Day 2 Thursday 12th March: North Sea
I was woken up at 5 am by the ship rocking and rolling.
For breakfast we went to the buffet and sticking to my diet, I had porridge topped with fruit berries. The buffet had members of staff making sure that everyone coming in washed their hands or using the hand sanitiser. There was a small hole in the procedures when passengers came in through the doors at the back of the restaurant from the decks and simply walked straight through!
Northern Lights Photography Lecture
We were early enough after breakfast to go to the port presentation on Trondheim in the Curzon Theatre. We kept clock watching and just before 10 am we slipped out and went to the Playhouse to the photography lecture.
The advice from the ship’s photographers was aimed at different skill levels as well as different types of cameras.
They also emphasised to everyone to turn off flash on their cameras or phones.
Walk around the Promenade Deck
Once we have put on some more clothes on we went down to Deck 7 for a walk. The sky was blue but the sea was still rough. Next to the mass evacuation systems (MAS) they were containers on pallets that contained survival suits. After we have done 6,500 steps we called it a day I went inside.
Back up at the buffet we had a late lunch and keeping to the diet I had a salad (with perhaps more cheese then I should’ve had.)
Todd White
I had wanted to go to Masquerade to hear the talk about the artist called Todd White given by the art gallery staff. I had mis-read the Horizon magazine for the day as the talk had started at 1 pm.
In the nightclub we sat and listened with five or six other people through to the end of the talk. Very fascinating to hear about this artist.
Afternoon walk
We went for another walk and stopped to listen to a talk from the Captain explaining explaining that in the light of the coronavirus and promises made by P&O for passengers on upcoming cruises every cabin would receive an extra £400 off on board credit (OBC.)This was a very pleasant surprise for for us and for everyone else on the ship
After our walk we went for a coffee and of course a cake. We then realised that we probably had a lot of OBC to spend now. I took the opportunity to go into one of the shops and buy a new jumper – which of course I would never of bought but for the £400.
Disappointing news
I was watching the sea when I noticed the ship slowing and this smoke coming out of the funnels.
Then a few minutes later at 4:35 pm the Captain spoke to the ship again. He had just been told that all the ports had been closed in Norway to cruise ships. He explained that he didn’t know yet what this meant for our cruise other then we would not be going to Norway of course. There was the possibility that we might continue up the North Sea, cross the Arctic Circle and perhaps see the Northern Lights then.
The Captain promised to give us updates as soon as he had more information himself.
Formal evening
Andersons Bar was closed to us as we were not dressed properly for the formal evening. But outside the bar we were able to enjoy a drink. We watched as the bar steward was going around the furniture and fittings making a list of all the repairs needed.
This evening was the first formal evening of the cruise and after we had changed we went back to Andersons for a drink. We sat around with everyone else wondering quite what was going to happen next to us next.
At the Captain’s cocktail party we listened to the short presentations by the Captain. He was very clear that he as yet did not know what would be happening to us. He said currently his plan was to go very slowly North through the North Sea. However, he would update us hopefully by 10 am the next day.
Late evening
This being the first formal evening we had Marco Pierre White’s menu along with the usual alternatives. I started with asparagus and poached eggs followed by a sorbet and then Marco’s beef Wellington. As a special prize for our disappointment of the day, I finished of the meal with a portion of apple tart.
By the time we arrived at the theatre it was full so we went to the Masquerades night club for another drink and to enjoy the disco. We joined in with the dancing with the dancing and then once the disco finished the house band, Equinox,and took over the music.
It was after midnight and we decided that it was time to retire. We were spared this scheduled clock change.
