It was a very cold, but sunny morning. We arrived at City Cruise Terminal just before 11:30 and at 11:30 the check in process began.

We were called to check in according to the colour of our luggage labels (we were blue), and were able to go straight to the check in counter where our passports were scanned, our credit card information was taken and we were good to go. No photos or health questionnaires, it all took a couple of minutes.

Then one of the check in helpers said “here are your key cards, Lesley and Charles”. We pointed out that we were Lesley and Brian, and the check in ladies laughed about it maybe being a “swinging swapee cruise”, although that was unlikely on Fred Olsen. Brian was confused by the idea of a swapee cruise, so I had to explain all about upside down pineapples on stateroom doors, and swingers identifying themselves. This was all news to him, so when we settled into our seats in the waiting area I could see him Googling “upside down pineapples”.  I am glad this is not a swinging cruise. I am also glad that our ship is a good looking one. Looking out the window at her dark blue hull and very nicely graduated stern, like Queen Mary 2 or how Queen Victoria used to look, I thought yes, this is what a cruise ship should look like.

There was no time for a deeper discussion of pineapples, the colour blue was being called to go on board.

With great excitement and anticipation we walked up the boarding gantry and entered our home for the next 2 weeks.

Well, what can I say? Balmoral is certainly not Queen Mary 2. No beautiful soaring Grand Lobby with a harpist welcoming us. It was a very bright crowded low ceiling noisy area. Not a great first impression at all.

We were directed to go to the Ballindalloch Restaurant for lunch, so off we set, passing the florist,

and walking down a long hallway to the main restaurant.

The restaurant itself is quite pretty despite the very low ceiling, but the tables are very close together. We were seated at a table for 6 which on other ships would definitely have been a table for 4. We were all sitting very close together. The upside is that conversation is easier at such close quarters so that is a benefit.

I thought it would be a sit down lunch, but no, it was a buffet. The choices were limited, but they had chicken and chips, and there was sponge pudding and custard for dessert, so I was happy.

As we were finishing our meal the announcement was made that our cabins were ready, so we grabbed out bags and took the lift up to our cabin. I love that the rooms are called cabins. It really does make you feel that you are on a ship.

We are in a superior suite, and I must say it is lovely. The bathroom is large with a decent size bath tub. There is loads of storage space. The bed is separated from the sitting area by a glass screen, and the sitting area is bright and cheerful. Best of all there is a bowl of fruit and a bottle of real champagne. Yay!

We spent the afternoon unpacking and exploring the ship. Sail away was at 4:45 but it was far too cold to go outside, and it was dark already, so we sat in our cabin watching us make our way down the Solent, drinking champagne and listening to my sail away play list.

We play the same music when we leave any port, but somehow it is best on the Solent, especially as we play Jerusalem when we sail past Hythe Pier.

This brings back memories of August 2028 watching QE2 from Hythe Pier. She was blasting out Jerusalem as she elegantly made her way down Southampton Water. Such a beautiful sight. I still get teary eyed when I think about that day.

Anyway, I was most thankful for our glass fronted balcony and the ability to sip champagne and watch England’s fair and pleasant land fade into darkness.

The arrival of our evening canapes added to our enjoyment of the sail away. There were 6 originally, but somehow 4 got eaten before I could take a photo.

The Ballindalloch is the main restaurant, but they also serve the same food in the smaller Spey and Avon restaurants on deck 10 that have floor to ceiling windows. We are in Spey, and we were assigned a table for 6 right by the windows. The table is small, but the room feels less crowded than the Ballendoch, although it is very noisy and conversation was a challenge.

We are seated with Paul and Jane from Bristol, and Janet and John from Newcastle. It turns out that Janet and John, and Jane spend several years in Bahrain so they had a lot to talk about their time there. We then discovered that Jane and I had worked at the same hospital near Bristol, and Paul used to frequent the pub near our house there. Small world.

After dinner we went to the Neptune Lounge where the Entertainment Director, Oliver, introduced us to the entertainers on board, and we got a taste of what the entertainment was going to be like. We were not over excited about it, but they all seemed to be way better than the entertainers on Explora 1, so that was a good start.

Then it was off to bed. So far so good, and I am looking forward to the Bay of Biscay. Let’s see how this ship handles rough weather!