Adonia Part 9 Portimao and home

Ah - the bliss of a relaxing day at sea. We were in the cabin and had just pulled open the curtains with the sun shining through the window, wondering if there might be dolphins out there when a crew member climbed out of the tender he was doing work on right outside!! Thankfully we were both still decent!! Aside from spa visits and Caryll's quoits and table tennis, we had nothing planned for today. The Peninsular Party was that evening and it was also black and white night. We only had one port left - Portimao, then two days sailing home.

Tuesday 15 May

We arrived at Portimao, Portugal. This wa our last port and were up early for the sail in as our tour was leaving at 8.20. At 7am it was 20 degrees on deck and got hotter as the day wore on into the mid 30s.  Like Port Mahon, our full day here had been cut to around 6 hours so our plans to take the shuttle to Praia de Rocha after the tour had to be cancelled. The beaches in the Algarve are spectacular as are the cliffs surrounding them. We travelled first the Cape St Vincent to the lighthouse on the south west tip of Europe. The timings here were silly since we arrrived at 9.40 for half an hour but the lighthouse (and its toilets) didn’t open till 10am!! It was still a good stop though, with swallows swopping around us and mad fishermen using lines from the top of the huge cliffs. Apparently several die here every year!  From there we drove to Sagres, stopped at some more wonderful cliff formations and then to Lagos where we had an hour, half of which our guide spent explaining the church. Then back to the ship for 1pm. We had the Great British Sailaway around the Crystal Pool and then sat on the prom deck watching for the dolphins that live around here. Chocoholics was this pm but neither of us went – I certainly couldn’t have faced chocolate in any shape or form in this heat. Homeward bound now with two days at sea until Southampton.

Lagos, Portugal

At sea
While Caryll was off doing energetic things, I spent the morning dolphin watching from the prom deck and making the most of our last two days. After a grey start it turned out bright, warm and sunny, although there is a colder easterly wind. Adonia is pitching a little, but not uncomfortably. After lunch out on deck we both watched The Adonia Regatta. Three people submitted boats - you had to make a boat from items found on board, that would float, withstand a mini tsunami (Darren the ent. officer jumping in the pool) and carry 6 cans of soft drink! I would have been pushed to choose a winner as there were all excellent and all passed their tests. By teatime the ship movement started to increase and the Captain came over the tannoy warning us to take care moving around the ship and to secure everything in the cabin. I was already beginning to feel a little queasy and so took a Stugeron and decided to skip dinner, even though it was our last formal night. I was not alone as there were four people missing from our table it seems. I was still a little hungry though so went for room service sandwiches – that was my mistake!  For only the second time in my cruising career I was well and truly seasick! In fact the wind was only Force 7, but was hitting us from the north east and causing the ship to corkscrew. Caryll managed dinner and the quiz before succumbing to the same malady.

Thursday 17 May 2012
Our last day on board and there was packing to be done. Unfortunately it is still rocking and rolling, although we both felt fine after a good night’s sleep and a light breakfast.  The movement made it a bit exhausting and we didn’t really do a lot else. At 3pm there was a Murder Mystery in the Curzon Room. It was a bit like a radio play but the audience had to guess the murderer and motive (and win a bottle of wine). Caryll and I didn’t come close to getting it right.  I changed my disembarkation time to the earliest – 9.30am, although there is only half an hour between the first and last. Adonia does seem to arrive in Southampton later that the other ships though. Since Andrew and I were book signing on board until 2pm, I had to disembark, collect my cases, load the car, move it to the short stay car park and collect a day pass, I was back on board before Caryll had left. 

So, in conclusion, a few thoughts about Adonia – I loved the elegant restaurant, excellent service, friendliness of everyone – being welcomed back on board by name every time, from embarkation to disembarkation and every port in between – and the size. Andersons was lovely and The Conservatory is the best buffet restaurant in the whole fleet IMO, with a logical layout and hand gel and cutlery at every entrance/exit.

Also, at present there is only one entertainment venue so you cannot do both the syndicate quiz and go to a show due to timings, although we were told something is being done about that – not sure what though.

I don’t like the deck area so much. Aside from the terrace behind the Conservatory, the only open decks are in the middle so there is no escape from the Sailaway music aside from the prom deck and no other view of the wake.  Plenty of sunbeds but again – all in the centre and I cannot get up from them. Indeed, more than once I saw a lady call over a deck steward to help them up. The only reclining chairs were on the prom deck so I had to carry one up to deck 10. Also there is no unobstructed view forward – the Sky deck has blue glass all around so useless for photography. I commented on this to the Captain, who is also a keen photographer, but, as he pointed out, he has the bridge wing to use! 

Would I sail on her again – yes – absolutely – if the price and itinerary were right. IMO she is probably best suited to port-heavy cruises with not so many seadays. Being able to visit places like Portofino, Port Mahon and Sete was brilliant and tendering was easy and quick where required. I had a great time and some good memories.