| Another hot day and extra hour on the 3rd. Captain Ban had announced the day before there would be an eclipse at 10am but it was actually 8.30am so I missed it - bugger! I went to get breakfast and it was only talking to Janet and Paul, who were on the pool deck, I learnt about the time. As I was sat on the stairs since that had a phone signal and my cabin didn't, a steward came down carrying three ice buckets, one of which slipped and ice went everywhere. If I had a pound for each time someone asked if I had a signal on my phone during the cruise I'd be able to pay my onboard account! I could feel a migraine coming on so went back to bed in the afternoon. Singer Stephen Bayliss was doing a show in the Centrum between dinner seatings and as I was finished pretty fast, popped to the theatre to see the comedy magician Nick Lewin but as I'd heard all his jokes before and seen what he was doing at the time, I left. It was the '50s and '60s party in the Centrum. I stayed a while then went to bed. |
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| Our 7th sea day, 29c and all this calmness and clear blue sky was becoming monotonous. It's autumn in the Atlantic, weather. Get with it! Captain Ban said in his noon speech that people had been complaining about the lack of whales and dolphins so he should but some inflatible ones. Although I had lunch, I bumped into Signe at the internet and joined her at the solo lunch. This is when I finally saw Branislav, my waiter from September! Dorota asked if I had yet and when I said no, took me to him. He was serving the salad in the Aquarius. It was really great seeing him again. He told me Rahul had gone home, which was a shame as I intended to ask what he used for ginger in that great hot honey, lemon and ginger he made for me. Also that he was now on Deck 5, which was all My Time Dining, so he is very busy. Emil, in Park Cafe, told me he had pre-ordered my dinner since I'd been at the speciality restaurants and had no advance menu, which was nice if him. Really lazy day on the balcony where a bird, rainbow and two window cleaners at 17 knots were the exciting highlights. They were doing more acrobatics rehearsal, this time with fake snow. As I had a very early start when we reached St Maarten, I went to bed straight after dinner, not even detouring to the Park Cafe. It was raining - boo! |
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| Land ahoy with an extra hour!!!!! And was it ever welcome! We had company behind in the shape of Liberty of the Seas, which had left Barcelona the day before us. It was a little disappointing to learn the fat lump had been up our bum the entire week when a tandem crossing would have been nice. From the other direction were Norwegian Epic and Disney Fantasy. I was used to seeing Liberty and Epic. In fact, the last time had been in Barcelona back in June, but the Disney was new. As we weren't near the dock at Philipsburg yet, I took a little wander and managed to get up to the Viking Crown Lounge where they had put an Izumi restaurant, Concierge Lounge and what was left was for the plebs. I honestly could have cried. I had put up with the rest as it looked pretty good, but this was vandalism! This was one of my favourite areas but clearly not used much so they decided to alter the space. I don't suppose moving things to the Centrum a few years ago, such as the theme nights, helped. I was talking to a passenger from the Netherlands who said he had heard a rumour Allure of the Seas would be based in Europe in 2015. Hmmmm..... Anthem maybe. Annoyingly the heavens opened again but thankfully did stop as it became lighter. During arrival, I heard someone say excitedly the Disney was Queen Mary 2 while another reckoned Epic was a Royal Caribbean ship. |
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| Once we'd docked, I got breakfast then phoned home since stupid Vodafone sent a text saying it was under Eurotraveller when it turned out not to be. With the ship being reasonably quiet, it was time to get other parts of her. One my deck alone there were the new cabins by the Centrum which used to be the library and card room. Deck 8's equivalent were the Crown & anchor Study and internet. The big deck plan near Guest Services was no longer there, just a bare wall behind the community bulletin board now. Such a shame that wasn't replaced. They had new deck doors so instead of your tread opening it, you had to press a button but they still had proper doors if you choose to use them. The R Bar replaces the Champagne Bar and it's amazing how much difference in that Centrum area all that space makes. Sadly the model of Vision from the old Crown & Anchor Study seemed to have not made it back on after refit anywhere on the ship, unless it was in a locked conference room. I'd love to know where it went. Not on my bookshelf as I hinted last cruise, that's for sure! The United States model and other stuff was probably returned to its owner. The library has shrunk to become the Book Nook on deck 6, between the photo gallery and coffee. |
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