| As Patrick had his coffee and relaxed before work after dinner I saw the pilot boat heading towards us. I got up and leaned over the rail and I'm sure plenty enjoyed the view! Each time I see a pilot boat I'm reminded of Captain Box's obsession with the pilot jumping when we were on Artemis so always look now to see if they do. This didn't. Just stepped across before they headed to the pilot station boat. |
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| Patrick then went to work and his hours were 10pm-1pm since we were gaining an hour. It was practically empty until after 11.30pm. He had a reasonably good crowd then the usual pizza and bed. I was up at 7am on the 12th. That was the time we were due to arrive in what is now called Terrible Tallinn but I couldn't be bothered with that after all these late nights. Seven Seas Voyager was due two hours after us and Ocean Majesty would be somewhere. |
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| About 7.45am I saw Seven Seas Voyager in the hazy distance looking as lovely as she did when I last saw her sail from here in June. Still no sign of Ocean Majesty though. This would be her last time with us and the final time Patrick would see her under the Page & Moy charter. I still had the calls in September to look forward to. |
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| I went back in after she docked and there was still no sign of the other one. There was a crew drill involving lifeboats at 9.30am so while Patrick went to that, I had a kip for a while until he got back. He told me he'd seen Ocean Majesty when he returned just before 11am. Also he was a little pissed off many didn't go with lifejackets when it was a requirement meaning those who had them had to go in the lifeboats. No sooner had he put his jacket away and changed his shoes than there was a knock on the door for cabin inspection. The monthly schedule didn't mention anything although I had it in my head there would be one in Tallinn for some reason. One woman with a clipboard stood outside while the other had a quick poke in the fridge and bathroom. They said the bathroom was dirty. No mention of the sewage stink! It wasn't that bad considering no one came to clean it. They wouldn't accept the bed was unmade because I'd just got out of it. One of them mumbled something about crew and no excuses. So I was crew now???? They passed it anyway but it was interesting to be in the middle of living almost akin to an army barracks! |
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| So we went ashore.and it was a bit chilly. Now Tallinn is a very nice eastern European city BUT should come with a government health warning - Tallinn is bad for your health since you may break your neck - or something. The cobbles nearly had me over six times and Patrick almost went once. May help if they were cobbles rather than mostly bricks in the concrete. There are only two good things about Tallinn that I can see - the pier where the ships dock and the route out! |
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| The young boy on the left of the sculpture looked just like British actor Tim Brooke-Taylor in his younger days as part of The Goodies, a comedy on the BBC during the 1970s. |
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| We stopped to have lunch at La Bella Vita. Beware if you don't like bell peppers (capiscum). Being allergic I have to be careful so looked down their menu and chose a chicken chiabatta because they weren't mentioned. When it came, hidden beneath the chicken and tomato were red ones. We had cake for dessert and that wasn't that great either. As we were eating there was some entertainment going on. Then we headed back to the ship trying our best not to fall on our faces. |
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| Final leg and almost back at the ship it happened - I fell over! It wasn't even cobbles. We were crossing the road close to the port when the ankle it tried to tip over gave way. I fell on my left side, instinctively protecting the camera and video in my handbag over my right shoulder. Elbow and wrist grazed and bleeding, huge bruise on my thigh and feeling silly. I hated that place even more since my ankle was still a little weak. |
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| Doctor Patrick cleaned me up and put plasters on the grazes. We went to the Windjammer for a snack and I could feel my ankle almost go again. I wanted to get photos of Seven Seas Voyager from above and at our 4pm sailaway so persuaded Patrick to come along to keep me upright. My ankle throbbed and I was scared of it giving way again. While he went to get my cardigan since I told him it would be freezing once we left, I cautiously made my way to the bow holding tightly to the rail. Our last ropes were thrown just as I arrived. |
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| I was right about it getting cold and Patrick eventually turned up when we were well on our way. It had also become extremely windy. By now too there was just us and a wrapped up bloke with an SLR left out there. |
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| We went back in the warm. Patrick had to take some things to the recycling plant which was a little further along on deck 2 and I went with him! Typically for me I dawdled, taking photos of everything possible since I may never get there again. |
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| This is a record of whether there has been a crew accident or not. Red balls are accidents, green are none. It was a good month so far! |
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| The recycling centre was very hot and absolutely stank. It was fascinating to see though, as is all crew areas to a ship nut. Afterwards we went back to the cabin and I snapped some more since our side was where they had the gangways in ports so the double door at the end by the port plaques would be cordoned off with a curtain. |
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| After dinner in the Windjammer we went for coffee. Vasil appeared, picked up the wet floor cone and promptly put it on his head. I had to take a photo. I was going to miss him when I went home. |
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| Then Patrick had to work so I decided to write my postcards. I had originally planned to do them after Oslo but thought I'd get them out of the way. Pizza and coffee in the Solarium then back to the cabin for some internet before bed. It only costs 12 cents a minute at night for crew. It can be very slow though and not wireless. Woke up the next day at an unbelieveable 12.20pm! My bruise was now enormous and had a baby brother. We were also in a force 6 so a little bumpy. Patrick had gone from mocking me watching the webcam to putting it on himself to check what it was like outside! The Windjammer was packed so we sat outside. It was somewhat nippy and breezy and I wished I'd taken my cardie, but it was pleasant. Shopping then back to the cabin. |
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| It was a beautiful evening as Patrick sat with his coffee after our dinner in the Windjammer. The coast of Denmark passed us by as the sun was peeking through the clouds. |
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| And then disaster - my camera broke! I was taking photos of tankers for Pam and put it on the table as I got one on the phone so she could have instant gratification now we had a decent signal (that on the ship was very hit and miss and that was on a good day!). Patrick pointed out I had a sequin on my skirt and asked if he should remove it. Next thing the camera flies past me and lands on the floor. It had damaged the zoom so I couldn't do anything apart from look at the photos. I was devastated because it would have to go for repair and I needed it for Equinox a few weeks later. I asked how it could have ended up on the floor when it wasn't near the edge and he said he had no idea. He wouldn't believe it would have to be sent to Olympus and insisted I didn't know it would be, offering to take it to the photo place in the morning. Meanwhile I had the use of his 3x zoom. 18x with superb quality to 3x with crap - what a comedown! It served its purpose but I REALLY missed mine. Just before he started work he told me about the Great Belt bridge which was coming up and I'd see it better in the Vortex. This is where I realised his camera's limitations but it did its job, just not as good as mine would have. Many were on deck, I noticed, but it was too cold out there for me. We gave a long blast as we went under the bridge then I returned to the Hollywood Odyssey. |
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| Despite being a windy night the moon was gorgeous so I tried to take a photo of the ship lit up and also the moon before the usual nightly pizza then bed. |
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| Up at 11.30am on the day of our final port of Oslo. Now I had been here back in May on Vision, only that time the weather was so bad, Rowan and I ended up spending ten hours at the airport rather than sightseeing. I was looking forward to seeing the place this time. It would only be a short stay since we were due at 2pm and to sail at 8pm. My gorgeous Aurora was already in, docked where I'd been on Vision, and would sail two hours before us. There was a queue at the photo shop so we went to Portofino to book a table. They had 6pm or 6.30pm so we went for the latter then returned to the photo shop. The girl called her boss who confirmed what I'd said all along - the camera would have to go to Olympus. We went to the Windjammer for lunch but I was on tenterhooks desperate to see Aurora with a rotten camera! I know that seems ungrateful but I needed my zoom. Use full on his and it was pixelled. I decided to abandon him and go out to look for the gorgeous one. Since I had no idea where in relation we would be to her and whether I'd be able to catch her sailing, I was naturally an anxious ship stalker. |
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| And there she was but the zoom could only just pick her up! It was a lovely day and I was pleased it hadn't rained again. I could see where we were going and, more importantly, Aurora! |
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| I went down to the deck 11 forward observation area which wasn't as crowded as deck 12. Patrick eventually found me and as he was about to take my photo with the gorgeous one behind, an English passenger wondered which ship it was. Patrick immediately replied, "It's Aurora." My education was paying off! |
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| Patrick's not one for arrivals and departures so buggered off and left me to it. I subsequently went back up to deck 12 as we were almost in. People also disappearing made it easier. |
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| The Color Line ferry set off at 2pm and shortly after that the announcement was made we had been given clearance. I went back to the cabin to tell Patrick and we then went to the gangway. He was wearing the blue and white shirt for the first time since I'd brought it. He was so fussy over a few creases so ironed the thing. |
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| We stopped for a coffee and cake then went for more wandering as we slowly went full circle back to the ship. This 'Mickey Mouse' was a cheek. The umbrella was to put in front of his face if you tried to take a photo without paying. Never occured to the moron inside people could get one from a distance or using a zoom. |
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| The final stretch to the ship was along the webcam view! I quickly sent texts to Amy and Pam, much to Patrick's growing frustration since he wanted his siesta, telling them they may be able to see me and to look for a blob in white. I dawdled all the way back, knowing how slow it is updating. |
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| While Patrick snored, I went to the Promenade deck for the important stuff - Aurora's departure! It began to get a little chilly so I popped back to the cabin to fetch my cardie. As with St Petersburg, the sun was in the wrong place. Aurora left a little late but did blast as she backed out then again before she turned. I was glad I didn't miss her, having to leave to meet Patrick outside Portofino. Only then he was late. So after seeing her twice, it was time to say goodbye to the gorgeous one. I would be home the day before her so see her at home. |
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| While many enjoy Portofino, we found it was waste of money. Why have steak on the menu when there's a steakhouse which does it better? The pasta was just as good as what you order in the main dining room. It should also be renamed Fartofino for the wind it gives you which lasts into the next day! One thing which got on our nerves was being asked if everything was okay at any opportunity, eating or not. At one point I'd stopped to take some photos and got it. Could she not see I had a camera in my hand? Even before we ordered we were suffocated by about five waiters. It may be just this one but it has put me off booking on another ship. The one good thing was the live piano music, played by Patrick's Russian colleague Anna Babak, who is married to the musical director Sacha. Both were very nice when I met them in I-95 a couple of times. Also the American couple behind me were talking to the waitress. She told them some places they'd been. "This ship can go to Paris?" the man asked. I had the giggles after that. Patrick hadn't heard so when they'd gone I explained. Anyway despite casting off about fifteen minutes early and blasting, we moved slower than a snail and it took some convincing before Patrick agreed we were moving. At 8pm I spotted the ferry Stena Saga come from behind us. Once that was safely out the way, we gathered speed, turned and were homeward bound. |
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| Despite the price we were still hungry so went to the Windjammer for a snack then Patrick had a coffee before work. This night he was filling in for Craig in the Schooner Bar and his hours were 9.45pm-12.30am. Guest Entertainment only work eleven out of twelve nights on these trips. All right for some! Before Patrick even began I spotted the Stena as we passed. |
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| You could die of thirst in the Schooner! Before it built up the waiters just stood by the bar watching people walk through. In the end Patrick gave me his card and told me to get us something. After I'd finished I went back to the cabin. Patrick thought I was in a mood but my feet were absolute agony and I wanted to put them up for a while. As I walked along I-95 as I had for the previous ten days, I suddenly heard, "Excuse me, Ma'am! Ma'am!" and saw a security guard chasing after me. He spotted my pass and asked if I was staying with of one of the Guest Entertainers. I told him yes, Patrick Patton, and I'd left him working in the Schooner. That was all fine and I was allowed on my way. He came back to the cabin after he'd finished and we went to the Solarium for pizza. There were Spanish or Portuguese kids up after the 1am curfew and security really did nothing. Parents clearly couldn't give a toss. And the bloke in charge just gave them more food rather than kick them out! In the end they went but it was gone 1.30am when they did. As I was trying to get a photo of the gorgeous sky behind Jewel, Patrick yelled at me there was a ship out there. It was my gorgeous Aurora! He asked how I knew and I told him she has a distinctive shape. I didn't have my video and his camera couldn't pick her up. She was on her way to Kristiansand and looked beautiful but headless. Afterwards we went in via the crew lift on deck 11 and to bed. |
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| The final day was spent at sea. It had been a bumpy night. Up at 11.20am and went straight to Guest Relations about my disembarking. This was an area I had argued with Patrick about beforehand. He had told me I get a coloured tag and take my case to the colour. I'd said there are no colours, you leave it outside the cabin for collection. Wouldn't have it. Despite him constantly telling me off whenever I mentioned I was in crew quarters to explain why I didn't have things, he told the woman I was so had no labels and what was the procedure for getting me off. She gave me tags with Green 3 on, which was 8.25am disembarking, and to leave my case in a passenger corridor with the others. When I reminded him of what he'd insisted weeks before he denied it. Up to lunch in the Windjammer. We were in a force 7, varying to 8. Afterwards we went to the photo shop for the dockside pictures on Oslo. Being crew he got a 50% discount. Wish I'd known that before! |
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| Patrick left me to my packing and the cabin didn't look that much different when everything was back in the case! Surprisingly, even though it was almost bursting when I went, I managed to get all my shopping in. |
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| I had a much-needed nap due to the exhausting packing but was disturbed by the phone around 5.20pm. It was the security office reminding Patrick to return the pass. This was silly and made me wonder what would have happened if the guard came up to me that night when I didn't have it. There was no way I could prove I was there legitimately. Patrick took it back, dropping my case with the other passenger ones on our deck then it was time for the final dinner in the Windjammer. Corridor I-95 is where all the luggage amasses and they had trollies ready with labels denoting which colour they're for. It was going to be a madhouse! I did like the fact the disembarking info was posted in the lifts and on various walls. I'd never seen it on the other Royal Caribbean ships I've been on and think it's a good idea. |
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| After dinner we popped to the photo shop to pick up the cruise DVD then went on deck since there was a gorgeous sunset coming. Shame about it still being blowy. Still at least it wasn't raining! Back inside to detangle while Patrick had to get ready for work. |
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| During Patrick's set, free drinks for us arrived from an elderly couple along one side. A short while later, the wife came up behind and asked me if he would play Crazy for them. As soon as he finished the particular medley he was doing, I let him know. He can be a bit slow doing the requests but because I told him it was from the people who bought us the drinks he was right on it. Solarium for the last pizza of the trip. I dreaded to think how much weight I'd put on during this cruise with all the late night eating I never do. Since the lift was probably being used for luggage, we went down to deck 10 to get the other one. It was certainly bedlam when the lift doors opened and I managed to get a quick shot, which was to be my last of the cruise since we had to get them off the card and onto my pen drive. I'd actually taken that for the remaining Queen Victoria world cruise photos he'd not delivered so it was fortuitous. |
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| After a couple of hours sleep I was up at 7.30am (the time he set the alarm). No time for breakfast or to get any photos of things I'd missed as I usually do on the last day. But then I tend to have a working camera! Patrick led me out and as we walked down the corridor, we heard Vasil saying goodbye. He must have seen us pass his cabin and followed. We went to the Coral Theatre and Patrick waited with me. Some also Green 3 stupidly believed the colour was called but it was Green 2. When mine was I left Patrick by the Centrum and headed down. Harwich is different to Southampton. You leave the same way you came, go past check in to the end, collect your cases then walk out through the entrance. I think I prefer keeping arrivals and departures separate. Patrick finally turned up and took me to the train station, which was right next to the terminal. He went with me to Manningtree before changing for Ipswich. When I arrived at Victoria I came across some Americans waiting for their coach transfer TO the ship. I advised them to take the shuttle in Copenhagen and showed them my feet. The woman said her husband's were like that after traipsing around London! I caught the 1pm back to Southampton, a taxi from the coach station and was home by 4pm. So the verdict. Jewel grew on me but I still prefer Vision. Jewel has some nicer public rooms but there's just something missing which strangely wasn't on near-sister ship Constellation. Maybe it's atmosphere. Since I had done several of the entertainment things on their other ships I didn't bother this time. It was interesting cruising a different way, even though I have now done five with Royal Caribbean but they only count four. I would do Jewel again but it would have to be a good itinerary. I'm glad I went though. Thanks to Patrick I've now done two things I wanted and all for the cost to and from Harwich. To see more photos of the ships I encountered on my travels, click here and go to the Europe section. |
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