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Published: July 31st 2019
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Today is the last day of the cruise, as we disembark at Dover tomorrow morning. It is also a sea day, but being far from the coast it is quite windy so cool despite the sunshine. We did the usual deck walking after breakfast and wondered if the directional arrow ever changed.
Glyn went to a cookery demonstration. He actually enjoyed it and didn’t fall asleep! I spent the time reading in the sun.
Lunch was an executive buffet which meant a fancy display with fruit carvings, swan shaped bread and huge ice carvings. It was mostly fish and meat, so all I could have was bread and cheese, but it was very nice cheese.
The afternoon was spent doing very little. Most holidays I go on, I’m absolutely shattered by each evening and knackered by the time I return to work. However, I have learned how to relax. The first few days, I struggled to sit still and was up and down like a yo-yo; however these last few days there’s been times I’ve been content staring at the sea regardless of there being no whales, dolphins or porpoises. I still did a lot of photography, taking
record shots of the ship and when that was done, got some sea birds as they hovered on the wind nearby. I finally found out info-lady’s name - it’s Caroline and she gave me a postcard with her details on - hello to you!
Our last meal was in the restaurant with Mo and Andy - no timelapses this time as I forgot the part to prop up the Osmo.
Afterwards we went to check out who had won the photo competition. Andy had come first with his Puffin and Pat second with a Sea Eagle. I discovered my blue Fox was fourth but no prizes for that. So my tribe totally ruled the photography competition, get in!
The evening was spent on the warming lido deck, with my last glass of wine chatting to new friends I’d made this trip.
I would happily do a cruise again, if I could afford it! It has been a lot more expensive than our usual trips, but more relaxing and no end of food, mostly good. The service was been totally top notch, although I do worry about the staff - where do they go when not working
as you never see them on deck. The behind the scenes staff, eg those doing laundry, chopping veg, in the engine room, do they get to see daylight during the cruise? I tried to ask a few but they didn’t say much except that they slept a lot, or made a joke about rowing below! However, some have worked for Fred Olsen for years, even more than 10 years, so it must be ok. We tipped our favourite staff and they were very grateful- I will miss being called Madame Claire and Glyn was Mister Glyn or even Sir Glyn! There’ll be none of that at home, let me tell you.
I also want to visit Svalbard again, but fly there for a long weekend in Winter so there’s snow. I really like Norway too, despite it being so pricey, it’s so clean and beautiful with such clean air! I appreciated it all the more during the long 4.5 hour drive home with the obligatory English drizzle and grey skies.
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
Pricey cruises...
The prices I see on cruise.com, which includes most cruise lines, are very reasonable. Have you tried other search engines?