Casablanca

The captain managed to get us safely into Casablanca harbour, its challenging with a big winter swell, so we were able to spend a few hours  there. There was a shuttle bus from the busy largely industrial port to Europa Square. At first glance Morocco is very chaotic, with aggressive taxi drivers literally fighting for business,  but everyone else is friendly and polite. We started with a mint tea for me (which is compulsory) and cappuccino for Rosemary before visiting the old souk. Rosemary spotted a shopping bag she fancied and bargained the price down to €25 so she was happy.

Before we caught the shuttle back we had another mint tea, fresh orange juice and Harash (a polenta pancake) all for €5. It's been a warm and mostly sunny day so time for a cocktail on the sun deck as we set sail for Tangier's.

We dined in the Tuscan restaurant again on lobster rigatoni, sea bass and tuna, a better choice than our last meal but we missed the theatre show in the process.

Third sea day

We are hoping to visit Casablanca on Saturday, if the sea state allows, so today is a sea day. It's overcast with a gentle breeze but not sitting round the pool day. I am doing a cocktail making course later at the Martini bar. 

There were only 3 of us making cocktails. The blue one, a Mediterranean Cobbler with Ouzo, was different but not very nice. I liked La Chica Loca (literaly 'the crazy lady') a long drink with tequila, ginger ale and jalapeno chilli, it is usually the mixologists favourite too!

It was Senior officers party next at 5 o'clock so more cocktails and canapes. (Somebody has got to do it !!!) Followed by a chic night with lobster and beef wellington on the menu.

Tenerife the largest island

Last stop in the Canaries is at Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. We had nothing planned for this stop so after breakfast we just walked into town to the Placa Espana and took some photos around the touristy square which is dominated by the Cruz. We found an interesting street cafe in the back streets and had a big cappuccino. We walked slowly back and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon on the sun deck. We have been averaging 10,000 paces so it was nice to chill out in the hot sunshine for a few hours today.

Gran Canaria

We have cruised on to Gran Canaria the second stop in the Canaries and had booked a ships transfer to Maspalomas Beach. The 1 hour journey took us to the southern tip of the island to a spot where an old lighthouse, a nature reserve featuring natural sand dunes, surfers and sun bathers coexist. We walked past the lagoon on the edge of the dunes where Tilapia swim and heron and egrets fish, to the beach. We enjoyed a coffee while watching the surfers, then shopped in the trendy mall, for a belt for me, before walking back to the dunes. The dunes stretch for several square miles, so I only had time for a short walk to get a view before returning to the pickup point. We had skipped breakfast today so shared a pizza while we were waiting for the coach. We were back on board for 2pm, it was still a warm 21deg but not as sunny as forecast.

Tonight we dined in Le Petite Chef restaurant which features an animated story, projected onto the table, about the fixed 4 course dinner. The main course was lobster tail in a delicious lemon butter sauce. We skipped the stage show and just had a special coffee in Bacio instead.

Lanzarote

We woke up in the port of Arricife, Lanzarote and decided to have the Elite continental buffet breakfast in Tuscan restaurant.  It was warm and sunny so after the very civilised breakfast we took the short shuttle to the port entrance and then strolled into town. It's the main town on the island rather than a tourist resort and a good selection of shops on its main street. We popped into the Ali Hop shop, had a coffee on the promenade and walked back to the shuttle round the old harbour, which still had some decorations left over from Christmas.  Back on board we had a late lunch and Rosemary had a hair do in the spa. An English comedian Dave Kristian was the entertainer and he was very good. Early night as we are up early to go on a coach to Maspalomas Beach on Gran Canaria tomorrow.

Sunny Sea day

After a slightly bumpy night we awoke to sun on our balcony for our 2nd sea day. The clocks went back on hour so after breakfast I enjoyed a couple of hours of sunshine listening to music on my earphones and reading my IET  magazine.  It featured the 100yr anniversary of the first public TV demonstration - how things have changed. Rosemary had a free shoulder massage which worked wonders. Then we both went to the Food and Wine pairing activity and basically we found that we were not drinking enough pinot noir! It's chic night in the MDR again, followed by Adele tribute artist singing other stuff, then we dock in Lanzarote tomorrow morning. Happy days.

Cadiz

We arrived in Cadiz after a breezy cruise through the straits of Gibraltar and have been on a panoramic coach trip. We drove around the old costal town, which sits on a peninsular, in pouring rain then inland to Jerez de la Frontera. This is the home of sherry making and the historic border between Moors and Christians. We passed all the well known bodegas en route and had an interesting guided tour of Fundador, the home of Harvey's Bristol Cream and enjoyed some samples. I bought a small book with recipes for sherry based cocktails and 3 miniature bottles of Tio Pepe a favoutiie of mine.

Gibraltar

We were promised showers but by the time we had breakfast the sun came out and we have had another dry sunny day. We walked the length of the main street past some familiar shops. I bought a cap from M&S as I had come out without my sunglasses. We had a look round a local craft fair in the Catholic church and had coffee at Costa We walked on as far as the old Trafalgar cemetery where two sailors from the battle of Trafalgar are buried before turning round and heading back to the ship using taxi shuttle service. Feet up now as we have already done 12,000 paces and we are dining in Tuscan restaurant tonight.

Had an interesting meal in Tuscan, massive belly pork and cheesecake, they go for quantity more than quality. It wasnt busy.

Surpise arrival in Malaga

After the change to the itinerary we are now in Málaga. It's a lovely sunny day for stroll around the attractive waterfront and the old town which has a castle, a big Greek ampitheatre and Picasso museum. Its quite a busy place and being the gateway to the Costa del Sol it atracts lots of tourists to its many tapas bars. We set off to find El Pimpo bodega where we celebrated Rosemary 80th birthday and enjoyed another nice lunch and glass of wine in Antoni Banderos famous establishment.

Tonight was an Adele tribute act in the theatre. She was very bubbly and loud but put on a very entertaining show.

First Sea day

Our first day at sea started uneventful if a bit windy. Just chilled out, booked 3 dinners for later in the cruise and  started the blog. We went to the show a high energy, incomprehensible musical party with one or two talented performers and a great live band.The dinner in MDR was very good again and while we were eating the captain announced another change of plan so Gibraltar is back on, but Málaga and Cadiz are now in hour first stops instead of last. Its all going to be a bit confusing with the on board events being rescheduled as well.

Boarding Day

We had a good night's sleep and a good breakfast before heading off to the port. Our taxi was booked 2 hours before our scheduled boarding time of 2:00 pm but we were allowed on without delay. 

Nice cabin with big balcony which will be nice when the sun comes out. We had a coffee in Bacio and signed up for a discounted 3 dinner package within hours.

We found that the itinerary had been changed to try and avoid a developing Atlantic storm so we were going to have two days at sea, missing Gibraltar and heading straight for the Canaries.

After the Elite happy hour cocktails we changed our 10 seater dinner table in the Trellis dining room to a more intimate one on the balcony and enjoyed our first meal. The show this evening was by Tetiana a Ukrainian violin player.

Ready for takeoff.

Arrived at Birmingham airport so early that we could not check-in for 2 hours so we were stuck the wrong side of security/departures in a cafe Nero till we could drop our bags off.

Eventually boarded on time and despite arriving 30mins ahead of schedule the taxi was waiting to take us to BAH hotel 5mins away.

Canary Islands cruise on the Infinity

 We are just packing to fly to Barcelona to join the Celebrity Infinity cruise to the Canary Islands via Gibraltar and then back again via Morocco and Southern Spain. We are away for 2 weeks in total so it will be our longest winter cruise holiday ever.