18th January 2025

The issue with cabins located at the very front and rear of ships is that they experience the most pronounced pitch in rough weather. Meanwhile, cabins along the sides are more susceptible to rolling. The prime location is midships, ideally in an internal cabin along the centreline. Cabin 9273 is perfect for avoiding roll but less so for pitch. Fortunately, last night we slept soundly as the ship glided through a foggy, flat-calm English Channel. The gentle, faint throb of the engine was accompanied by the soothing sound of our wake dissolving into the mist. Fingers crossed that we encounter no storms on this trip.

We woke around 7 am and resisted the temptation to step out onto the balcony. Snug under the warm duvet, we watched BBC Weather on the cabin TV, which informed us that the outside temperature was below freezing, a fact we had no desire to confirm firsthand. After dressing and making coffee, we headed to the buffet restaurant on Deck 14, where we found very few people. The clocks had gone forward an hour during the night, and it seemed some passengers had either failed to adjust their watches or were recovering from the excesses of a generous drinks package.

By 10:15 am, we were seated in the theatre for a talk on the history of our first port of call, Hamburg. It was dreadful, the worst presentation we’ve ever endured on a cruise ship. The presenter, a cross-dresser, monotonously read directly from Wikipedia while showing unclear graphics that failed to enhance the topic.

As is my usual practice when cruising, I purchased the ship’s Wi-Fi package. These packages often cover just one device, but in the past, I’ve been able to switch between devices as long as only one was connected at a time. However, MSC has an infuriating policy: the package must be purchased through their app, which then locks the internet access to the specific device used for the purchase. There’s no warning about this restriction. My Windows laptop doesn’t support the app and, as a result, cannot access the internet since the package is now tied to my mobile. Changing the device isn’t an option. Of course, I could buy a second package for my laptop, but this Yorkshire lad isn’t spending a penny more!

After lunch, we relaxed in our cabin. Sue delved into her book while I drifted off to sleep. Later, she ventured to one of the bars, where she enjoyed a medley of popular music performed by one of the ship’s bands. Still battling Dubai jet lag, I ended up dozing through much of the afternoon until Sue returned from her outing.

The MSC Preziosa has been steaming northeast all day through dense fog in the world’s busiest shipping lane. Occasionally, we caught a fleeting glimpse of other vessels emerging from the greyness, only to disappear moments later. What a marvellous invention radar is!

At dinner, we were joined by another couple, Helen and John, though the Bulgarian lady assigned to our table was absent. After the meal, we browsed a few onboard shops before settling in the Atrium to listen to live music. Later, we took our seats in the theatre for the 9 pm show, ‘The Circus’. It was a spectacular extravaganza of acrobatics, singing, and dancing, inspired by the film ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’.