The first day of the second half of the cruise. We passed back over the equator at around 14.00, so we're back into the northern hemisphere again. The weather has been quite muggy and fairly sunny today, the temperature hit 34 degrees. The six of us on my dinner table decided to celebrate the beginning of the second half with dinner in Cafe Bordeaux. Despite it being formal night, we could eat in casual clothes, so we did! It was alright, but not as...

We had arrived in the caldera by the time I woke up. The weather was 24 degrees at 8.00. There was a view of the volcano from my cabin window. After breakfast Barbara, Linda, Rob, Yvonne, Phil and I strolled off the ship and into the small town. We negotiated with a taxi driver and for Aus$ 60 we had a short tour. We drove past the courthouse, up a hill past some Japanese tunnels dug during the Second World War, to a lookout. There was a stunning view of...

Very warm, humid and wet. We had showers on and off all morning. It dried up enough for me to lose in the deck quoits semi. Nicky, one of the girls on the P&O forum, scattered her husband's ashes. Some of us were invited. We went down to deck four and stood in a semi circle, while the Captain performed a short service. An officer then scattered the ashes in the sea, while Sid played the bagpipes. Nicky, Lin (her mum) and Michael (her 2 year old son...

Fairly average sea day today. I came first equal in the morning Individual Quiz with 19/20. I lost in a three way tie break, having changed my mind at the last minute. If I hadn't, I guess I would have lost in a two way tie break. I also lost in the final of the deck quoits, so still no gold sticker, grrrr! Oh, by the way, we lost the Syndicate Quiz tie break too, sigh. We passed through the China Strait from the Coral Sea to the Solomon Sea at around 2...