Roemin Aboat

Our planned 'stop on board till 2:00pm' was cancelled so that the ship could be deep cleaned. So we were off the ship at 9:00 for our 3rd panoramic tour of the city. We had a tour guide and coach for just 11 people. This time we stopped at the Sagrada Familia for a comfort break and were dropped off at Terminal 2 in plenty of time for the flight home. Ryanair and our taxi were both on schedule and we were home by 8:30 - (16000/15000 steps.)

The previous night and today we had calm seas and clear skies making for another pleasant day at sea. Meanwhile a few tens of miles away on the Mediterranean coast record rainfall events where causing catastrophic flash floods around Valencia. We had breakfast and lunch (a Taste of Equinox special menu) in Tuscany and last dinner in MDR with Stephen and Caroline. We were told that our 'stay on board' experience was cancelled due to the need to deep clean the ship after some sickness had been reported. (11000/8000 steps)

We cruised overnight from Tangiers and docked in Cadiz with 3 other cruise ships. It was a very murky start with heavy rain showers. We only planned to wander around the town so waited until the rain eased and equiped with umbrellas set off to visit the cathedral. A port shuttle dropped us at the gate and it was just a 5 min walk. Rosemary slipped over at the bottom of the ramp, new shoes to blame, but fortunately did not sustain serious injuries. After the cathedral, ok but not spectacular, we found our way to the market by which time the showers had finished. The fish market was one of the most impressive we have ever seen and occupied over half of the building.  We bought a huge cone of mixed fried fish for 10 euros and had a coffee in nearby cafe with a huge portion of churros. They do things big in Cadiz. On our way back to the shuttle I spotted a really nice cosy looking coffee shop which was full interesting old stuff, so we managed another coffee and a crepe bef...

We are docked in Tangiers today and got up early to take a ships tour to Asilah on the Atlantic coast 40km south of Tangiers. We had an overview of Tangiers on the way passing through the city centre and the expensive California residential area where the King has his palace. Then we were taken via Cap Spartel which has a lighthouse 1000 ft up on the NW tip of Morocco and gives spectacular views of the coast where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. The remaining drive to Asilah was down the 30km sandy beach, almost deserted now, apart from a few cows, sheep and camels, but rammed in the summer and weekends apparently.  Asilah is a small but expanding resort, known as the white pearl, but was originally a fortified Portuguese village. We had an interesting walking tour of the old part with its white stone buildings (many holiday lets) and craft workshop. There is a traditional working fishing harbour and there are numerous sea food restaurants outside the old walls. W...

Clear blue skies and calm sea an ideal combination for a sea day. After breakfast in seaview we took a Bacio takeaway coffee and spent most of the morning chilling on the balcony, deleting surplus photos and updating our blog. When the ship turned east and we lost the sun on the balcony we went up to the mast bar for a burger lunch and found two loungers in partial shade for an afternoon of sunbathing. Rosemary read her Kindle and I listened to my music for a couple of hours. The pool bar did a great Tequila Sunrise and Pina Colada. I went to see how many people were watching the Man U v West Ham football on the Sky lawn.(not very many!) while Rosemary finished her book. We visited Future Vacations desk before tea and sorted out some options for a family cruise next year, then paid a small deposit to secure a good deal. MDR for dinner again. (9500/7300steps without leaving the ship!

We are in Porto for the day and took a 4 HR  panoramic bus tour, with 3 stops, to see some of the old town that we missed when we came before in 2009. Although it was a day of heavy showers the rain stopped whenever we had a walkabout.  Lots of history and great views over the city from it's 6 bridges. MDR again with the US couple but missed the show.(12000/11000 steps)

Decided to walk back to the square and find a HOHO to do the old part of town. We bought some 'designer' tins of sardines (silly prices) and had a cheap coffee and pastel de Nata in small cafe. It took a while but we eventually got on a small open top bus that could negotiate the narrow steep windy streets of the old town. There was a big Princess cruise boat in the dock which swelled the crowds so we stayed on the bus for most of the route in case we could not get back on. Saw most the sights from a distance. Then swapped busses, after a hot chocolate, to get back to the cruise terminal without another long walk. Saw the Americans at dinner in the MDR after a cocktail and skipped the show.(14000/14000 steps)

We sailed into Lisbon during breakfast, passing the Belem tower and going under the 25 August bridge we drove over in 2006. Went ashore and walked to historical riverside commercial square which has nice tapas bars/restaurants and is a hub for tours. We had some Portuguese style cod and sea bass, more rustic than gourmet but nice surrounding streets. Walked back in time for cocktails but ate in Seaview buffet. Cancelled the sunset sail as it was murky and threatening to rain but had a good sunset after glow from our balcony overlooking Lisbon.(14000/13000 steps)

The weather was warm and sunny for our first sea day and we had the sun on our balcony for most of the day. Lunch in ocean view, a few coffees and cakes in Cafe Bacio, relaxed on balcony. First dinner in MDR, met our dining companions, US pensioners avoiding the elections, with lots to say.(10000/7000 steps)

The breakfast at INNSIDE was excellent again and after leaving the cases in storage we wandered back to Port Velli in daylight and I bought two Americas cup lapel badges (silly price). All the raza mataz was packed away so nothing much to see. Walked back to claim the bags and grab a taxi to the port 2 mins away. Smooth check-in,  aboard by 2 o'clock, cabin 7285 port aft. We got a deal at Qsine so our first dinner was an animated 3D show projected onto our plates and table. It was fun and the food was excellent, cod loin, filet steak en croute, a sweet and soup to start. Then we did the show, a Brit singer/entertainer. Quite good but too loud as usual.(15000/12000 steps)

We arrived in Barcelona two days after NZ retained the Americas cup. We had some issues with the taxi transfer but it all worked out eventually. Staying at the INNSIDE again which was a short stroll to the Time Out food market at Port Velli which is now an attractive shopping, eating and music venue. We dined on grilled calamari and crab and prawn croquettes with a glass of wine on the terrace overlooking the Swiss and UK yacht 'garages' on the marina. We had a coffee in the hotel lounge before retiring.(15000/12000 steps)

We are off to Barcelona again to join the Equinox on Tuesday after a night in the Inside hotel. Taxi booked for 10am and we will not be back till Halloween.

We had a city tour to help pass the time before our 5pm flight back to Birmingham with Ryanair and a Club Taxi home. Photo opp from Montruic followed by a slog around the gothic quarter with a funny guide Auriol and his assistant Mark, then crawled through the busy airport. Flight was on schedule but the taxi was a bit late and we arrived home at 8pm. Chippy was asleep.

Just a sea day to finish our cruise. Cloudy all morning, went to wine tasting after a healthy breakfast in Eden cafe. Rosemary had Thai style fish and chips and I had a shrimp stir fry in Raw on 5 the Sushi restaurant. Sun came out later, bit of sun bathing and packing. Selfie on the magic carpet. We sailed through a very active thunder storm just before midnight.

Woke up to a beautiful view of the harbour at Ajaccio on the west coast of Corsica. After breakfast we browsed around the craft market on the quay and then walked into the old town past the house where Napoleon Bonaparte was born (now a museum). I had a quick paddle on the town beach, lit a candle or two in the cathedral and we found a nice French bistro (no, not Pierre). The lunchtime platter of chacuttery and French cheeses with a glass of white wine provided a welcome relief from the hot sun. Back on board we chilled out on the resort deck with a cocktail until departure at 6pm. It's smart chic dress code tonite and lobster is on the menu.

We are in Rome today and doing our own thing via a combination of Celebrity rail transfer and hop-on hop-off bus arranged with Viator. We arrived at San Pietro station at 10:00 and followed our guide around St Peters Square to avoid the large crowds attending the outdoor Wednesday mass. Nice cheap coffee and croissant in side street cafe before catching the HoHo opposite Castel Angela. We spent an hour on the bus before hop off at the Coloseum, then walked by Circus Maximus (no Chariots today) to hop on bus and return to start. Walked back over the river Tiber  taking photos, chatting to bride on photoshoot and making our way to Les Ettoiles terrace restaurant near St Peters. We celebrated my birthday with champagne, arrancini and prawns while taking in the spectacular panarama. We wandered back via St Peters square, the masses were now queuing to get into the basilica and museum, to rejoin our guide at the station. Managed to take a few distant photos of the basilica and a selfie ...

We crawled into the commercial port at La Spezia at about 6:00am and awoke to see rows of containers instead of pretty villages. We get off quite early today and may take the train to the Cinque Terre villages although we have been before in the van. We shared a taxi to the station and caught the train for 15min journey to Venazza with thousands of others, took the photos, had a nice fishy lunch and came back to the Edge at 4:40. It's been warm, not too hot for our first day ashore. We walked back from the station just stopping by the Garibaldi  monument (nothing to do with biscuits) for a Cappuccino on the way.

We were anchored close to Portofino but alas the swell from the south was too strong (allegedly) to risk the tender operation. So near and yet so far again! So another sea day, but not quite as static as yesterday, as we cruised away south at 2knots towards La Spezia. The shops and casino opened and we booked a nice lunch in La Grande Bistro with a window table to watch the Ligurian coast drift by very slowly. The big musical show was a bit underwhelming, dinner in Normandie again with interesting  French Canadians on next table.  Prawns, marmite, duck. Duke Ellington tribute band  in cocktail lounge.

We are at anchor off Cannes and waiting for a tender to take us ashore. We had buffet breakfast in Seaview and chatted with Texans who have fallen in love with UK.  It's a bit breezy so the tender queue is going down rather slowly. We left it late and had not been called to tender by 2:00pm so gave up and had a static sea day instead. We have swapped restaurants and are going to Normandie tonight. Went to Eden, an excellent 3 level retreat, for cocktails as we set sail for Portofino just before 8:00pm. A much nicer table in Normandie, the beef tenderloin en croute was excellent, the duck too much for Rosemary. It was smart chic and silent disco night.

Breakfast in the excellent hotel buffet and packing ready to go on board the Celebrity Edge. Perhaps then  they will stop sending me reminders every 8 hours! It's a nice sunny morning and getting warm - cruising weather. The Edge is certainly an elegant and spacious ship compared to its predecessors. We like the infinite veranda cabins, they are large with ample well designed storage and facilities. We dined in the Cypress restaurant on lamb shanks and short ribs, Greek style, after seeing the comedy show. Chatted with friendly Canadians over dinner but did not like the table we were allocated in a dark corner of the restaurant.