Day 19 Friday 5th April: Mediterranean Sea
Our day started with the Oceana gently rolling as the Mediterranean was not flat calm. The skies were overcast and I went to the ship’s library to see what books had been returned by the departing passengers the day before.
We ate in the Ligurian for breakfast before walking the Promenade Deck for 2 miles. .This gave us time to discuss one of Oceana’s cruises in the next season in Dubai.
Booking another cruise . . .
We stood and queued at the cruise desk waiting our turn. Just as we were about to sit down another passenger just walked past us and took the seats! At first I was understandably annoyed but as we could hear his very loud query about booking a cruise we settled down to listen.
The manager of the cruise desk was incredibly patient as she was having to repeat her answers 2 or 3 times to everyone of his questions. After a few minutes the same questions were asked again and then again.
We did eventually get to book a cruise from Dubai and made it to the Ligurian before the lunch had closed.
This cruise was eventually cancelled in the Summer when P&O were advised not to sail from Dubai for their 2019 2020 season.
At lunch, I asked for a side salad to accompany my vegetable curry as an extra. We were pleased that side salads could still be ordered despite not being on the menu.
Just like leaving Italy, the Oceana’s shops were now subject to Maltese VAT at 18%.
I’m not sure if anyone understands the rules governing EU VAT when sailing between EU ports. The Maltese tax only affected the shops not alcohol in the bars – which was a relief.
A Hoopoe came to visit
After all our exertions of the morning, we went back to the cabin and watched a movie.
The sky was still overcast and back in our cabin we were finishing watching a movie when this bird appeared on the balcony.
Later we learned that it was a Hoopoe.
Once the movie finished we went back down to the Promenade Deck and did a more leisurely walk around the ship. It was late afternoon by now and the majority of passengers we met inside had already changed into their formal clothes for the Captain’s cocktail party for this second part of the cruise.
Formal dress for the evening
After we dropped off our booking form for a water taxi in Venice we went back to change and joined everyone else in our formal clothes. We did manage a couple of drinks before going down to the restaurant and picking up a pager yet once again.
The wait was only 10 minutes or so and then we had Marco Pierre White’s special menu to navigate. We were lucky with our table companions and had lots of chats about ports and cruise lines. I started with asparagus with an egg, then the sorbet and finally Beef Wellington.
Our evening was rounded off in Winners Bar listening to the Coverflow Duo.
From the Cruise Log
Friday 5 April – At Sea
Noon Position 38°31.9’N 017°19.7’E
Temperature 15°C
Wind South-Easterly Force 5
Weather Overcast, ShowersPassing the southern coasts of Sicily and Italy on her portside Oceana continued on her north easterly passage to the port of Dubrovnik in Croatia.
She maintained an average speed of around 14.5 knots covering 210nm from departure until the noon position