Very hot indeed today and a blue sky. The sun is really strong and there are a few Grilled Prawns walking the decks. LOL. While we were having breakfast the Captain came on and informed us we were passing the mouth of the Amazon, about 350 miles out and heading SSW. We can tell we're nearing land because today the ship has been surrounded by seabirds again: frigate birds and also some other sort of diving seabird. Bob says he thinks they are Skewers but I heard other people say they were Boobies. In any case it was interesting to watch them plummet straight down and under water and then come up with a fish. Thought to myself how cheering that sight must have been to the Spanish and Portugese explorers setting out for the New World, knowing that after such a long voyage, land couldn't be far off.

More bridge rules to learn! And the news that after Rio we will move up to the Improvers class and not be beginners anymore. Yikes! Then a good few hours in the sun before our art class. Had a couple of swims but for some reason the swimming pool was a bit like a washing machine today with the motion of the ship. Odd because the sea was pretty calm and there wasn't any noticeable swell but nonetheless the pool water was shifting back and forth and back and forth…..

Art class and then a mile or so around the deck for a bit of exercise.

Talking of which, some people have asked me about food arrangements on board…. Well, you could eat from the moment you awoke till you fell asleep if you wanted to and it would all be included in the price. There are coffee and snack outlets around the decks, cabin room service, the pool grill, the self service buffet restaurant and two main silver service restaurants all of which serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. For dinner, you have the choice between choosing fixed seating at one of the two set dinner times in the Alexandria restaurant, or Freedom Dining in the Medina Restaurant. If you choose fixed seating you can also request to sit at a table for 2, 4, 6 or 8 and this will be your table throughout the voyage. With Freedom dining, you go to dinner when you like and on arrival you will be asked if you want a table alone or are willing to share. On short cruises we have done both systems and enjoyed them both. The risk with fixed dining is that you might be seated with people that you are not suited to and then it can be awkward or impossible to change. This has never happened to us - quite the opposite - we've met some fantastic friends that way. However, on a long voyage on a relatively small ship like this, the risk was, in our opinion, too great. Plus we like the flexibility with timing that Freedom dining gives, and also the opportunity to meet lots and lots of different people and chat with them over dinner but be able to "all change" the next night…. Or not….. if you really hit it off! In addition to the "free" restaurants, there are 3 speciality restaurants where you pay a small cover charge: Sindhu, the Indian one; Glasshouse which is a modern concept of some small plates as well as regular entrees and wine flights; BeachHouse which is half open air and serves steaks and American style food like ribs. As well as the three main meals of the day, you can also find Early Breakfast (sounds like the Hobbit), afternoon tea and Late Night Snacks in various places too. Dinner could be up to 6 courses plus coffee if you chose.

Needless to say, we don't eat anything like that much otherwise we'd have to walk more than a mile or so round the decks….. I like to follow a Dukan plan when cruising which is not difficult to do with so much variety on offer. Then I can have a little treat every now and then!

Saw a comedian in the showlounge before dinner and then the last performance of the Flyrights on this voyage. They were fantastic again. The crazy lady was not in evidence tonight so Bob enjoyed the show undisturbed. Tomorrow we arrive in South America - Brazil! Incredibly excited for that.