At Sea

December 31^st, 2024

How could it be New Years eve already?

All around the ship New Years decorations were popping up, and anticipation was mounting for tonight’s celebratory dinner.

For me, the best part was that the sun was finally shining.

Although it continues to be very windy. I was watching an officer with a clipboard outside the Observation Bar. I haven’t got a clue what he was doing out there in the wind, looking like he might get blown overboard at any second.

It was less windy at the back of the ship, and we finally got to spend the afternoon at the deck 5 pool.

The pool is only 3 ft deep, and it isn’t very long, but I can do my water running easily, and, as I did today, I can just float around. Bliss.

The only issue with the pool is that there is no bar there, so if you want a Coke you have to go to the main pool bar on deck 8. It’s really a very pleasant short walk, but it would be great if there was a bar right there.

Like the rest of the ship, the decking around the pool is teak. This just seems so much classier than the plastic decking on other ships.

Even though the promenade deck is not wrap around, it is fun to walk on it just to walk on the teak decking. It is wide enough in a few places for deck chairs, but alas there are none. It is the perfect spot to sit wrapped up in a blanket and have a cup of bullion on a cold day.

The day went by very fast, and soon it was time for dinner. The dress code tonight was formal, and it was lovely to see so many people in their festive formal clothes.

Instead of the usual a la carte menu, there was a tasting menu with 7 courses.

Each course was delicious and it was a lovely evening.

Instead of the usual evening entertainment in the Grand Salon, the guitar duo, CH2, played by the pool.

A never-before-seen screen suddenly appeared by the pool.

After the guitarists we were entertained by the entertainment staff, as the count down to the New Year began.

Everyone was dancing. The night was warm and there was no wind. There was endless champagne flowing. It was the perfect place to welcome in the New Year.

And all of a sudden the New Year was upon us. We sounded our whistle to announce that 2025 was here! I love the sound of a ship’s whistle. It made an already wonderful night even better.

The band continued to play by the pool for a while and then the party moved down to the Club where Nick was the DJ.

It was fun at first, especially dancing to YMCA and doing the Macarena, but by 2:00 AM the music had become a wee bit too modern for us, and we decided to call it a day, and head back down to our suite.

The corridor was deserted.

It had been an amazingly wonderful way to celebrate the New Year.