We are currently on day three of our five consecutive “at sea” days before we reach our next destination Aquaba, Jordan. We have just exited the HRA – High Risk Area (for piracy). This means that the artillery bought on board was unloaded this afternoon, the around the clock patrols will stop, the three armed security guards can relax, the special naval liaison officer can now enjoy his cruise, the high pitch sonic machine thing can be packed away and passengers will once again be allowed on the outer lower decks after dark. Piracy is definitely taken seriously around here.
On my left is Eritrea soon to be followed by Sudan and Egypt and on my right is Saudi Arabia. We shot down the coast of Oman at an average of 20 knots – 8 knots faster than the Chinese cargo ships we could see travelling in convoys (for safety) from our decks.
The days are passing easily and quickly. My day on average starts with some laps around the promenade followed by yoga in the cabin. Darryl’s starts when I finish yoga and hand him a cup of coffee before putting on the tv and going to the channel which shows our current location in the world. Next its showers and upstairs to breakfast. Bearing in mind that when going upstairs or anywhere else on this ship that we follow my directions. For some reason Darryl has totally lost all sense of direction and after three weeks still has no idea where he is going.
Breakfast can be interesting. Often one has to share a table and it is here that we met the 88 and 92 year old on their 13th world cruise. This will be their last because “we are getting old and we have seen everything”! It is here also that we learn from a couple of “all rounders” those who have done the complete world trip, that of the 500 “all rounders” who started -only 450 are left. There are various stories about what happened to the other 50 and dying features in some of them.
Following breakfast it will usually be a talk or two given by the on board guest speakers. This mornings was given by Margaret Gilmore – a journalist and current expert on security and terrorism. She went into detail about events following the 2005 London bombing and the death of former soviet KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko which re-ignited former Cold War tensions between Russia and the Western world – even more significant given the events of the past week! After Margaret we had a talk by Terry Brown a former Detective Chief Inspector who helped write the training manual on British police interviewing techniques.Terry was also an excellent and informative speaker.
The time left before lunch can be spent strolling the promenade, perusing the shops, reading on our balcony, participating in a quiz or game, attending some seminar or doing simply nothing. Lunch is a choice of fine dining in the main restaurant or the buffet upstairs. Sometimes we forgo the lunch and wait for the afternoon tea. An experience created and perfected by the British. Complete with scones, clotted cream, finger sandwiches, tea cakes, crumpets, pastries its a truly decadent experience.
The afternoon can be a repeat of the morning or it may involve an activity such as “laundry wars”. Here one attempts to use one of the the twelve washing machines available to passengers for doing their washing. As there are approximately 2100 passengers on board it is certainly a war. The next available machine is guarded closely by the next in line and low behold anyone who dares attempt to but in.
There is a movie room on board or one can watch this movie (or a variety of others) the next day in their cabin. As the movies are pretty near new releases its a good afternoon option sometimes.
If its not “Formal Night” then following a pre-dinner drink under the stars on the ships top deck (currently under the Easter full moon) its down to the main dining room for a three, four or five course dinner. On formals nights our options are the buffet or room service.
Dinner is followed by either a show which can vary from comedians, cellists, magicians, “Cilla Black” impersonators to the P and O dance company “Headliners” or simply another stroll.
We are not ones to stay up and dance/drink the night away so the next bit is usually my favorite. Its back to our cabin where Robert our room attendant has put chocolates on the bed, pulled down our incredibly comfortable doona and dimmed the lights. Here we peruse the following days newsletter/activity guide “the Horizon” or the Australia newsletter thoughtfully prepared for the Ozzie’s on board and get ready to repeat it all again.
