Thursday 1 October - at sea
Weather 3/8 cloud, northerly Force 4, 24°C
Quiet day on deck sunbathing and reading. In the evening after dinner - we finally won the syndicate quiz
yay!i
Friday 2 October - at sea
Weather 4/8 cloud, westerly Force 6, 25°C
Woke to a cloudy sky. Succumbed to a freshly baked waffle for brekkie and
then went to the solos meet for coffee. By then the sky had cleared and I spent the day out on deck. Lunchtime was a deck barbeque and then I moved to the Aquarius deck to sunbathe- with my feet in the pool - heaven. I went to the Individual quiz before changing for our last-but-one formal night. We came third in the quiz after dinner.
Saturday 3 October - at sea
Weather 6/8 cloud, south-westerly, 23°C
It was cloudy most of day, although still warm. Sat on prom deck watching for
dolphins. There was a small pod playing and leaping in our wake. Had a quick light lunch and then went back to the promenade deck for the afternoon.
Weather 5/8 cloud, light airs, 22°C
Our final port on this cruise and an early alarm as Caryll was on an early tour. I
got up about 8.15 after she had left and grabbed a quick breakfast out on deck, just the sun was
rising over the Rock.
Gathering my stuff I set off to walk into the centre of Gibraltar. It was not too bad although it seemed a very long way.
Once I reached Main Street I started looking in the shops. Funny - I had never noticed before just how many jewellery shops there were here!! I bought a pair of coral and silver earrings and then spotted some Morganite. I have loved Morganite since I first saw it in the shops on board Aurora back in 2004. It is not very common any more, although Arcadia had three pieces, but as the stones were surrounded by diamonds they were very expensive and not that wearable. In this shop was a beautiful plain emerald-cut ring in rose gold. As it needed to be resized I had time to kill so carried on my walk to the end of the street.
Went back to collect ring and then headed back towards the ship. It was by then very hot but muggy too. It took me around half an hour and as I arrived back there was a huge long queue to board.
It appeared one of the scanners had broken down. Caryll arrived back just as I was sitting in a state of collapse on my bed! After a brief clean up we had a brie and cranberry baguette and I went to prom deck on dolphin watch while Caryll went to the sail away. Saw a couple of pods and a lone dolphin but not the numbers I expected. The water was glassy calm and the fishing fleet were out in force.
Gathering my stuff I set off to walk into the centre of Gibraltar. It was not too bad although it seemed a very long way.
Once I reached Main Street I started looking in the shops. Funny - I had never noticed before just how many jewellery shops there were here!! I bought a pair of coral and silver earrings and then spotted some Morganite. I have loved Morganite since I first saw it in the shops on board Aurora back in 2004. It is not very common any more, although Arcadia had three pieces, but as the stones were surrounded by diamonds they were very expensive and not that wearable. In this shop was a beautiful plain emerald-cut ring in rose gold. As it needed to be resized I had time to kill so carried on my walk to the end of the street.
Went back to collect ring and then headed back towards the ship. It was by then very hot but muggy too. It took me around half an hour and as I arrived back there was a huge long queue to board.
It appeared one of the scanners had broken down. Caryll arrived back just as I was sitting in a state of collapse on my bed! After a brief clean up we had a brie and cranberry baguette and I went to prom deck on dolphin watch while Caryll went to the sail away. Saw a couple of pods and a lone dolphin but not the numbers I expected. The water was glassy calm and the fishing fleet were out in force.
Before leaving the captain warned of a rough
night once we reached the Atlantic so I washed my hair before dinner ready for
tomorrow's final formal night and Peninsular Club party. Had a cocktail before dinner then
went to the Art Gallery but all the Rebecca Lardner paintings I saw when going ashore had
disappeared. Caryll is a big fan and I wanted her to see them, We had to settle for a free glass of champagne then dinner. Went to bed as very
tired.
Monday 5 October - at sea
Weather overcast, south by west Force 7, 21.5°C
As the captain had warned, it got bumpy overnight but
not overly so. We got up very late and went straight to solos. Caryll then went to play quoits and I had a late breakfast. Then sat out
prom deck writing this. It was by no means cold and the long rolling swell was quite
soothing.
We met up for lunch, then went to cabin to do
nails and read. the sun made an appearance so I sat on the stern deck for an hour or two until it clouded
over again. We know we are homeward bound now!
Got ready for the b/w night and Peninsular party round Neptune pool. The champagne and canapés were free-flowing. Dinner and quiz
Got ready for the b/w night and Peninsular party round Neptune pool. The champagne and canapés were free-flowing. Dinner and quiz
Packing day! OK, I know it doesn't take all day to pack, but the last sea day always feels bitty and disjointed to me. Collected my duty-free order, checked our statements and generally got ready to return to real life!
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| Passenger choir performance |
Wednesday 7 October – Southampton
We berthed early. Our alarm went off at 7am and we
dressed and went to the Belvedere for breakfast. We were supposed to assemble
in the Ocean Room if we were listed for assistance and this is where
disembarkation fell apart somewhat. We were told there was an hour delay due to
problems with the air-bridge. Eventually I decided I could manage without the
wheelchair and we were directed to the crew gangway which was less steep and took
us straight into the luggage hall. We collected our luggage and had half an
hour to wait for our taxi.
Back at Caryll's, I was just getting sorted in my car when she suddenly realised that she had left behind her red cabin case! A phone call to the terminal sorted it and she was able to go and collect it an hour or so later. Got home about 3pm after a leisurely drive and having to stop three times to stretch my leg.
Back at Caryll's, I was just getting sorted in my car when she suddenly realised that she had left behind her red cabin case! A phone call to the terminal sorted it and she was able to go and collect it an hour or so later. Got home about 3pm after a leisurely drive and having to stop three times to stretch my leg.
Total distance travelled: 5275 nautical miles.
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