DamianG

Thanks for a great cruise blog @SarahHben Wonderful photos as always from you!

I hope that you have a great cruise and that our negatives haven't put you off in any way.

Thanks Jane, here he is, turns 2 tomorrow. We can’t believe how much his fur has grown in 2 weeks.

19th August A decent night’s sleep and though I was awake early we didn’t actually get up until after 9am. We went to the Quays which was pretty busy. I got in the queue for cooked breakfast and a slim chap in front of me built the most impressive plateful with fried eggs, scrambled eggs, sausages, several rashers of bacon, beans, mushrooms, 4 hash browns and some fried bread. The Quays plates are weirdly shaped, sort of wonky as if they’ve curled up like a frisbee left out in the hot sun. With this is mind his breakfast plate arrangement was a masterpiece. After breakfast we got our usual tea and latte except that this time we made our order at Ripples. That doesn’t open until 10:30am so clearly we were having a leisurely morning. This also had the added bonus that our cabin had actually been refreshed by the time we got back after breakfast, only the 2nd time this has happened all cruise. My sister called late morning to arrange some more hot tub time with Kyle. He’s really enjoyed her company on this cruise and it’s made such a positive difference. We walked round the promenade deck on the shady port side but all the tubs were occupied so we ended up on the roasting hot starboard side. Mum and sister arrived then not long after Michelle’s mum and dad turned up unexpectedly but fortunately we were able to stake a claim for 5 seats. It was roasting hot but none of the 3 seniors had a hat between them so Michelle and I trekked up to deck 10 to her parents cabin then down to deck 4 to mum and sisters. In particular we noted the sound of the waves in the latter cabin low down close to the sea. With hindsight we could have taken videos of all 3 of our very different cabins then created some kind of comparison YouTube production but I doubt that any advertiser would be interested in our amateur efforts anytime soon. So much for our hat provisions as Michelle’s parents lasted about 20 minutes before bailing out then not long after mum and I moved to the shady port side (which seemed cold by comparison though it wasn’t really). We sat outside the Quays so I was able to easily go get mum a cup of tea which she appreciated. Our hot tubbers lasted around 30 minutes more then came to find us. Kyle was shivering on the cold side so we got him dried off and changed on the promenade deck. Michelle preferred to return to the cabin to do the same (she didn’t fancy trying to change in public with me holding a towel around her, can’t think why) while Kyle and I went straight into the Quays for lunch. The Fusion section were offering a Prawn and Coconut Thai Green Curry so I got Kyle a portion of that and a back up of the Katsu Chicken Curry. I had every intention of eating one or the other but whilst I was queueing up the fish and chips were calling out to me so when Michelle returned we ended up with 2 curries and 2 portions of fish and chips on the table as Kyle said that he wanted to try that as well. We certainly had a weird fusion lunch of our own with everyone trying a bit of everything. I’m not sure about the flavour combinations but what I can definitely tell you is that Coeur de Mont Sauvignon Blanc (available from Sindhu, my 2nd favourite bar on board) goes with everything. Michelle went to get some desserts (Lemon Drizzle Cake and a pot of trifle) but I was stuffed already. Kyle went off with his grandma (my mum) to be absolutely spoiled in the onboard shop with the last of her onboard credit and then some. Michelle and I waited in the Quays and I got another round in (how else were we going to pass the time?). After enjoying our drinks we went back to the cabin and as I had 1 wash tablet left I decided to do a final trip to the launderette. In particular my formal night shirt needed a wash (does anyone else overheat in a suit or tuxedo on formal night or is that just me? Then again, this ship is by far the hottest I’ve ever been on. Maybe they have turned down the air con to save a few pennies as has been suggested on other reviews. There I go again, more tangents than a circle this thread). I went to the launderette on our deck 10 but yet again every machine was in use. Bear with me here but I like how the older P&O ships have a name for each deck as well as a number. My favourite is Devanha deck mainly because of how the posh lady announcing the floors in the lifts calls it out (though it would be even better if she said “Devanha Deck, Darling”). Anyway I’ve decided that deck 10 on Arvia should be the Widow Twankey deck as a tribute to the keen washers occupying the cabins on that floor on this cruise (and yes, I include myself before you point the finger). Same as a few days previously I tried my luck on deck 11 and that particular launderette was an oasis of free machines (5 out of 6). For anyone still interested I chose machine A, not least because it was the furthest away from the swinging door entrance where unsurprisingly passengers don’t know the difference between push and pull, so you are always potentially in the firing line if using machine F. Or maybe they can’t read, or even maybe they can’t be bothered (so tempted to use a stronger word there). Yeah, yeah, I really need to get out more. I blame cabin fever. Incidentally, I absent mindedly turned right out of the launderette and walked all the way down the corridor on deck 11 aft. Luckily my brain kicked in just before I tried to unlock the cabin door for 11742. Once I’d found the right cabin I dropped off the laundry bag then went back down the Keel and Cow for a last round of Gavi di Gavi. I returned our empty plastic glasses as always and the barman thanked me then asked “2 Gavi?” I replied “Yes please, but I’d better join the queue” which made him laugh and stopped everyone else stood there from looking daggers at me. It’s poor for us that they only serve that particular wine in one venue (as far as I am aware) but I’ve had top class service in there every time so that offsets it a little. After packing we barely had time to enjoy the drinks in the cabin as Kyle had arranged to go out slightly earlier, primarily as Michelle’s parents had also arranged to take him to the shop to buy something. It was a bit of a rush but we made the scheduled time (funny how the only time we ever do that is when Kyle has something specifically arranged especially for him). While he was shopping we had pre-dinner drinks in Andersons before moving on to the Meridian. Our regular table is aft next to the large windows and there was a low sun getting in Michelle’s mum’s eyes. Michelle gently tried pulling a blind but quickly realised that they were fixed. They asked the waiter if the blinds could be pulled down a little and we then all watched on as someone adjusted all the blinds remotely in unison. They only stayed down a few minutes before moving back up again so maybe someone else asked to see the sunset. Michelle and I both chose Thai Vegetable Spring Rolls as a starter, small but tasty. For main Sweet and Sour Chicken was an option so we both decided to go all in on a P&O Saturday night take away. However, Garlic and Brandy Sauteed Tiger Prawns also appealed so we got Kyle to request that as a starter with the idea being that if it looked good we could order a second main in due course. When it came out it was a starter sized portion anyway which Kyle didn’t like so we shared it instead. It was nice enough but no need for another portion for either of us. The Sweet and Sour Chicken was lovely by the way. Michelle had Cherry Cheesecake for dessert (bit stodgy) and I had Tuscan Coffee and Hazelnut Cake (bit cakey and couldn’t taste the coffee at all). After dinner we said our goodbyes and I got Kyle to hand Oswin an envelope with a small tip in it as we thought he had definitely gone “above and beyond” for us. We went back to Andersons one last time but didn’t stay long at all. We’d already agreed to self-disembark with Michelle’s parents and knew that it was going to be a challenge so an early night was in order. Once we were back in the cabin Michelle remembered that we intended to get some bottles of water so Kyle and I went back down to the Club Lounge. It was a Club Anthems theme but Pulse were on a break and it was a shame we didn’t get to see them for one song at least. The music was really loud and I was surprised how many passengers were still out making the most of the last evening on board. I was slightly jealous if I’m honest, good luck to them. 20th August We were up super early, had breakfast in the Quays (which wasn’t too busy) then were ready to go at 7:20am. We were lucky to get half our party and one suitcase in the first lift that came along, then 3 suitcases, 2 rucksacks, 2 bags, Michelle, Kyle and I in the next one. Step one completed. It was easy to disembark but a slog across the air bridge and out of the terminal. I then went and picked up the car from Parking4Cruises (on the ball as usual) before driving back to the pick up point to load up. I got a telling off for parking then pulling out to move further forward nearer my passengers (lesson learnt). We were on the road at 7:54am so though it had been hard it was worth it. I just made one navigational error (wrong lane at the Hotel Leonardo junction in Southampton) but after that we had a good run and we were home 12:15pm. Most importantly we were home in plenty of time to pick up the pets at 1:30pm.

Ironing is so yesterday, we’ve used this for the first time last 2 weeks on board & though we suspected it would be just a gimmick it works. I ironed a shirt first night, rest of the time just sprayed them & hung them up to dry. Best regards Damian 9th Dan, Washing (working towards 10th Dan)

There always seems to be a big queue for fish & chips (even then the longest I’ve waited is less than 10 minutes) but not for Fusion or Roast Dinners. In terms of tables & seating there always seems to be the most room furthest away from the serving hatches opposite Sindhu (with the added bonus of it being the first port of call for drinks waiters).

and there is even a launderette on deck 16 though it only has 4 machines.... I'll get m'coat.

Sad times (those aren’t ours by the way, how many cases can one cabin have?).

Todays Quays Fusion offering, Prawn & Coconut Thai Green Curry.

Mum & sister’s deck 4 cabin. You can actually hear the sea as we cruise along.

Michelle & Kyle checking out the seats outside Sindhu. I would have liked to sit here one evening but it never happened.

This sort of thing really annoys me, just dumped on the aft staircase. Sheer laziness & ignorance.

18th August Just after 3am Michelle and I were woken up again with the gushing water noises followed by some kind of tap, valve or hose being turned on then shut off loudly. This time Michelle went out on the balcony and looked up to see the infinity pool being refilled. Surely we are not the only cabin to be disturbed by this noise in the early hours, especially as we are on deck 10 so there are 4 decks between us and the infinity pool on deck 16. Also, I find it highly unlikely that we are the only cabin to ever report such a noise from the aft cabins on all the Arvia cruises to date. The fact that this has happened 3 times on our cruise, yet the lady on reception said that she was not aware of what it could possibly be, makes me feel like we just got a disingenuous response when we reported it. We always choose aft cabins whenever possible and have never had an issue like this before, even on Iona. To me, it feels like another example of how Arvia is mismanaged (same as it is with the dining situation). Despite the disturbance I still got up early with the intention of using the launderette when it opened at 8am. When I got there I was surprised to find all 6 machines already full, and even more surprisingly several driers on the go (so clearly passengers had ignored the notice of the operating hours and been in well before 8am). One lady was there already ironing some clothes and when I called in to try my luck again an hour or so later she was still there. Michelle and I went to the MDR for one last round of Eggs Benedict. We left Kyle sleeping with the do not disturb sign on the cabin door (as we had agreed with him the night before in case you are wondering). Michelle’s Eggs Benedict with 2 rashers of bacon order was served with 2 Cumberland sausages instead. The waiter looked dumbfounded when we pointed out the mistake, and initially he was going to place a new order but we decided to just swap plates and I had them instead (not the worst sausages ever but I’m still not keen). All 4 eggs were perfectly cooked, “Which was nice” (another Fast Show reference), as it should be but a first for us on this cruise. Later Michelle took Kyle to the Quays for his pancake and maple syrup breakfast while I got the tea and latte from Vistas. The previous evening Captain Brown had warned us that the ship may sway from side to side up to 1 degree and that was apparent straight away. The sea was more lively than it had been on this cruise to date but nowhere near bad enough for me to reach for my Metoclopramide tablets or for sick bags to be deployed near the staircases. Mum later reported that she was really feeling it but as a first time cruiser this wasn’t that surprising. Michelle and I both think that the side to side swaying is more to do with the height of the ship than anything else but maybe someone with more nautical knowledge will correct me on that one. It had been wet overnight and a grey morning. The sun had broken through and the sunny starboard side of the promenade deck had quickly dried whereas the port side was still soaked. We still preferred to sit in the shade of the starboard side and Michelle and Kyle had a hot tub to themselves. I joined them and it was the first time I’d been in one on the promenade deck. As soon as I got seated Kyle switched on the whirlpool function and somehow it immediately took my breath away. I started coughing and had to stand up to try catch my breath in some fresher air with it taking me a few minutes to recover. It was completely unexpected and I can only put it down to the humidity in the glass enclosure around the tub, since the only other one I’d been in aft was open thus getting in more fresh air. So I’m a promenade deck hot tub lightweight but I’ll be better prepared next time. We didn’t do anything exciting in the afternoon. The reality of our last 2 days on board had kicked in so we pretty much just lazed around after packing a few items. I picked up some Gavi di Gavi late afternoon and the only thing interesting to report was the appearance of a very wide cargo ship following our wake in the distance. It looked a real beast and was pumping out a lot of smoke, and we had a good laugh when it was close enough for us to read the MSC logo on the side, given that we will be sailing with them for the first time next year. I’d not really felt hungry earlier so had skipped lunch bar a few of Kyle’s leftover fries. Michelle took Kyle to the Quays for some snacks late afternoon then reported back that today’s attempt to divert passengers away from the MDRs on formal night was to offer Tex-Mex food. I therefore fluked having the best of both by having a burrito, empanada, and chicken fajita with rice around 5pm. All that wasn’t as substantial as it may sound and easily kept me going until dinner later. Despite our lazy afternoon we were still late meeting everyone else in the Atrium pre-dinner. I had to return to the cabin to pick up my glasses and on my return had the not so genius idea of using the Atrium steps to get down from deck 8 to 6. The Atrium was absolutely packed for formal night and so many passengers were having photographs on the staircases that it was impossible to use them so I had to double back. We were still on time for our usual booking at Meridian and once seated Oswin was quickly on hand to greet us. An Amuse-Bouche was served pre-starters and none of us noticed that Michelle’s mum’s stroller hadn’t been folded up and moved away from the table. We all knew about it when a waiter tripped over it but somehow he managed not to launch the full tray of Amuse-Bouches across the MDR. Thank goodness but ironically no one liked them anyway and we certainly couldn’t identify the ingredients between us. Eventually I asked Oswin and he advised that it constituted Mango, Pineapple, Ginger (so that was the chewy bits) and chilli flakes. He then asked did I like it and when I just said “No” he walked away laughing. For starter I chose Smoked and Cured Fish. I knew I wouldn’t like Creamed Smoked Mackerel with Horseradish Mayonnaise (mainly because of the Horseradish) so I got that one out of the way then enjoyed Gravlax Tartare and lastly Roulade of Smoked Salmon and Cornish Crab. Michelle enjoyed Buttered Asparagus with a soft Poached Hen’s Egg cooked to perfection. Her mum chose that as a main and it was basically served with double everything. Michelle had Cream of Cauliflower soup (very thick but good) and I had Bouillabaisse, fishy as you would expect but a little salty for my taste and I wouldn’t choose it again. I was slightly surprised that Cream of Cauliflower Soup was on the “Marco Recommends” side of the menu rather than the Bouillabaisse. We both had Grilled Duo of Lamb and Beef Fillets accompanied by Pont Neuf Potatoes, Roasted Vine Tomatoes (which none of us ate) and Madeira Jus. The menu didn’t mentioned roasted root vegetables but they were on the plate again. The lamb was good and though the beef was tender I would have preferred it a little rarer as it was bordering on a liver taste if that makes sense. That’s what popped into my head anyway. I finished with Trio of Chocolate which I really enjoyed, even if the third part of the trio was just a smear across the plate. I don’t know, one minute they’re offering gammon, egg, pineapple, and chips as a fine dining main course then their presenting a dessert with a smear for appearances. Different chefs and kitchen departments I guess. Michelle had Baked Blueberry Souffle which was really good even if the accompanying Spiced Blueberry Compote had escaped out of its ramekin on the journey from the kitchen and made it’s own attempt at a designer smear across the plate. After dinner we went to the Crow’s Nest which was busy as you would expect on a formal night. Throughout the evening I only noticed a handful of gentlemen not in tuxedos or suits and it was the same in the Crow’s Nest so well done gents. As usual the cards came out and I followed Leeds United’s Friday night match along with the comments from friends back home. We were robbed by the way. We left the Crow’s Nest and decided to walk all the way aft on deck 16 before the descent to deck 10. We passed through the Horizon Buffet and yet again it was very busy. We looked at the infinity pool which was still full (water that is, not passengers) and the swim up bar which was empty. We also looked at the other infinity pool higher up near the Panorama Pool & Bar (18). It was all very tranquil and still surprisingly warm. I’d been getting quite sleepy in the Crow’s Nest but the walk and fresh air had definitely woken me up. It made no difference once were back in the cabin and I was straight asleep as usual.

Today’s P&O offering in The Quays to steer passengers away from the MDRs on formal night is Tex Mex. So I skipped lunch. Don’t let the man get you down…

I noticed a few cabin door decorations today. Please don't let this thread go off on a tangent talking about a certain tropical fruit (aka Ananas Comosus). 😉 🍍

This ship appeared in our wake, reeled us in and is now performing a slow motion overtake. Maybe I shouldn't grumble about P&O so much as I'm having serious doubts about our booking with MSC for 2024.

For @Presto2

Tortilla Soup, Pork Rack and White Wine Syllabub.

Playa de la Victoria

17th August No noise disturbance overnight and I would probably have slept in but for setting the alarm clock with the intention of maximising our day in Michelle’s favourite port Cadiz. We had another Quays breakfast where we bumped into mum and sister who let us know that they wouldn’t be joining us for our day out as they were planning to go shopping. After breakfast we were quickly ready then I delayed us from getting off the ship as I had to return to the cabin to get my hat (the one person in our party who really needed a hat more than most but the only one without anything in our bag). We therefore missed meeting Michelle’s parents at the gangway (it was always a loose arrangement anyway) and just expected to see them quayside. There was a minor panic by Michelle when she realised that there were in fact 2 gangways but we were quickly able to view both from a distance after exiting the terminal and could not see her parents anywhere. All we could do was make our way to the bus stop only to find that they were already ahead of us stood waiting to cross the road. We were too slow to catch the bus already there but there was another parked up behind it so we weren’t hanging around too long. We were using Linea 1 to get to Residencia near Hospital Universitario and the fare was still just €1.10 per person (unchanged since our last visit 5 years ago). The bus didn’t have a display announcing the stops so we counted 7 then got off at the right place (I did ask the lady sat next to me if that stop was Residencia and she said “No” only to be corrected by 2 other passengers!). Once we alighted it was just a 5 minute stroll to Playa de la Victoria (the beach) which we think is a lot nicer than the one nearest the cruise terminal (La Caleta). It was only 10:40am and this time we had the pick of several sun beds with parasols. Kyle headed straight into the sea with Michelle and this time I quickly joined them. It was freezing cold and a bit rocky to start with but we soon found a spot with sand underfoot where the water was up to my chest (plenty deep enough for me). I was looking around and taking it all in so I didn’t notice the big wave coming our way and about to crash into us. I kept my balance but water went on my sunglasses, sun hat, in my ear, and a little in my mouth (just a bit thankfully). Yet again Kyle swallowed some sea water which made him wretch again and bail out not long after. We all returned to the sun beds then after sorting out my sunglasses and swapping hats we all went back in. Kyle said that he much preferred the other beach (Alicante) and the water was certainly warmer there being from the Mediterranean (compared to the Atlantic in Cadiz). Michelle and Kyle soon went back leaving the extremely rare occurrence that I spent the longest time in the water. Once I’d been in and out a few times it didn’t feel so cold and I enjoyed just looking up and down the beach and taking it all in. In that moment I decided that Cadiz was probably my favourite port too. At 11:45am we decided to pack up as we wanted to get to our favourite restaurant La Marea before it got busy. As we were getting our things together the sunbed hire guy arrived and though we offered to pay he said it was okay as we were going. That was a bonus and saved us 2 x €19. As always it took a while to dust off all the sand and get changed, and Kyle probably left around half a bottle’s worth of talcum powder scattered around as he was trying to dry his legs. We got to La Marea (www.lamarea.es on the promenade just a few minutes from our sunbeds) just after 12pm and could see that it had been refurbished, looking a lot smarter than the last time we were there. No customers were seated yet so we didn’t anticipate any problems until the manager had a long conversation with someone asking before us who looked a bit annoyed. The manager must have thought we were part of the same group so whilst talking to the gentleman he was also looking at us as well but my Spanish wasn’t good enough to translate every word spoken at speed. We suspected that it was fully booked and when we called the manager back to ask he confirmed that every table was pre-booked for lunch. This was a big disappointment for Michelle and myself though I am pleased to see the place clearly thriving. Next time we’ll have to be more decisive (not just us but anyone travelling with us as well) and pre-book. We looked at the restaurant next door but it looked a little pricey (La Marea isn’t cheap but we know what we are getting for our money there) and I was put off by the variety on the menu which included Sushi, other Japanese dishes, and Mexican food alongside the more usual Spanish fare. We therefore kept walking and eventually just decided to return to the port area. We missed one bus whilst trying to cross the busy road then another waiting for Michelle’s parents to catch up. We then had a bit of a wait and when the next bus finally arrived it was full but the driver allowed us to get on and stand. Typically as we pulled out another bus was right behind us. Fortunately it’s only a short ride (around 12 minutes) and we were soon back in port. We didn’t want to get back on the ship yet so we quickly made a new plan to visit a particular shop (before it closed for siesta at 2pm) to try find Kyle’s collectables then have some drinks and tapas somewhere. Google maps did us proud directing us through the maze of narrow streets and alleys in under 10 minutes. I cannot imagine that we would have found the place so easily with a paper map. Kyle picked some unique items and though they were expensive we let him buy them (we had saved a fortune on lunch after all). I had €43.08 left on my Travelex card and the cost was €49.98 so I was particularly proud of myself for being able to ask the checkout guy if I could use up the balance on my card and pay the rest in cash (all in Spanish). Kyle was super happy and announced that this was his best port of the cruise so it was all worth it. From there we consulted our new favourite app Google maps to look for somewhere to eat. We’d walked past loads of places but there looked to be a few places dotted around Plaza Candelabria just 2 minutes away so we headed that way. In my head I pictured a pretty square surrounded with outdoor tables and parasols. What we got was a building site with men actually working along with a busy mini tipper going back and forth. We decided to walk round the square anyway and found that only half the square was being revamped. On the other side we passed Bar Zapata just as a waitress was setting up tables outside. It wasn’t the prettiest looking bar but we decided to sit down anyway and were really glad that we did. We chose a Spanish cured ham tosta with “salmorejo” which Google couldn’t translate into English. It turned out to be a very liquified cheese sauce (reminiscent of those individually wrapped orange colour cheese slices from supermarkets, “plastic cheese” as we call it) and it was quite different from anything we’ve had before. We also chose potatoes and chorizo (spicy version) generally known Huevas Estrellados and they were really good. Quite salty and no fancy presentation but good enough for us to clear a large portion. With vino for us and a Coca Cola for Kyle our bill was just €24.80. Despite us not being able to see the port because of all the surrounding buildings Google maps told us it was just a 2 minute walk away and so it was. We were soon through security and back on board around 3:30pm. Kyle telephoned his aunty to arrange some more hot tub time and after we’d escorted him to the promenade deck for the meet up we returned to the cabin so that I could finish my write-up of the previous day. Once that was done I went to get us some drinks and when I walked into the Keel and Cow the waiter taking orders remembered me which I appreciated. All aboard time was 4:30pm but as often happens there were a few stragglers, with the last calls for them being 4:47pm. I went back to the Keel and Cow (taking my glasses back as usual) and this time the bar man looked at me, smiled, and said “2 more Gavi?”. He had them ready on the bar before the waiter had even caught up with me to process the order. It certainly beats “pint of lager?”. Kyle has got a bit fed up of having Pepsi or Lemonade on his drinks package so I asked how long it would be before I could order a soft drink under my name using the Classic Drinks Package. I was honest about getting it for my son to have and the bar manager just said that it would be okay and handed over a bottled diet coca cola to me. The waiter asked how he should process the order on his tablet and the reply was to use the code “manager approved”. Fantastic service from 2 real gentlemen. Mum was sat waiting for my sister so I invited her to our balcony for the last sail away. Michelle also knocked on her mum and dad’s cabin door and they joined us as well so it was good to have them all with us as we sailed out of Cadiz. It was absolutely scorching hot and there was a good crowd in the Sunset Bar with the music playing just below us as usual. We also spotted our new Rovrum friend making short work of a pint of John Smiths. There was a big sail away event in the Sky Dome at the same time but I wouldn’t have missed the aft view of leaving port for anything. Once we passed the last bit of harbour wall our pilot disembarked then got straight onto a container ship to guide that one in, something I’ve never seen before despite all the ports we’ve been in and out of over the years. Later on we met in the Glass House for pre-dinner drinks. The Meridian booking showed in my diary section of the My Holiday webpage so we had no worries about our dining arrangement. Once seated in the Meridian we were surrounded by the usual passengers on the nearby tables, including baseball hat man (same baseball hat, different t-shirt, still not quite big enough). This time he was laughing and joking with the manager that he’d been giving stick to a few days earlier. Thank goodness. Oswin was soon on hand and asked us about our day. We asked if he’d had any time off and he confirmed that he did but didn’t go ashore and just had a good nap instead. I don’t blame him. Michelle and I both had Plum Tomato and Mozzarella Salad to start, very nice and just enough. Her dad had Grilled Sardines with Buttered Toast and Tomato Sauce (aka sardines on toast with ketchup). I would have liked a photo but he quickly demolished it. We also had Tortilla Soup which was like a peppery version of the “always available” tomato soup and we both really enjoyed it. Michelle had Beer-Marinated Roast Chicken which she said had a well-balanced spicy sauce (Jalapeno and Tomato Salsa) which was like a chipotle but not overpowering like some can be. Several of us, including myself, chose Pork Rack, which was in actual fact a gigantic pork chop the size of a small axe (albeit a blunt one that wouldn’t pass muster on TV’s “Forged in Fire”). Normandy Potatoes (seemed like Dauphinoise to me) which were good and roasted root vegetables again (which I didn’t eat, again). Are roasted root vegetables the new P&O staple? I’d rather go back to green beans myself. It was a huge main course which several on our table couldn’t finish and a massive contrast to my pasta dish yesterday which had way more sauce than actual pasta. As if we didn’t have enough on our plates Oswin got myself and Kyle bowls of chips which we (the table as a whole) couldn’t finish. Kyle got his favourite penne pomodoro without asking. For dessert I chose White Wine Syllabub which was all cream and no texture. Given everything else we’d had that wasn’t a bad thing. My rubbish palate couldn’t taste the white wine but I really enjoyed it. Michelle had sticky toffee pudding which she enjoyed. Kyle diversified by having a scoop of mint choc chip ice cream (as well as his usual vanilla) to accompany his standard 2 chocolate brownies. After dinner Michelle and I weren’t sure what was on in the Club Lounge. We were sure we’d seen it set up for a 70’s night when passing through earlier but the Horizon said the music would be Club Anthems (i.e., more recent pop music). According to the digital display it was the 70’s night which we would really have enjoyed but there seemed little enthusiasm for it amongst everyone else so we ended up in the nearest venue again (you guessed it, Andersons) where the cards came out as usual. This time we stayed a bit later and there were no signs of restless teenagers in the corridor. One of the comments on Cruise Critic mentioned repetitiveness and I’m certainly feeling that with our post dinner choices but trying to please everyone just doesn’t always work out.

On a lighter note here are a few photos of our lunch in Cadiz today. For the first dish Google Translate helpfully translated the Spanish word Salmorejo into the English equivalent “Salmorejo” (thanks a bunch Google). It turned out to be a very liquified cheese sauce on top of our cured ham tosta. The other dish is usually better known as Huevas Estrellados (or the more dull English “potato, eggs & chorizo”). As always the local vino went down extremely well.