After an excellent night’s sleep on a calm sea, we got up at 7.30am and made our way down to the Ballindalloch Restaurant for breakfast. As it was a formal night, we knew there would be free fizz on offer at breakfast; a nice little quirk that Fred Olsen always offer their passengers whenever it’s a formal night.
As we entered the restaurant, we came across John and Sheila who had been on our table on Balmoral last year, whom we had spotted on the plane coming out. We agreed to share a table and have a catch-up. When Trevor and I went up to the buffet to collect our morning orange juice, we each grabbed a glass of prosecco as well, so we could make ourselves a Buck’s Fizz. ☺
I enjoyed bacon, sausage, egg, tomato and mushrooms or breakfast, washed down with good hot coffee and the free fizz. We enjoyed it so much we had another one. Well, it was free – who wouldn’t?
We then went out on deck. It had been raining overnight and there were wet patches here and there, but although the sky was now cloudy, the air was warm and pleasant. We wandered around for a while before going up the outside stairs to Deck 9, where our cabin is situated.
We returned to 9088 to have a look at the Daily Times activities programme to see what was happening on this sea day. We saw that there was a carpet bowls knockout at 9.30am in the Lido Bar, so we decided to participate in that. The Lido Bar was almost immediately below our cabin, so it only took a couple of minutes to get there.
When we arrived, we saw that the bowls was being hosted by the inimitable Hubert Greaves. There were already quite a few participants there; they seemed to know each other and we guessed that they had been on the cruise for a while; we were only completing an eight-day section of what was a 59-night grand Mediterranean voyage.
We put our names down to play, but we were unlucky. I played a fairly good shot and my wood was nearest the jack, but then my opponent managed to get her wood just inside mine, making it the winner. Close, but no cigar.
Afterwards, we decided to go and have a coffee in the Thistle self-service restaurant. When we arrived, however, we saw that people were still eating their breakfast and the free glasses of fizz were set out next to the juices. So we ended up having another Buck’s Fizz as well as the coffee, and sat outside on the pleasant aft decks to enjoy it. ☺
At 10.30am, we returned to the Lido Bar for a game of baggo. Most of the same people were there; they probably hadn’t moved since the last game. Apart from my first shot which dropped neatly into the hole, I was pretty rubbish, and Trevor and I were knocked out in the first round.
As the indoor curling was next, we just decided to stay in the Lido. Hubert put our names down (he didn’t have to ask!) and we took our places when our turn came. As we were out of practice, most of our shots went wide or short, and we were knocked out pretty soon. However, as there was a lone gentleman playing at the end who didn’t have a partner, Hubert called me up to play with him! I did better this time, getting my stone closest to the centre and sending us through to the next round. Our glory didn’t last however, as we were knocked out shortly afterwards.
Playing these games in the Lido bar gave us such a sense of déjà vu. We were in the exact same place in the exact same bar, playing the same games as we did last December, on our Christmas cruise above the Arctic Circle. The only difference was that there weren’t any Christmas decorations up this time, and there was actually daylight beyond the floor to ceiling sweeping glass windows. 🙂
It brought us nicely up to lunchtime, which we enjoyed in the Thistle self-service restaurant. As we dine early at 6.00pm, we didn’t want a huge lunch, so I selected a plate of crisp, fresh salad vegetables and cold cuts, washed down with a glass of cold water.
Afterwards, we wandered out onto the aft decks. It was quite cloudy and there was a nippy little breeze blowing; it was not as warm as we had imagined it would be. We therefore retreated into Balmoral‘s cosy interior and decided to have a look around the shops to see if there were any bargains.
I had forgotten to bring an evening bag with me, so I was pleased to see those lovely embroidered velvet pouches by Elizabeth Scarlett. I had bought a couple of these last time we were on Balmoral, and today I spotted a gorgeous bag featuring my favourite animal, the tiger. It was called “Celestial Tigers” and was lavishly decorated; I had to buy it. As Platinum Oceans Club members we get 10% off all on-board purchases, so the bag cost £26.10 instead of £29.00. In fact, we started the cruise with £70.00 on-board credit, so in actual fact it cost nothing it all. 🙂
We returned to 9088 and pottered around in our light and airy cabin for a while, enjoying a 45 minute power nap. Then it was time to start getting primped and preened for the Captain’s Cocktail Party at 5.15pm.
Tonight’s formal night theme was the Roaring Twenties. I wore a navy blue beaded ‘flapper’ style dress with long black gloves, a rope of faux pearls and a long feather boa. I had on a platinum blonde wig in an inverted bob style and topped it with a diamante head decoration. A matching pair of navy beaded stilettos completed the ensemble and, as we made our way to the Neptune Lounge for the party, many people commented on my outfit. 🙂
In fact, we were pleased to see that quite a lot of people had made the effort and dressed up, or at least were in evening/cocktail attire, but here and there we saw people who looked as if they were dressed to go to the supermarket. Don’t they take a pride in their appearance?
The doors to the Neptune Lounge opened and everyone poured in, and we acknowledged Captain Victor as we passed by. Then we made our way towards the front, choosing seats at the aisle, so we could maximise the chance of the waiting staff stopping by with their loaded trays of prosecco, wine, gin and tonic, sherry and Bucks Fizz. Before the days of all-inclusive drinks packages we had this down to a fine art, but since we usually purchase the drinks package we decided the “thrill” of the freebies had gone. On this cruise, however, we hadn’t opted for the drinks package as there was only one sea day and we’d be ashore most of the time, so on this occasion we made the most of the gratis drinks, enjoying six glasses of fizz as well as various top-ups, accompanied by tasty canapés. 😉
Presently Captain Victor and his officers were clapped onto the stage to the familiar strains of Anchors Aweigh! and he made a little speech, introduced his senior officers, and thanked everyone for cruising with Fred Olsen. Then it was time for us to finish our drinks and make our way to the Ballindalloch Restaurant for dinner, and to meet our table mates for the first time.
We had been allocated table #99, a table for six. A couple were already seated when we joined; the other couple didn’t put in an appearance. They introduced themselves as Steve and Tracey, and seemed very pleasant. There was certainly no shortage of conversation, with plenty of anecdotes and tales of past cruises, as well as future cruises we had booked. We asked if they were quizzers and they said they were; they agreed to join us later on in the Lido Lounge for the evening trivia.
Our dinner was delicious and lived up to the standards we have come to expect on Fred Olsen cruises. I started with a smooth pâté with Melba toast followed by a crisp house salad. My main course was steak with green beans and a perfectly-cooked jacket potato. It was all washed down with water and a dry rosé wine. I passed on the dessert, and just had a cup of coffee.
Thus sated, we left the restaurant, telling Steve and Tracey we’d see them later at the quiz. We then made our way to the Neptune Lounge and headed for our ‘usual’ seats down at the front for tonight’s show. It was called “Rhythm and Ritz” and featured show company vocalist Megan and tap dancer Nathan, and stayed with the 1920s theme. They put a backdrop on of Fred Astaire dancing in Holiday Inn and Nathan matched him, step for step. He was a very good dancer; we preferred the dancing to the singing to be honest.
Afterwards, we headed up to the Lido Lounge and took our seats at a table for four. I ordered an Aperol Spritz and Trevor opted for a Somersby Cider. Shortly afterwards, Steve and Tracey joined us, and we had our quiz team. There was only one name we could call our team – “Table 99”. 🙂
We didn’t win the quiz, but neither were we last. We scored a respectable 11/15, but the winners scored 13. So no winner’s bottle of cava for us this time! 🙁
Once the quiz had finished, we stayed in the Lido Lounge to listen to the resident band called “The Mix Trio”, consisting of guitarist, drummer and female singer. We thought they were pretty good. We all talked and laughed and people-watched, enjoying more drinks.
Once Steve and Tracey said their goodnights, Trevor and I went down to the Morning Light pub for a night cap; the friendly barman was pleased to see us and even remembered our names. We just had one drink; as we had to be up at 7.15am tomorrow.
We were due to reach our first port of call, Argostoli, on the Greek island of Kefalonia, in the morning, and we had to assemble in the Neptune Lounge at 8.30am to join our excursion.
It was around 11.30pm when we settled down in 9088 after opening the curtains wide to get a first glimpse of Argostoli in the morning. Once again, we slept very well.