| The smell from Bistro on Five was a little tempting so I popped in. It's not bad for $5 and I couldn't kill the butterfly. It was just soooooooooooo cute. It was far too quiet around the ship so either everyone was still sleeping off the booze or out getting sunburn. Shopping, since they now claimed they had permission to open and charge VAT at the Dutch 19%. Well I ended up using it all and having a bill because I needed an adaptor there and then. Dungeness Power Station looked like something alien from a distance. Seeing all this in daylight was very strange. I went back to the cabin afterwards to have a doze. By now, the flannel I'd used had also gone, as had the one I threw in the shower because it had blood on and neither were replaced. The cabin guide had its stationery replenished including new postcards while trying to push the old ones on me. If it had the ship instead of some Solstice generic interior, fair enough. Ailsa had received her disembarkation info after lunch but I hadn't and it was nearly 5pm. I went to Guest Relations to request self-disembark as I had a hospital procedure a few hours later. They had 6am or 6.45am so I went for the former then had my snooze after watching the info on the TV. At least it was somewhere but hidden on the Celebrity channel rather than having its own. |
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After a lovely sleep it was time to meet Ailsa so i headed to the Martini Bar. It was casual/optional formal night, which was weird. Dinner was still open seating in the San Marco. Along the way, I bumped into my old assistant cabin steward and we had a little chat. He would be going home after the next cruise. The sunset was so amazing you'd never think it was the English Channel, like the weather. it had become pretty chilly though. Many crew were out taking photos with various devices. It was quieter in Cellar Masters so we went there before dinner. We went on deck 5 this time and the assistant waiter was Nedek, who had been downstairs with Loreto in December! He even went to get him. Three crew I knew! Nedek told me December was his last cruise before he went home and he would be going again after the next one. Loreto may or may not be there in October so I'm to see the Maitre D' when I board. It would be really great if he were and I could get on his table. I quickly popped back to the cabin and found now two hand towels plus my disembarkation information, which was 8am. Glad I got it changed! A brief spell not drinking in the Martini Bar then bed. |
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| Being the mad sod I am, I was up at about 2.30am for our arrival. Well it had been five years, four months and eight days since she'd last sailed up Southampton Water to dock at City Terminal so I couldn't miss it. Unfortunately, due to the bloody Boat Show works, Dock Gate 8 would be closed so I couldn't get photos from Mayflower Park after her overdue return. More security stuff was out for passengers boarding and disembarking and I got shut in at one point. Ricardo from the Martini Bar was still up, having to do the accounts. We actually docked almost thirty minutes late but I don't care. It was just great having her and the Civic Centre clock tower in the same view again. A quick doze afterwards then early final breakfast. I'm so glad Celebrity still use trays. It's a nightmare carrying hot plates and trying to find somewhere to sit while trying to avoid people banging into you. The final bill hadn't been delivered so I went to get one. |
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| The meeting point for self-disembarkation was the Rendezvous at 6am and that's when we got off. It was all very quick and smooth. It was just getting light and she looked gorgeous. How many will think it's her first call? |
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And home after another wonderful trip on my first Celebrity love. I really can't wait to return. The wine itinerary doesn't interest me. Overnights in three of the ports is boring to me. I just want to take another roundtrip cruise on her from my home and have a great time. To see more photos of the other ships, go to the Other Stalking index while Grand Mistral can be found in Various Ships in Port. |
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