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

6th March 2016 A good night’s sleep woke Sue up, declaring she was finally getting her sea legs. To me, they looked the same as ever; perhaps it’s all in the mind? Since it was ‘Mother’s Day’ back in the UK (hard to believe I had to remind Sue), she opened her cards while still… Continue Reading