Day 1 - Embarkation is really quick and easy in Barcelona. I have done it twice and it has taken less than twenty minutes to get on the ship both times. Lunch at the Windjammer before mid-day! Had a good tour of the ship before muster, which did not include those dirty life-jackets that no-one wants to drag over their head. We watched a quick change show called Flash & Fever, which wasn't very good. My Time Dining was smooth and efficient and it was an all round relaxing first day.

Day 2 - A strange noise in our cabin kept us awake most of the night, and although we told the front desk, they said call us when it happens again, which wasn't particularly helpful. However, full English breakfast at the Windjammer (including nearly cooked sausages!), was followed by the Crown & Anchor talk where we won a lint roller in the raffle. Yes, a lint roller! Gordon the cruise director comes from a small village a mile or so away from us in England so we had a bit of a chat. We did the afternoon quiz with a nice couple from Minnesota - it was too cold to relax on the top deck. It was formal night so we dressed up to watch five minutes of a "Broadway" show. The dinner was however great, although the lobster appears to have shrunk to shrimp size and has been re-named shrimp.

Day 3 - The strange suction noise was back, which prompted DW to have another little chat with the front desk. This time they said that as soon as we heard it, whatever time, to call and they would send someone to sort it out. I staggered out of the gym like I had done 15 rounds with Iron Mike before breakfast wondering whether 15 minutes of looking at exercise machines should really be that tiring. We went to see "Gotta Dance", 'a nice family film' in the movie theatre, but most of the day was spent reading in the Solarium wondering what real sunshine felt like. Bruce Parker, the Motown singer, was great and so was dinner. No sooner had we got into bed and the noise was back. This time a plumber came immediately and sleep was restored. Read more