Day 6

CRUISE COMPASS

Today we are: at sea

Sunrise: 5.44 am

Sunset:  8.24 pm

Today's forecast

Sunny

82°F (27°C)

Humidity: 81%

Wind: Calm

UV index: 6 medium

Tonight's Dinner Dress Suggestion: Casual

Calm Sea and a Prosperous Voyage

The title of one of Mendelssohn's Overtures. This day was another sea day, and was just as calm, and peaceful as the last. Again we had a lie in, revelled in the silence of the Windjammer at both breakfast and lunch, and took full advantage of the activities and facilities on board. My mum and I also had a nice relaxing swim in the Solarium swimming pool. Technically, I shouldn't have been allowed in - the pool is for over 16s - but nobody was stopping me. It was certainly more relaxing than the main pool, there were no little kids around doing dive bombs and screaming. No, I could do some proper lengths in this swimming pool, without being interrupted.

It was a quiet evening. We had lunch in the Minstrel, then went to Schooner bar, where we all had cocktails, and had a go at the Rolling Stones trivia. I have to admit. I was pretty damn good. I got quite a few songs that even my mum didn't get. 

The entertainment didn't particularly enthrall me as it had on previous nights. It was pretty good, I must admit, but I am not particularly keen on latin dancing, especially not the Tango, and so, despite me being impressed by the dances and wondering how on earth they could move that fast and gracefully, I wasn't jumping in my seat throughout the performance. Although some of the male dancers were...quite something.

Day 5

CRUISE COMPASS

Today we are: at sea

Sunrise: 6.10am

Sunset: 7.41 pm

Today's forecast

Sunny

80°F (26°C)

Humidity: 82%

Wind: 4 mph

UV index: 8 medium

Tonight's Dinner Dress Suggestion: Formal

The Deep Blue Sea

Apologies for the rather unimaginative title. It was hard to come up with something interesting, when we weren't visiting anywhere. This is probably the most relaxing, most insignificant and yet strangely, the most significant day of the holiday. Many of you won't have any idea what I am talking about, but this was the day I first saw Scott.

Because it was a sea day, all 2500 passengers and all 800 of the staff and crew were on board. This did create a little problem. Although there were plenty of facilities, you did have to queue a while to use them , which is understandable, and sun beds by the pool were scarce.

We had a lovely lie in, and went down to breakfast late. It was a surprise to enter the Windjammer, to find it practically empty. Most of the other passengers had got up ridiculously early, to save sun beds. We weren't complaining, none of us are particularly keen on sunbathing, and this way, we got free roaming of the Windjammer.

My brother and I played too many games of table tennis - I won most of them - he was determined to beat me. It was playing pool that I first met Scott. I don't want to bore you with the details, so I will leave it at that.

It was our first formal night on the cruise. The dresses were stunning. I have so many amazing ideas for prom dresses now. It is common knowledge that the first formal night on the cruise is the most important, most formal night. And so many of the best dresses were worn this night. I wore, what is probably my smartest dress. I wore the dress which I wore to my birthday, which I have written about in a previous post. And (brace yourselves) I volunatrily wore make up. And I actually looked qutie pretty. Even if I do say so myself. And I didn't feel out of place with my beautifully manicured nails.

I took a particular interest in tonight's entertainment. Viviana Guzman performed with the Brilliance of the Seas orchestra. You probably haven't heard of her, in fact, I would be very impressed if you had. She is a well-known American flautist. She is an extraordinary musician, with some wonderful stories. She has lead a wonderful life, having travelled a great deal and even performed at the White House. Not only did she perform on her standard flute - although I described it as standard, it is unlike a flute you or I would be familiar with, for starters, the G was inline, whereas (particularly in England) flutes with an outline G is more common because it is more suited to the shape of the hand, hence being more comfortable and easier to play. Secondly, her flute, was pure gold - but she also brought along a variety of different flutes from different cultures and periods. She talked through each one and their origin briefly, before playing a traditional piece that would have been played on the flute. I really learnt a lot as well enjoyed her performance. She has certainly inspired and encouraged me to practice more at the flute.