Thurs 5 May, at home, completed health questionnaire, LFT negative, and last minute packing.

Fri 6 May, drove to Southampton as we live in NE UK it is 330miles, set the sat nav and car in auto box eco mode, uneventful journey with a few pit stops, car performed excellently 52.5mpg. Overnight in Premier Travel Inn outside Southampton.

Sat 7 May, our embarkation time was 3-30pm the latest for any cruise. Slow breakfast, topped the car with diesel from Costco, drink at M and S cafe, just trying to fill in time. Eventually drove to docks, joined the queue for CPS parking the car. Waited in the car and noticed the long distance coaches dropping off passengers. Waited in the car, CPS staff slowly working along the queue checking passengers, photographing every car and collecting keys then stated you can leave the car, take your luggage and join the queue to board. The queue was 200m long, dropped our luggage then joined the queue but it moved slowly, eventually entered the building, everything was checked, LFT results, Sars Covid 19 vaccine passports, passports, the photo of me was accepted from online check-in but my wife had her photo taken again. Through security and we were on board. Directed to our Muster station to see its location then up to the cabin. Walked up the stairs to our cabin, luggage outside and were greeted by Alberto our cabin steward. He wanted us to watch the safety briefing on the TV and showed us where the life vests were and both commented we hoped they were never needed. Alberto kept our cabin perfect and we made sure when leaving for breakfast that we left the "gone exploring " sign on the cabin door to let him know we were out and our room was available for cleaning. We unpacked and wife thought not enough wardrobe space esp as we are going north and our clothes are much thicker than a summer cruise. Fired up "My Holiday " app on my I phone and joined the queue for the Keel and Cow for dinner. We did not receive notification our table was ready but decided to walk to the restaurant and then the notification arrived and you have 15 mins to claim your table. I decided to have a 8 oz fillet steak with all the trimmings, and my wife the Cauliflower, Lentil and Sweet Potato pudding, lovely she stated. My steak was bloody so had to send it back on return was great. We decided on the sharing dessert NY cheesecake, Ice cream, Maple Pecan pie, all lovely. Had an after dinner walk on promenade deck and saw a lovely sunset, see picture below as I had my DSLR and Zoom lens. Back to cabin and a notice "clocks go forward 1 hour early am". Read more