30th January 2015

We woke to the captain cheerfully informing us that we were currently floating above 4,700 metres of ocean and that a pregnant goldfish is called a “twit.” Hmmm… random, indeed!

After a good night’s sleep, we opted for a formal breakfast at the Sapphire, where we were seated at a table with eight Australians. True to form, the Aussies wasted no time diving into conversation, no awkward silences or ice to break, just straightforward, unfiltered chat.

Given Australia’s reputation as a welcoming, immigrant-rich nation, it wasn’t surprising when one of them initially assumed we were locals from some obscure part of their continent. Our lack of knowledge about place names and the finer points of current Aussie politics soon gave us away as English, though!

Last night, before heading to dinner, I caught the Kerber v. Williams tennis final from Melbourne in one of the ship’s pubs. Unfortunately, I had to leave with Kerber leading 2 sets to 1. This morning, I was pleased to learn she’d won, yes! Go, Europeans!

For breakfast, I indulged in salmon Eggs Benedict (Eggs Royale), while Sue opted for her usual cereal and fruit. I’ve only ever had Eggs Benedict on board a ship, though I must admit Sue made them once at home, and they were just as delicious. You can get them with ham and spinach variations instead of salmon, but in my opinion, they don’t come close in flavour.

After breakfast, we took a stroll around the decks. However, the more exposed areas were off-limits. Although the day was gloriously sunny, the wind was intense. The captain had mentioned that we were travelling at high speed to New Caledonia, so I suspect the wind was largely due to the ship’s velocity, as the sea itself appeared relatively calm.

Yesterday, we played table tennis for half an hour, and we did the same today. The strong wind made for a hilarious session, with the ball behaving unpredictably. We frequently ended up swapping balls with other tables, causing plenty of laughter all around.

On the way back to our cabin, I discovered the gym, while Sue made a beeline for the shops. After a quick coffee, I changed and returned to the gym, where I spent half an hour on the running and cycling machines. My feet, no longer accustomed to such activity, protested loudly, and I hobbled back to the cabin with sore soles, but feeling smug overall!

We had lunch in the Windjammer, and to my surprise, Sue joined me in having a salad. However, she quickly regretted it, declaring it a disappointment and wishing she’d opted for the curry instead. We ended up chatting with some Aussies from near Byron Bay, not that we had much choice, as the seating is always sociable in the restaurants.

Afterwards, we attended a lecture on Forensic Science, which turned out to be a big mistake. The room was packed, and having bagged seats in the front row, there was no chance of slipping out unnoticed. The speaker’s knowledge was questionable, her presentation amateurish, and at times she was just plain wrong. Both of us agreed it was painfully boring and decided to skip the follow-up sessions.

An hour of boredom, combined with the effort of stifling yawns, left us feeling lethargic. Unlike some of our unBritish fellow attendees who dozed off entirely, we fought through it but ended up napping for over two hours once we returned to the cabin. Sue woke with a headache. Curse you, Forensic Sheila!

After a reviving coffee, we took a brisk walk around the decks, followed by another coffee for good measure. Fully refreshed, we returned to the cabin to change for dinner, as tonight was a formal night.

Before heading to the dining room, we joined the Captain’s Party on Deck 5. With a glass of champagne in hand, we listened to his welcome speech, which was light-hearted and quite amusing. The Captain, a Norwegian, shared some interesting facts: the ship carries 4,300 passengers and 1,500 crew, of whom 3,700 are Australian and 150 British. When it was built in 1999, it was the largest cruise ship in the world.

Tonight, we had company at dinner. Despite the Australians’ seeming aversion to anything formal, a lovely couple from Adelaide joined us, though the other four chairs at our table remained empty. Throughout the meal, we exchanged family stories. Like us, they were relatively new to cruising, so we didn’t feel out of place amid the seasoned cruise veterans who seemed to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of ships, routes, ports, and cabins.

The evening’s entertainment was a lively performance by the ship’s troupe, featuring songs and dances from various Broadway shows. It was thoroughly enjoyable, a real highlight of the day. After the show, we rounded off the evening with a late-night coffee before turning in around midnight.