Geo: 51.5002, -0.126236Despite the very early start (03:00) the kids once woken up were ready to go and just buzzing with excitement after 3 years of planning and organising their day had finally arrived. Our daughter Michelle arrived and our car was packed, 3 adults, 2 kids and 8 pieces of luggage! We dropped our car off with Purple Parking who I can certainly recommend and were then taken to Heathrow. We arrived well in time but were still able to use the auto check in system. However, despite the fact we'd checked in successfully it refused to print our baggage labels, eventually I managed to find someone to assist and was told that we would need to go to the customer desk when the status changed to the gate being open, so settled down in ... read more

Geo: 37.7463, -25.6668Saturday 31/03/12 At Sea 20c warm & sunnyTimes now getting short with so many events on and trying to see everybody to arrange farewell drinks nights, there's scarcely enough time to fit relaxing in. Sunday 01/04/12 At Sea 19c warm & SunnyToday the entertainment crew put on a village fete again and as before it was well attended, with an enjoyable time had by all. Other than that it was a fairly lazy day I just need to finish my last book from the library, this is the 19th book I've read since we started the cruise, whilst not in any way intentional it's been surprising how many of the books I've read have a relationship with this cruise, usually relating to the ports we've visited. The book I'm currently reading "The Silent Landscape" ... read more

Geo: 29.9546, -90.0751Saturday 17/03/12 Limon, Costa Rica 25c overcast with tropical showersWe'd booked a trip today to visit a sloth sanctuary, whilst a lot of people may not be familiar with sloths they are delightful creatures who are blessed with an almost permanent smile, spend most of their lives high up in the trees only coming down once a week or so to defecate and urinate so it really is life at the top. Our guide for the morning was English and she went on to explain that whilst on a cruise ship she came to visit the sanctuary some 8 years previous, fell on love with the sloths and after returning home sold up and went to work at the sanctuary as a full time volunteer. She were informed us of the problems the animals ... read more

Geo: -18.4874, -70.3222Saturday 03/03/12 Castro, Chile 14c Sunny spells with a few showersThe approach up river to Costa is lined by Salmon fish farms on both sides, as the river is fairly narrow it can be challenging getting larger ships upstream especially if there's something coming downstream. Apparently this is a five billion dollar industry for them and they're now expanding the operation to double its size, impressive. We'd no sooner been tendered across to the terminal building when the heavens opened up fortunately after half an hour it stopped and the sun came out which enabled us to wander the town which is renowned for its wood carvings and all things wooden. We visited the San Francisco cathedral which looks impressive from a distance but as you get closer you... read more

Geo: -42.77, -65.04Saturday 18/02/12 Montevideo, Uruguay 29 c Sunny with a refreshing 20 mph windJust after 07:00 we sailed into the Rio de la Plata passing the spot where the Graf Spee was scuttled after the first naval battle of WWII.We spent an enjoyable day wondering around the city marvelling at the architecture of the old buildings, this place must have been fabulous in its heyday, and again it seems that an effort is being made to restore the buildings to their former grandeur.I managed to find the 25 ton range finder for the bomb aimer and the anchor from the Graf Spee but try as I might I couldn't locate the forward gun turret which is supposed to be displayed along the sea front. By early lunchtime we were slowly making our way towards the ... read more