17th March 2016 We’re not ones for sunbathing, though many of our fellow passengers are. By now, you can probably guess that their bodies are taking on the colour and texture of freshly polished shoe leather. This got me thinking about the rare occasions when, as a couple, we’d lie on a sunbed and soak… Continue Reading

16th March 2016 The clocks went forward by one hour last night, so we woke at 6 am. Deciding to follow our body clocks, we were in the restaurant for breakfast before 7 am. It seemed that most of our fellow passengers had the same idea, as the restaurant we chose was full. After a… Continue Reading

15th March 2016 We had an early breakfast, though we were surprised the restaurant wasn’t as packed as on previous port days. We guessed that many people were likely avoiding the heat or perhaps concerned about local sensitivities (terrorism) and decided to stay on board instead and benefit from a lie-in. We received our tour… Continue Reading

13th March 2016 This morning was a struggle to wake up. The abrupt raising of the blackout blinds by Sue practically threw me out of bed; it was as if she did it on purpose to banish the sandman! It wasn’t until the second dark coffee that I started to feel human again. Yoghurt and… Continue Reading

12th March 2016 Although this is the smallest ship in the Costa fleet, currently relocating back to the Mediterranean after its seasonal circuits in the Indian Ocean, its entertainment programme is impressively packed. It’s clear the crew are putting the schedule together ‘on the hoof,’ but they’re doing an admirable job of keeping us all… Continue Reading

11th March 2016 Cruise ship musing: Four days adrift on an endless ocean of blinding, unforgiving sun and relentless blue. Our water stores are dangerously low, and the meagre catch of fish does little to sustain either body or spirit. The horizon remains heartbreakingly empty, no sails, no land, just the vast, indifferent sea. And… Continue Reading

10th March 2016 Although we had a calm night, Sue woke with a migraine and wasn’t feeling her best. She managed to make it to breakfast but soon retreated to the dark comfort of the cabin and the bed. While she slept, I took a stroll along the upper deck, hoping to spot some sea… Continue Reading

9th March 2016 During the school holidays as a child, I remember waking up each day to warm, sunny days full of excitement, wondering what the day might hold. Today feels like one of those days, but hotter! Breakfast was quieter than usual, though we entered the dining room at the same time as yesterday.… Continue Reading

8th March 2016 Drawing back the curtain revealed a breathtaking scene: a brilliant blue sea, a scattering of tiny islands, and fluffy white clouds dotting the early morning sky. We had docked in Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, at around 7:30 am. The ship had glided into its berth so smoothly that it didn’t… Continue Reading

7th March 2016 After breakfast and a shower, we made our way to a 9:30 am lecture on the ‘Seychelles: Granite & Coral Islands’. As usual, it was both fascinating and packed with practical advice on where to go, how to get there, and a stern warning to be mindful of the sun. All that… Continue Reading