13th April CADIZ, SPAIN This morning we docked in Cadiz to the sun shining, beautiful blue skies and the usual excitement of getting to a port of call. We had booked the Hop on-off bus with Clare and Peter so set off after breakfast and caught the first one at 10am. Sat out on the open top deck in the sunshine but Oh my god!, once we got going with a breeze and in the shade I was flaming freezing!!!! I managed to stay there for about 25 minutes then gave up a...

30th April Well, we’ve now been home 2 weeks and have packed away all our holiday things but have memories that will last forever. The 2 days cruising back to Southampton after having an amazing sail away party from Cadiz were calm and cool. It was the best sailaway we’ve ever had and on the last night on board we had an amazing show in the theatre where so many of the crew from all over the ship joined in. It was quite moving with everyone singing and dan...

Thursday 10th January FUNCHAL, MADEIRA After our two delays totalling about 18 hours on our journey here we ended up just 1 1/2 hours late docking in Madeira after going like the clappers all night! The morning weather was beautiful as we sailed in to join the Fred Olsen ship Balmoral which was already in. With clear blue skies and temperatures about 16 degrees we set off after breakfast for a nice walk right along the front to the old town, then climbed up ...

Today we woke up to the sun streaming through the windows and lovely blue skies. Yesterday was a grey overcast day again but it certainly wasn’t cold. Whilst doing my walking round the prom deck in the morning I had to take my jacket off as it was so warm. I also had my first sighting of dolphins which was beautiful. Went to the first lecture of Mark Labetts ( The Beast off The Chase) but he keeps himself well hidden as no one see him round the ship much. A no...

Slept quite well but as soon as I woke at 7am I could feel a slight moving of the ship. Looked out to see that we were just moving out and had left about 20 minutes earlier at long last! The ship has recently been refurbished and is now a mellow beige, cream and blue decor and looks very nice. Had a Facebook meeting at 11am in the Crows Nest so went to that and met the people I had been conversing with on the run up to the cruise. After, it was Battle of the Sex...