Day 24 Monday 7th October 2019: Atlantic Ocean
In this morning’s Princess Patter, the most travel guests were introduced. We clearly have a long way to go as this couple had sailed 95 cruises and had had 1,431 days at sea!
A combination of the clocks going forward another hour, finishing off a movie and then watching another one, or combined help asleep till after 10 am.
When we looked out the ship was surrounded in mist and from the A/V system was travelling at a mere 15 knots.
After a quick cup of tea and we had time for a brief walk and a visit to yet another sale in the Pacific Moon restaurant. There were T-shirts for ports from all over the world, Russian dolls, watches and the usual collection of cheap handbags and watches. None of the port t-shirts were in my size. But but I did find a couple of polo shirts from the Baltic. They were under a 50% off sign so $14.99 down with 50% off was a bargain. At the checkout they will put through at $14.99 so I cancelled the transaction feeling a little ripped off.
Brunch was in the International dining room, at the stern of the ship, where we joined a table for six. We were sat with members of the ships choir who like us had skipped breakfast on this last sea day. They told us that they had one more practice before performing in the Piazza at 3 pm. Our servers told us it was their last lunch as they were going home to Peru, the Ukraine and India respectively when Sapphire reached Southampton. I had cinnamon bread, a Danish, fruit granola (extra course) before finishing off with Eggs Benedict. This was much better than the one I had had earlier in the cruise.
On the Promenade deck there were very few passengers walking the decks. The ship’s horn was blasting out at regular intervals as by now visibility was very poor. After a few circuits an event on the ship must have finished and the deck suddenly filled with walkers.
Back in our cabin we folded all our clean clothes bracket thanks to the ship’s laundry service before we began packing.
After a drink in Crooners bar we went for a meal. I had New York strip steak after a feta cheese salad and topped it all off with apple pie. We then went to the piazza for the great British celebration and then back to our room for the last movie.
At 9 pm in the Piazza it was the “Last Night of the Proms” party with the ship’s party band who were joined by members of the orchestra.
From the Cruise Log
At Sea —Monday 7th October 2019
On the final day of her Trans-Atlantic crossing, Sapphire Princess approached the English Channel (otherwise known as La Manche in French) from the south west, maintaining an east northeasterly course of 060° throughout much of the morning. Since she had crossed the ocean at a good speed in recent days, the required speed to reach the Southampton pilot station on time had reduced so she proceeded at a relatively slower speed of between 14-15 kts or 16-17 mph.
The clocks had been set one hour forward for the last time overnight, to bring the ship time in line with GMT+1, or British Summer Time, BST. At approximately 10:00, she passed 22 NM south of Bishop’s Rock lighthouse, at which point she altered her course to 082° and paralleled the Cornish coastline in the afternoon. A strong 2 knots adverse current was experienced as she proceeded up through the Channel en route to her final destination of Southampton.
Noon Position: Latitude: 49° 32.5′ N • Longitude: 005° 36.0′ W
Wind: S.’ly Near Gale, Force 7
Sky: Cloudy skies with scattered showers (7/8 cloud cover)
Seas: Slight Seas + Average Low Wly swell
Pressure: 1011 hPa
Air Temperature: 16°C / 61°F
Day 25 8th October 2019: Southampton
After breakfast we went back to our cabin and picked up our hand baggage and went to wait to be given permission to leave the ship.
Everything was ahead of schedule and we had to wait in the baggage hall for our deck’s cases to be taken out the cages for pickup.
Then it was a walk to our car and off home after our first crossings of the North Atlantic.
From the Cruise Log
*Southampton, UK — Tuesday 8th October 2019 Early this morning Sapphire Princess steered an easterly course towards her final port of call, Southampton. Adjusting to a northerly heading and embarking the local pilot at Nab Tower off the east coast of the Isle of Wight, she proceeded up through Solent waters towards Ocean Terminal, where she berthed bow in, port side to the quay. With all lines fast and the gangways rigged and ready, guest disembarkation could commence.
^Approximate at the time of printing.