Category: Travel – Cruise

I woke up at 5.30am which was really 6.30am.  When I looked out the window I could some island and wind turbines. Shortly afterwards I got up and ready for the day. We had to wake up Christy. Around 7.45am to headed to breakfast. We ate in the dining room today which was much better.

After going on deck to check the weather we decided to pick up an extra jacket for Christy then we went to meet for our walking tour of Copenhagan. I loved the skyline – so different from our modern cities.

Immediateley upon leaving the ship we met with our tour guide for our walking tour. Unfortunately Christy wasn’t feeling the best and we had evil Tween Amy with us today so there was a lot of whinging going on. It is a beautiful city – full of sculptures and locals riding their bikes.

We saw a video screen of the Little Mermaid showing it’s current setting in Shanghai.

We also saw quite a swans and signets.

The highlight would be the royal palaces. We saw the Queens Winter home and that of Princess Mary. We’d been telling Christy the story of the Australian girl who married a Prince and became a Princess – not realizing she was the Princess of Denmark. Royality here live a much more normal life than that in Britain.

This is to be Mary’s Winter home now that it has been renovated.

We had a stop at this lovely old palace for a softdrink.

We saw lots of screaming/running high school graduates.

And some guards…

And I had an experince when trying to go the toilets – and I didn’t have any money to pay! Thankfully another tourist was kind enough to pay for us all to go to the toilet :-).

After the walking tour we hopped on a boat for a tour of the canals. We sat outisde for a bit but when it got a bit too cold moved inside, where both girls promptly fell asleep.

The cruise ended back at the ship so went back onboard, had lunch at Windjammers and took the girls headed to kids club. Unfortuanately I hadn’t been feeling well all day so we just went ashore to look at some shops briefly before I went back to the cabin to relax (read and sleep) and Kevin went back into town to get an adapter so we can charge things up.
Another lovely dinner tonight. So pleased the girls all get along as do us adults.

Still feeling unwell (lightheaded and achy) so it’s an early night for me.

I awoke around 6.30am. When Christy woke we all got dressed and went to breakfast at Windjammers. We sat outside again but it was a bit cooler today. Christy’s watermelon was very juicy so Kevin improved a sleeve for her to wear.

After eating we wrote some postcards and then took the girls to Adventure Ocean (kids club). Kevin and I then went to check out the shops and buy a few bits and pieces. Kevin then bought a cup of coffee and check e-mail. Internet access is very expensive and very slow :-(.

The lobby….

We then went back to our cabin to change for the thermal suite. LOVED this. We spent about an hour reclined on hot beds and enjoying the steam rooms. We’ve bought a pass for the cruise so to enjoy it most days. I hadn’t been feeling the best this morning (with a head cold)  but felt much better after this. We then went back to our room to wait for the kids to return from kids club. So glad they are now old enough to sign themselves in and out. Amy wanted to have lunch at Windjammers but it was a mistake. It was busy and slow (with having to be served). By the time I got Christy’s food sorted I was stressed and feeling unwell again and couldn’t be bothered lining up to get myself some lunch. After everyone else ate we took the girls to the pool. They had been going to use the outdoor slide but it was too cold so they went the Solarium – where they were pleased to find Anna and Alyssa (from dinner).

I managed to get some pizza – one vegetarian and one banana and mango (which was really yummy).

Then it was time for them to get changed again for kids club. Kevin took them back to the cabin while I went to pick us up some teas. Once they left I lay down on the bed to read for a bit, then had around an hours sleep. I hardly ever sleep during the day and usually not very well so I really must have needed it. I felt so much better afterwards and read for another hour before it was time to ready for Formal Night. The girls returned and got ready as well. We took a few photos before heading in to dinner.

Another nice meal – potato curry and coconut layer cake.

Once again we enjoyed Melissa and Osbourne’s company and were amongst the last to leave the dining room.

The girls had all headed off to kids club earlier so Kevin and I headed back to our cabin. Christy came back from kids club just before 9pm and Amy is due back at 10pm.

We are absolutely thrilled with the size of our room and glad we didn’t get the balcony – as that extra space is in our room :-).

After getting our bags unpacked and everything sorted and put away we went for a wander around the ship. It’s quite a nice size – big but not too big. But because we’ve not sailed this class before it’s going to take us a while to learn our way around.

At 4.30pm we had muster but we didn’t have to take our life jackets and we just went to the theatre – very civilized. It’s amazing how different places have different regulations.

Since sailaway was scheduled for 6pm – right when we’d be at dinner – we had our ritual cocktail beforehand. Amy and I had virigin pina coladas.

We enjoyed those then went back to the room for a little while before heading to dinner. It was caotic getting into dinner – with everyone having to be taken to their tables the first night. I was happy to be seated next to the window and the best part was our lovely table companions from Canada, Melissa and Osbourne, and their two little girls,, Alyssa and Anna, who are 7 and 9.

Dinner was delicious – Onion tart, vegetable quesadillas and strawberry pavlova.

We had planned to go to the Welcome Aboard show but it had already started by the time we left dinner. The girls wanted to go for a swim but when we went down the outdoor pool was closed for maintainence and they were not allowed to use the indoor pool (it’s only available for kids at certain times). So I got myself a cup of tea (no tea making facilities in our cabin – shock horror!!!!) and we went back to our room. We’re looking forward to a fun day at sea tomorrow.

Leaving Harwich…