2nd February 2016 Today was a perfectly calm sea day. With the clocks going forward an hour last night, we missed the window for breakfast in the Sapphire and had to settle for one of the buffet restaurants. Sadly, my beloved Eggs Benedict was off the menu, but I stumbled upon a rather delightful cheese… Continue Reading

1st February 2016 When we woke this morning at 6:45 am, we were already docked in Noumea, New Caledonia. This large Pacific island, measuring 1,000km by 240km, is a French territory. We could feel the ship docking, but it did so with remarkable quietness as it crept into port. After showering, we went for breakfast… Continue Reading

30th January 2015 It was another good night’s sleep. I suppose it must be the gentle movement of the ship, simulating the rocking of a crib, that creates the perfect conditions for slumber. Perhaps when we get home, we should consider moving our bed out to the pool and onto a raft to replicate the… Continue Reading

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… Continue Reading

29th January 2015 As this was the day we were to board the ship that would be our home for the next ten days, we rose at 8 am and began packing. With that task complete, and after two coffees and a chat with Charlotte on Messenger, we set off for a spot of shopping.… Continue Reading

26th January 2016 After breakfast, we set off on today’s adventure. The ease of the transport system made getting around Sydney a breeze. Using the train, we were soon at Bondi Junction, where we transferred to a bus that took us to Bondi Beach. Despite the smooth journey and its reputation, the beach itself didn’t… Continue Reading

25th January 2016 Our flight, Heathrow to Hong Kong, was delayed by 20 minutes, and despite a few efforts to make up for lost time, we only managed to shave off a few minutes during the journey. This created some stress, as by the time we disembarked, we had just 30 minutes to catch our… Continue Reading

  8th February 2015 We woke around 6 a.m. but took a leisurely extra 50 minutes to muster the energy to leave the warmth of the covers. The bill for our onboard spending had arrived, pleasantly lower than expected! An excellent start to the day, I’d say. With most passengers disembarking, breakfast at the Plaza… Continue Reading

6th February 2015 Despite a restless sea, we managed a rather comfortable night. The captain later informed us that we were running a bit behind schedule, courtesy of an adverse current and a force 8 gale, just a bit of extra drama for our crossing. While there was indeed a fair bit of motion, the… Continue Reading

5th February 2015 Breakfasted promptly at 7:45 am, we then headed on deck to see where in the world we’d drifted overnight. The ship was gingerly easing itself alongside the dock in La Coruña, all under cover of darkness, a rather stealthy approach for such a massive vessel. By the time we’d wrangled ourselves into… Continue Reading