Today we leave Valparaiso on to our next adventure to the south of Chile and the top end of Antartica. We got up latish had breakfast and packed. Had a last stroll around Conception and then sat in the lounge chatting and waiting for our taxi to turn up.
We have really enjoyed Valaparaiso, but I am looking forward to a quiet nights sleep, as the distant drums were at it again last night. Fortunately they only went on until two in the morning, and I was tired.
Our lovely taxi driver whisked us down to the port in 10 minutes, our luggage disappeared and we entered the bowls of the ship.
I know now why our deck is called Dolphin Deck, that’s because it is underwater! We are on the lowest desk with the waterline just outside. But, I have t to say it is the most stable part of the ship with the least motion, so hey. Anyway as we were driving up to ship I could see that it is much smaller the other ones I have been on, just over 1000 passengers.
We have a window cabin, hence the water line, but a lovely bright cabin, the biggest we have been in. Plenty of space, a double bed, a bath in the bathroom and a big sofa. Plenty of room and hanging space. We went through the ‘what happens in an emergency drill’. We were late and got haranged by a couple from Oklahoma, who we met later in the bar and got our own back.
The one thing that struck me immediately, that although the ship seems full, there is plenty of room and space, without feeling hemmed in. Much more than say P&0.
We toured around the ship, found loads of areas, things to do, met a couple from Leeds who had lived on East Coast US for forty years, had a sangria whilst we sailed out of Valparaiso and started on our next adventure.
There is a lot of information on what to do,but certain things no so. We had booked on a set table for dinner but they just took us in and put us on the next table. We found out later that we should have been upstairs. But our table was a couple from Chile, Switzerland and Holland. Multi National or what !
We had a great dinner, watched twenty minutes of a show, had a drink in the Crowsnest, and went to bed earlyish. No drumming, wonderful. What a nice start.
Day 2 31st Jan
We stayed in bed late and had a leisurely breakfast. We are at sea today, so what’s happening on board today.
We went along to a Bridge talk with the idea that I would take some lessons, and we both might play. The teacher said, yes come along we can accomodate a beginner. Well within five minutes I was sitting their with a complete glazed expression. He was talking at least six lessons into training and gobbledegook. So we knocked that on the head.
They have a culinarary centre, where they give demonstrations. So next was Italian chef Sebastian cooking pasta and lemon brulee tart... yum, and very funny, he is a real showman.
After that, yes we went to a talk on diet and fitness....what on the first day of a cruise, a bit daft, but the guy was really good, had some interesting point and we came away with some ideas for when we get back.
Of course then we went to lunch.
I am quite amazed at the range of things, talks, courses and demos available on this ship, my regard for Holland America line is going up.
We then went to the cinema to see The Maze Runner. It was okay, and obviously a rip off of the Hunger Games.
So back to the room, a rest, a bit of telly, glass of wine, and tonight we found the table we were meant to be on. Mostly Brits, quite mad the lot of them. A young third officer sat with us for dinner and by the end he looked like a startled rabbit, poor lad didn’t know what had hit him.
We decided to do something that we don’t normally do on cruises, that is go to the show. Have to say the standard is miles about P & O/Celebrity. It was fabulous, the singers and dancers were amazing. So will be going again.
I won't describe any more sea days in detail as ever much the same. The food was good, the company fun, the entertainment excellent. I will only talk about about the wonderful places we went.
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