We had our last day at sea as Arcadia sped along trying to make up time before arriving in Southampton. Once there we called at the Concorde Hotel on our way home
Our cruise to the Azores, Madeira and the Iberian Peninsular would take us to Ponta Delgada, Praia da Vitoria, Funchal, Cadiz, Malaga and finally to Gibraltar
Day 15 Thursday 3rd May 2018
Arcadia was again going quickly as we were passing through the Bay of Biscay. At 21 knots and with the windy conditions we did get quite a bit of movement in the night and in the early morning. The view from the balcony was on an overcast sky.
After breakfast we called to pick up our gin from the upper floor of the Meridian restaurant. The tables were organised by floor and after a quick check of our receipt and a signature I was soon on my way with the bottles.
Then we tried walking around the Promenade Deck. It was hard work with having to contend with both the wind and with the ship rocking below our feet. We gave up after three laps (or about one mile) and called at reception to have our latest bill printed.
In Cafe Vivo I had a tea accompanied by a slice of carrot cake.
We picked our books up and went forward to the Crows Nest. We did find seats that looked out the side of the ship and sat down in the comfortable chairs to read.
Late lunch and blue sky
We walked back to the stern of the ship and went for a late lunch in the Meridian. On this last lunch I finally cracked the ordering code for having a salad. I had been ordering side salads and these came devoid of anything but lettuce, cucumber and the odd bits of carrot. The trick is to order the salad as a main and instead of a bowl it came on a plate with a complete ensemble of vegetables and greens.
After lunch the sun was on our balcony and I sat outside to read and look out for sea life. Looking up I watched these contrails drift by.
As the afternoon wore on and the sun moved to the port side of the ship I added a fleece, a jacket and even a hat to keep warm. Away in the distance I watched small boats and yachts trying to make headway against the swell and the wind.
Then it was time to start packing and put our first suitcase out in the corridor. The sky was still blue but it was quite chilly out on the balcony.
We decided to avoid the Crows Nest again in the evening and instead went to the Intermezzo bar for a quiet drink before dinner.
For dinner I had the gravelax again followed by calves liver. The flowers on the dining room table had a turn as still life while we waited to be served. This was again with my iPhone using Portrait Mode
As we were having a coffee after dinner we heard another emergency medical call, this time there for someone in the shops. As we walked to our final quiz, we were diverted to another deck as the medical team were still helping the ill passenger. The quiz was good fun but again we didn’t win any prizes.
Back in a cabin we had a little packing to finish before putting out our second suitcase.
Day 16 Arrival in Southampton
Yesterday evening we had received the cruise log in our room. The report from our first day at sea after Gibraltar omitted our unscheduled diversion to Vigo. Even more confusing the log reported our docking at the Queen Elizabeth terminal in Southampton rather than where we were at the Mayflower terminal!
Perhaps some proofreading would be a good idea in future!
Arcadia had slowed down about the time she reach the Solent and the changing noise had woken me up.
We arrived at the Mayflower Terminal and after a spin around in the basin we docked.
Looking out from our balcony the boat bringing fuel oil was arriving and was belching out black diesel smoke. The time for breakfast and to leave the cabin for the last time and arrived.
Breakfast was in the lower Meridian restaurant and we managed to be seated close by the stairs to the upper restaurant.
At breakfast we learn just had long it took to get to Edinburgh by coach from Southampton. This was almost over 12 hours. The Meridian upstairs was pretty full by the time we climbed the steps to wait to leave the ship.
Disembarkation
We had time to find a table and sit before anyone from the restaurant was called to leave the ship. The restaurant was emptied from the front door and as we were right at the back, we had to wait for quite a bit longer.
When we were called it was still ahead of our scheduled time to leave. The waiters were already setting up the dining room for the next cruises’ passengers. This may have been the reason that we were moved early and then had a 10 minute queue along the mid-ships corridor.
In the baggage hall we were further delayed as one of our bags was amongst the wrong deck’s suitcases. Unusually after a visit to Gibraltar there were no UK customs as we cleared through the green channel. Then once through we began our trek to retrieve our car.
After picking up our keys we were soon at the car but I was stopped from going to my door by a lady from the car next to us. It seemed her husband was busy relieving himself into a plastic bottle between the two cars. Once I was OK to get into the car I had to avoid all the puddles on the ground!
The Concorde Club
Once we left the car park we were on our way to Eastleigh to see our friends before they set off North. They have been in the Meridian at the same time as us but next to the front door. Plus their taxi had come quickly and they were already at the hotel waiting for us.
The Concorde Club is a famous jazz venue and we went inside for a quick look around. The car park is over a pretty stream.
The footbridge to the car park even had its own history too!
