DEPARTURE DAY

HOME SWEET HOME

7:45 am

I woke up, 15 minutes before my alarm was due to go off, to a beautiful sunny morning. This is a day of many ‘First’s’ for me. The first day of my Mediterranean cruise, the first holiday that I have had on my own for twenty years, the first day that I have attempted to keep a journal and the ‘Furst’ I could feel in the back of my ‘Froat’. He he.

After a light breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast and tea at ‘Le cafe Betty’ next door, I returned home to shower and dress for my journey.

I loaded my luggage, which was packed and ready last night, into the boot of my car and set the sat-nav for Ocean dock Southampton.

THE ROAD IS LONG

10:00 am

I drove from East Dulwich to Crystal Palace, through Croydon to the M25, M3, A33. There were a few hold ups on the M25 and M3 but not enough to spoil my day.

12:50 pm 

I arrived at Ocean Dock, Southampton and caught my first glimpse of the Ventura. It reminded me of an opening scene in a Star Trek film, where you see the Enterprise in the distance and don’t really appreciate it’s immense size of it until you get closer.

STAR DATE 03072010

I was welcomed at the curb-side at Ocean Terminal by a representative of the Port Parking Service. I signed some paperwork and handed over my car keys. They took it away and parked it securely until my return on the 17th.

DEPARTURE LOUNGE OCEAN DOCK

I gave my baggage to a porter who delivered it to my cabin and I continued to the terminal to check in. I was given a coloured card with a capital letter printed on it and told to take a seat in the waiting area. It was very similar to an airport departure lounge. When my letter was announced I advanced towards the registration desk where upon receipt of my ticket and credit card details, I was was issued with my cruise card.

The cruise card is used for all transactions on board and added to ones on board account.

THE ATRIUM

After registration I passed through a security metal detector and my hand luggage was x- rayed. Then it was a short climb up the gang blank and into the belly of the Ventura. Wow! The atrium was spectacular. It extended up through three decks and was wonder in glass, chrome and neon.

MY CABIN

MY BUNK

1:30 p.m.
I arrived at my cabin, c427 on deck 10. The Ventura has 19 decks! Praise be to the blessed god of Engineering for the fast, modern elevators.

WOMEN & CHILDREN FIRST? MY ARSE!!

                                                                                                             
4:00 p.m.

There was an announcement made through the tannoy system that all passengers were to proceed to their nearest muster station for a life boat drill. As far as I could see, the purpose of the drill was to introduce, without exception, every passenger on the ship to every other passenger and see how many of them could be crammed inside one of the ships many restaurants. Then we were shown where to throw ourselves overboard in case of emergency.

5:00 p.m.

COLD BUFFET

Another first. I telephoned the onboard spa and booked an appointment for this evening for a Man-e-cure (Now lets get this straight it wasn't girly at all) and a pedicure. As my appointment wasn't until 7:00 p.m. I wasn’t able to attend my first dinner at the table for ten in the Saffron restaurant, because even if they could serve it up quickly enough, I didn’t think that I could manage five courses in 45 mins. Therefore I ate at the Waterside restaurant, which is the 24hr buffet on deck 15. Prawn cocktail, whitebait, smoked salmon and asparagus, with an ice cold glass of Chablis, very nice!

MAN - E - CURE. (Not Girly at all)

7:00 p.m.

I was greeted at the spa by a very nice Jamaican lady.  She guided me to a comfy chair and bade me sit down. Resting my hands on a fluffy towel in front of her, she deftly applied cuticle softener and trimmed away dead skin, buffed, polished, oiled and massaged my nails then massaged my hands, wrists and forearms. My nails have never looked so clean and shiny. 

THEY TORTURED HIM FOR HOURS BUT HE DIDN'T TALK

Happily I moved over to another comfy chair with a foot-bath attached.
I did warn the unfortunate woman that my feet were particularly manky, but she just smiled and took it all in her stride. She cut and filed my toenails then exfoliated my feet (even between the toes, Eeuw!) and lower legs. As with the hands it was all finished off with nice smelling oils and a massage. Bliss.

I spent the next few hours in a heavenly daze, walking on air, exploring the ship. I had a Martini cocktail (stirred not shaken) and watched the sun sink into the sea; I waited to hear the hiss but all I could hear was the breaking of the bow waves on the side of the ship. 

The temperature outside was cooler than I had expected so I bought a sweat shirt from the shop as I had neglected to pack a jumper. I also bought a new watch as the strap on mine had broken and could not be repaired.




I returned to my cabin, ordered some cold beer and sat on my balcony reading until 2 a.m. Then to bed, to be lulled to sleep by the gentle hum of the air conditioning and the gentle rocking of the ship. Mmmm!! Zzzzzzz!