Art of the Mediterranean

MS Balmoral

Friday 27 September – Departing

08:00 I meet the first of our 34 guests joining us on our Art of the Mediterranean cruise on the MS Balmoral for 14 nights from Southampton. Soon we are leaving home. All the baggage is stowed away and we are settling down with our newspapers, looking forward to the cruise. First worry over. Everyone turned up at the right place and the coach is on time. Must make a mental note to order more Daily Mails and fewer Independents for next time.

12:00. I arrive slightly early at Southampton City Cruise Terminal. It’s always a bit of a scrum and this can be a bit daunting for the first time cruiser, but our luggage is taken off the coach and forwarded straight to your cabin door. You don’t have to lift a finger!

13:00 Boarding starts and by 17:00 after the lift boat drill, the Balmoral is slowly pulling away from the quay, gliding down the Solent. The band is playing on the aft deck and guests are sipping cocktails or exploring the ship.

18:00 to 20:30. After checking with the Maître d’ that the table reservations are correct, we sit down to dinner and afterwards weenjoy the show in the Neptune Lounge.

Saturday 28 to Monday 30 September - Cruising

Each day is becoming warmer that the last. Guests are taking advantage of the many activities that are available on board. We meet for coffee and a chat every morning at 11:00 in the Braemar Lounge. Not compulsory of course!But there are always about 10 or so people who join us to get to know each other, exchange bits of information and talk about the forthcoming ports of call. Many are enjoying the daily talk on arts and antiques by BBC Antiques Roadshow’s’ Lars Tharp.

17:30 Monday 30 September - At Lido Lounge for our Miles Morgan Drinks Party. Fred. Olsenstaff keep us well supplied with drinks and canopies. Another occasion to get to know each other better. At least three quarters of the guests laugh at the jokes in my welcome speech, which is an improvement on last year!

Tuesday 1 October - Glorious weather in Malaga!

08:00.Some of us meet up for a horse drawn carriage ride around Malaga. It was a delightful experience. Malaga is a much more beautiful city than I imagined. Not only is it a tourist destination, but a cultural city dating back to the Roman times,with an ancient centre and a grand cathedral. Malaga is currently home to a Picasso exhibition and lovely tree lined streets with fantastic shops and restaurants.

Wednesday 2 October - Another day at sea in the beautiful, warm, sunny Mediterranean.

Thursday 3 October - Today is Palamos, just north of Barcelona.

Not quite sure why Fred. Olsen chose this port. The town is pretty, with cobbled streets and tapas bars. Nice to wander about for the day, but I think I would have preferred Barcelona.

Friday 4 October – Ajaccio in Corsica

08:00. Our arrival coincides with the visit of French President, Françoise Holland. As Monsieur Holland is not a tall man, all you could see was the top of his head, flanked by towering security people and a ceremonial guard of soldiers dressed in full Napoleonic Uniforms. Ajaccio, home to Napoleon with its narrow streets, and Corsica were beautiful.

Ajaccio

Saturday 5 October – Mahon in Menorca

11:00. Unfortunately one of our guests was unwell. As a precaution we took her to the clinic in the city. Fred. Olsen has a medicalcentre with a fully qualified doctor and nurse aboard, but they wanted a second opinion. All ended happily, as the Spanish doctor confirmed the treatment and our guest was feeling better within a day or so.

Sunday 6 October - Afternoon in Cartagena

14:00. Cartagena is alovely port, with wide pedestrianised boulevards. There are signs of the recession with quite a few shops closed, but with a Roman amphitheatre and other historical sites, the place is still well worth a visit.

Cartagena Roman Amphitheatre

Monday 7 October - Weather is still beautiful, so really enjoyed a relaxing day at sea.

Tuesday 8 October – Lisbon

One of my favourite European Capital Cities. Very steep ancient streets, weird living sculptures, music being played everywhere and the most spectacular harbour approaches anywhere in the World. Nothing beats the view of the city, the bridges and the huge Vasco da Gama monument as yousail into the setting sun at the end of your visit.

Wednesday 9 to Thursday 10 October - More days at sea on our way home.

More coffee morning chats, more fantastic food and entertainment and more time meeting up with the friends met on the cruise.

Friday 11 October - Wake up in Southampton.

Slight delay with the landing gangway, but our coach is there, waiting to take us home. Everyone back home by 14:00, some already talking about next years cruise!