A day at sea, Bruges, then disembarkation

Surprisingly, the day at sea was great! Who’d have thought it! We had a leisurely breakfast looking at the sun glistening on the sea. Beautiful. I had decided to take a bag with me to breakfast with swimsuit, towel, magazines, etc to save going back to the room during the day (it’s a long walk!).

I decided against swimming - it was busy - but we managed to find a nice quiet spot on loungers and sunbathed until we got worried about burning. Yes really! I had not packed sun cream! Nor had I packed summer clothes! T had a go on the F1 virtual game, but he was unimpressed. By the time he got used to driving the Grand Prix lap, the game stopped! Pina Coladas (poor T had dreadful toothache due to the ice!) in the sunshine - how fab! Read a magazine; all very relaxing. We noticed our phones, which had been on French telecoms, changed to British during the day, and at 630pm, when we went into the speciality Mexican restaurant T pointed out the white cliffs of Dover through the 2 large portholes. What?! I thought we were going from Cherbourg to Zeebrugge! To allow us a day at sea, the ship had to travel around, rather than go direct!! We ordered All you can (£17.99 each), plus tequilas and coronas. It all went down very, very well. The lovely waiter brought out dish after dish and even brought more of one that we particularly liked. D and I really took to the tequila - it was so smooth and delicious. Did not need the salt or lime! I had a few, but it didn’t affect me at all, and there was no headache the next day! Three hours we were in that restaurant. It was excellent and we highly recommend. Then it was time to go to the Abba Songbook show. You can’t go wrong with Abba! It was good. And we had a surprise when we came out at 1030am.

Now, if D&T had suggested we go to a disco, I would have said absolutely ‘no’. I’m old, huge, with a stick, not dressed for a disco, etc etc. BUT, there was a DJ playing 70s music in the Galleria, along with dancers - up where he was on the floor above, and also on podiums and amongst the crowd. The sound was so good, and we just joined the others there - very mixed crowd - and danced! Yes, I danced, and I loved it! Remember Mama Mia when it’s the party and they’re dancing to that song where they all jump up and down and Aphrodities fountain breaks through the floor? Well, that music played - people danced and jumped up and down - and I was waiting for the water to appear!! I took a video and a lady took my phone off me to video me dancing and singing: “Bring me a man at midnight”! Absolutely brilliant. We all had such a great time. Finished off in the Masters of the Sea for much needed refreshment. It was a late - and such a fantastic - night.

Next day we again had a fairly leisurely start and then at 1130am went on an excursion to Bruges, with our guide Jean-Pierre. He was quite funny and took us round the beautiful town for a couple of hours. The buildings are stunning. Yet again, D came to our rescue - we didn’t have any cash and we needed a euro for a wee! Thankfully D had some. We had a couple of hours on our own and had a nice boat trip with Dirk the driver/guide. I do love a canal - reminded me, in places of Amsterdam. We bought some nougat and marzipan and then went to the brewery near our meeting point. Very busy outside area, great atmosphere and great beer! I had a blonde beer, then a dark beer. Both nice but preferred the dark. Sadly it was soon time to meet J-P and get the coach back to the boat. We could have easily stayed in Bruges for longer and will definitely go back.

We dressed up a bit in the evening and dined at our allocated table in the Minueta restaurant. Three 3 courses, small menu. My shellfish linguine was delicious. The other courses were OK. Consensus was that the buffet was better.

We wandered around the ship. It was our last night. T was feeling a little off-colour - he’d eaten a big tube of chocolate almonds before dinner, so serve him right!! Luckily he felt better for the last bar of the night - the champagne bar. We were going to have a glass of rose champagne each, but were advised by the waiter to go for a bottle. It made sense - saved money - and went down very well. I felt a bit sad that our holiday was coming to an end. D&T walked me back to my room and we hugged goodbye. I wouldn’t see them in the morning since they had to shoot off. D was actually going into London for the Mama Mia party!

My case was collected by 11pm - I’d be meeting it again in the terminal at 855am. I went to bed and slept well. I was awake, but only just, when there was a knock at the door. In fact several knocks. Turns out I was supposed to vacate the cabin at 7am. It was 745am now! I quickly got dressed and gathered my bits. I don’t know how I managed to miss that - I suppose I was more concerned about my case than the cabin! I went to the buffet which was still serving breakfast thankfully. It was so busy, but I got a table and calmed down with a cup of tea, some fruit, and some scrambled egg. I went to the meeting point - it was the other theater - very nice - and I think next time we should pay for the show there (only £15, although only 35 mins). I reckon it’ll be really good. Then it was time to leave. Unfortunately, it was pouring with rain. The gangplank was uncovered and I got rather wet - it was too warm to wear my waterproof. I couldn’t find my case and went to report it. Amazingly, another passenger was saying she couldn’t find her case either, but heard my name and said that she’d seen mine! She actually went off looking for it and found it! Unfortunately, I couldn’t do the same for her!!

Walked to my car and got drenched. Absolutely soaked. Drive home was awful. So much rain, and low visibility. The holiday sure was over! I was so tired when I got home, I went to bed and didn’t unpack my case until the next day!

A few things I learned:
book a balcony room - my room was lovely, but I couldn’t tell what the weather was like, and it’d be nice to get air in my room, rather than having to go elsewhere
Oh so I’m talking about booking - yes, I like cruising. I will cruise again!
bring cool clothes
bring Euros (or local currency)
if I have to be out of the cabin at a ridiculously early time, I may as well take my case and get off - although I did get to have breakfast, and a sit down, before driving all the way home
bring sea sickness tablets - just in case! It’s better to be prepared!

And since my return things are all coming to a head - divorce settlement agreed and we’ve exchanged contracts so I move out of the marital home on 1 November and into the new place I’m buying as a single woman!