Cruising is FUN

The following is an extract from the Captiains Log:

With all pre departure checks complete, clearance was granted and the Captain made his departure broadcast. Ventura let go all her lines and moved off the berth with the band playing. She then proceeded down Southampton Water, slowing down at dock head for the firework display on our port side and again at Fawley Oil terminal before makinf two turns, first at Calshot Split and the other at Brambles Bank. Once complete, an easterly course was set along the eastern solent taking us between the two forts. Ventura disembarked her local pilot at 22:21 and once clear of Nab Tower altered to a south westerly course into the English Channel towards the north western tip of France.

Friday 18th April – the big day. After a hearty breakfast at the Southampton Hilton and another swim, it was time to take out taxi to the ship. When we arrived at Southampton’s Mayflower Terminal, we had our first look at the ship, the thought that sprang to mind at the time was, isn’t she big?

We queued (in the rain) for about 30 mins and then went through check in and security, then after the obligatory photograph, we were able to get onto Ventura.

Our cabin L259 was on deck 15 and we took the lift up with our hand luggage, the cases would be delivered to the cabin later. Needless to say, the lift took us up and upon exiting the lift, we went left, walked for several hundred yards and realised that we should have gone right. Our cabin was on the same level as the Laguna and Beachcomber pools as well as the Waterside and Beach House self service restaurants.

We spent the next hour or so exploring and getting lost around this amazing ship, before long it was time for lifeboat drill, and then the sailaway.

We were treated to a selection of songs from the Quayside by the band of the Lifeguards and after a blessing ceremony and lots of confetti, we were at last underway.

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As we sailed past the QEII with a police escort, we were treated to a fireworks display out in the bay and free champagne was available for everyone.

Later that night, after a 5 course dinner in the Cinnamon restaurant, we enjoyed entertainment from a mind reader and comedian. The night was rounded off with a little poker in the casino, where we met Phil and Maria, a couple from Cardiff.

We now had 3 days at sea to look forward to before we arrive in Barcelona

The day has finally arrived, well almost, because I get a little anxious about possible traffic hold-ups on the day, we often travel to Southampton the day before and this was no exception. However, our mode of transport sometimes varies. If it’s a short cruise of a week or less, we sometimes take the train as it’s so cheap, around £18 each return from Blackwood to Southampton. On this occasion as this cruise was for 2 weeks, we had 2 cases each and the train would not have been practical. The drive down to Southampton took about two and a half hours and we arrived just after lunchtime. Our room in the Southampton Hilton was ready so we checked in and went for a swim in the hotel pool.

After a relaxing day, we spent the evening with some friends of ours who live in Southampton, Simon and Julie, We met them last year on a holiday in India and they are a lovely couple, a few pints and a curry later, it was time to turn in ready for the big day tomorrow.