Saturday
Dear Elsie
Today was the day we discovered the pods. Because this cruise is part of the Round the World one & this balcony cabin was the only one left for the 18 nights from Cape Town to Rome, we had to take what it came with. If we wanted to go, we had to pay the price, which was higher than usual for 18 nights. As a result we have got a massive cabin plus a few other perks. We didn’t really realise all that it came with, so the very big cabin and balcony was a surprise. The eat whenever you like in the reserved seating is helpful when we are a little later in eating (very seldom because I’m still skipping lunch and by 6pm, I’m ready to eat a small pony). The big surprise came when we found out we had access to the ‘exclusive’ Top 16 which is the highest outdoor area at the front of the ship. It doesn’t have any indoor space but it has a lot of out door tables with private booths shielded from the wind.
It has a couple of hot tubs.
There are far fewer passengers up there….& we discovered the pods. These are massive covered circular seats. This is what they look like from behind…
Inside, the view is of the ocean passing by. The stewards go round handing out fruit kebabs.
Mike and I in the pod.
Teddy came too.
We have never had this option before and I don’t know if we will again, so we are enjoying it this once. All these sea days are definitely giving us the rest we need. I’ll be ready to go back to work on Tuesday, that’s for sure. I may even do a bit of work on Monday.
The other thing that happened today is I may have set up a meeting with a YouTube couple who have posted a couple of their videos from this ship. I started following them because we were waiting for the ship to arrive in Cape Town. They’ve down the whole round the world trip, so have been on it for more than 100 days. Perhaps tomorrow we will meet & I’ll hear more.
Mike and I did 10000 steps before breakfast. We sort of half-heartedly thought of doing another 10000 before dinner, but that’s grueling, so we just did what we did. We are not going to the formal dinner tonight but will go to the buffet.
Tonight the clocks go back an hour, so from tomorrow we are on UK time. I’m hoping my watch, cell phone and laptop will adjust itself. How does one know? We’ll have to find a ship clock.
We have been enjoying fair weather. This is our current location…
Julian will be interested in this: the ship to the left of us is the MSC Euribia which we went on last year on our trip to the Norwegian fjords. One of the best ships and the best cruises I’ve ever been on. I’m not sure why it is where it is because when I click on it, it says it’s going to do a Northern Europe cruise (3rd -10th May), so I’m surmising that it’s come round Africa to avoid the Red Sea. It also is much further west than we are, almost as if it’s going to St. Helena Island. Perhaps it’s also doing a recce? I’ll be keeping an eye on it.
Isaiah 42:10
Sing to the Lord a new song, sing His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂