Force 7/8 today, too windy to be able to use the Promenade deck, so no mile walk today, I did my washing instead. Not too bad in the Individual Quiz, but didn't win. We're now being trounced in the Battle of the Sexes. One round was all about celebrities and we lost that!

The ship is now fully staffed, as the Indian crew that should have joined in Southampton finally boarded yesterday. This meant that Cafe Bordeaux finally opened, so we had lunch there. I had the smallest Croque Monsieur I've ever eaten.

The sky cleared slowly during the day, but the wind was still too rough to use the decks. It was supposed to be the Captain's welcome aboard tonight, but this was cancelled because of the conditions. Formal night still went ahead, and we all went upstairs to the Crow's Nest for our photographs. Lobster for dinner, then a show by Emily Reed, a singer who Is the fiancée of Martin John, yesterday's magician.

Came second or third in the Masquerade Challenge and lost the Syndicate Quiz in the tie break, much to the disgust of Veronica and Rosemary, as the team that won included a lady from their table.