Im never too impressed with St Lucia, especially when we dock on that side. RCI Seranade of the Seas had bagged the best berth over by the duty free.

As we arrive its raining and looking very gloomy but we wont let it spoil our day. Its exciting this morning as I have to go and collect my first ‘Tour sticker’ for donkey’s years. It’s a red one! K1-2!! At 8.45 we are invited to disembark and join our catamaran. Thankfully it has stopped raining and we decide to sit on the nets at the front. We had just set off and waved at Sandra and all the other passengers on Aurora and were just pulling past Seranade when we suddenly turned around and headed back to our docking point. 3 passengers couldn’t follow simple instructions and we had to turn back for them! Sounds simple but when they had to turn the boat, dock it and secure it to allow them onboard it was more than a bit tiresome! So off we went again, waiving at Sandra and all the Aurora passengers yet again as we went. Now it could have been a lovely experience but the clouds were so thick and black and often filled with rain, so we were getting wetter and wetter. We just seemed to be heading out to sea but he did pull in to Marigot bay just for us to have a look.then after what seemed like an eternity the Pitons appeared in the mist. We sailed up to them bt they didn’t look impressive at all on a cloudy dull day and then we sailed off again back the way we came. But of wait, the buffet was open! We were handed a square of kitchen roll and invited to get a scoop full of mixed crisps lol. The rum punch was pretty undrinkable (yes I think Im still allergic to it) so I tred the beer but I don’t like beer so that was a waste of time lol. The swimming stop at Anse Cochon was errrm rushed and full of shell sellers riding around in boats insisting on pestering you. I didn’t swim but those that did seemed very rushed. It was a tiny bay with two other catamarans already there. The ride home was a long one and I think we can safely say that it will be a few more ‘donkey years’ before I do another P&O tour.

We decided to lunch onboard today and I went to see the Sanwich Man in the Orangery. He made me a lovely prawn salad on granary bread sandwich, which was a meal and a half.

We went a shore just as the heavens opened again, so we had a nosey around the duty free and then walked across to the other side. By now the sun was scorching again and we were struggling with our bit of a walk to the other side! But we made it. I bought some perfume and then we decided to get the water taxi back, but there was no sign of one and the natives were giving me the creeps so we had no choice but to walk back.

Straight into the shower to cool off and then time to get a little snooze in ready for tonight.

We are dining on Pennant Grill this evening and it’s a perfect evening. Very warm with a slight breeze. We met for Pre Dinner drinks at the Pennant with Dave Holden. That’s the first night we have missed out Andersons! Neil & Ged were also dining at the Grill this evening and I could see they had their eye on my table lol. We had a fab table by the rails but the down side was that you couldn’t see the menu or your food lol. The meal was superb but huge so we couldn’t even think about a sweet.

We eventually gained enough strength to waddle through to the deck part by the Riviera pool. Gosh they had pulled out all the stops tonight. Caravan were playing. Flower Garlands for everyone. The deck was laid out beautifully with tables and chairs everywhere. It was a great atmosphere but t had me beat and as much as I wanted to join in, my body said it couldn’t so I just topped and observed for a while.

Mr C needed to catch up with Ann about divng before we turned in for the night so we had a stroll through the bars in search of her. Down on deck 7 there was a sight I would never have thought I would see! Just as we approached the art gallery area a man dragged a woman through the sliding doors from the deck. A couple in there 50’s and she couldn’t stand up! She was dressed more appropriate for a day on the bank steps and her dress was up around her ass!! Not a pretty sight as he dragged her along the corridor. She fell into one f the window seats and I thought he was going to kill her! It was so embarrassing for the old coulpe sat in the next window. He rolled up his sleeves and F’d and blinded at her a few more times and then he said he would call security to her. So she struggled to her feet and then had to put up with her rear view again until he got her to the lifts. When the lift came he literally threw her in there head first and we just heard an almighty thud! I think her foot then got stuck in the door because they were fighting to get the lift door open again! Some passengers went into her aid, but they didn’t look like the kind of couple that I would want to help in a hurry! And they say the youth of today is bad!!

Thursday 15th December 2008 ~ Dominica

Mr C has a diving trip booked this morning so he needed to be off as son as we docked and he was indeed the first ashore. I decided to stay onboard and just chill. Well. Chll as much as is possible in 30+degs at 8 in the morning. Me and Amanda decided to do our chores and get the washing done. Amanda chose the tranquillity of F deck but I went to the A deck one. It was hard wrk to find a washer free even before 9 and I had to stand a nd wait while one lady unloaded her wash one item at a time shaking every pair of pants as she went. There was also another fruit bat in there ironing hankerchiefs. Yes she had a full load of just hankercheifs. But she didn’t think they were hers as hers where whiter than the ones she was ironing, but she thought she would iron them anyway!! Now who the hell puts the washer on for just a load of hankies? And would there really be two people on the same day doing such an extrodinary thing? Bonkers! I couldn’t wait to get back to my lounger on deck in the ‘royal box’ 30 minutes later I returned to swap the laundry into a drier, and 40 mins after tha I went back to iron the shirts and collect the dry items. Flamin hell there was a right washer woman in there taking command of the laundry telling who could have the next washer etc. She was dragging chairs around the place, telling people to move or sit down – it quite made my head spin! Why do people insist n standing around in there reading and getting in the way while the washing washes? Do they really think someone wants to nick their ‘big pants’ I couldn’t wait to get out of there and returned to the tranquillity of an empty deck and a large cocktail.

I managed the mad Caribbean heat until 1.00pm with various dis in the pool and then I went to shower and change and wait for Mr C to return. Perfect timing Mr C came back onboard right on queue and it wasn’t long before we were in a cab to take us downtown for $2 per person. I cant begin to describe how hot it is, its so hot the air is thick enough to eat and you can feel the sun burning through another layer of skin. I tried the tranquillity of the 3 main shops for air conditioning but only two of them were remotely cool. We went to our little yellow and blue café bar for lunch just as we had done last year. This time I decided on Jerk Chicken as I figured that it may be my last chance this cruise. Gee Whizz it was firey! It nearly blew my head off and my lips were burning. A strawberry daquari followed that staraigt down and then I got brain freeze! Mr C has been huntin at every port for a spear gun so we tried a couple of places as directed by the locals but came away empty handed again. Im convinced that it was just one of the locals that bought us back to the ship and not a taxi as such, but we arrived safely and it only cost us te same as before, but I reckon they all were jumping on the band wagon too earn a few bucks. Dominica isn’t the nicest of ports, but to be fair I have never been anywhere else on the island and they do say its beautiful so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. My vsit here wouldn’t be complete without a lok in the cattle shed across from the ship with all the locals selling their souveniers. Last year I found some tasteful bits of tat, bu this year nothing. But its so so hot and shopping in this sort of heat is never a good idea.

Back onboard and I head to the cabin to the tranquiilty of the air conditioning, but a s soon as we opened the door we were hit it a blanket of heat! No air conditioning in zone 2 – our area. It was unbearable and 3 calls to reception only told me that the ventilation officer was working as hard as he could to fix it. Im told later by the Staff Captain that the whole incident was caused by stupid people in balcony cabins who insit on propping their balcony doors open during the day and it just sent the air con unit into overload. So if you have a balcony cabin be a bit more considerate please!

So yes, anyway, how come I was speaking to the Staff Captian? Or my mate Andy as he is now known lol. Well, we got invited along to the Capatins private drinks party and we were flitting from Captain to Staff Captian in conversation, inbetween eating battered prawns or little sausages and drinking champagne (yes I know it doesn’t sound the perfect combination does it?! Oh but it was a superb little party which we could have stayed at all evening, but we decided the Staff Captain had delayed us enough and we giggled our way to dinner. Oh dear it was gone 10 to 9 when we rolled into dinner but we think Issac has just about forgiven us now, well I hope he has! What made it worse was that the other couple had turned up to dinner after many nights away – oops!

Friday 16th November 2008 ~ Barbados

I was just up on deck in time to see us coming into dock behind Arcadia. We turned and berthered stern to stern with her. We sat and ate breakfast on the Pennant in the glorious sun as they dressed the ship in flags. It was turnaround day for Arcadia and everyone was dressed for their long flights home to cold UK.

We had an early start today as we had a lot planned. Getting a taxi was a bit of a nightmare as they had a Barbados version of Clipboard woman, or in this case clipboard man! He was the boss and he decided who was getting in what cab and how many were going to get in etc. Eventually our little bus filled up and we were charged $5 per person for the short trip to the Boatyard. We were early but that’s the way we like it. We get the beach and the sea more or less to ourselves and our choice of sun loungers. The sea was a bit cooler than other ports we had been too, but it was refreshing and by no means freezing. However the rain shower that turned into a major down pour was freezing and very heavy. For some barmy reason I decided I would sit it out on my lounger while the others went into the sea. You see I thought it would blow over realy quickly and if I just sat shielding my bag, all my stuff would be protected. Wrong! Everything just got drenched. But as soon as it was gone the sun was frying us again. Mr C got me & Amanda two long island iced teas to recover but they blew our socks off! We had to send him back to the bar for a glass of coke to try and dilute it a little. By noon the place was filling up with crew and many other passengers so we called it a day and headed back to Aurora for a quick shower and change of clothes. Next mission was to walk into Bridgtown for some lunch but the other side of the port authority gates we were hassled until we took a taxi for $2 per person. He showed us to a nice place to eat but we decided it was abit to local for us! Food looked good but it resembled a roadside café or truck stop so we walked up to the Marina and chose an excellent bar with live music and good food. Mr C had the hugest breaded shrimps I have ever seen followed by the chicken kebabs which were excellent. Mr c is still on a mission to find a spear gun and he has been told where is the best place to try. It took no finding at all and he was in his element! A wall full of sear guns for him to choose from. I think we are all experts in spear guns by now andnow exactly which is the best diameter elastic to go for etc and feel as if we know each model well enough to give a demonstration. We asked for it to be boxed as we knew it had to be placed in the ships hold for transportation back to Southampton. Getting it past the local port authority was a bit scare but in the end I think he just gave up and let us through. Back at the ship all security were well aware that Mr C was trying to purchase such an item and it was placed in the safe hands of the security team to besafley locked away in the hold.

Spear Gun safely locked away we have abou an hour to check out the duty free shops so we jump back in the shuttle bus back to the duty free area. I was on a mission to use up every last dollar that we had, but I didn’t do very well. I could have spent it all on cheap booze, but I couldn’t see the point in risking going over the limit and getting caught at Southampton, so it was perfume, rum cake and little nic naks and we still came away with a fistful of money. I checked out every bit of tanzanite on sale in the area but it was all rubbish. Dave & Julrs asnd co were boarding Arcadia today so we nipped outside to the bar to say hello. Oooh gosh they all looked done in, which clarified even more to me that a Caribbean fly cruise wasn’t for me. We made it back to the ship for 5 and headed up to Penannt Bar for sailaway. Johny Gittos was on full form for a big British sailaway ansd we blasted Arcadia with last night of the proms and more, we waived our flags and shouted louder than them. Sailaway cocktails were flowing thick and fast and a little shower threatened to spoil our fun at one point, but it soon blew over. There was a little bit of a last minute delay when some passengers duty free purchases turned up on Arcadia instead of Aurora and officers were running up and down the dockside from one ship to the other in a right old panic shouting into there radios for us to throw back out a gangplank. All packages safely onboard and the lines were slipped and Land of Hope and Glory was cranked up as loud as Gittos could possibly get it. Arcadia did look fantastic all lit up but Im sure that we looked 100 times better with our fantastic tiered wings full of flag waving fun party people. I don’t think tgere was a dry eye in the house as we slipped away and Arcadia got further and further away from us.

Sailaway and the whole day had left us totally exhausted and we were undecided between the Indian buffet and just staying in with room service. Shock horror we opted for staying in and watching TV and having room service. Now all was going to plan until I was sent for a bottle of water and to inform the restaurant that we wouldn’t be dining tonight. I did as I was told, but and this is a big but, I swung by the shop s for a little nosey around. All of the shoppies are lovely and all asked about my day etc. I suddenly realised that I had never loked at the jewellery onboard, that’s something I would only usually do if Mum was onboard because with her its part of her daily ritual. I glanced at the diamonds, then around to the emeralds and then there it was – a Tanzanite ring that just caught my eye. Garth the very obliging jeweller lifted it out of the display and the rest s now history. It was perfect, a 1.5 carat tanzanite surrounded by a diamond setting. Oh my head was spinning. I needed Mr C to come and have a look at it but he was already in bed and watching TV for the night. Garth did his full sales pitch on me, but he didn’t need to as I was already in love with it and then he showed me the certificate which is unique to every stone. OMG he was bursing with excitement! This stone turned out to be classified as Vivid exceptional intense. That’s the highest grading that any tanzanite can ever be given and it is the first stone he had ever seen to be awarded it. Its such a deep perfect blue, which is what I had been looking for all along oh and the diamond setting was just more than I could have wished for. I nearly ran back to the cabin I was that exited, but Mr C was too busy having a dickie fit about my long abscense and long wait for the bottle of water to be interested in a ring. Oh but I had to convince him that he needed to get up and get dressed to go to the shop. He knew he would have no peace all night so we agreed we should go to the Indian Buffet instead of having room service (I didn’t want any food really but it was the only way I could get him out to the shop) I had a re shuffle of rings already on my finger and oh dear, it must have been fate as the ring fitted!! Oh what was I to do? He said he would buy it me but it was a lot of pennies so it needed lots of ‘thinking about’ it was agreed that the ring would be removed from display for an hour just incase it caught anyone elses eye.

The Indian buffet was lovely but I could hardly concentrate. We sat wth Neil & Ged as tables were very hard to come by. The place was packed and a lot of officers had suddenly crawled out of the woodwork making saets at a premium.

The decision was reached it was back down to deck 7 to the jewellers for my ring – eeek! I was sooo excited. Right who can I flash it too? Everyone is in bed. Geoff was behind Andersons so he was a good one to appreciate jewellery, but there wasn’t anyone else around so after one drink we decided it really was time for bed. We went out for a little stroll on deck and in the distance I sptted another couple down the deck who had been looking at a yellow diamond in the shop at the same time as us. They loved my ring and made a nice fuss so I went to bed a happy bunny and like a big kid that had just got what she wanted for Christmas!

Saturday 17th November 2007 ~ at sea.

This is the first day of cruise – week 3. the start of our cruise back across the Atlantic. As usual im up and out on deck for 6.30 and waiting for the sun to rise. Anybody who doesn’t get up early and experience the whole ship waking up really is missing a treat. I think it’s the best part of the day. I see the same members of crew every morning going about there business. It might be deck or engineering officers just finishing or just about to start a watch and the are heading to the Oranagery for some breakfast. Or there is one of the deck hands who every morning religiously wipes every piece of hand rail along decks 12 and 13. and when he has done that he sweeps all of the water out of the gutters and down the drains and then wipes them clean with a cloth. He is always cheerful, always acknowledges me and just carries on regardless about his business.

The sun is now rising on the starboard side forward where as on the way down of course it was port side aft. It was quite blustery but never the less a very hot sunny day. Melon Ball was cocktail of the day and Brian or Thomas know to bring me one as soon as the bar opens. We ad a lovely lazy day just lying around and soaking up the sun, which is what we needed after the busy ‘week 2’ ashore flitting from one caribean port to the other. Barbeque lunch at the Pennant and we all sat dining by the Riviera pool listening to the steal band. It had been such a busy day that I returned t my lounger and promptly fell asleep. Oh I hate it when that happens and you end up waking up not knowing where you are. Time for my afternoon nap and at 2.30pm I relinquish my loungers in the Royal Box to who ever would like them next. We have a meal booked on Pennat tonight for 7.30 so we ned to be out early too.

I had a cooling shower and salipped under my duvet into a deep deep sleep. What a good job Amanda called up at 10 to 7 or we would have been out for the count for hours longer. I hate having to get dressed and tidied up when im half a sleep but I had to get a shift on. We met at Pennant for 7.30 and it was yet another warm balmy evening. Neil & Ged were also ding out wit Wendy and Phil so we partook in quiet a few pre dinner drinks at the bar. Neil loved the ring but Amanda chose to admire my newly painted nails instead much to every ones amusement!

The meal was yet again superb, but Tropikal Vision needed to play a little softer as we couldn’t hear our selves speak. Resaturant Manager tried to have a word with them but they kept creeping the volume up a little more, it wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t sing because the cant sing, but they fnished there stint before we finished our meal so it wasn’t so bad. Mr C had the Grilled Seafood platter for the extra cover charge and it was huge and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I had scotch broth, fillet staek which just melted in your mouth followed by a fresh strawberries brandy basket, washed down with coffee and liquers. I even managed one of the scrummy handmade chocolates. We went for a little treck around the ship. Carmens had only 6 people in. the karaoke in Champions was more well supported but oh dear the singer put us off that event. 4 were in Masquarades and Andersons was deserted. Buddy Hollie was on in the theatre but Oh Boy! We had heard the dance troop weren’t one of the best but lets just say they need more practice! Side stepping intime for the girls was even too much to ask, and singing and dancing at the same time wasn’t something that they had particually mastered yet. We waited for the next song but it just sent us running for mercy.

We headed for Crows where Shades Duo were playing and they are lovely to listen to. Amanda’s ‘warmed’ brandy caused us much amusement, but then it doesn’t take a lot to amuse us really. We have yet another giggly hour or so over a few drinks before we head to bed.

Sunday 18th November ~ at sea

The clocks went forward last night but I was still up for a lovely sunrise at 7. the sun was just rising nicely above the railings of deck 13 when we hit a bank of thick cloud. Occasionally it found a little tiny hole to creep from and it was scorching, but it lasted moments before it disappeared again. I was ready to cal it a day by 8.30 but suddenly a clear blue sky was spotted and glorious sunshine returned. Brian insisted that I have a super size strawberry daquari to start my day and very nice it was too. I had my whole day planned. I intended to just chill there until 2 and no later but lets just say that things didn’t quite go to plan. The cocktails just kept flowing as well as our usual quantity of laughter and giggles. The boys went off to the bar for their ‘Sunday afternoon drink’ and we played versions of Give us a clue everytine we wanted a drink. The most strenuous thing I did all day was visit the Aurora Sandwich man for a prawn salad sandwich. Oh and I did climb the steps to deck 13 to watch the flying fish. They were great and they had a little formation team out there with fish fling out at all angles.

Mr C took me into the pool. I needed a lifeguard as occasionally we hit a bit of a dip in the sea and the pool wave machine automatically switched on. I don’t like it when that happens and don’t find it any where near as exciting as some of the passengers.

Me And Amanda decide we would quite like to venture into the Jacuzzi but it was presently occupied by some rather annoying crew who were being particually loud. We gave them about 20 minutes and then decided we would have to get in for them to get out. But oh no, the crew in question had other ideas. Amanda had to force her way in and by the time I turned around from ordering a drink from Brian there was sniggering all round. One of the lads glared at e like I was dirt on is shoe so I had to comment and ask what that look was for? Yes I was mad, and he had chosen to cross the wrong passenger. They obviously thought it would be smart to crowd us out in the Jacuzzi and continued to talk louder and louder and look down there noses. Even when Mr C came across to take a photo they made no effort to move. Mr C went back across to the our loungers but he could see the steam coming out of my ears by now and it took him to come and join us in the Jacuzzi being lounder than them for them to realise that they had been out whitted. Deck privileges are one thing but abusing them the way they were was just a joke. Never mind I will have the last laugh!

At 3 we all turned in and called it a day. We needed our rest after our busy lazy Sunday! I consulted my social diary wall and tonight we have Portunus Party in Carmens. Mr C set the phone to wake us at 6.30 but I somehow managed to regain conciousness on my own at about 20 to 6. I ran myself a nice hot bath with some relaxing oils and just laid and soaked for a while. Make up and hair complete and we rendezous for pre party drinks in Andersons before making our way to the party. As nice a s the Captain is we couldn’t be bothered to queue so headed for the fast track route on the port side. Brian and Thomas were on a mission to supply us with as much champagne as possible. One of Darrens Engineer friends spotted us and he came across to chat. In fact we ended up with 3 officers between the four of us. Two Daves and Zoran. Mr C was chating to his officer about a job at sea, oh wouldn’t that be fab if he came to work at sea? Dave reckons that with his qualifications he could come straight in as a 3rd ETO and that means wife can travel for 4 months of every 8 month contract. Oh yes please I have to convince Mr C that that’s what he wants to do. Captain Hutley decided he wasn’t even going to make his speech until 8.30 so there was no way we were going to make dinner on time. Captain of course came across to say hell to us after his speech and we let him get away without a photo this time around. We knew that {Pa and Brian were dining in the Pennant so we didn’t really rush, but we had forgotton that our Host would be in attendance as it was a formal night. Oops!

Dinner was superb. Tomato & Gin soup for starters! Mr C had the lobster sea food platter and we had the stuffed rack of lamb. The choice was vast tonight but there is only so much food I can take.

Black and white ball in Carmens and the boys were not getting out of it tonight. We settled down in ouyr seats but I spoted Staff Captain at the bar and as I was still seething at the Jacuzzi incident I had to go and have words! He wasn’t at all impressed with his young officers and their deck privileges actually alow them to use the facilities but if any one othe passenger enters the Jacuzzi they are exected to leave, so crowding us out and making us feel uncomfortable was something they will now unfortunately have to pay for tomorrow. A hard way to learn a lesson for them and I don’t like to spoil anyones fun, but when its at my expense then they need to be bought into line

We managed quite few of the dances tnight in our own little way and it wasn’t long before we were joined by our own personal dance instructor Neil. Cha cha cha’ing in a dress with a long flowng train wasn’t easy but hey we got there. The waltz was much easier to cope with and a lot more graceful. We somehow managed to keep ordering drinks and chattering long after the room had emptied and been cleared and closed. As we left Champions was closed and all n darkness and we never expected to see anyone in Masquarades but it was packed and kicking. Many of te officers were also still out. Neil and Amand had an American Smooth on the dance floor (that’s a dance not a milk shake) and well we were either dancing on the dance floor or dancing n our own ittle area. None of us could stand still. Ged apeeared from the mist of th casino and even he was strutting hos stuff. Oh te night just went on and on until something silly like 4 in the morning. We had a great night but there is no way we could do that every night – Im not as young as I used to be lol and anyway our days are long and fun enough for us to reach burnout by 1. Me and Mr C did last slightly longer tha the rest of the gang and mr C insisted on dragging me to Café B for horlicks and toasties but I downed my hot chococlate dint have the patience to wait for scoobies so I trotted off to bed.

I wasn’t expecting the surpise that greeted me on the bed, but Angelo had surpassed himself tonight. It then had to wait for mr c to catch me up and see what we had on the bed!

Monday 19t November ~ at sea

The sun is blasting through the curtains but I just cant bring myself to get out of bed. Time to let someone else have te royal box for a while and anyway I think my skin could do wth a rest from the sun. and anyway its Monday and I have work to catch up on, but not before a big lie in. it ended up being a very lazy day indeed. We ordered room service at 11.30, chicken and bacon salsa baquette with fries and didn’t get up until 12.30. I spent an hour in the Library working followed by a coffee in Crows. We had a walk along deck 13 in the glorious sunshine (and to observe who was in ‘my chair’ lol) stopped by Pennant fro a bottle of water and by 2 we were back in bed and I was sleeping within minutes. Rumur has it that Amanda and Mick were equaslly as lazy, with the exception of Amanda who spent 20 mins in the gym working uo a sweat. So this day is now officially known as Lazy Monday!

My social diary wall informed me that we had yet another private cocktail doo to attend this evening as well as a booking in Café B for the Caravan music night. We cant miss out on our pre dinner drinks in Andersons so we met up at 7.30 on our usual bar stools. 8.00pm and Martin Elliot Chief Engineer has invited us to his private cocktail party in the Uganda. It was nice to see Martyn again as he had only just boarded in Barbados doing a swap with the other chief engineer. Cheifs doo is always a little select affair and the driks were flowing thick and fast almost too fast for Amanda to cope wth but she has been putting in some good practice lately. Lots of canapés and little sausages too and I could have stood there nibbling on them all night rather than go for a meal. But sadley we have to pull away at 8.45 and head for our table in café B. Caravan were as excellent as ever and rounded off the night with Bohemiem Rhapsody which nearly bought the house down again, of course we all shouted for more and they obliged. The meal and service in café b were once again superb. All that we could really manage afterwards was a little waddle along to Crows for a nightcap or three.

Tuesday 20th November ~ at sea

Oh heck ive hardly managed a wink of sleep and Im full of cold. Where did that come from? I cant wait to get outside to see if it’s the air con that’s preventing me from sleeping and at 6 im back in the Royal Box. The pool is going berserk today and has already been netted off. Ive defiantly got an attack of fu and it takes me all my time to collect a cup of tea from the orangery, but I couldn’t even manage a blueberry muffin today. Even the fresh air cant clear my head.

The sun rises and it’s a glorious hot sunny day again with a slight westerly breeze.

Clocks were advanced 1 hour at miday to 1300hrs. the first two hours ere advanced during the nights of Barbados and the following day but the captainb gave us a choice of how and when we wanted te other hours advancing and we opted for today and tomorrow lunch time.

Scrummy fish and chips for lunch and then I had to go in search of medication. Synex nasal spray sorted that out enough to allow me to breath and two nurofen are working on my thick haed as we speak.

Soacial wall advises me that we have arraged pre dinner drinks with Barry and Celia this evening in Andersons. Geoff seems a little put out when we move away from the bar to the comfort of a sofa but cant expect guests to perch themselves on a barstool!

Dinner was like pulling teeth tonight. Our two table companions were back but I didn’t have the patience and left Aunty Amanda to chat to them. How come on the odd occasions that we agree to a shared table we have boring passengers? They haven’t enjoyed their cruise and didt like the caribbean and wont be coming back to P&O, its too formal etc. Give me strenghth! Why don’t people read the brochure when they hanbd over their cash?

I think dinner must have all bought us down to their level as none of us had the energy or enthusiasm aftyer that to stay up for long. We had a drink in Crows and then headed for bed. It tried the wet flannel hangingf in the cabin trick tonight to try and keep my nasal passages open and hey presto it seemed to work. Trouble was that I couldn’t sleep and I nearly sent myself doo lallly!

Wednesday 21st November ~at sea

I rose just before sunrise and headed for my lounger in the royal box. I could see that we had had a shower of rain but it was still warm and when the sun rose it was lovely and hot and sunny. But it wasn’t long before the rain clouds returned and I had to run for cover. I just sat and watched as the towels etc got drenched. When the sun came back out I was gorgeous but the sunny spells were getting less and less and I didn’t have the patience to wait.

Went and had a nice coffee in Raffles and then had a wander until we ended up in Katchyfrazes in Champions. I cant say that we were really playing along, some I got and some I didn’t. Amanda a nd Mick soon found us but one pina colada cocktail of the day was enough for me so I went to change for lunch.

We had a nice table for 4 in Café B with a ‘wine of the cruise’ to wash it down. Chicken tikka wrap was yummy, if a little on the fiery side.

Now all I can say about this afternoon is that we were very privaliged! And wow, the ‘virtual’ bridge tours are very realistic these days lol. Its good to have friends in high places and we met a very interesting character from Olden called Brian!! I sure the photos will give it away, but it was a fab and very interesting afternnon.

Back outside the sun was blasting across the open decks. We walked along deck 12 and shock horror there was a woman sunbathing in my chair in a very grubby looking grey dingy bra! Oh really, standards are slipping! People were looking at me as if to say ‘come on the suns shining get back out here! But it involves effort to get changed etc and im getting very lazy.

We wander down to the aft end and observe the strange goings on of various people back there. I spott the ‘man in a suit’ that Neil is always telling me about and also the twins from ‘Maid in Manhatten’ are swimming in syncro in the pool complete with full makeup, bright red lipstick and pearls! Oh yes we have had them all on here this cruise!

As we head down the aft stairs we smell the chocolate of chocaholics buffet so it would be rude not to take a look. The strawberry chocolate fountain looks delicious. The rest of it looks equally delicious but I cant stomach it. We opt for 3 chocolate dipped strawberries and I carry them back to the cabin.

A nice long snooze before dinner.

Formal night tonight and we all seem to be ready a little early as we meet for pre dinner drinks in Andersons. Hughie announced that they had just got coverage of the England game on Sky so many departed for the big screen in Carmens. Mick was tempted but didn’t cave in – until he had finished his main course.

Our ‘host’ never turned up for dinner again! Issac had set a place for her and he didn’t receive any info to say she wasn’t coming again – tut tut!

It was a rather strange menu tonight for a formal night but scrummy non the less. Beer battered haddock and chips, sausage and mash or chicken and leek pie! Hardly an ‘elevated’ menu but it was the first time I had eaten all of the meal for a long time. It was, however, very strange sitting there in best bib and tucker and eating fish & chips! Another ‘wine of the cruise’ washed it down followed by the now obligatory after dinner liquer.

Carmens Ball wasn’t that well attended tonight but maybe that’s down to the irritating Scottish dance instructor hosts who insit on killing every dance and clearing the floor everytime the band stop playing. Caravan look so frustrated sometimes. Only one of the ents team was present and she was buy socialing with another couple. I do like to see the ents team in attendance and dancing with the passengers. However Mr Chadwick and Crossland excelled themselves tonight and led us around the floor for many a foxtrot waltz and Mr C even got the hang of the quickstep at long last!

The ball was over at midnight so we had to go in search of more entertainment. Somehow we ended up in a very smokjey rowdy Andersons bar! There was a large group of heavily smoking singing passengers commanding every ones attention. Geoff had apparently left because he couldn’t be doing with it and Palav was just letting them get rowdier and rowdier, probably because the bar supervisor was there joining in with them but it wasn’t the ambience of Andersons that I expect. Goodness knows what they would have been like if England had won tonight?

Andersons bar closed and Amanda and Mick headed for bed. I wandered down to masquerades with Mr C and Dave Holden but I decided it was time for bed. I insisted that Mr C escort me to bed as there are a few too many dodgy characters about for my liking and then he returned to the nightclub, so I will see what tales he has to tell.

Thursday 22nd November ~ Madeira

Mr C didn’t have any thing exciting to tell me from last night other than there were chicken goujons on the menu in Café B!

Clever old Captain has got us an extra couple of hours in Madeira and we wil now depart at 3.00pm. its a lovely hot and sunny morning and the sunrise over the hill was amazing. Breakfast on the Pennant had a bit of a chill in the air but then we were sat in the shade. Nothing much on the agenda for today except to just walk into town and take it easy. There was the usual shuttle bus into town but I always like to stretch my legs a little so we walked past Island Star and round the dock past the Europa. The decorations were being put up in the town and there were men climbing trees to cover them with the pretty lights. The main decorations were already in place and I cant wait to see them all light up again at New Year. Mr C always seems to be on a shopping mission just lately and today he wants camera stuff and a bits for his new precious spear gun! Funnily enough we didn’t see any such shops as I wander through the old and new town. We walked back along the front and down to the bars and restaurants in the harbour. We spied Mr & Mrs Crossland walking the other way and then we just sort of decended on a restaurant for a drink sitting in the blazing sunshine. At one point the clouds did roll over the hill, but they were soon swept back out to sea. ‘A drink’ turned into many accompanied by food. I think Me and Amanda sampled a couple of glasses of wine, followed by beer and sangria. Fish was the main speciality of this restaurant judging by the large tanks of live fish, crabs and lobster, but we are simple folk (or in other words we were sick of the sight of food and wanted simple food) but the pizza was yummy!

We were very conscious that time was ticking away and 3.00pm was getting closer, but if you ignore the time its as if it wont really happen isn’t it?. But after leaving it really a little later than we should have, we headed back to the ship on foot as we gathered we wouldn’t make the last shuttle at 2.30pm. Mr C decided he needed to use the little boys room half way back so he ended up jogging to the ship in desperation. Meanwhile we walked and talked. We chatted to an older chap on Island and I think he grasped that I wouldn’t choose to cruise on there! I will confess that as Aurora got closer my heart did drop a little as I couldn’t see a gangway! Yipes!! But then I realised it was only the main gangway that had gone and the little gangway was still there – phew!! But when I looked behind me I did realise that we were actually the last people so in effect they were waiting for us – Ooops! Mr Crossland tried to be polite and allow me up the gangway first, but I insisted on being last. Then he tried to out witt me again by forcing me to scan in before him lol. Sometimes its just nice to come last!!

Straight up to the Pennant for our last sailaway. A party would have been good but someone must have forgotten to organise one! Tropical Vision couldn’t get their act together either so we just slipped away very quietly! Well as quiet as you can be with large cocktails in your hand, waving to anything that moves. We sat at the bar wishing that the land wasn’t really slipping away from us, but never mind we will be back soon!

We don’t really have time for a sleep but Mr C fits in one of those power sleep jobbies while I quietly fill a case with some clothes that I know I just wont need again this cruise. Oooh how exciting, it was just like going shopping in my wardrobe. I came a cross dresses I didn’t know I had, it was great. And I could see the shoe mountain more clearly. One of those ‘dresses I forgot I had’ was selected and you guessed it, pre dinner drinks in Andersons. The cosmo’s and the appletinis are great in here but the entertainment value is even better. The bar staff are so entertaining. The poor pantry boy is always getting it in the neck from Geoff, but he just lets it ride off his back and has always got a knowing little smile for us. Palav never knows what mood to expect Geoff in at 7.45, but hes always funny. Just don’t let him catch you laughning at him though.

It really wouldn’t have bothered me if we missed dinner tonight, but when there is other people at the table to consider and as we don’t want to offend the waiters by naking them think we are acoiding them at the end of the cruise, we trott down to dinner. The menu doesn’t inspire me so I hit on the bright idea of jacket potato and ham salad. Oooh dear, asking Issac for a jacket potato wasn’t the best idea I had had and I tried to recall my order when he decided to have a bit of a hissy fit about it, but potato was ordered now so I had better eat it. Ham salad would have been great if he hadn’t have put 2lbs of boiled ham on the plate. If I had took that home to Mum and Jack it would have fed them easily for a week and half! Just looking at that amount of meat put me off, and although I ate a slice and a half, plus the potato and some salad, you couldn’t tell that I had touched it. That was Issac cheesed off again! I could almost here him muttering ‘why do I bother?’

After the day in port and loss of afternoon nap I didn’t have the energy for anything, so after what will probably be one of the last strolls around the deck this cruise. Im full of cold and can hardly breath once I get into the airconditioning, so I go in search of Clifford in Masquarades because I know he can make a good hot toddy. But hes not back on until midnight. Our wine waiter comes to the rescues though and dashes off to find the ingredients and asks the bar tender to mix it for me. Mmmm that’s better…. Im off to bed while I can still breath.

Friday 23rd November 2007

Well there is no point at all in getting up or rushing around today. Ive already said goodbye to my sun lounger in the Royal Box for a while, so I just lay in bed. Surely to god Mr C has watched everything that goes around that TV on a loop by now? No it would appear not. The ship is jumping around a bit today, which is usually quite fun, but not in our cabin. I now have a new golden rule which says ‘don’t book a cabin beyond the front stairwell’ but the boys on the bridge tell me its more to do with the sea conditions this cruise and D deck isn’t the best place to be. There is more of a swell than rough sea, but as the ship cuts through it, the waves fold back and crash into the side of the ship at just about the same point as our cabin. Normally we wouldn’t hear it as an outside cabin usually has a window flat to the side of the ship, but D deck windows are at an angle, so the noise goes up and is trapped by the protruding D deck.

All in all I didn’t really do a lot today, a bit of work in the library. A bit of laundry. Mick and Amanda finally got their private dance lesson and Mr C joined in for a while, but Im lacking in energy. We retreated to Champions for numerous cocktails and lots of laughing. We like to laugh when we are on holiday, however some people take life a little too seriously!

Formal night tonight, oh and yet another Private Party invite. This time its Staff Captain Andy’s doo in the Uganda so we make sure we are there early because we know those little sausages in the loaf will be there. The deck officers aren’t the best at socialising but eventually Third officer Donald feels he has drunk enough to come and chat to us. And a very nice young chap he was to. Only 20 years old and already ‘driving a ship’ yet he cant drive a car yet lol. He is due home shortly for his first Christmas at home in 3 years so Im sure he is looking forward to that. We would love to stay longer but dinner was called about 10 minutes ago..

Fanfare of trumpets we have our host back! Wow a full table, will Issacc and Edward cope? I think Edward could probably cope better on his own as Issac tends to go into a bit of a flap and ends up serving the wrong meals to people despite what the cutlery tells him. Parade of the Chefs seemed to be over in a blink of an eye tonight. Maybe they didn’t all come out of the galley tonight? Or maybe I have drank too much again hic.

It wouldn’t be formal night without a visit to the ball in Carmens. Darren Day was on in the theatre so a lot of people were down there watching that. I went along and stuck my head in but I thought he was better in the jungle! I love to sit and watch all the dancers in Carmens and its even better now that Mr C will partake in a dance or two. Mad crazy couple from the beginning of the cruise are still out there strutting there stuff and it would be strange if one of the regular dance couples were missing one night. I will come back at New Year and all different people will be waltzing around the dance floor.

Saturday 24th November 2007

Oh dear all the cases are outside the doors all waiting to be filled. Oh I hate packing day. How do you make it all fit into those cases. It takes weeks of planning for me and now I have half a day to put it all back in again. Mr C makes himself scarce as usual and I get a fair bit done, but I need to get out and about and have a wander. Then I need a little lie down, as you do when your on holiday! I think my body is telling me that I haven’t allowed it to have very much of a rest this cruise. At lunch time I send Mr C to visit the sandwich man for one of his fantastic prawn sandwiches. Mmmmm… I love the sandwich man, he has to be the best addition to the Orangery. That gives me a bit more energy to pack another case and then its walkabout time and we end up back in Champions with Neil. We reminisce about the whole cruise, the people we have met, the laughs we have had, the hangovers, the fun ashore and the places and sights we have seen. Oh reality is going to be tough on us all this time around. Pulling ourselves out of Champions late this afternoon is hard because its like admitting that it’s the last day, but it has to be done.

A last few things go in the case while Mr C has one of his power sleeps on the remaining square foot of bed that is still visible.

I wanted to make the most of my last pre dinner drinks so I was at Andersons bar nice and early before the traditional last night rush. Palev is still smiling, but Geoff’s not arrived yet. Geoff was away delivering champagne to a suite and I think he must of partook in a glass or two by the time he arrived. Palev had been doing a brilliant job of the bar single handed, but Geoff had to have a pop at him and anyone else that got in his path, but oh the making up was good. It was kisses all around when Geoff calmed down. The whole gang was in tonight, so despite it being busy we managed our big group photos before we headed down to dinner.

I cant face anymore food. Its too much, so I opt for a starter and a soup which is what I should have done a long time ago as I enjoyed it much more. Ramsom was there with the wine, the one with the stones on it – oh we are easily pleased.

Im busy people watching tonight watching how many actually get out of the restaurant with a simple ’goodbye and thanks very much’ mmmm do they come back with a tip in the morning or am I just a soft touch? I will never know. Tipping has been harder this time. We spent 7 of the 22 nights in alternative restaurants so do we calculate those in the tips? After all we have paid the cover charge in those other restaurants, and to be honest the service hasn’t been amongst the best we have received. The lads were great, but sometimes we would wait forever to be served the next course and other times we would have the next course infront of us before we had drawn breath. I took all this into consideration and still think we were quite generous, so why did I feel like I was being mean? Oh weel, its last dinner and time to get out of here

As usual we headd for Carmens, but after 21 nights of a very under used room and never a problem getting a seat we find ourselves having to stand. Its Talentless show that’s why!! Eventually we squeeze our way to the bar and find a couple a barstools. Its very ‘de ja vue’ as this is exactly where it all started 3 weeks earlier, even Hughie is stood at the end of the bar, but he didn’t offer us a drink this time, maybe he has worked out who I am lol.

Watching the Talent show was like pulling teeth. Why do they do it. Ever heard of electronic bagpipes? No neither have we and Im convinced someone was having a wind up. After what seemed like hours it all came to a climax with a chorus of ‘white Christmas’ and me and Amanda drifted out of our nightmare.

The room very slowly cleared a little and we were able to get a comfy seat at the front of the dance floor.

Now this is where I get really cheesed off with the ents team. For one thing the room is packed full of people wanting to party. Where have they been all cruise? And secondly just about every member of the ents team is on the dance floor practically pulling you off your seat to get up and dance. Where the hell have they been all cruise. Every night of the ball we were lucky, and I mean very lucky, if one member of the team was in attendance to dance with. Now we have the whole flaming lot of them jumping around like lunies and smiling. Don’t they know its too late? My comment form went in hours ago. Surely this is what they are there for on a nightly basis? No I think hosting a quiz wears them out! Ents teams have a lot to learn, but it’s the same most cruises.

Caravan were brilliant and everyone was on the floor for sailing, New York New york and the like. But the finale was one final and brilliant performance of Bohemian Rhapsody. Of course they got a well deserved standing ovation. The party continued with DJ Gittos but we knew it was time to call it a day. Hugs and kisses all around but we had to admit it was our last night (for a while)

I stook my head outside, it was freezing and there were twinkling lights of land on the port side but I didn’t even want to think of where abouts they might be.

Sunday 25th November 2007

I woke while it was still dark and looked out of the window. I think we had stopped to pick up the pilot as it was very quiet and there outside the window was the QE2. she looked fantastic just sitting there quietly all light up. I drifted back to sleep for a while and the next time I looked I could see the QE2 dock passing by the window, then the car park, oh I didn’t want to look anymore so I put my head back on the pillow. Next thing I knew he had put the thrusters on and we were turning in the basin past the grain mountains and flour mill. That was it we were back in Blightly and there was no escaping it. Time to get up and head to first sitting breakfast in the restaurant for 7.00am. I usally love breakfast in the restaurant on the last morning but it wasn’t so good today. We had missed all of the tables for two to the very early birds so we were put on a table for 8. lovely people but Im really not into socialising and making polite conversation at that time of the morning. The one couple let us all know that they were very disappointed in the Caribbean and wouldn’t be coming this way again. Oh dear, it seems they were part of the ‘don’t venture past the dock gates brigade’ what a waste to come all that way and not be a little adventurous.

Breakfast was just a disaster. I ordered bacon, sausage and beans, but got bacon egg and beans. The waiter was not impressed when I pointed it out and made it quite clear that he wasn’t happy about me ‘messing him around. he made no offer to keep it warm while he sent for bacon so I chose to eat it. The tea was cold. The orange juice was like water and the toast was like tinder (ooh dear am I moaning?) eventually my bacon appeared and it was unceremoniously tipped onto my dirty plate on top of my knife and fork! What a shame that my last P&O experience was bad one. Oh well at least it was the only bad experience.

We stop by reception to collect Mr C’s spear gun, then its back to the cabin to stuff the last few things into the suit bag.

Agnelo our cabin steward has been brilliant. Always very efficient, happy and he has gone that extra mile to entertain me with his towel creations etc. he looks stressed this morning trying to get all of his cabins in order so we quickly say our goodbyes and get out of his way.

It only just gone 8 O’clock but we head down to our usual waiting spot on F deck out of the way of everyone. We have so many bags it’s a real struggle, made all the more difficult by that flaming spear gun in its long box! A few people are starting to gather in the atrium so we creep down there. I can hear on the radios that shoreside are ready for us and priority disembarks are almost ready to go. So with Priority disembarkation tickets in hand we edge to the gangway and we are cleared to leave the ship. I almost managed to hang onto my priority disembark cards for next time as I managed to get past two people collecting tickets but Gittos decided he would be clever and caught up with us to take them off me – nice one!

How I got down that escualator with all my bags in hand was beyond me . it was more of a balancing act than anything. Thankfully it was soon loaded onto trolleys. Finding the cases wasn’t easy and I had left both D and F deck labels on them so some were in the D deck area and some were in the F deck, but they were all found and we were heading through an empty customs hall before I knew it. For once we were well within our duty free allowance as I knew how strict they were after the last Caribbean cruise, but this time there wasn’t a sole in attendance and we could have got away with loads of cheap booze – oh well!

We managed to keep everything on the trolleys as we crossed the road to the Car parking. Mr C collected the keys and I found I had been stood alongside my own car all along and didnt even recognise it! How he fitted all of that stuff into the car is beyond me but at just a few minutes past 9 we were listening to Steve Wright Sunday Love songs and heading home. I woke up twice, and that was the only point at which I realised I was asleep. Mr C had got me home safe and sound, but this was reality. A huge pile of post and a house that needed a womans touch after two teens had been let loose in it for 22 days!

For me and Amanda I think it is safe to say that we have pretty much laughed our way around the Caribbean. Not because we felt the need to it just seemed to sort of come naturally to us. We think along the same wave length as so pretty much know what the other one is thinking before we have said or done it. Its pretty safe to say that we have found the slightest thing amusing this cruise and that’s the ay it should be.

All in all its been a fantastic cruise. We have met and made some fantastic new friends along the way which I know will continue to be great friends.

This cruise will always be remembered as one of my favourites because of the people we met, the places we visited and the cocktails and rum punch consumed!

Please feel Free to leave a comment below and you can view the rest of my pictures here in the Aurora November 07 slideshow