Wednesday 21st August


We awoke fairly again on Wednesday 21st August and, after morning ablutions, made our way towards the restaurant where we had eaten the night before, only to find it closed with a notice saying that it would be open for late breakfast at 10am that day, so we took the lift to deck 9 and had a buffet breakfast instead.
Although, when we had first got up, it looked like being a gorgeous day again, it soon clouded over and remained that way for the rest of the day.
We spent the rest of the morning walking around the ship and attended the cruise director’s show on our future ports of call, in Follies, the ship’s theatre/cabaret.
Back in the restaurant at lunchtime, we shared a table with two other couples, one from the USA and one from Australia -David and the Australian chap who was called Tony started talking about cricket of course!
The couple from the USA were from Miami, Florida and were on their 21st Carnival cruise!
She was of Tunisian origins (French settlers) but her family had fled Tunisia when it became independent and moved to Chicago when she was a young teenager in the early 60s. She described going from the warmth of North Africa to the freezing cold Chicago winter.
The conversation flowed back and forth after the initial shy introductions and covered topics ranging from holidays to politics.

The afternoon passed slowly, then, it was time to go and change for dinner. That night’s attire was “Elegant”, as it was the Captain’s Dinner.
Yes David you look very smart!

Now then, the scarf, should I wear it this way?
Or should I wear it that way?

We had photographs taken both in the Atrium where we had aperitifs with the Captain and Senior Crew and in the restaurant where we once again enjoyed a superb meal and struck up a conversation with the couple seated across the aisle from us (I have not scanned the official photographs yet).

We had an after dinner drink and then retired for the night!

Tuesday 20th August

We got up fairly early on the morning of August 20th, then, after a shower and breakfast, it was time for us to repack our overnight bag and check and double check that we had everything we needed. We said our goodbyes then John drove us to Dover where, as we approached the cruise terminal, we came in sight of our home for the next twelve days, The Carnival Legend (above).

We were allowed to drive all the way along the quay to the luggage check in area where our tagged suitcases were taken away by porters to be security checked then transferred on-board the ship to our cabin.

In the mean time, David and I made our way very quickly through check-in and security and soon found ourselves in the Welcome Atrium.

We had heard, through several of our friends who had been on cruises before, that alcohol was very expensive on board cruise liners but that most of them did deals or packages whilst on board.
We had been told by the booking agent that there was a similar deal on our liner called the “Cheers” package and, although the cost was more than we had anticipated, we decided to go ahead and signed up for the deal.

Before we could change our minds, we ordered two beers. These were followed by another beer for David and the first of a few cocktails for me.
This one was called “The Cruiser” and consisted of a blend of Sky vodka, Malibu coconut rum and peach schnapps, mixed with pineapple, cranberry and orange juice. Each of their cocktails were prepared with a double shot of each liqueur! The cocktails I had after the first one were not that size thank goodness! That was just a welcome gesture.

Later on in the cruise, I also very much enjoyed what was called “The Ultimate Margarita” which consisted of a blend of 1800 Reposado, 100% blue agave tequila, Cointreau and lime juice. Like “The Cruiser” it was delicious and also slightly less alcoholic.
This is a picture of “The Cruiser” by the way, “The Ultimate Margarita” is to follow!

We had been told that our luggage would be outside our door at 13.30 and we duly made our way to our cabin around that time to find 3 of our 4 items there. Whilst we were unpacking, our smaller overnight case also arrived.
Our cabin steward, we found out later, was called Ryan and was very helpful indeed as were nearly all the staff on board the ship – the waiters, in particular could not do enough for you – so much so that I nicknamed one of them Uriah Heep! We came to look forward to going back to our cabin for the night to find out which animal shape Ryan had created out of one of our clean bathroom towels whilst turning our bed down.

On that very first day, having unpacked, we then proceeded to walk around the liner and familiarise ourselves with our “home” for the next 11/12 days. We also attended the obligatory safety briefing in our allocated area (Deck 3, Station A).
Our wanderings eventually took us to the Serenity area on Deck 9 at the rear of the ship where we ordered another drink and sat on sunbeds to enjoy our departure from Dover (the so-called Serenity Deck is a 21+ years only area with a bar, a pool and a Jacuzzi).

We watched the ship leave Dover and its famous white cliffs then, as we got further out at sea and the wind began to pick up, we walked back inside and proceeded to have a couple more drinks before heading to the restaurant on Deck 3 called Truffles where we enjoyed the first of many superb meals -superb even according to David’s fussy standards!



Eventually, feeling very tired but very excited at the prospect of the rest of our cruise, we retired to our cabin for the night.

Monday 19th August 2013
Having taken our two dogs to their respective “holiday” homes, we spent Monday morning completing our preparations for our cruise to Russia and Scandinavia.

This was our first cruise and was a fabulous birthday present from my husband for my 50th: I had told him that I wanted something that would leave lasting memories as opposed to a one night mega party and I certainly got my wish … and then some!
The taxi came and picked us up at 12.00 and took us to Crewe station where we caught the 12.29 train to London Euston. On the way down to London, we travelled First Class. David drank a cider and I had a glass of dry white wine and a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. David just ate a banana – a very frugal lunch but that would quickly change on the cruise!

At Euston, we took a cab to London St Pancras and, for a while, it looked as though we would miss our connection to Broadstairs at 14.42. We didn’t however and soon, we were on our way to John and Ashleigh’s house in Broadstairs where we were to spend the night.

The train arrived on time and we were greeted at the station by John and three-year-old Sebastian who very much wanted to help with our suitcases all the way to their house close to the beach.
We all got there safely and we were soon on our way to sample the beer available in Broadstairs at two very unusual “pubs”, “The 39 Steps” and “The Chapel” where we partook of two very different ales.

“The Chapel”, as its name indicates, actually used to be a real chapel before it became a second-hand bookshop until, very recently, it also started selling different types of real ales on the lower level as well as providing tables and chairs strategically placed so that people can drink and browse the books should they wish to do so.

Wooden staircases and tables, old armchairs and filled with atmosphere as well as with books, “The Chapel” really is a place after my own heart.

We couldn’t stay there very long though unfortunately but, as we left, John announced that he had to go to the shops on his way back to the house and David suggested we stop at “The 39 Steps” for another beer which we did.

After a lovely dinner and evening with John, Ashleigh and Seb, we went to bed tired but excited at the prospect of our impending journey 🙂