Day 25: Tuesday 18th October 2022: The English Channel approaches
Sky Princess was running fast all night. I came awake at 2 am.
When I first looked outside the weather was clear.
Then by 9:45 am we were in fog and the ship’s fog horn was sounding.
After yet another late breakfast we were outside for a very windy walk.
Sky Princess’ Captain’s letter
Back in our cabin we found this letter from the ship’s captain explaining details about our changed arrival in Southampton.
PRINCESS
Sky Princess- Voyages Y228 & Y228B
October 18,2022
Dear Princess Guest:
As you were made aware via announcement yesterday, there has been an update to our itinerary. We currently have some Guests who require an emergency medical disembarkation that cannot be completed by helicopter, we have increased our speed for an early arrival into Southampton. Whilst we cannot share more information out of respect for their privacy, please be assured these are not related to COVID-19.
We will now arrive in Southampton on Tuesday, October 18th at approximately 9:30pm rather than on Wednesday, October 19th as previously scheduled.
We will remain alongside overnight, however immigration clearance will not be available; therefore Guests must remain on board until our scheduled disembarkation on Wednesday morning at 7:00am as scheduled. Though regulations require that the boutiques and casino remain closed while in port, please feel free to enjoy our restaurants, bars, spa, and entertainment options on board.
Disembarkation will now take place at the Mayflower Terminal rather than the Ocean Terminal and Guests with a Princess post-cruise hotel package or airport transfer will be taken directly to their hotel or the airport. Guests who parked with CPS will have a shuttle available, Guests with independent arrangements should be guided accordingly.
The Officers and teammates thank you for understanding that this change was made with our Guests’ health and safety in mind.
Kind regards,
Captain Marco Fortezze Master, Sky Princess
Another walk
Now the fog had cleared we could see another ship for the first time – it was a trawler.
Our last afternoon on Sky Princess
We went down to Reception to settle our account and to use some of our US dollars that we had had for nearly three years. There was a short queue at Reception and everyone was chatting and friendly.
To the right of the desk there was a sign for Elite or suite guests to queue there. For the whole voyage, we never had seen anyone jump queues and go there. Now there was a guest standing there, talking to a receptionist and was getting very agitated. When the receptionist walked away, he started to complain that he was an Elite passenger and demanded to be attended to. Almost everyone around us, then held up their Black Medallions.
Almost every one of us could have been on that side of Reception. For the first time in 25 days we were watching someone doing the “I’m special” behaviour.
Anyway, after clear our account, we went back to our cabin and finished most of our packing.
Rather than go for yet another pizza we found a table in the Piazza and repeated the lunch of our first day. This time we added a bowl of salad each.
In the Piazza in the afternoon
Rather than go for yet another pizza we found a table in the Piazza and repeated the lunch of our first day. This time we added a bowl of salad each. After lunch we went into the Vines bar and sat by the window. Being so close to the sea really showed just how fast Sky Princess was travelling.
We had a ringside seat as passengers perform the flash dance that only they’ve been rehearsing. All power to them for entertaining the rest of us. After the flashdance the prize was presented to the passenger who had won the ‘door lock lotterry’.
In the Vista lounge we said our goodbyes to the guys who would look after us for the last 25 days. We will miss walking into a bar and having our chosen drinks arriving without even having to order.
Once Sky Princess entered the Solent I could follow her progress on Google Maps. Plus we could make calls to let everyone know how close we were to Southampton.
Our last dinner was in the Deck 6 restaurant at the stern. We sat with the couples that we had been meeting in the lounge all cruise.
Sky Princess docked at around 9:30 pm.
Then it was back to the Piazza to enjoy Ocean Boulevard’s music for the last time this voyage.
We could look out over Southampton as we settled down for our last night on the ship. We hoped that all the dockside activities wouldn’t start too early in the morning.
Day 26: Wednesday 19th October 2022: Sky Princess in Southampton
Our alarms went off at 7 am, but it was no surprise that we were already wide-awake. Beneath our balcony Sky Princess was been bunkered for her next voyage.
We had picked up breakfast for the next day.
This meant we could stay in our cabin rather than struggle through tables in the restaurant or be in the crowds in the buffet. This really worked out well as we had a light stress free breakfast before leaving the cabin.
As expected the lifts were already full when they arrived on Deck 9. We had only had one journey on the lifts and that was down to Deck 5.
We had to wait in the Soleil restaurant for our “group“ to be called. Then everything came to a halt, three groups before ours. After a 15 minute break, this announcements of progress started again.
When it was our turn, leaving the ship was not a problem. The problems escalated in the baggage hall.
The suitcases were laid out in reverse order of group numbers. Our problem was that passengers had “‘jumped’ the wait for their groups. They were now searching for their baggage and blocking the narrow passages through the mountains of cases.
It took nearly 10 minutes to get past them till we finally made it to our group’s cases and surprise surprise the hall beyond was empty.