First sea day (clocks forward)

Wednesday 23rd November

I did not sleep well. This is quite typical for my first night on a ship. I think I’m in a corridor of people who love the night-life. Doors seemed to be continually banging shut! At 3.30 (which was 2.30 by my body) I took the second half of my sleeping tablet as one half had not worked well enough. It was a disturbed sleep. I also realised that the bed was not as soft as usual as it did not have a mattress topper. It turns out you have to ask for those specifically now, so I have done so and it arrived that night.

I finally got up about 10.40, which is early for me at sea! This meant I was in time for my usual cruise breakfast of pineapple, watermelon and banana bread. (I’m not sure the banana bread is worth it anymore; they have changed the recipe.) I chatted to the people in the seats next to me and stayed until the Captain’s midday announcement.

The dance lesson started at 12.15. I got there about 12.20 and sat reading my book. I’d arranged to meet Jenny at the end of the lesson but could not see her anywhere. She was there dancing the cha-cha in the crowd and had seen me but I had missed spotting her. We went to lunch together and chatted.

After lunch I went to my room to write up my diary and sort out the internet. I had held off buying my internet package waiting for the special embarkation package, but that has been stopped now.

All too soon it was time to get ready for dinner and the ball. I wore my black sequinned cocktail dress. Jenny and I were assigned to a table with two other couples. We were not impressed as everything was negative. One woman complained about her dinner, and it turns out her husband had made a real fuss about his dinner the night before. The other couple were Scottish and had different opinions from ours about people in need. We were seriously wondering about asking to change tables, but for the rest of the cruise we were alone with the Scottish couple and found that they had a good sense of humour, so meal times became fun.

The first dance session was sequence dancing. It’s been so long since I did any that I was not even sure of some of the names. Do I know the Cindy Swing? The Melody Foxtrot? As soon as I saw them, I realised I did know them. I managed a couple of dances. The 9.15 ball was packed, as usual. In fact, they added extra seating for those who just wanted to watch Dan and Alyona’s demonstration. I managed quite a few dances. I felt that Dennis asked me to dance a few too many times considering the number of women around, but that others did not ask me often enough. It’s difficult to get a good balance.