Oceana transatlantic to Caribbean, January 2014 - 1

Well the day of the big birthday cruise dawned!

Wednesday 1 Jan

I set off around midday on New Year’s Day to get to my friend the day before the cruise started. The weather was horrible – very gusty winds - and I had to drive through deep flood water round Salisbury and again at Hythe. Nevertheless I made good time and was there by 2.40pm, probably as there was very little traffic on the roads.

Thursday 2 Jan

7°C

SW Force 3

What a difference a day makes – the day dawned bright and clear and I woke in time to watch Oceana sail in from Amsterdam. 

Our driver was picking us up at 11am and he was, as always, bang on time. We had a lot of luggage so he did well to fit it all in. At Mayflower terminal I found a porter and we were directed to the priority check-in. By 12.15 we were on board and eating the Peninsular lunch in the Ligurian Restaurant at a table for two by the window and with a glass of wine and two glasses of champagne inside us.

We then dumped our hand luggage in our cabin and set off to explore a little. Our luggage had still not arrived when we returned later so we each went on a hunt. Gradually we found everything but not until around 4pm and from all corners and sides of the deck! It took ages to unpack and find out how to store everything but we made it eventually by which time it was Muster Drill. Our station for Cabin C620 was Starlights. Muster over, we headed up to Deck 14 as we had discovered that Oceana was getting a firework send off, like Queen Victoria, also in Southampton and about to leave on her world cruise. We set sail, firstly passing Boudicca in full throes of a deck muster drill and then Queen Victoria, with whom we exchanged whistles. As we neared Dock Head, there was a fabulous 8 minute firework display from a barge.

By then we were frozen so after a mulled wine on deck we headed back to the cabin for a nap before changing and going into dinner.  We watched the show then went to bed. The captain, Andrew Willard, had warned us of a bumpy ride for the first few days, but we expected that and prepared accordingly – downing seasick tablets and securing everything in the cabin.

Friday 3 January  – At Sea

11°C
SW Force 10 gusting 12

It was a very rough night with lots of bangs, clatters and general lurching. We got up about 8.30 and had a light breakfast in Café Jardin. My friend went off to a talk and I ran some errands – asked the shop if they wanted a book signing and booked myself on the Behind-the-Scenes tour – if it goes ahead. We met up again at the Travelling Alone meet, which was well attended – mostly females as usual though. We seem to have a large number of Entertainment Officers on this cruise but then it is for 28 nights. As it approached lunchtime there was an announcement that the Plaza Buffet would remain closed due to the increased bounciness of the seas. The Spa and shops were also closed. It was becoming very difficult to move around and during the meet we had to grab at our cups to stop them sliding onto the floor. We tried to go to Café Jardin for lunch but there was a wait list so headed to the Adriatic Restaurant for a light bite of Waldorf Salad and seafood ravioli followed by syrup pudding. I returned to the cabin for a snooze and to start my blog.

At 5pm we went to the Individual Quiz. I got 16/20 - the winner got 18!  Then it was time to return to the cabin to change for dinner.  We had time for a quick drink before dinner. No-one was there at first and then one turned up. Her husband, and presumably the other couple, was ill. That was when we discovered that dinner had been moved to  8.15 (and 6.15) for the full cruise rather than the usual 8.30!!

After dinner we went to the Syndicate Quiz which had been moved down to the card room as The Plaza was still closed (to the disgust of card players!). We came second! Bed.

Saturday 4 Jan - At Sea

12°C
NW Force 9

It was a dreadful night with bangs, knocks and things falling over everywhere!  I got very little sleep between the noises and sliding up and down the bed. The wardrobe doors kept flying open until I jammed them with a flannel – it then sounded just like a man trying to escape from the wardrobe!  We got up about 8.30am and had breakfast in Café Jardin before going to the talk on Ocean Liners.

 

I then returned to the cabin to write a letter to the captain asking if he could spare time for a chat with me for the next book. We were directed to the Ligurian Restaurant for lunch where a buffet had been set up – chicken curry and trifle for me. We went for a walk and some fresh air on Deck 12 briefly before trying the film but I couldn’t understand the plot and it was too noisy so returned to cabin until Individual Quiz – 10/20!  At midday we exited the Bay of Biscay and sailed out into the Atlantic. Then time to get ready for a semi-formal night with dinner of barramundi, which was delicious, then Syndicate Quiz where we won first prize! A bottle of red wine.