SUNRISE: 09:35 SUNSET: 16:52
Got up this morning at eight o’clock as usual, feeling really sad that it was the last day of our amazing cruise. Despite the fact that we were heading south all the time, the sunrise time was still a lot later than it was at home at this time of year.
We enjoyed a good breakfast in the Thistle Restaurant before venturing out of deck to see what the weather was like. It was cloudy with a lot of moisture in the air, and fairly chilly at 6°C. The snow we had had on deck yesterday was gone; either melted or cleared away by the crew.
After breakfast, we had a look at the Daily Times to see what was on today. There were the usual shipboard games, so we decided to play all of them to see if we could get any more 50p prize vouchers, as they all had to be redeemed in the shop today; unlike in the past, you couldn’t carry them over to another cruise. So far, we had amassed a huge £3.50. 🙂
Before any games, however, there was an interesting talk in the Neptune Lounge called “The Science of Aurora”, explaining how and why the aurora borealis and the aurora australis are formed, and what effects they can have in the earth’s atmosphere on things such as telephone signals and other wireless communications. It was a fascinating talk; I love all these phenomena created by Mother Nature. The Northern Lights, the Polar Night, the Midnight Sun and solar and lunar eclipses – amazing.
After the talk finished at 10.30am, we stayed in our seats in the Neptune, because at 11.00am cruise director Simon was hosting “An Audience With The Captain” in which Captain Steffan would talk to us about his seafaring career, as well as answering questions from the audience. As ever, it was interesting and amusing. Like many Scandinavians, Captain Steffan has such a dry and deadpan sense of humour.
We then hot-footed it upstairs to the Lido Bar to take part in the Carpet Bowls. We only lasted a couple of rounds before we were knocked out, but we sat on our bar stools and enjoyed a couple of drinks, as it was our last day to make the most of Fred’s all-inclusive drinks package. 🙂
As we sat there and looked out of the big windows towards the stern, the heavens opened and the rain absolutely poured down the glass outside.
The end of the bowls brought us nicely up to lunchtime, and when we arrived in the Avon Restaurant, we were delighted to see that they were holding a seafood buffet. There was fresh lobster, clams, mussels and king prawns, and my mouth watered in anticipation. I piled my plate high and returned to our table; whereupon a waiter arrived and we each enjoyed a crisp, cold cava to go with it. Yum yum. 🙂
After lunch, we reluctantly decided we had better make a start with our packing. We returned to 5007 and dragged one of the cases out from under the bed, packing anything we wouldn’t wear or need again this cruise into it. Once we’d filled one case, we placed it back under the bed; the other case could wait until later. There was no hurry to place all my shoes into their case today, because I was carrying it off the ship myself in the morning.
We then returned to the Lido in time for a game of Baggo, which was good fun as usual. It really does get quite competitive, and as the game progressed you could see that people had improved their technique throughout the cruise, because some were getting their bags into the hole every time.
The baggo was followed by indoor kurling, which was a lot better than yesterday because the sea was fairly calm today so the stones weren’t moving around all over the place. Trevor and I made it to the final, but then lost out by a whisker. So no prize voucher for us – we’d have to make do with our £3.50.
The kurling finished in time for us to take part in the afternoon trivia, which we didn’t win once again. Usually we win at least one quiz per cruise, but we’d been unlucky this time. Probably because we didn’t have a full team of six.
We saw that the prize bingo was on again, so Trevor returned to 5007 to get the dabbers while I queued up to get the tickets, hoping we would win some more money. However, we played six games as usual, but we weren’t even near winning. It passed a pleasant interlude though.
We then decided to go to the shop and spend our £3.50. The shop was called “Sea Cove” and it was full of Fred Olsen Cruise Line logoed merchandise. There was nothing in the shop that only cost £3.50, as they didn’t sell small things like pens, keyrings or coasters. In the end, Trevor put the vouchers towards a “Balmoral” Christmas tree bauble, that we can put on our tree next Christmas to remind us of our wonderful cruise. 🙂
We now had exactly one hour to get washed and changed and ready for dinner; the “last supper” on table #51 as it were. While we were back in our cabin, we chucked a few more things in the suitcase, leaving out the clothes we would be travelling home in. The cases didn’t need to be placed outside the cabin until 2.00am, so there was no hurry. Some cruise lines ask you to have your luggage outside by 10.00pm!
In the restaurant, we all enjoyed an excellent meal, washed down with chilled rosé wine and finished off, as usual, with coffee and liqueurs. We then gave our contact cards to Alex and Diane, Tom and Chris which contains this web site address; I said they might like to read this blog and look at the photos we’d taken.
Then it was along to the Neptune Lounge for tonight’s variety show, which featured the Balmoral Show Company doing their tribute to the Beatles, as well as an extra slot for Ed Clarke, the magician, who’d been cancelled the other night because of the rough weather. We really enjoyed both of the shows.
Afterwards, we headed up to the Lido Lounge again for our final attempt at the quiz. There were not as many people up there as usual; perhaps they were doing their packing or just wanted an early night. It didn’t matter that there were fewer teams though – we still didn’t win!
Then Family Affair, the resident band, took to the stage and played a series of catchy dance music but again, not many people got up. Trevor and I decided we would go down to the Morning Light pub and have a few drinks in there, before returning to 5007 to finish packing and put our cases out. On the way, I spotted Hubert and I went over and said what a pleasure it had been seeing him again; we would be back on Balmoral in October so perhaps our paths would cross again. 🙂
We then sat in the Morning Light; I chose to sit in one of their big Chesterfield settees so I could put my feet up, and I enjoyed a couple of Aperol Spritzes. We were reluctant to return to 5007, because it would effectively be the end of our fabulous cruise. 🙁
Eventually, however, we made our way back, and put the last few things in the cases which Trevor then placed in the corridor outside. It has to be one of the most depressing sights you will ever seen on a cruise ship. 🙁
We then settled down in our comfortable beds for our final night on board, and slept very well. When the alarm went off at 6.45 the next morning, we were back in Southampton, right back where we’d started.
Another absolutely amazing and wonderful cruise had come to an end, but now we could start counting down the days until our next one. 🙂