Well, we did it. We have begun our first ever cruise. And very wonderful it is too. Despite my worries about being given a cabin in the bowels of the ship, our cabin is actually very very nice. No window, but about the size and shape of a small hotel room, with a good shower room and lots of storage space. We are on deck 5, so there are seven decks above us, which takes some getting used to, as I keep getting the deck numbers mixed up..... It's my age.
After finding our cabin, we went for a walk to the top deck to see the ship leave Tilbury. Not the most exciting place to depart from. But we found a sheltered spot on the top deck and had a coffee.
I must tell you about the lifeboat drill. Having not been in a cruise before. I was unsure what would happen. We duly took our life jackets and presented ourselves in Scotts nightclub, our designated muster point. Many Titanic jokes and hilarity ensued as we attempted to put on the life jackets correctly. I asked my fellow cruisers if we were actually going to get into a lifeboat, or if we had to keep the life jackets on throughout dinner. They didn't understand my sense of humour...... Then we were separated into two lines of men and women, we had to hang on to a strap on the jacket of the person in front of us, and in crocodile fashion we had to walk up to the next deck and stand under our designated lifeboat where we waited for ten minutes, doing nothing. We looked a bit like inflated oranges. We were told the captain was coming along to inspect us, but we never saw him, unless he was invisible or a one inch high midget.......
Later exploration of the boat revealed a luxury spa, several outside hot tub/whirlpool like pools, and a big theatre. We also found our allocated dining room and table number. As the dress code was designated 'casual' for tonight, Tim breathed a sigh of relief as he could wear a casual shirt and no tie or jacket. We sat on a dining table with four other randoms, who we secretly gave nicknames to, so i could remember them. There was Concussion Keith (don't ask) and his wife Donna Kebab, and the other couple were Cabby Barry and Eileen Dover. ......... not the most scintillating dining guests, but i was pleased to learn that we paid the least price for our tickets, less than half of what one couple paid, which i was secretly pleased about.....
We missed the first quiz in the bar, but did go to the second showing of the 'Broadway Musicals' show in the theatre which was very good indeed, and were treated to song and dance routines from Guys and Dolls, Joseph, Cats, Sister Act, Mary Poppins and others.
We have just arrived in Amsterdam, it's still dark. Lots of people are going on the organised city tour for £39, but we are going on a cheapie DIY tour. Breakfast first. A massive luxury spread of every breakfast item imagineable.... When I get back to my cabin, I hope my nightwear has not been fashioned into an animal, as I hate those things!
So far my impressions of cruising are excellent. I'm practically the youngest on board, and a bit worried at the speed and time that some of the ancients might take to get into our lifeboat.....
No comments:
Post a Comment