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Embarkation Day & Jon’s Birthday
Weather: Sunny
An early morning wake up call from Callum ensured we were all awake bright and early! He sang Daddy “Happy Birthday” in English and then impressively in Spanish (thanks Catherine!). With most of the packing completed the night before, we spent the rest of the morning wondering what we had forgotten.
Car loaded up and we set off for Southampton at 11.30am. We had a very easy run down. Just a five minute wait in the queue before our car could be unloaded and we headed into the terminal to board the ship. Embarkation was very well organised and within 45 minutes were on board heading up to the buffet for a spot of lunch.
Then it was time to find our cabin. This time there should be no getting lost or heading in the wrong direction as our cabin was right at the back of the ship on the starboard side. Cabin E731 would be home for the next 2 weeks or so and we were not disappointed, especially as the balcony was twice as wide as the normal cabin.
We were a bit bemused to find all the life jackets out on the balcony. We thought that the steward had been washing them, but after chatting to him, it turns out the people in the cabin before us had stowed all the life-jackets and their suitcases/coats etc out on the balcony for their cruise. He did try to warn them on numerous occasions that they’d be ruined and they did have a nice salt crust on them by the end of their holiday!!
We managed to get most of the unpacking done before Muster and the obligatory trying on of the life jackets.
Back to the cabin and ready for sailaway – as no other cruise ships were in port, it was a fab ensemble of 10 or so musicians to play us off. The sun was shining, glass of bubbly in hand and we were finally heading for warmer climes. As there was no chance of getting a cake delivered to the cabin for Jon’s birthday, we brought one on board with us!
Kids Tea was followed by Kids Club briefing. Quick glimpse of Portsmouth as we sailed past.
Then the time Callum has been waiting for – Kids’ Club was open!! There are 94 children in Frontiers (the club for the 5-8’s), but there are over 300 children in the 9-18 category and loads more in the younger age group. With these numbers, the ship must be at full capacity but it seems pretty quiet on board considering.
The Main Dining Room (MDR) menu didn’t really appeal and as it was Jon’s birthday we treated ourselves to a meal in The Glass House. We chose “Flight 6” to drink – small glasses of three different wines to try. An English Sparkling Rose, and Austrian something or other that we’d never heard of, but was lovely and a South African Red. For starters we shared a platter of tempura prawns, fishcakes and bruschetta then Jon had the Bison Burger and I had the surf & turf.
We headed up to Kids Club at 9.15 to see how Callum as doing – they just started showing Gnomeo & Juliet and was enjoying it so we headed to the Planet Bar for a drink. We had a great seat … we sat looking forward on the bit of the bar that sticks out over the sea. Great for watching the comings and goings on deck!
We picked Callum up after the film had finished and headed back to the cabin.
Early start for Karen in the morning – manicure and pedicure booked for 8am – the only time left for tomorrow!! Breakfast in the cabin ordered for 7am … and Oasis salon is at the very front of the ship and a good 10 mins walk from our cabin!!
