| Once we'd passed Cowes and Fay's aunt had taken photos of us passing, we headed back inside to warm up and ordered room service. Our steward brought our bathrobes just after the food arrived. The beds had been separated and we watched a bit of the royal wedding highlights before going shopping! The had models of Vision - yay!!!! I wish I'd bought an Equinox one, but worried about the flight home. Ditto Constellation and Eclipse had none. |
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| Dinner and we were on second sitting which suited us well. Our table mates were Mario, an Italian living and working in London and Fabrizio, an Italian living in Italy. Another couple were with us but kept to themselves. Our waiters were both from Brazil. Nelson the head waiter and Miacol assisting him. It was quite windy outside as a ship passed, which turned out to be Ryndam heading to Zeebrugge from Cherbourg. Once we'd done that, we went to the Viking Crown Lounge for some boozing and laughing at some dad dancing! |
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| We decided to take a stroll around the deck. It would be Fay's first experience of it and how different a cruise ship at night was to a ferry, only most deck was closed off due to the wind! It didn't appear that strong to us and we wondered if there was a slight over reaction from those not used to European weather. In the cabin there were no pillow chocs. Cheapskating??? |
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| The Saturday was Amsterdam but we weren't due to dock until 3pm so a lovely relaxing morning. It was still very windy with upper decks closed off - grrr! We bumped into Mario and Fabrizio as we left the Windjammer and they headed in then we watched the pilot boat as we got closer to IJmuiden lock, where we were at 11am. By then, they had reopened the decks so we could all watch our entry. For once the windscreen was VERY useful because it blew a gale above it! Despite this being my third cruise into Amsterdam, it was the first time I'd been able to watch the lock procedure. Usually it's a very early arrival followed by sailing during dinner. |
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| I went in to get my thick cardigan because I was freezing and when I came back, Fay pointed out Marco Polo shoved away in the Amsterdam Marine Terminal among container cranes and various other things. It would have been very easy to miss her completely. I phoned my dad after we'd passed her, but her funnel kept tantaslingly peeking out. As I was taking some photos, I heard, "Patsy?" and looked round to see Gary and Allen! Gary said he wasn't sure it was me when I went past before but as soon as he saw the cameras knew it was. A bit further along was Rochdale One, once a small Russian cruise ship and now used as student accommodation. Nearby was Sirius, a Greenpeace vessel. Then over the horizon (okay it was buildings but I'm trying to paint a scene here) came AIDAsol, puckering up to kiss our Ducky Bum! There were definitely a few leers as she eyed us up when we docked. As we neared the centre, the Captain gave a blast on the horn then a bit later several more before we went up to turn. Yes, her Duckiness had arrived! As if anyone could fail to miss us since we were definitely the prettiest both days! |
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| We decided to head out across the bridge for photos of the two ships at 5pm but couldn't get off! Both security desks were busy because a load of Dutch people were boarding as part of a special cruise for their Queens Day national holiday. Behind them were those returning from excursions. It was ridiculous. Eventually, after much complaining on my part, they let us off but unusally no one in the terminal checked our passports so we just went. |
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| Reboarding was far less annoying and we got ready for formal night. Last time I did this ship, it was held the night we left Amsterdam so I was a little surprised at this timing. Also it had been held in the Some Enchanted Evening Lounge both times previously but this was in the Centrum for some daft reason. They skimped on the champage so we had Blue Lagoons. The waitress had never heard of it so had a go at making them and they were very nice, unlike the coloured water you get on P&O these days. The Captain listed the top five nationalities onboard and mentioned the hundred odd Dutch and their Queens Day. When he got to the almost 1000 Brits he said we were on honeymoon! He came across as a nice man, like the first one in 2008. After dinner it was an early night to catch up on some sleep. |
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