17th August 2014

We always sleep soundly on a boat; night was no exception. The only drawback is that with an inside cabin, once the lights are off, it’s as black as the proverbial cat in a coal cellar, you can’t see a thing. Switching on a light feels like being a British Lancaster bomber caught in searchlights over Berlin in 1944; the shock is blinding. Just as those heroic pilots would dive for cover, diving under the duvet is our only temporary sanctuary.

We were awake at 7 am, showered, dressed by half past, and at breakfast shortly after. We’d chosen a small restaurant on deck 12, recommended by a passenger we’d met the previous evening (she’d been on this ship a dozen times). The place had just a few tables, a sea view (of course), and an intimate atmosphere, though it didn’t quite offer the full spread of a traditional English breakfast. Still, it did the job, and we appreciated the exclusivity, though we suspected the growing crowd might soon change that.

Afterwards, we stopped by the gym (surprisingly busy) and then completed two circuits of the ship on Deck 7. At 10:30 am, we attended a lecture on Greek mythology and the stars. As former primary teachers, from back when we had control over our curriculum, we were familiar with many of the myths the lecturer mentioned. Nonetheless, it was enlightening to hear how these myths influenced the naming of constellations and more. The lecturer’s polished delivery, complete with a generous dose of dry humour, made it a pleasure to listen, and we’ll certainly be back for more. Afterwards, we took another turn around the deck, admiring the passing oil rigs.

Our next stop was in the theatre and a presentation about our first port of call, Flåm. Although we’d already booked an excursion by train, it was interesting to learn about other activities on offer.

At lunchtime, we found ourselves back in the Oriental restaurant. Though the waiter at the door was directing people to another restaurant, we weren’t swayed and joined the few passengers inside enjoying a healthy cold buffet. We ran into Anne there and caught up on her latest adventures. Another stroll around the deck followed, leading to the discovery of the library and games rooms on Deck 8.

In the afternoon, Sue chose to sit at the rear of the ship with her book, while I attended a fascinating lecture on Bletchley Park and code-breaking. I had planned to visit the gym, but it seems my resolve is already starting to slip! Later, Sue enjoyed a guitar recital, while I watched Manchester United lose to Swansea on a large TV and caught the first half of Arsenal’s game in the Lord’s Tavern pub. We met up for another brisk circuit of the decks, quite blustery by then, before heading to a port presentation on Ålesund. We had already decided to climb the mountain there, and it was reassuring to hear that the views from the top were indeed spectacular.

It was a ‘smart casual’ evening for dinner, so we returned to our cabin to change. Before dining, we enjoyed an hour watching an ABBA tribute show in the Pacific Lounge. As we made our way to dinner, the sea had grown noticeably rougher, as the Captain had warned us during his afternoon announcement. With his signature dry humour, he ended by saying, “For those of you whose passport photos actually resemble you, you are far too ill to be travelling by ship!”