Saturday 5th March 2022, 11.10hrs.
I got up very late this morning, having gone to bed “very early” last night. There were around two hours during the night when I just couldn’t get back to sleep, and thus expected the rest of the day to be “lacklustre.” However, the next thing I knew, it was twenty minutes to nine, and I would now expect a day that would be as pleasurable as normal. I made it for breakfast just after 10.30, and right now, I am relaxing in the Carinthia Lounge on one of their comfortable sofas. Not far from me in this elegant public area, is a group of women occasionally erupting into a disturbing cacophony of laughter. Outside, the open decks beckon. I didn’t walk as much as usual yesterday, but plan to make up today; I have enjoyed a number of good meals recently! The blue skies have morphed to grey, but I’m hoping the 25°C on today’s weather report still prevails. (11.32hrs)
I was reminded that I still need to complete a PLF (Passenger Locator Form) as part of the government required disembarkation procedures. Remembering a passenger who had their PLF taken care of in The Library, both Jo and I did the same, and a couple of complicated on-line documents were filled in and printed off on our behalf. (14.14hrs)
Lunch in the Kings Court today was merely, chicken consommé with dumpling, followed by a strange chosen mixture of cauliflower cheese and a slither of liver! It remains humid outside and I may well bask in the final warm sunshine of this voyage. The Carinthia Lounge is far more quiet and peaceful this afternoon. I shall be in here frequently during the crossing from New York. (14.34 hrs)
15.52 hrs. Again, my attempts at deck walking 🚶♂️ were somewhat abysmal. This morning, it was humid, this afternoon, noticeably cooler and windy outside. That didn’t stop me a month ago! Perhaps Jo was right when she suggested that I take a break for a day or two. So, on this first of three sea days to New York, perhaps I can allow myself to chill out a little before continuing the second half million of my Million Steps on Two Continents Challenge for Christian Aid, who I will have to be in touch with on my return…that’s assuming I am not “led into temptation” a third time and turn around at Southampton!
It took a while, but now, after a spot of formal Afternoon Tea in the Queen’s Room, at long last, I feel revived. Jo is treating herself to a couple of hours in the Spa. I used the Spa when Canyon Ranch managed it in 2018, and I don’t know why I don’t use it these days. But changing is always a bit of an inconvenience!
There are ten days glorious ocean liner travel before being despatched onto England’s green and pleasant South Coast. I hope that in New York, I can do better than I managed at St. Kitts. Taking a revered friend on what turned out to be an (in almost her words) worse than a holiday camp shore excursion, didn’t make for a particularly convivial afternoon! Dinner in the evening was fine, however. I needed the early night mentioned at the beginning of this blog, and went out like light the moment my head hit the pillow.
Afternoon Tea finished over twenty minutes ago. I am still in an almost deserted Queens Room as a lone couple practice dance steps on a silent dance floor. Let’s try once more on the Promenade Deck! 16.54 hrs.
18.27 hrs That’s more like it; I have just managed 7 laps of the Boat Deck, after deciding that lying down in my stateroom was waste of opportunity. Afternoon Tea revived me, now I do feel self righteous! The numerous days of fresh sea air shouldn’t be taken for granted. I am in my stateroom now. Outside, the sun set behind a bank of greyness, still managing to turn that part of the sky an unusual shade of salmon. It was this view which I saw from my stateroom.
Towards the end of this voyage, I shall write some kind of (probably biased) review. So far, I have been more than happy with everything I have experienced, although a certain shore experience could do with a little refining! The Library supervisor dealing with our PLF forms with great efficiency is but one example; the unexpected birthday cake and special attention on the night being another. I was one of four celebrating a birthday on St. David’s Day.
I am still full from Afternoon Tea and will have to tread carefully at dinner.
Many thanks for reading, David, Sunday 6th March, Carinthia Lounge, 13.07 hrs.
David's Cruise 