Day 4 - Southampton

Saturday 18th November 2017

Rather early start this morning, already berthed in Southampton, Mayflower Terminal, weather overcast and a little damp today, still, better now than in Belgium.  

Finished packing then breakfast.  All too soon our disembarkation time arrived and without having to wait any longer we were ashore. Quickly though and got our lift back for morning coffee and then away up the motorway home.

Day 3 - Zeebrugge, Belgium

Friday 17th November 2017

This morning berthed in Zeebrugge, a lovely sunny morning, perhaps a bit cool but excellent considering the time of year.

After breakfast and giving time for the rush ashore to clear we made our way  off to take the free shuttle into Blankenburg.  Strolled down through the town to the seafront, town very quiet, out of season so lots of shops haven’t opened.  Decided to forego the pleasure of a morning dip in the sea, tide a long way out and just not quite warm enough for such excursions.

Much more pleasant to just make a couple of visits to the local chocolate shops to make a few purchases.  Being quite unable to find a nice looking coffee shop we resorted to getting the bus back to the ship to have coffee on board, and we even managed to find a nice comfy seat by a sunny window to enjoy it while the ship was still underpopulated.

Spent the afternoon sitting out on deck just enjoying the sun until it began to sink toward the horizon and we moved into the Crows Nest lounge.  Managed to procure our sailaway champagne, somewhat delayed since Southampton, but thereby lies other story.

After dinner in the buffet, oriental theme today, off to the Palladium theatre for the Headliners show, “Reel to Reel”, a show of mainly songs from the musicals with some theme music from well known movies.

Sadly, now it’s time for packing  Clocks back to UK time tonight so extra hours sleep even though the need for an early start remains.

Day 2 - at Sea

Thursday 16th November 2017

Last night clocks went forward on hour just to confuse us even more.  This is doubly tricky as we are slumming it in an inside stateroom, so no daylight to help with body clocks.

After breakfast went for a few laps of the Prom, weather quite pleasant if overcast with some showers about, sea pretty near flat and wind very light.

Morning coffee in the Costa coffee shop, down in the bowels of the ship,  for some reason most of the ship’s public rooms seem to be a jumble of enclosed spaces without any WOW factor, not very impressive, especially for first time cruisers.  Even the atrium which in our experience is designed to impress on this ship certainly doesn’t.  Still the coffee was good.

Spent some time in the Crow’s Nest watching the French coast moving past very slowly.  Lots of ships and ferries about, as well as some seagulls, but no whales or dolphins!

And so to afternoon tea and scones.

Wasted some time sorting out P&O’s shambolic accounting system, another new frustration, and our credit card, eventually straightened out.

Ship has arrived at it’s anchor point off the Belgian coast, so we will be stationary tonight, in the morning the pilot will come aboard and then we will proceed into Zeebrugge to tie up alongside for the day.

Dinner in the Buffet again tonight, Italian theme.

Then to the Rising Sun, the ship’s pub, for a little something to drink while being entertained by the High Tides Duo,  well one of them, the other not well, playing some great classic pop songs, accompanying himself on guitar, interesting mix of Cliff Richards, Dire Straits, Elvis, Johnny Cash, etc. all very good, and not too loud!  Time to go, its Karaoke next.

Closed the day with a bit of NFL back in our cupboard.

Day 1 - Southampton

Wednesday 15th November 2017

Today we are off on a very short cruise to Zeebrugge and back with just one day at sea.  This will be on the P&O Arcadia, a new ship for us, though we are familiar with the class of ship.

Arrived at Mayflower Cruise Terminal and went through the usual hell of joining our ship.  P&O seem to delight in making up procedures to drive the passengers mad!  Still, eventually got on board and went for walkabout to find  the layout of the ship, discover the venues we are likely to need and to get a spot of lunch.

Managed to unpack and then off to attend emergency drill.  Already getting dark, next it was sailaway. While we were having our dinner in the Belvedere Buffet we were confused by the Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth, going past the windows on the wrong side going the wrong way, not sure why, but eventually we managed to get going and the Isle of Wight appeared again where it should be.

Dinner tonight in the buffet, couldn’t be bothered with the main dining room, as expected the the was Best of British!, but food was fine anyway.

Tonight’s entertainment in the theatre, the Palladium, was a very good foursome giving us a tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, “Walk like a Man”.

Time to retire, as usual the first day at sea just wears us out, can’t decide if it’s the stress or just the sea air?