Not as warm today, but pleasant enough to sit out. Barbara and I did our mile together today. I seem to have become the de facto captain of the men's team in BoS. We won again today, including both bonus questions. Knocked out in first round of deck quoits though. Then I lost the tie break in the Individual Quiz. Second formal night and just after my shower, Marcelo knocked on my door with 'my gift'. Last time it was a pair of propeller cuff links. Th...

First port day of the cruise, Funchal in Madeira. Aida Blu, Thomson Majesty and CMV Marco Polo were also docked. Barbara, Rob, Linda and I had booked a tour with a local company. We first visited a local market, then we went to Camara de Lobos, a fishing village, with a small harbour. There we saw cod drying on a boat and visited the local church. Very small, very ornate inside and the Nativity crib was still there. After that, we drove to the second hi...

Much calmer and much warmer today. Wore shorts for the first time. Saw a school of dolphins off the starboard side during my mile walk. Sat and read in the morning and ended up captaining the men in BoS again. Not sure how that happened! After losing in the first round of the deck quoits, Barbara and I went down to afternoon tea in the Medina Restaurant. I then managed to win my first gold sticker in the Individual Quiz. We then won another bottle of...

Forgot to mention yesterday, that we won our first bottle of wine. We were in a tie break with a couple who later won the Syndicate Quiz. Weather much calmer today. The promenade deck was finally open, so I did my first mile of the cruise. Saw Sue Holderness (Marlene in Only Fools and Horses) in the theatre in the morning. After lunch, took part in my first deck quoits competition of the cruise. Lost in the first round, for which I was grateful, as it wa...

Fairly rough night last night, which I felt, as my cabin overlooks the bow of the ship. Didn't sleep too well for a combination of reasons, the duvet seems too small, I was quite hot despite the air con being turned down to the lowest setting and the strange bangs and noises the ship made. I discovered as I was unpacking that I'd managed to leave my laundry basket at home, so that's going to be visits to the laundry with Tesco bags! The temperature was a...