We Are Sailing, We are Sailing

[

ITINERARY -

Ports of Call:

Southampton, England; Lisbon, Portugal; Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Naples, Capri, Italy; Cagliari (Sardinia), Italy; Gibraltar; Cádiz, Spain; Southampton, England

Always practical, as we are going for 18 days and there is not a launderette on the  boat I have bought a travel washing line for the vast sum of £3.99 from Amazon ( including postage great price!).  I expect i shall have to get Mike’s shirts ironed but I will be hanging our smalls in the cabin – sorry, stateroom.

I did wonder if I could hang them in the main dining room under the huge chandeliers – do you think they would mind?

I hope to keep you all informed from the boat from time to time although the WIFI connection isn't cheap. Nothing on board is cheap, the wine is £30 a bottle, but the trip itself was a very good deal so I shall have to coax Mike into spending just a little more.

I have hooked up with some others on a cruise forum so we should have more of a social life than normal. We are joining 2 other couples for a private tour of the Amalfi drive coastline via Sorrento, Pompeii, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. - fingers crossed we will all get on. Two are flying in from Australia on the Saturday – don’t envy them the jet lag. We have just a 3 hour drive – so much easier than flying – we love it.

Here is a photo of the boat – it’s massive

See the size of the boat in front! Last time there was very little movement not even in the Bay of Biscay but it might be a little rougher at this time of year. Mike’s got some seas sick pills – just in case. This time we are on deck 7 instead of 9 but still at the rear of the ship which I think is probably better for stability. There are 3 formal night in the dining room when Mike will don his dinner suit and I will have to find an alternative to jeans & a t shirt. I actually enjoyed dressing up but the high heels pose a painful problem. Still, don’t have to walk far in them, can take them off in the gangways.

We have booked an inside stateroom again as, at this time of year, a balcony would probably not get used much. Having said that, a passenger on-board at present is reporting blue skies and sunshine in Italy. lets hope it continues. If we went to the Caribbean then a balcony would be a must. Wishful thinking? They are very spacious -

Beds can be made up together to create a 6’x6’ as we have at home.

I don’t think we will get bored -

“When it comes to onboard activities, Independence of the Seas offers an embarrassment of riches. For those who love to go wild on vacation, you can hang-10 on the popular FlowRider®, bob and weave in the full-size boxing ring, putter around on the nine-hole miniature golf course, cool off at the ice-skating rink, and more. For travelers who want to just sail away from it all, the ship offers plenty of soothing distractions such as cantilevered whirlpools, , a day spa, a solarium with an indoor/outdoor pool, and a library. Plus, your little ones will love the fun designed just for them with the H20 Zone(SM) interactive water park and the Adventure Ocean® Youth Program.

With so much to do onboard, you'll work up quite an appetite. The three-deck-high main dining room serves your favorite dishes from around the world. Cruisers can also enjoy casual eateries like the buffet at Windjammer Café, Johnny Rockets® 50s-style diner, Ben and Jerry's®, and Sorrento's pizza parlor. Looking for something out of the ordinary? Independence of the Seas has two specialty restaurants: Portofino Italian Restaurant and Chops Grille. After dinner, you can burn off those calories with scores of entertainment options. Let it ride on your lucky number in Casino Royale, belt out a karaoke classic at the On Air Club, or cut a rug in the castle-themed nightclub, The Crypt. Want fun for the whole family? Shoot for the high score in the arcade, watch a movie together in the theater, or take the whole bunch to see a show at the five-story, Broadway-style venue Arcadia Theatre.”

The theatre is BIGGER than the Princess Theatre in Torquay – and it is just a small part of the ship. Truly amazing!

We will probably spend a lot of time relaxing and reading in one of the many bars or on deck if the weather is kind. There are several areas where you can get away from the crowds and with a cocktail of the day by your side, what more could you want?

I intend to give the gym a try if only I go on a treadmill there must be a dozen or more. The gym is massive and has every bit of equipment you can think of. Plus a sauna and steam room.

More to come later ………………….