27th January Flying the flag half way round the world

 

So this is the half way point as we arrive back in LaRomana where half of the passengers will disembark to go back to a storm lashed UK, whilst a fresh lot of faces have arrived for the start of their Caribbean adventure.

And so at the start of part 2, I have written a list of things still to do on board ship. Whether we will is another matter but let's dream big. Indeed let's start as we /I mean to go on with leasurely couple of hours post breakfast, sat in the Glass House, including my first dip of this trip in a cold and salty indoor pool.

With people warning us that trips into La Romana came with an obligatory police presence, we decided to dispense with a trip into town and visited the in port tourist complex complete with sunbeds, a large pool and even larger red and white stripped lighthouse. Unfortunately it wasn't covered by our all inclusive package, issues with WiFi proved frustrating, and there were no beds in the shade so after 45 mins or so we came back on board.

Change over day on board is a strange experience. Half the ship are dragging their hand luggage about with them, trying to find something to do whilst waiting for their allocated coach to the airport. The rest of us are simply waiting for the 'Newbies' to arrive so that we can pass on all our sometimes useful tips by pretending we have more cruising experience than Christopher Columbus.

As such dinner on change over day is always the quietest, with many folks still trying to locate their rooms, find their suitcases and work our their port from stern and bow from after. Thankfully after a couple of so so shows that threatened to run aground, he Marella theatre company were back on course with their show Britannia, one that featured so many Union Jacks it was almost like being at a Reform party gathering.