Wednesday 17th February Three days at sea before our next port of call at another of one of the Cape Verde islands. A letter was delivered to our cabin today regarding the excursion in Salvador a few day ago. It seemed that quite a few people had complained about missing out the Fortress and the 'unsatisfactory' lunch. The letter, from the Deputy Shore Excursion Manager, informed us that we would be given a 25% partial refund off the excursion price. That was n...

Tuesday 16th February An announcement this morning said the emergency medical disembarkation happened at 23.20, but the port's bureaucratic procedures caused delay and we didn't get underway until 01.30. Our new arrival time in Natal would be 11.15 (it was previously scheduled for 08.00), and the tours would be able to go ahead with revised timings. We were booked on the 'Highlights of Natal'. Natal means 'Christmas' in Portuguese, as the city was founded on 25t...

Monday 15th February At Sea. I joined one of the craft classes today and made a bracelet of tiny seed beads and floss thread. I use seed beads in some of my work, especially earrings, but have not used thread before. It was an easy 'stitch' to learn and resulted in a very pretty zig zag chain of colour (I chose sky blue beads). There are three craft tutors all doing different classes and one art tutor doing drawing/watercolours. I wonder how they get paid, or...

Saturday 13th February Day 40 (two weeks to go). At sea. The second part of Peter & Ann Hunt's talk on their Millennium Around the World Rally, this part from from Beijing to London via Canada and USA. The second part was even more entertaining than yesterday. They came 13th of the 28 cars that finished, 40 cars had started. Enclosed with today's programme was a flyer for a 120 day Round the World Cruise commencing 5th Jan 2017, on another Cruise & Mar...

Thursday 11th February Arrival in Santos was during a very overcast, cloudy morning, but again hot and humid. The approach was past hilly islands and lots of container ships. No excursion booked today so we were on our own. The recommendation on the programme and over the PA when we are in Brazil is to take water, insect repellent, sunscreen and a light rain mac with you when you go ashore. Plus, to leave any unnecessary valuables on the ship and make sure your ...