Sunday 26 April

Lots of cruel comments about my latest leather purchase!

Found an ATM and we now have Euros. Packed. In an hour we are picked up to go to the cruise liner. Don't know when I will be back online. In the hotel we have had wireless on Tina's laptop.


Sunday 26 April continued - many days later.

We were picked up from the hotel and taken to our cruise ship (the Cristal [sic]). We had paid extra for a cabin upgrade and we got a 2 seater, single seater, big window (cabin 7017). There was a nice bathroom, single and double wardrobes. All in all, a compact but very nice room. We also met David, our Insight tour guide. He turned out to be a lovely man; very caring and organised. Cannot speak too highly of him. There were only 400 on the cruise (economic downturn? or early in the season?) which was great as there was no pressure on facilities (they can take just under 1200). And with 400 staff on board there was always someone there to meet every need or whim. One of the key people for us was Lucas, our steward. Indian (so many of the staff were Indian or Philippinos), always available and every night folded towels into an animal shape!

We were immediately whisked into lunch – a 3 course meal that had our stomachs groaning. The food on the cruise was fabulous. Before every meal, as you entered the dining room, your hands were squirted with hand cleaner. Nice touch.

We unpacked totally and at 4pm had life jacket drill.

We met David again to learn about things and my head started spinning with info overload. We signed up for every optional tour available – about $1200 worth! Tia booked a $90 luxury pedicure, foot massage/spa and toenail painting session.

There’ll be no internet on the cruise – it is by satellite and is $20 an hour!

We got dressed up and went to the captain’s cocktail party, followed by excellent 4 course Gala dinner and finished off with the Musical Odyssey show – songs and dances from Cats, Chicago, Phantom, Cabaret and Moulin Rouge. Very slick – good dancers and singers. Off to bed very satisfied.