ConnieTact

Pretty journey to the Christmas market.

Just left after quite long wait on the coach. No announcement! Just on our way!

Just waiting Top Sail lounge for excursion to leave! Looks brighter out there.

Today’s planners and details of our booked MSC excursion today.

We went back to the Top Sail lounge to catch the last of the entertainment. As the guests gradually retired back to their suites, there was only a handful of us left. I took the opportunity to have a little dance with a willing participant who also loves dancing!

Last night’s live show reflected the various ports on this itinerary with flavours from each country. I have to say the same as the first night the first two or three singers really are not up to delivering solos. At points, we could not hear their voices at all and the sound was weak. It improved after the fourth song and one of the stronger singers had a few songs so that was better. He sang a A-Ha song and again as aerial acrobatics were performed. The show started weak but ended really well. By the time they were in the last act, honestly they were performing on a par to NCL. Why the whole show can’t be like that? It’s a mystery!

My fave breakfast- oh with syrup too! 😋

Breakfast arrived! Correct cabin this time- I’m improving on the number now! other suite must be wondering why they didn’t get their surprise this morning 😜

Visibility clearing from balcony now.

Then still donned in PJs and coat with warm Uggs on feet - I ventured to the outside door to the upper deck to bring you live footage. I left the suite using the words of Lawrence Oates who was on the famous expedition with Scott to the Antarctic; “I am just going outside and may be some time”. MrCT looked at me and advised I took my keycard (as well as my wrist band watch) otherwise I may be longer than I imagined! 🥶❄️⛄️ IMG_4011.mov

I’ll post later about the show but this morning we woke up to this! We had the ‘white patty’ now we have the ‘white day!’ First few shots from our balcony- nothing but white! 😅 I think photos are automatically loading upside down but I guess in this case- it doesn’t matter! 😂 I have permission to load this sneaky shot of MrCT checking out the view in my coat which I insisted he wore! 😜 IMG_4003.mov

Now a little pre show entertainment in Sky lounge. We were fortunate to see two acts one after the other. next stop Theatre for ‘Live Show’ - no idea what it will be but worth a look!

Had a delightful couples massage in Aurea Spa. feeling relaxed now ready for Christmas market at Hamburg tomorrow! Dinner was great tonight!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas onboard!

We wandered around ship and saw a drinking competition in full swing! Full on cheering to the signature tune of Benny Hill! 😅 Good fun for those who like that kind of thing- I suppose we are in German waters now!

The rest of the meal was special too and we managed to find room for desserts!

We had a delightful lunch today with real Neapolitan flavour. Mr CT’s mother was from the Naples area and so is Salvatore the yacht Club restaurant manager. He told us he would be cooking a traditional dish just as his Nonna did at lunchtime today. We made sure we were there! The recipe that had been passed down over the years. It was a ‘special’ so not on the menu, and was pasta Fagioli. It translates as pasta with beans. The hearty dish tasted delicious and we both agreed my mother in law would have enjoyed it too! It was served with Casatiello, a wonderful bread stuffed with hard boiled egg, ham and cheese. As a Nonna myself, I think I owe it to the grandchildren to learn these dishes and pass it down our family line. The bonus is- I’ll have to do lots of tasting first! 😜 Thanks to Salvatore for reminding us of this simple but, very special, Italian dish.

We were following alongside an Aida ship earlier. There’s good visibility today and the sea is calm. We went for a quick two laps of the ship walkway so I managed to get a ‘few steps in’! It was windy out there on one side of the ship and a very few brave souls tried the pool and hot tubs! From their excitable reactions to the pool it sounded like good fun! The sun is out but it still feels very cold.

Hi @LouChamp Thank you for your feedback! I am glad you’re enjoying it! I sometimes wonder if it’s worth doing these reports but I know I always enjoy reading them by others so it’s good to do my bit!

I should have taken the photos straight away but I forgot so not the best! 😅 we waited for our breakfast to arrive between 9.45 and 10am this morning and it didn’t come! So I called to enquire and was surprised by what followed. Our butler knocked on the door holding the breakfast order card I had dutifully filled in late last night and told me he wanted to check with me that this was my order. I confirmed that it was and he then showed me I had written the wrong room number on the top of the form! (I must have been tired!😝). So the breakfast has indeed been delivered, to that room! 😅 Can you believe that the people in that would accept the breakfast without question?! 😂 We still had our breakfast (minus the berries which were ‘over’) as they made us another one. Can’t help thinking that the people in a nearby cabin are tucking into them! 😀 I will be getting Mr CT to double check the form tonight!

After dinner, we went to the Carousel Lounge to check out the big band offering. We found two seats, just inside the door and noticed another two places we may have sat if we didn’t mind sharing space with others couples. The large orchestra played well. I just don’t like that type of music so we left and went to Masters of the Sea and caught Roberto singing Hotel California! Again, we found seats. We then watches a bit of the White Party from upstairs and turned in for the evening.

We enjoyed excellent service in the Yacht Club restaurant last night. I was rather disappointed in the salmon which was dry and over cooked and the veg were served cold. I reported this and it was replaced with freshly cooked fish and hot veg. the staff showed they cared and checked back to make sure I was happy with the food. We met the sommelier, Ljubica and she helped us decide on which wines to pair with our meals. Both were excellent choices and new to us. Lastly, the crepe suzette, with ice cream and toasted almonds was my favourite dish so far! Really top class food! We saw it being made as we came in the restaurant and that helped to build my appetite for the sweet, lemony nutty dish!

The theatre show presented some strong rock songs from the past and some were sang well with a few voices not quite doing them justice. The costumes were good and the lighting colourful and fun. While the dancing didn’t have the sharp accuracy as some other cruise lines, such as NCL, it was fine. A few people came in late and they were being directed to seats by a manager. The yacht club seats were not full and still ‘cordoned off’ so I think they were being ‘protected’ better than last week! it amazes us how some people chat throughout the show and only seem to notice there’s a show on when it’s time to clap! It spoils the show for folk around them and is disrespectful to performers. We had such a couple in front of us last night and the woman spent the entire half hour show moaning at her husband who had brought her the wrong drink! There were two fabulously strong aerial artists who performed to the Fleetwood Mac song ‘The Chain’.

No snacks to choose from in Top Sail Lounge but we were brought a selection.