The Bay of Biscay which can often be a punishing finale to many cruises only offers very slight turbulence on this, the final full day of this monumental voyage. I think this is just my second breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant, and in typical form, I arrived two minutes prior to the doors closing at 09.30hrs. Any mutterings of possible indignation from the hard pressed restaurant staff were not evident and even at this “last minute” service was excellent and courteous.
Yesterday, I made tentative moves towards the always complicated task of packing. The excellent ship’s laundry folded my last “special promotion offer” saving me an appreciable amount of time and effort. I attended a charity auction in aid of the Prince’s Trust. This was for a signed print out of the chart apertaining to the last sector of the voyage, signed by the entire Bridge personnel. The Queens Room was fairly well filled for this final sector event. I won the modest bidding war, rather unexpectedly, and was delighted to come away with this (I assume) unique artefact from the 2018 World Voyage.
Last night, the Captain hosted the final World Cruise exclusive cocktail party. Our entire table assembled for this celebratory event, again in the Queens Room. Nick and Geraldine chose to remain for the remainder of the party to ensure a good place to sit for the dancing.
Day121.
Greetings from Buxton.
Yesterday was taken up packing. As ever, extra luggage needed to be bought for the journey home; one day, I may learn how to come home with less than I went out with in terms of clothes, souvenirs and the like. This morning, I awoke for the final time in the stateroom in which I had become most comfortable, 13021. Again the hot water was only tepid. However, I had travelled far, and to almost everywhere for the first time. I am home now….or at least in my home town of Buxton, Derbyshire. The severe and long winter caused plumbing and boiler problems for which repairs needed my say-so. I didn’t need much of an excuse to treat myself to a night at the Old Hall Hotel.
I have enjoyed the privilege of writing about a voyage which turned out to be in excess of 40 000 nautical miles and hope that they made reasonable reading.
With best wishes, David.
David's Cruise 