Aussies and Kiwis are definitely amongst the lesser minorities on board. The 2,500+ passenger demographic is overwhelmingly European – which is not surprising given we are in Europe. Actually I should say the demographic is overwhelmingly old and European. I feel like a relative youngster. So that’s saying something. There are a few Gen Y’s and Gen X’s around, but it’s mostly retired baby boomers … spending their kids’ inheritances one hopes. We are surrounded predominantly by loud, mostly rather unattractive Russians and Germans – followed probably by Dutch, French and then I would say a spread of others from various Baltic states. There are a small number of Brits who cower in the corner with us Aussies and Kiwis – and then for good measure there are a few South East Asians and assorted others on the passenger manifest. But as I said it’s very much a Russian-Germanic duopoly. I wish I could say there was a preponderance of slender, fine looking Europeans amongst us – but the on-board dancers and entertainers aside - there’s not. Terry reckons most of the Russian women look like they’re from peasant stock, and would be right at home with scarves around their heads, and ploughs in their hands! I do know they and their Germanic/ Baltic sisters know no shame when it comes to getting their gear off on the pool deck. Whoa! Where to look, to avoid sensory overload. Such a surplus of flesh – blubbery pale flesh mostly, crammed into very inadequate swimsuits. The menfolk are more modest I reckon. Their greatest crime to my mind is wearing white socks and sandals at every turn – although we did see one dude wearing braces with his bathers which is a different look … never seen that before. The fashion police would have conniptions over some of the sisterhoods’ get ups and ‘looks’. Imagine a cross-dressing lumberjack with make-up applied in the dark and you’ll kind of get the picture. Noice! Anyway enough of bagging our fellow on board citizens. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? We landed on our feet with the people who share our dinner table. Eight of us in all. A couple from Perth, a couple from Sydney, another from Pretoria, South Africa and us. All English speakers which is good relief after listening to the guttural and less than dulcet tones of the Germans, Russians and others all day long. We have a good laugh at dinner – and send up each other and others on board. The couple in the cabin next door are from Darwin and we get on well with them too. We’ve been onshore together for drinks and dinner which was great. We’re pretty easy going on board. You have to be. Shipboard life is a like a laboratory petrie dish – you’re never too sure what kind of culture is going to be spawned. So it’s best to go with the flow and not be too precious about things.