13 June 2013

NO13 - Day 1 - Claire's View


Our driver collected us 40 minutes early at 1440 hrs - fine by us as we were virtually ready to go.  The weather was awful.  Cold and drizzly.

Arrived in the Cruise Terminal and our suitcases were whisked away by a lady porter and we went straight into the departure lounge, checked in immediately where our passports were taken from us to be held until our departure from the ship in  a week's time.  Our photos were taken and we went through the X ray machine which amazingly didn't beep when my artificial hip passed through!!  I think it is on a higher setting as it would be going off all the time with the amount of older passengers passing through!

Once on board we were shown to our cabin, number 6050, which was a twin bedded cabin.  Quite spacious with 2 armchairs, table, dressing table/desk and plenty of wardrobe space.




Tea was being served in the Britannia Lounge and so we made our way there for tea and cakes!!

Shortly after that we had to get ready for the Passenger Drill and don the life jackets and go to our muster station up on deck 9.  While we were on deck, the Dover tug boat came alongside.  Once the drill was over we returned the life jacket to the cabin and went up to the Verandah Lounge on Deck 9 (aft!)  for the "Sail Away" where they were serving Bucks Fizz.  We watched the tug push us out gently.... and we left a drizzly UK behind us.







After the tug had left us and we were under way we went for a stroll around the upper deck.  Paul took part in his own mini golf game..... some pics below:




The weather was quite miserable with fog over the White Cliffs.  Although it was very windy on deck the sea felt fairly calm.

We returned to our cabin to get ready for dinner with a visit to the Drawing Room for some pre dinner cocktails.  I had a Manhatten and Paul had a Screwdriver!  We were given a bowl of crisps and then offered some petit fours... I could get used to this!  Then off to the Pole to Pole restaurant for dinner.  We sat with some nice people and had a lovely meal.  Mine was, prawn cocktail with champagne sauce, Cold coconut soup, Paul had butternut squash soup with Stilton.  Next a salad and for the main course I chose cows cheek (I was offered left or right cheek by the jokey waiter!!).  It was absolutely delicious and so tender.  Paul had chicken breast with risotto.  Dessert was chocolate gateau and vanilla ice cream - see below.  Paul had cheese.  Coffee followed and more petit fours.



We had been talking for so long we were one of the last to leave the restaurant and went down to the Britannia Lounge for the Explosive Productions' "All You Need Is Love".  This ended about 10pm and then the orchestra took over and we went back to our cabin about 11pm, putting our watches an hour ahead.  Room service booked for coffee in the cabin at 8am.


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