| While were were having a snack in the Windjammer, Patrick asked what the ship was he could see out of the window. I immediately recognised it as Ocean Majesty which was due to sail at 4pm, grabbed my bag and dashed up to deck 12. It was so windy, about a force 6, despite the sun. It made it difficult keeping the camera still no matter what I did. |
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| I went back to the Windjammer when she was gone and didn't go out for sailaway since it was too windy. Instead I went to Guest Relations to get my immigration forms, explaining why I hadn't received them. The girl was really nice and helpful. While she was getting me a spare in case I messed it up, I asked her colleague about something I'd heard announced in the crew area regarding their passports and she said I was a passenger so it was none of my business! I explained I was on the friends and family scheme in a crew cabin and the person I was a guest of was asleep so missed it but she was still very rude. It could have been something really important but whether I was a fare paying passenger or not it was still wrong to talk to someone like that. I really wasn't doing a lot on this cruise except sleep, which was a first! I normally don't get enough while I'm away. Windjammer for dinner then Patrick was working. During his set he indicated a ship out the window which turned out to be MSC Opera. Photos weren't good with glass in the way. |
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| After he finished and we were leaving, he asked what the ship was outside the window. I thought it may be Ocean Majesty, since she has a distinctive shape. We went on deck and it was still blustery. Going to be a bumpy night! While he disappeared into the warmth of the Solarium, I did my best to get photos as we passed. |
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| I joined him afterwards before returning to the cabin to watch a bit of TV before bed. After less than two hours sleep I was up for our arrival into Saint Petersburg at 5am. There would already be Aurora, Rotterdam, Emerald Princess and Zenith there, leaving that day. Ocean Majesty and Princess Daphne were due to arrive but I had no idea if I'd even see them. Patrick was really grumpy, saying I wouldn't see anything when I told him I wanted to see the lie of the land and where the others were in relation to us. I'd followed the AIS and seen they all follow the same channel regardless of where they dock so was hopeful. Before I went to deck 12, I popped to deck 4 to pick up an English Compass. Being a passenger in crew quarters was a pain. I missed out on these at times because I didn't have them delivered just like I didn't receive any Crown & Anchor stuff or things you do in a passenger cabin. |
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| I saw Ocean Majesty in the distance following us in. Also Aurora was with Rotterdam, Zenith all on her own while Emerald Princess was where we would dock. I saw them all and he was wrong! |
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| After we were docked I went back to the cabin via the deck 11 crew lift. Once in the cabin, Patrick stirred. I told him I'd got all the ships and he said, "Well done. Top of the class(!)" Ever feel like smothering someone? I decided to forego murder THIS time and go back to sleep for a couple of hours. It was amazing how much sleeping I was doing on this trip when I usually don't get enough on a cruise! I was up in time for Princess Daphne's arrival while Patrick carried on snoozing on the bottom bunk. As I waited by the lift (which is very slow at the best of times), I took a couple of quick snaps of corridor I-95 since no one was around. |
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| I went down to the forward observation area on deck 11. I wish the glass was lower but I do like this area very much. To many ships (including their later ones) have less and less viewing areas. Princess Daphne was due for noon but there was still no sign. |
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| The buildings opposite were made from breeze blocks. It was weird. No idea what they're supposed to house, whether it's students, cheap labour or anyone. At 11am I gave up since there was no sign of her on the horizon. I had texted Pam to ask if she was on the AIS but it wasn't working. Now was the time to explore the ship. I'd already decided to since most of the passengers would be on excursions so it would be fairly empty. I was also keeping a look out of any window I came across just in case a pretty little ship came into view. |
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| This was a nice little secret in the open. It's called the Yacht Club and not any the onboard deckplans (but is online). You can find it next to the Concierge Club on deck 10 and it overlooks the Centrum. I liked this room. |
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| There was a bar meeting in the Schooner Bar which had Reynaldo in attendence. The Schooner had the same decor as the others I'd seen but I liked this one. It was more spacious. Meanwhile in the Safari Club while some crew were cleaning, others were having an argument over where to put something. |
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| I had a wander around Portofino. I must admit I didn't like this much. It seemed cold and uninviting, unlike the counterparts on Navigator and Indy. Both it and Chops Grille are on deck 6 by the Schooner Bar which is better than up by the Windjammer on the Voyager and Freedom class. |
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| The Pit Stop is a sports bar next to the casino with some racing car stuff on the walls. The shops had a similar layout to the Vision class but got just as packed, especially trying to get through when people just stopped to talk and wouldn't shift to let others pass. Some crew would volunteer to do extra work such as in the shops for more money so I would often see Vasil there. |
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| I came to the end of the exploration as I was back at the door to I-95 so got the port plaques before putting on my pass and going through. Apparently part of the Lisbon one has now been stolen. Wasn't me, guv! I'd be more likely to pinch the Southampton one. |
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| I went to the cabin and found it empty. I guessed Patrick was in the Windjammer so went up there, taking the lift to deck 10, since that one came first, then up the stairs to 11. |
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| Silly sod wondered where I was and thought I was throwing a moody. I reminded him I'd said I would go around the ship that day and showed him some of my photos, including the ships. He said he didn't remember what he'd said in the morning as soon as I proved him wrong. I grabbed some food then we went on deck. |
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| Oh it was such an exhausting day doing nothing so I had a nap before going on deck at 5.30pm for the sailings of the ships, leaving Patrick snoring away. It was absolutely boiling with the sun directly on me making me shield my eyes. I hadn't noticed at that point Princess Daphne snug as a ship in a rug. |
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| Aurora, Rotterdam and Emerald Princess were due to leave at 6pm with Zenith an hour later. Rotterdam left about twenty minutes late with Aurora following ten minutes after that. |
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| Then I saw a ship left behind but couldn't make out what it was until I looked at the photo and zoomed in. Princess Daphne! I was delighted she turned up after all but would love to know when she arrived. Patrick found me on deck and waited with me for a while since the Princess was late. I heard muffled blasting which sounded just like Grand so dashed round to see Emerald finally on the move an hour and twenty minutes late. Patrick hadn't believed it was her but soon changed his mind. He then left to get a coffee so I eagerly got her and then saw Zenith was also pushing off. I just wished the sun was behind me like it was for Emerald as she came out and turned around. |
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| Patrick came back as I was finishing off photographing Zenith and we went into the Windjammer for dinner. Then it was the usual coffee, work and bed. Such interesting and exciting evenings I was spending! Early start the next day. The walking tour of St Petersburg began at 8am and everyone had to be in the theatre half an hour before. Patrick, being an escort, was even earlier than that. He went to the mess for a coffee and a security guard asked if he was crew and to see his pass. I was on bus 19 while he was on 16 so we were hardly doing it together. He had three paddles to carry as he led us down to deck 2. Russian immigration is very stern-faced and make you nervous. They take half the immigration form and give you a temporary pass. |
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| Our guide was Natasha and despite our headphones we often couldn't hear what she was saying. In the coach she used the microphone. We set off and headed to our first photographic stop. The Tall Ships were in and I wish we could have got closer to them. |
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| Patrick tried calling me as we were walking to our next stop at the Hermitage. I sent him a picture message of this fountain while asking where he was. |
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| A ten minute photo stop at the Hermitage. As we were walking back to the coach to be driven to our next destination, I had a text from Patrick of the column. So I took a blue container we were approaching, saying we were at that. I would have thought these tours would have been the same route despite different vehicles. |
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| We were route marched (as one of my fellow passengers called it) from place to place with barely any time to take photos. There was a gorgeous view from the bridge but Natasha would just disappear. Many of us were getting increasingly fed up with being told what something was but given no time to take a picture of it. |
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| Back on the coach and taken to our final walking stop. Again there was no time to really do anything due to Natasha charging off. |
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| We were given a ridiculous half an hour for shopping at the market and, of course, hardly any passengers had roubles. Nowhere during the tour were were even told where to find a toilet. The Russian guides and drivers had a drink and snack while we had nothing. Patrick finally caught up with us. He had ended up on bus 23 due to a mix-up getting off the ship. He hadn't been given a ticket for this trip, but one at 12.45pm instead. Naturally immigration wouldn't let him off until that time so he had to go back then had more paddles. It appeared he was the only escort on this tour which is ridiculous. |
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| We were one of the first to head back to the ship and, despite it being nice to see the city, it was a relief to be back and go to the toilet after four hours! The woman at immigration wasn't as bad as the earlier one but still serious. They take the pass back plus other half of the immigration form to say you've left. |
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| Patrick turned up in the cabin about 11.35am, fifteen minutes after me. We went to the Windjammer then he had a coffee and filled in his Escort comment form. Seems that guide was better than Natasha, although used the headphones in the coach. One of his complaints was no toilet break as well. It was the first walking tour I've ever done which had none. Even those shorter do. He refused, however, to listen to the complaints from my tour, stating it all went fine on his and that was all that mattered. Since he was the escort complete with Royal Caribbean paddles, it is his duty to listen to complaints from other passengers instead of being so arrogant. Instead he wrote a load of drivel, most of which was unnecessary, using up more than the required space on the form. After that a nap before going on deck for our 6pm sailaway. Mein Schiff had joined Princess Daphne. Somewhere Black Prince and Balmoral but I hadn't been able to be on deck for the arrivals due to the excursion so hoped to see them as we left. Princess Daphne was for 6pm too so which would go first? |
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| Turned out to be Daphne, since we were waiting for tour passengers. I was delighted, since it meant, despite the same problem with the sun as the day before, I could get some good shots. |
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| Finally, fifty minutes late, we were off and blasted to prove it! It was such a gorgeous evening. We'd been lucky with the weather on this trip. |
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| I spotted Black Prince docked in front of Ocean Majesty. Then, as we turned, I also saw Balmoral had been hidden by Mein Schiff. I'd got every ship on my list to date - YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Patrick had told me about a 'ship graveyard' he'd seen many a time. Since I was starboard when we arrived I didn't see it. As we were having dinner in the Windjammer I popped out when we were getting close, Patrick telling me to get the cruise ship, which wasn't one. |
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