Days 30/31 - still at sea

Well, that is one month done and that means that the next section is the really busy one, with the highest concentration of ports as we head for the Med sea. For some reason the shoulder problem has returned so it was back for a massage later on in the day – but Maria had gone!  Arlene did a fine job but I think my neck may need a manipulation.

Alana had us doing the Merrilyn and the dancers back in NZ will know that it was at that point in our New Vogue classes, that I gave up trying to learn...  Alana’s  teaching methodology is that of assuming everyone is a total beginner and doing lots of repeats, but section by section.  This is the method that works for me – repetition in short sections.  Whilst I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I mastered it, at least I could stumble around the floor by the end of the session.

We did the usual trivia quiz sessions and a quick dip in the shaded rear pool.  At 5pm each day, the captain makes an announcement over the speaker system and he kindly let us known that many of the rumours circulating regarding the engine woes such as terminating at Dover.  In fact he had the good news that they hoped to have the generator repaired and ready for testing by Gibraltar or Barcelona.  There was a pirate Party on day 30 and at the pre-dinner extra practice class, part way through, a scruffy looking pirate rushed onto the floor, picked up the lightweight Alana and carried her off!  Her only comment when she returned was that if she had known, she would have done her hair...

On day 30, we opted to go to the movie being shown in the theatre “Unknown” but on the second night, unusually, there wasn’t much on that interested us.  Our last try was up on deck to watch “Pirates of the Caribbean – part 3” I think, but there was too much quiet conversation that was drowned out by the ship’s systems just behind the screen, so even though the clocks were going back an hour, we called it a day.

Tomorrow is a big day and one of the major highlights of the cruise.  We are couple of hours late into Aqaba  - now 10am arrival, and 1400 people including 150 crew members are off to Petra.  No doubt photos galore tomorrow but most people will be back late, so their posts will also be a bit late – mine will – as we relax with another day at sea before spending the day going through the Suez canal.    

More time at sea - Days 28 and 29

Where does the time go?  Sea days tend to be as busy or busier than land days, which may come as a bit of a shock to those who cannot see on earth how we can a) enjoy a long cruise and b) not be bored.  Needless to say it is entirely up to the individual as we have generally eaten before 9am but we usually sit at a table for 4 for the buffet breakfast and either join others - or they join us.  Whilst several of these meetings and friendships will only last for the duration of the cruise, others will be lifelong.

I originally purchased 500 internet minutes at the beginning of the cruise (note for future cruisers, there are often ‘deals’ on the first day only) and as it happens, I was exactly half way through my usage at the halfway point to Dover. When you have logged out, up on screen is a detailed summary of your usage to date which is most helpful.  I expected the internet connection to be much slower than it is, but there again, NZ broadband speed isn’t very fast anyway. Connecting and emailing this blog from the comfort of the cabin, but without checking that it has arrived usually takes less than 2 minutes, which I am quite happy with.

Our regular entry into the indoor bowls at 9:15 usually results in an equally regular exit in round 1!  We haven’t yet managed to beat anyone and progress to round 2.

Dance on day 28 should have been the waltz but the ship was moving around just a little too much, so we did the Samba instead.  Day 29 we had our “Crazy Cruisers” lunch (very nice fish, OK chips and so –so mushy peas for me!) so we had to miss the Foxtrot session.

Just a point here. Some dancers are quite experienced and many are absolute beginners.  For the first leg, to Dubai, there was one couple who were not only dance teachers but seemed to want to dominate the tiny atrium dance floor in the evenings, ‘putting on a show’ . This produced several reactions from the inexperienced and intermediate dancers – mainly negative. They either avoided the atrium totally, or in the case of the more adventurous ones, they tried to box them into a corner!  Since their departure, there have been several regular couples willing to give it a go and the atmosphere has been so much better and friendlier.  Just goes to show that if you are going to show off on the dance floor, no matter how good you are, the other dancers are happier just being themselves and tripping over the new steps.  Both Alan and Alana have a great sense of humour and this makes the end of the day really pleasant, as the TV programmes aren’t much of an attraction.

Unfortunately Ros was confined to barracks on day 29 and the table was also short of Col & Jude, which was a shame, as we had a massive antipasto platter to share. That is what happens when your head waiter is Italian.   However we have discussed having a Filipino platter one night, so cameras at the ready.  Talking of cameras, Paula’s excellent shot of Arnold camel whispering has been entered into the sector photographic competition - that brought a smile to the photo-department’s face too...  Another sea day tomorrow, the seas have settled down and the ‘Pirate Watch’ has been disbanded.  

Half way to Dover - Day 27 - Salalah

Today was half at sea and half on land. This is our half way point to Dover. Remember our itinerary has been changed and this was initially a 2012 destination and we didn’t arrive until midday.   So, there was time to have our normal breakfast, write up yesterday’s blog and attend the morning trivia session.  We joined past joint winners, Norm and Marion and once again we had lecturer Peter to assist.  We did manage 14/20 but this was enough to put us in second place.  The one question that caused an uproar was ‘Where are Chinese Gooseberries from.’   We all knew that was the alternative name for kiwi fruit, but we are pretty sure that they are an introduced species, but NZ was the answer they were looking for, so we didn’t get a point for that.  Boooo.

By the time the trivia was over, we were just about in Salalah.

Salalah

The initial impression of the skyline was of a high rise city in the distance, but this was an illusion created by the permanent mist or heat haze.  What I thought was high rise was in fact a mill of some sort, just up the road!  Just about all the photographs we took (over 200 between us) needed a colour correction (particularly those taken through the bus windows).

Joanne, (see pic) our group’s diligent and hard-working voluntary tour director, had been in constant touch with the on land tour organiser, regarding the changed ports and arrival schedules and had even managed to get us off the ship first!  Other than those on official Princess tours, everyone else had to queue for a shuttle ticket, as Salalah only gets about two cruise ships a year and they are not geared up for a regular influx the way other ports are.  There is no passenger terminal and therefore no stalls, no money changers, no cafe, no welcome band etc.  It is a working container port and Princess eventually managed to round up nine 25 seater shuttles to the port gates only, as the local taxi union are protective and will not allow the cruise line to run a shuttle to town.  Mal & Megan and their Kiwi table companions, Mick & Pat hired a car – from Chesterfield (UK) based company, SixT.  A small world, as they are the company we use in England.  We have to coach to the Heathrow branch when we arrive at Dover, as there are no hire car companies operating in Dover on a Sunday...  A business opportunity there if anyone is interested.

We had a great tour and Joanne will have posted contact details on her blog. A couple of highlights.  The first was a local shopping stop, notable for the number of men’s barber shops.  At every step we were (politely) asked if we wanted a haircut.  (According to one passenger, his haircut cost him about 3 dollars!)  The area is famous for the production of Frankincense but what tickled our fancy was the local headgear and I think about 5 were purchased by our group. Now I can’t spell the name of this headgear without looking it up, nor the slightly more formal style, made with a large square of fabric that I now need to learn to tie...  Google may well be my friend.

On to the fun part of the day.  The tour company owner apparently has this farm producing coconuts and bananas – we were treated to free samples.  The water is bore water and is pumped up into an aqueduct irrigation system.  The lads extending it didn’t need spirit levels nor string lines.  (see pic.) We were then led inland where the owner had  several young camels and a pen containing cows and calves.  Casanova Arnold seemed happy enough to attract young camels using the horse whispering technique of blowing into their nostrils, a technique he assures us is foolproof.  It certainly worked for him.  I wonder if that is his technique for attracting the ladies? (see pic)

The static scarecrow is apparently there to scare marauding humans but I am sure that our noisier and more animated version would be far more effective.  (see pic) A trip to the beachfront was an education, as many seafront properties were abandoned and derelict. (see pic) Quite why I am not too sure.  Another short coffee stop back at the original market was appreciated by several, whilst others completed their shopping.

The museum visit was the last call, as in Salalah, just about everything closes from 1pm to 4pm and we had to be back on board by 5:30pm.  Needless to say, the place was packed with 250 Dawn Princess cruisers, so we wandered the archaeological site first.

A great day and big thanks to Joanne for organising it.  Our group of 14 (all from cruise critic remember) had a lot of laughs (as always) with Colin taking up the microphone and assisting with the commentary. (see pic)

Our impressions of Salalah?  Friendly people and having the opportunity to browse the market was long overdue.  Being bullied into high priced emporiums in India was of no use at all, yet going into a local market with an Arab guide was totally without pressure and made for a pleasant experience.   It wasn’t hot, but was hot enough to prefer shorts to long trousers and regardless of what we heard from Princess, once again, we could have relaxed the dress code anyway and worn shorts, though Roger managed to cover himself anyway with his long shorts.  What are we going to do if we do go again?  No idea.  Probably just a taxi into town a wander and back again, but with most shops shutting for the afternoon, it does make for restrictions.

Back on Board for a 6pm sailaway

After a quick dip in the pool, a snack from the buffet and pics of the wharf, we were turfed off our regular sailaway location on deck 11 at the rear of the ship, as the security staff reassembled their anti-pirate equipment, which is one of those sonic devices emitting a deafening noise when pointed at pirates.  I could think of a few targets back home for one of those if I was really pushed.  An empty container ship heading for port must have been glad to arrive, as it was really rolling badly.  

The evening meal was OK but it appears we are already in ‘repeat menu mode’, which is a bit disappointing on such a long cruise.  A 28 cruise around Australia is one thing, but a 104 day cruise is a different animal altogether.  The late show entertainment was a ‘Tom Jones’ act from Jacques Renae.  Pleasant enough, but not the best act we have seen.  Malcolm had bought whole Arab rig and with his tanned face and trim beard, could easily pass for an Arab.  He also seemed intent on adding to his tally of wives (see pic).  Although most crashed early, we had a couple of dances to Alana & Alana, though doing the quickstep on such a  tiny floor is somewhat restrictive.  Once again, bed after 12, with 4 days at sea to look forward to.   

A fruity day at sea - Day 26

The ship didn’t make very good progress since I last uploaded and the last time I looked, it was only doing 14 knots instead of our reduced normal 18 knots.  We would normally expect to be doing 20 knots, so two days at sea at a reduced speed usually has one outcome – a late arrival...  However the good news is that the Captain is positive about the engine problems being fixed by Dover, so our speculations about further delays and really major engine problems were way out – thank goodness.  Not being a marine engineer along with about 2698 people on the ship, the speculation has been fun.

PAULA WENT TO ZUMBA CLASS with Bex, rather than Barbara.  This is a policy the ship has to have to cover for potential non-availability etc., as no matter how popular these classes are, they do need more than one staff member able to take them. Paula staggered back stating that there was too much legwork – as if we don’t get enough from climbing stairs all day.  When I can get a few minutes from our busy eating and socialising schedule, I must try and do a calculation of how much climbing we do.  For those reading this, cruisers or potential cruisers(!), the main atrium ground floor is on deck 5.  This is where the customer services desk, tour desk and Florentine dining room is located.  Deck 7 is effectively our entertainment deck, with the Princess theatre at one end and the Vista lounge at the other, with the evening music and dancing in the middle along with other bars and nightclub, library and internet cafe.  Deck 8 is the casino and pizzeria.  We are on deck 11 and above us on 12 is the main pool deck, with one floor above – the buffet on deck 14 (no 13...).

As you can imagine, going to and fro means lots of stairs as we steadfastly refuse to use the lifts.  With all the food available at anytime, exercise is essential but just to prove to Jill W that I am eating healthily, this today’s list of fruit.

Breakfast – bowl of pineapple and prunes plus a banana.

Lunch – flambéed banana, pineapple and peaches (with a tiny dollop of fresh cream...) – yes, a tiny dollop, honest.

Dinner – melon x 3, pineapple (again), kiwi fruit plus a squeeze of lemon.

Of course I am not saying what else I had to eat and the day’s coffee total was just one small coffee at dinner.

A cooler windy day and apparently Salalah tomorrow isn’t as hot as we originally expected, being about 30 degrees only.   OK, for those in the middle of winter, or in the UK, 30 degrees doesn’t exactly sound cool...

Alana’s dance class was beginner’s waltz again plus a more advanced step.  These classes are just so popular that the area for dancing is nowhere near adequate, so we end up dancing along the aisles.

On board lecturer Peter Headley joined our team for the quiz, but even he couldn’t raise our score to the lofty heights we experienced last week.

There was a lot of confusion regarding the on board cruise newsletter’s schedule and locations and the reality on what was another formal night.  The first of course for the new arrivals.  We had our photographs taken with dance teacher Barbara (the Brazilian.)   She reminds me so much of daughter in law Manu when she speaks.

Somehow or other, the Dixieland Jazz scheduled at 5pm wasn’t on, but was on later but clashed with the stage show “Classically Yours”.  Excellent song and dance show but the Dixieland session would have been more to my taste and apparently was superb.

As usual, a few minutes with Alana and brother Alan (Atrium 7^th floor) on keyboards and also on vocals, with one or two others practicing the new dance moves.  We managed a very convincing Merengue again but we were fortunate to have a couple who are also regulars at the Browns Bay RSA, to follow.

 

A hot day at sea - Day 25

Our second attempt at carpet bowls was even worse than the first so I consoled myself with a proper coffee and a chocolate covered doughnut in the Atrium.

At 10:45am it was the famous “Pirate Drill”.  We all had to return to our cabins and prop the doors open, keep away from the windows and keep listening to the Captain’s progress reports on the ‘pirate attack’.  It took about half an hour but we didn’t have to do anything other than post one of our cabin occupants in the doorway.  Paula took this opportunity to send an email to Julie whilst I prepared to repel borders.

Reminded me of an old Goon Show – “How do you repel bo(a)rders?”  “Stop changing the bed linen...”   Oh how I love the English language.

Yesterday’s blog (always a day behind...) before Alana’s dance class – Cha-cha.  Of the 246 new passengers, only a couple made it to dance, but that just meant a revision and new step that I have almost forgotten!  I must learn to concentrate and memorise these new steps and practice them mentally.  Every day a new step for whatever dance we are doing.

Our plans for a light lunch went right out of the window when 8 from our evening dinner table of 10 opted to go to the pizzeria – again.

Whilst Paula had a nana nap, I set up the dinky combined torch/travel clock we’d bought at the ship’s shop.  At least we now know what our cabin temperature is.  Outside it was a blistering 43 degrees C.   After our usual 13/20 quiz score, we went for a dip in the Oasis pool, which at least has a sunshade over it.  The water must have been about 34 degrees and hardly a cooling dip, but pleasant enough.

Back to a full table for dinner and afterwards to the 9:45 comedian, Kevin Devane from the UK.  Certainly a lot funnier than the last comedian.  This one had a bit of audience interaction and we were near the front, so having elicited the names of several audience members and communicated with them, he came to the subject of vasectomies.  He asked how many men in the audience had had one.  Garry (who had already been picked on, pointed to me.  Thanks Garry...)  So I gave my name as Arnold...

These 45 minute shows really are ideal and afterwards, we hung around in the Atrium and had a couple of dances.

The air-conditioning controls in the cabin don’t appear to do much at times and the cabin was up to about 27 degrees at bedtime.

Paula read through all my postings to date and told me off for not putting in a previous blog that she had attended a Zumba class.  There, done it now.

Our next port in  a couple of days is Salalah in Oman, replacing Muscat.  Joanne has organised  a tour. We are expecting to be hot and the dress code is much tougher than Dubai, so no knobbly knees or elbows showing, but in 40 degree heat, I can’t that say I am looking forward to wearing trousers and a long sleeved shirt for the day. May have to wear my specially purchased Indian garb.

Six years tomorrow since Mum died and Paula’s last visit to the UK.  How time flies. Four weeks tomorrow we are in Dover.    

Back to the modern world - Dubai - Day 24

No rush to get up to see an arrival as we had already arrived and had the customs clearance.  I am still not too sure why India makes life so difficult.  Our (Indian) bus driver later in the day summed things up very succinctly. “Dubai’s leaders are doing things to ensure the future of the country, India’s politicians are only looking after themselves...”  Dubai is/was efficient, India is not. 

Dubai for the most part is clean, modern and with some stunning modern architecture.  If you think that only the old cities such as Venice, Rome or even London, has superb architecture, then you need to look at both high and low rise buildings in Dubai.

When we left the ship into the modern terminal building, there was a queue across the whole depth, with people wanting to change currency into local AED.  Not a lot of point really when just about everyone takes US dollars anyway, so we didn’t bother.  We had already heard of the city hop on hop off bus and happily purchased one (24 hour) day tickets for 220AED.  (Sorry, I put the wrong currency abbreviation previously...)  They have a manned stand in the hall.  We paid by Visa card – the first time it has seen daylight for three weeks.  We really didn’t do our homework properly here so for 2012 cruiser’s please take note.

What we didn’t realise was that the ticket not only includes the blue and red routes (more of that anon), but includes free bottled water from the on board fridge.  (Grab them early or they won’t be too cold.)  The trip also includes an on board 8 language commentary via hygienic ‘disposable’ head phones.  I think we ended up with 5 sets...   It also includes free admission to the excellent (so we are told) Dubai Museum and a 1 hour Dhow ride on the river.

We had already purchased Princess shuttle tickets for the standard $7 each way, but the “Big Bus Tours” double-deckers were already in the car park, ready to shuttle us to the incredible WAFI shopping centre, on the blue line route..  We didn’t get the chance to go inside, but the Egyptian theme complete with sphinx and Cleopatra’s needle was very well done.  We hopped off the shuttle double-decker and straight onto the Blue Route.  This is a  two and a half hour circuit of the modern or outer Dubai.  A real eye opener with at least two water parks we hadn’t even heard of, one on the Palms – the famous man-made island group.  The second was near a beach (with no shelter) and the number of hotels and attractions still being built on the Palms is just mind boggling.  Hopefully I’ll remember to post a photograph of the massive arch. The whole of the outer and modern Dubai area seems to have been developed by architects who can see beyond the boring rectangular block of concrete and glass that we seem to be lumbered with.  Whereas in days of old, intricately carved granite by talented stone-masons was the order of the day, such as in most European cathedrals for example, here, the architects are the sculptors of glass and concrete on a very grand scale.

We hopped off at the Emirate’s Centre (remember, we had briefly done the Dubai Mall last night) as we wanted to see the famous indoor snow/ski centre.  Although spectator viewing isn’t the best, there were hundreds of people hiring the gear and having a ball.

We just opted at this point for a bite.  A French crepe with egg, turkey and ham was 22AED.  Pretty good value and we paid in USD and got AED in change.

We bought nothing else other than a card.  Back on the bus until we arrived back at WAFI and transferred to the red route – the inner city and old Dubai.  What a city of contrasts.  To see these old dhow’s piled high with all sorts of goods from sacks of ?  to cardboard boxes with Hitachi electronics on the open decks, knowing they may well be heading for India across open seas was a surprise.  The old shopping area was particularly notable for one aspect.  It looked like down town Mumbai with hundreds of Indians seemingly doing nothing.  This is where we would have hopped off had we had time.  We had to wait for the ‘new dhow’ loading up from our bus – which was already 10 minutes late (also included several rather infirm oldies, who made slow progress to the dhow for their river trip) before the ‘old dhow’ could dock and release its load of passengers.  By the time we got to the point where we should have transferred to the Big Bus shuttle (a 35 minute wait) the official Princess shuttle was in so we used our pre-paid tickets and used that instead as it was leaving immediately.

Paula now did her shopping for the day in the terminal building!  (Julie, when you come to collect us in Auckland, we’ll have a fair bit more luggage than when we left Akl...)

A swim and a quiet dinner (honeymooning they call it) as all our table group were out, we just had a bit of a dance to the music/singing of Alan & Alana afterwards.  We found out from another two couples that the flashy showy intimidating dancers had left the ship in Dubai, so we amateurs/learners were able to stumble around the small 7^th floor Atrium and enjoy ourselves.  Please note Auckland dancers, that I was dragged up for two New Vogue dances again, that I hadn’t even done in NZ – the Palma Waltz & the Tangoette... Alana is so good!

This cruise has a lot to answer for already, but it was evenings like this with people we had never even met before, yet were friendly and happy to practice what Alana has been trying to teach us, having a great time before crashing before the 11:30pm sailaway, that make the cruise.  Once again, we just wish all our friends and relatives were along too.

We would love to do Dubai justice again at a later date.  I just hope that the 2012 World Cruisers don’t suffer engine problems that have tainted the both the 2010 and now the 2011 cruises.  With each of the four engines weighing in at around 150 tons and the crankshafts alone weighing 40 tons, it is not exactly like rebuilding your motorbike engine on the kitchen table or in the garden shed on a Friday night.  If as many of us suspect, the damaged engine has some severe mechanical problem at the lower end, then a full repair on the move is not really on.  So we continue with our reduced speed through the placid Dubai waters over night, with an expectation that it will be a less than smooth trip in 24 hours time.

Somewhere along the way, a minimum of a day (or two) lost somewhere at a major port is a probability - pure speculation of course.  Whether it is Dover, FL, LA or even Sydney at the conclusion, it surely has to happen eventually.   Watch this space.

Pirate drill tomorrow 10:45am.  Never a dull moment.