My last day on the ship

This evening has been rather sad, as again I have had to say goodbye to some delightful table companions, not to mention our very special waiter.

Our waiter hails from Indonesia and has bent over backwards recommending what we should choose to eat each night, and ensuring we are happy with our food. His enthusiasm, his not-always-quite-correct use of English and his own unique sense of humour have produced many laughs, but we are laughing with him, not against him. He goes into fits of giggles when he realises what he has said. Last night I chose duck (on the menu written as ‘duck confit’). This was served as one leg of duck. He told me with a straight face that I could only have one leg because if the duck had two legs it would run off the plate! Giggle Giggle . . .  Just tonight he and all the other waiters had a parade and sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ to us, but he proudly told us he was off to sing ‘Old Land Shine’. 

Overall, what a day it has been today. Our ‘loyalty ambassador’ invited me to see the Bridge this morning. (I am now a ‘Diamond’ passenger!) There were several of us in the group. First we went through an extra security check. A woman security officer waved her ‘wand’ over each of the females in turn, and checked inside our handbags, while a male officer did likewise for the men. We then signed a document testifying to our participation and, finally, off we went to the Bridge. 

Surprisingly we are allowed to take photos in there. It was great experience. I was particularly interested to see the incredible instrumentation they use to berth the ship so close to the dock, and to see the helipad at the very front of the ship. When I was on the trip to the Baltic Sea, a helicopter was used to lift one of the crew members to hospital. I knew it was happening because my cabin really shook whilst the helicopter was on board. It was comforting to know how absolutely everything is monitored all the time, and interesting to know that the entire operation is paperless. But they have lots of back-up systems should there be a power failure or whatever. 

Meanwhile, being the last day of the cruise, a massive Black Forest cake had been baked to thank everyone for coming on the cruise, and was on display in the smorgasbord area at lunchtime. Lots of people photographed it. I stayed around to watch it being cut and even had a piece this time round. 

After more blogging, I then went on a tour of the backstage of the theatre, again at the loyalty ambassador’s invitation. This was interesting too. The tricks they use for very quick costume changes were amazing. We learned that the theatre actually occupies five decks, and the sets that come down at different times in the show weigh so many tonnes that the ship would have to be placed in dry dock to change them. This is one reason the ship always runs the same shows during each cruise for years.  

Overall, I have had some great shore excursions and great times on the three 14-day cruises I have completed on this ship in the last eight weeks. But it is time to go, and I am really looking forward to seeing more of England and going to places I have only dreamed about so far.  

My room attendant kept making me towel animals. The last one was a bat, which she hung from the light. But it met with a sad fate. I accidentally brushed past it and down it went - just a bath mat and a face washer . . .

We farewelled the chefs last night after they paraded through the three levels of the dining room.

The view from the bridge.

The helipad.

Part of the instrumentation at each end of the bridge that drives and controls very powerful motors to manoeuvre the ship next to a dock. 

The view from that end of the bridge looking back at the ship.

I just noticed this sign on the bridge and thought it was a hoot! 

The ship is steered from here but at the time of our visit it was on autopilot. 

The farewell cake.

This will give you an idea of the size of the cake, which the chef had just started to cut. 

Our farewell to our waiters.