2026-April

Photos are at:- https://photos.app.goo.gl/PzfBNnFbKA6c2wkY8

and 

Wednesday 15th April

Up at 4.30am in order to catch the 05.30 train into Cardiff. All went smoothly, Elizabeth line to Farringdon, which was a little confusing, but train got me to Gatwick by 09.30 and I had to wait for chevck in to open. Got a window seat and after a long wait was able to doze for much of the eight and a half hour flight. Car pick up was the usual confusion of what extras do you want, went for the toll ticket and handed over $250. Then there was the problem of the car - couldn't hear the engine, couldn't adjust the drivers seat and had no idea how the lights worked. However I had managed to purchase a phone pack and the phone connected to the car via Android Auto so I was guided to The Villages and treated to a burger by Alan.

Thursday 16th
A day relaxing and doing absolutely nothing. We were joined by a couple of Gekos and a black snake. Pizza for dinner, extremely pleasant.

Friday 17th

Taken model yacht sailing by Alan. Was quite fun, although I suspect I am far too competitive to enjoy. Seems as technical as real sailing when it comes to rig set up. Supermarket visit and back for lunch. Short walk around lakes, so that it would show on Komoot followed by Chicken & Chips.

Saturday 18th

Up at 7am and taking my leave, after most excellent coffee, at 8am. Called in at McD. Had to update app, etc before I got a free sausage and egg muffin and a coffee. Should keep the account active. Got to fuel up only to find out that the filler cap was for electricity. Petrol was on other side and would not open, until I finally found a button hidden under the dashboard. Then the hose would not reach (by about 2inches) success on third attempt(and pump)! Then the rental return did not ask for the receipt. Shuttle and on to boat by midday. It doesn't leave till 10pm. Downloading offline maps as data allowance seems good.

Sunday 19th - Miami

Up early and out for breakfast. Then outside for photos of the dawn, and maybe the rocket going off but that was not to be. Instead I got covered in soot from the smokestack. After entering Miami and another breakfast it was back to the room and an attempt to remove the soot from the shirt. Didn't bother to leave the ship as I figured that there was no way I could walk out of the terminal and get anywhere. Attended a couple of quizzes (the prize was a certificate) Had a nice siesta and ate a lot. Ship  did  a 360 at the end of the cut, very impressive! Attended the comedy show - there is another show costing $18 - I will not be going.

Monday 20th - At Sea

Struggled out of bed after 7am and found that the sun was already up. Cold breakfast (Musli and Fruit) and upstairs to the lounge for a bit of reading, followed by hot breakfast. Had to go back to the room and get headphones so that I could sit and watch the sea go by. Captain said it was blowing 10kts. I don't believe him - it was no more than 4kts although it did get up later in the day. More food and back to the cabin for sieasta but turned into watching all sorts of disasters on the Nat Geographical Channel. Dinner at 6pm and now hiding from the "Elegant" evening. Maybe get the sunrise?

Tuesday 21st - At Sea
Well, no sunrise. For some reason despite having the alarm set the phone decided to re-start and it failed to go off. Muslii was not available and some girl was kind enough to get some from the not yet open counter - except it was a massive amount. Pause and then beans on toast with scrambled egg etc. 10.30 chat on destination, Siesta/TV 15.30 Quiz 19.30 Magic Show. Coffee and Brownies and I am now waiting for a comedy show at 2300. (A late night)

Wednesday 22nd - Philipsburg

Missed the sunrise again despite the alarm going off at 05.45. Same problem with musli and then back for shower and a short kip. Second breakfast at 08.30 and now wondering if it is too hot to go out, and whether the phone will cost me a fortune or are we in the EEC. Neither as it happened, when it did connect to a network it was "emergency calls only" and I failed to find a wifi network that was not password protected. However, there were text messages welcoming me to the system, but I didn't find them until I got back. Badly prepared in that I forgot the charging cable and local cash, but I did have my water and needed it to get over the pass.
    The coastal walk of was 9km and I saw plenty of wildlife - the tiny turtle was too quick for the camera and it was pretty hot. About 2hrs 15mins and I needed a shower and a change of clothes. I guess I won't be going back into town this afternoon, it was just too hot, luxuriated in the air conditioning. Had to go to the Theatre for 6.30pm. We were due to depart at 6pm but it didn't happen. The show was co-ordinated jumping so I came out for the sunset and departure. Clocks go forward an hour this evening.

Thursday 23rd - At Sea
There was no sunrise, despite me being up in time. Breakfast, snooze, breakfast, relax and down to deck 6 for the "Members Party". Not much of a party, but I did get two glasses of fizzy wine, which with the price of drinks must have been a win. Showers were building, perhaps I should have stayed up in the lounge relaxing, instead of watching TV. More food, some time in lounge, some more TV and then the Witney Houston tribute act. The original is so much better. Sunset photos and the NFL Draft starts - not sure I will follow it. I didn't.

Friday 24th - At Sea
Managed to get up in time for the non-dawn by not exercising or showering. However. I did see the plume of smoke swirling around the ship - not nice. Breakfast and back to bed until 09.30 and directly down to the talk on pirates. No second breakfast - I tried to make up for it by having sweetcorn at lunchtime. Started listening to "Call of the Wild" I'm going to finish my second book soon James Patterson's Cross Fire. Evening theatre show was something different, and fascinating. A woman with a lightboard making drawings using sand. Many photos taken, Clocks go forward again tonight.

Saturday 25th - At Sea
Despite the clocks I was up in time for the sunrise, helped by it being a little later at 06.35. Got greedy at breakfast and had it all at once including a sticky pudding. Sky lounge was closed for a private function (annoying) but from downstairs the swell became more obvious, not that we have the wind they say we have, in fact it is pretty calm. Stayed away from cabin as it was due to be cleaned. Saw the presentation on Dragons and finished the audio "Call of the Wild". TV is still not available, presumably we are out of satellite range - pretty unusual, I think. Buffet lunch was interesting, the server would not put the barbequed beef on the same plate as the pasta - annoying! Finished the Patterson Book. Ignored the dress code and went to the Tina Turner Tribute act but failed to enjoy it, Lots of dancing but you couldn't hear the words clearly and the emotion was lacking. Sunset was not good and the smoke was coming down to mar the view again. Clocks go forward again tonight!

Sunday 26th - At Sea
Sunrise is getting later, just after 7am this morning and despite the losing an hours sleep I was up to watch it. Breakfast (including extre sticky buns) and a pretty inconsequential lecture on Mermaids. Got a really weak excuse for the lack of TV - ranging from we are out of satellite range to we are working on the problem. Somehow the phone keeps giving me alerts for new facebook or whatsApp messages - along with incessant reminders from MSC. Something is getting through as they keep giving the identity of the message, not that they will let you see the message. Failed to find the unattended Trivia Quiz which should have happened. Another theatre show which as a solo singer with no dancing was OK. Sat next to an ex-welshman, now an American. Caught the sunset. Clocks go forward yet again tonight!

Monday 27th - At Sea
Sunrise was late this morning, not that I could check because the ship information is now offline - all we get is a screen asking for a password. It meant I had time for first breakfast beTore watching the glow in the sky. I then returned for second breakfast and my new favourite of sticky pudding, this one was still warm - nice! Back to catch up on sleep before a lecture on The Octopus. Not that interesting, although the thought that they can walk on two legs seems a bit strange camouflage was interesting. Spent some time in the dark listening to Yes and discovered that the headphones flash a light when in use. Went to a talk given by an astronomer, apparently the same guy who talks about the sextant. This was about sundials in Italian Churches - pinholes in walls and lines on floor. Seems to have been quite the fashon in 1500's. Enthused again to try and get a similar gig. Waiting for the 6.30pm Magic show. The cruise information is back on line but not the TV Channels - late sunset 20.30 and late sunrise 07.19. Magic show - I got bored. More food while waiting for the sunset. 
     And yet again the clocks go forward!

Tuesday 28th - At Sea
So a bit of a lie in before going out having set the make up the cabin sign. Breakfast, forgetting to get a photo of the first course. Another Private Function in the sky lounge so back to deck 6 to wait for the lecture on Funchal - the usual stuff, no mention of Levadas. Captain's - well ships officers chat in the rear theatre - that was impressive, the theatre that is. The chat had the usual bullshit - particularly regarding the lack of TV. Lunch of three cookies and coffee and back for siesta and now to play on the phone arranging albums (Hopefully). Did the show another one by the female singer – not good, but it passed the time. Up for supper and got greedy with pork, chicken and salmon, but the parsnips were cold and hard and the sprouts were tough. Sunset was nice – but not at the horizon.

Wednesday 29th - Funchal, Madeira
Up in time to see us come in and dock. Same berth as with mother on the P&O Ccruise, so memories. Wondering if I will hike, or what I will choose to do once ashore. Not that getting ashore was easy - wrong exits signposted on the monitors, and everyone trying to get off thru 2 gangplanks. Left it 20 mins and then had to queue for 20mins to get off around 10.20 Stupid! Guess what? I headed for McDonalds - only to discover that the town provides free wi-fi and internet connection. Could not get the phone to bulk upload photos - each one had to be done individually and then there was deleting all the emails that had appeared. That meant it was 12 o'clock when I started hiking.
    The idea was to get up to the levada and come across to the cablecar and ride down. Going up 600 metres is hard work and when I got to it the levada was flowing the wrong way, so I was still going up just more gently. Missed the turn which would have taken me to the cablecar. Must stop doing Levada's as I really don't like the drop off the side in places. The map appeared to show the path going up the hill to the Monte Gardens - but it actually dissapeared into a tunnel - which must have been over a mile long-  and went under the gardens. Time began pressing and I had to get back to the ship so walked out. Found a bus route which Google said would get me back to Funchal. The bus going up was on time - and just a little late coming back. Luckily, I had purchased a fridge magne, in order to get change so I had the fare of 2.05Euro. Got off early and hiked along the waterfront getting back at 16.25 for an all aboard at 16.30. A little too close for my liking. Washing done and looks like we might be casting off soon. But we didn't at least according to the Grandioso Cam - but it had frozen and when I went on deck we were well on our way. Thought I took three photos of the islands but they failed to come out, add that to the timestamp being incorrect on most of todays photos and it has not been good, At least the ventriooquist act was pretty good.

Thursday 30th - At Sea
Not much sleep but up at 06.30 for sunrise which was difficult, as we are sailing straight at it. We passed a ketch and had a glance at a marine mammal before returning to cabin. 10am talk wandered off the subject, 11am briefing on disembarcation was depressing - the letter at the cabin door even more so thanks to the new entryu system they anticipate 2hr waits - and there is no walk off. At least there was Lasagnia on the lunch menu and lots of beans. Went up and read book - sea remains flat calm, so there is nothing to look at - but TV in cabin is also crap now - Euronews - not even Sky! Lazed in cabin until going for a snack and consuming cookies taken at lunchtime. We are passing through the Straits of Gibrlatar but there is nothing to see, and suddenly it is 10pm Yet again the clocks go forward by an hour!

Friday May 1st - At Sea
Suddenly, there are lots of ships around, quite a contrast after the other days at sea. The sea remains glassy calm and by about 11am it is even misty. Last Patrick Lecture on Barcelona was interesting. Followed by the non appearance of the quiz at the pool and then a Tribute to Heroes in the theatre. Only Americans have heroes it would seem, very jingoistic - National anthem, stand and be recognised etc, I wonder if this is memorial day, or why they waited until now to do this ceremony? Still incredably tired and passed out in cabin until 3.15 when I went to the Fiddler show in the theatre at the back of the ship. Small snack and may pass out again before the 6.30 Abba Show.

Saturday May 2nd - Barcelona
Time to leave the boat. Usual breakfast and I might not eat again for a week, well, maybe two days. Usual hurry up and wait - fingerprints got taken but no photo, passport was not stamped. Paid 3 Euro for a bus which took us off the dock and then Metro to Barcelona Saint Station to find out if google was correct and I will not be able to get to my hotel before Monday Morning. That story will continue at:-

https://holibarry.blogspot.com/2026/05/2026-may-1-spain.html