Had a nap then up on deck for the 4pm sailing of Ocean Princess only she was already on the move.  It was cold again but the wind had dropped.

I got chatting to our head waiter before leaving (buggered if I can remember his name) and told him I'd been on the upper level last time.  It turned out he had been on since 2006.  He told me Stephron Sterling, my assistant waiter back then, was now a head waiter on Sostice.  I'd forgotten the name of our head waiter so have no idea what happened to him but I'm very pleased for Stephron.  I wonder if he still sings?  Our assistant waiter here was something Masood, who was very enthusiastic but it does appear they're very understaffed compared to 2007.  Masood was working three or four other tables, which I don't remember it being like before.  Back to the cabin and bed.

The Captain's noon announcement would be at 9.45am so I got up for that.  We were sailing in the Strait of Bonifacio, with Sardinia on our port side and Corsica on the starboard.  But what a contrast to the last time!  Back in August 2009, it was around 6pm, hot, calm.  Today was cold and at least a force 5 - and that was just the beginning!  A German I spoke to was having as much trouble taking photos in the haze with the wind blowing his camera as I was.  A Frenchman took my photo after I offered to take one of him and his wife, me trying depserately to remember my schoolgirl French from twenty-five years ago!  He asked which side I wanted it done so I said Corse.  He was happy about that!

Brunch in the San Marco which was very nice but if you wanted a fresh orange juice you had to pay $3.50 for the honour.  Mind you, if it was anything like the diluted gunk served in the Seaside at breakfast, it was best to save your money.  I was sat with two elderly American friends, a couple from Yorkshire and an elderly English couple and a mother who now live in Spain.

I phoned home after brunch from the Rendez-vous Lounge while we had a land signal but then the nurses arrived so my dad had to go.  However, he phoned back later when it was back to ship and rip off a minute!  Because of our increasing bumpiness, making me really miss the info channel which gave you wind speed, wind direction etc., I decided to order room service pizza for lunch rather than go to the Seaside and risk falling on my bum, cushioned as it is.  After the food poisoning three days earlier, I was a little nervous.  It was nice pizza, but had too much cheese which needed longer cooking.  It was far too runny and fell off the dough.  Then I went to the photo shop about the DVD.  The guy behind the counter was nice and had remembered me the day before and also this day even though I'd only been on Saturday.  As I'd said then, it was 8pm.  He was a little embarrassed about it, bless.  I'd bumped into Earlene who was hunting her bridge photo.  Some members of the Captain's Club had been invited to go up.  I was surprised since, on Equinox, it had been Elite members only, while Earlene was Classic like me.  She decided not to pay their price after all!  I asked if she'd had a welcome back gift and she hadn't, which made me feel slightly better.  We sat and chatted for a bit, Earlene telling me she'd decided against the Eclipse trip in the end because it was too expensive for what it was.  Actually her fare was cheaper than I'd paid for Indy.  I went to Elegant Tea in the San Marco while she went to do something else.  Some men were turned away outside for being in shorts.  Nice to see dress code actually enforced, even though it was Celebrity.  Elegant Tea is Celebrity's version of Afternoon Tea and very nice it was too.  We were offered a selection of teas, like P&O do, except with a pot of hot water.  There were sandwiches, cakes, scones, more cakes.  Oh it was yummy and like P&O's version, I preferred it to Cunard.

It was difficult to walk out without falling into the tables.  I chose to briefly brave the Prom Deck to see how windy it was and got covered in spray.  I took a few photos and video for Facebook then hastily went in to get on with the packing.  Cases had to be out by 11pm.  I was Grey 4 so had to be at the theatre 8.20am in the morning.  This is the part of the cruise I hate, especially after a great one.

Last minute shopping, mainly buying postcards which weren't flipping laminated!  I had bought seven of one type and couldn't write on them.  They were really nice too.  Such a shame.  Also I collected the DVD, getting a free Best of the Mediterranean, which I hadn't expected.  Bet it's only ten minutes!  Whatever it is can't be as bad as the P&O con during the New Year Aurora cruise in 2007/8.  Buy a special for £9.99 which just the fireworks.  Ten mins, most of which was on the other, and sod all out of the twelve minutes of whiz-bangs.  Then I put the case out and went to the Martini Bar for a couple before dinner.  Larry did the serving and was very funny as usual.  I got chatting to a couple and a mother.  She lives in Greenock right by the cruise terminal and I was shown a photo of QE2's bow peeking around the block of flats she lived in.  Lucky thing!  Then it was dinner and a shame to end our conversation.  To the cabin straight afterwards, waving goodbye to Larry as I passed, and an early night.

The next day we were back where we started.  Our arrival time was 6am but when I got on deck, we had already passed several boxboats!  We were early.  Mein Schiff had arrived the evening before so we had two Celebrity ships together.  It was flipping freezing, 10C the Met Office had said, and windy.  I had a jumper and cardie and was still shivering.  We docked at 5:10am.  I went back to the cabin and examined the onboard bill which had been waiting for me as I'd opened the door to leave before.  It wasn't bad but higher than it would have been due to Spanish VAT added to every single thing.  Rules, apparently, on all ships sailing from Spain.  Pah!  I had a brief doze then up for Silver Spirit while having breakfast.

I went back to the cabin and examined the onboard bill which had been waiting for me as I'd opened the door to leave before.  It wasn't bad but higher than it would have been due to Spanish VAT added to every single thing.  Rules, apparently, on all ships sailing from Spain.  Pah!  I had a brief doze then said goodbye to Doris, who had been wonderful all trip, then up for Silver Spirit while having breakfast.  As I grabbed the tray, my head waiter said hello so I got a quick photo before getting breakfast and heading into the freezing cold like a loony!

Next came Seabourn Legend and Sovereign from different directions so I went back up to 11 for that.  I stood there for Sovereign as she came close to turn, shivering, skirt blowing up, wondering what the hell I was doing.  Still, if I hadn't I'd have regretted missing all those great shots!  I gave up being sane when I got properly into all this shippy stuff in 1987 so there was no hope for me now.

I went to the theatre so missed her docking.  We were called just after 8am and headed down to baggage reclaim.  Unlike here where the luggage is put in areas for collection, either by deck or colour, this was a carousel like at airports.  Mine was number 1 and I waited and waited.  After a while I saw it stood between belts.  It looks like the people with the same cases picked it up by mistake!  Then I took it out to try and find the transfer bus.  There were no signs or anything but a Spanish lady I asked with a clipboard pointed out a man.  He told me to take the case to a wagon and go to bus 54.  The van left at 8.30am with us five minutes later.  It wasn't full but I was glad to have seats to myself then I didn't have to keep my bag on my lap.  We got our last land glimpses of our gorgeous ship as we headed to the airport.

Once we arrived, we went to collect our luggage a bit further down from the pavement then headed into the terminal and up to departures.  Due to the timings of most of the flights, there was a lot of hanging around and trying to find something to do.  My flight wasn't until 1:25pm and the check-in didn't open until 10:55am so I ended up sat on the floor waiting.  The floor was very slippery so I changed my shoes.  The terminal is really nice but there should be some seats!  I wasn't the only one getting a cold bum because there was no where to sit and be comfortable that wasn't in an eating place.  I was second checking in and my case weighed 20.3kg, which was a relief.  It felt so much heavier!  But then the same one did after Equinox and it was under 19kg.  After security I was warned at passport control I could not return if I went through.  I asked if there was food the other side.  He said yes.  That was good enough for me!  BA stopped providing a meal after 10am on flights under 2 1/2 hours in 2009 unless you were in rich bastard class and it had been a looooooooooooong time since breakfast and until I had food at home!  The shop was dreadful.  Expensive prices and not even any water.  It had to be
McDonald's, since they had a Big Mac Meal for 6.35 euros including a bottle of water, which was less than a large bag of Minstrels!  Earlene wandered by as I was eating and joined me.  She ended up getting something too.  Then we made our way to the gate which was D14.  Once we reached it, we discovered it was now D10.  There were at least seats but only about four rows by a window and with barely any space between rows.  It was awful.  Somehow an American man dropped his glasses into Earlene's bag!  We finally boarded and left late, flying over the port making me wish I had my camera as I saw gorgeous Connie again.  During the flight we were given a drink and bag of cocktail nibbles.  Glad I had the Big Mac now!  I saw the three P&O ships in Southampton as we went over the Isle of Wight and also Hythe pier.  Again I wished for my camera but at least I was nearly home.  I just had to escape Heathrow first!  We landed on time, the pilot updating us about things as we went, then went to baggage reclaim.  I was beginning to think the other couple had nicked my case since it took its time but I was near where they emerged so they couldn't.  Grabbed it, then out to my taxi and home!

So the verdict.  Well despite my fears I wouldn't enjoy Connie after so long I loved every second.  Doing a fly cruise and totally in the cruise line's hands was a new experience, despite such ridiculous flight times to come home.  I had only booked Celebrity Air for Equinox and then it was two days after the cruise ended and I had to make my own way to the airport.  This had gone remarkably smoothly and I would probably do it again.  A couple I spoke to in the queue at passport control told me they originally had one about 4:25pm and asked for it to be changed because it was too late.  Also my fears about that gorgeous ship being 'Solsticized' were, thankfully, groundless.  They have left her basically untouched so while they have changed some decor, she's colourful and looking better than my last time, unlike the Solstice class whose decor will date fast.  Thank you, Celebrity, for being so evil with your deals!  I could never have afforded to go again without them.  She has joined the list of my preferred ships along with QE2 (sadly no longer available), Aurora and Vision of the Seas.  Give me another deal for Connie and I have the money, I'll be there like a shot!

To see more photos of the ships at our various ports of call, click on the Other Stalking index or here for Silver Spirit in Portofino.  To see how Connie looked during my last cruise, click here.