Tuesday 24th May - A bit of confusion

So today was more or less a repeat of yesterday.  Turn up at 8.30, register the passengers between 8.30 and 9.30, with classes at 11am and 3.30pm.

Surprisingly, the classes didn't fill up.  We only had 14 on the morning session and 16 for the afternoon?  Not too worried though, we went to the grill for a leisurely breakfast and a chat with Steve, the music and Motown Lecturer. 

Back in the craft room, not quite as early as we should have been people started to turn up, I had put out enough water pots for 14 - but couldn't quite work out why people were filling up all the tables?  

Uh Oh!  Despite me repeatedly mentioning yesterday that folks had to register every morning, not all the passengers had got the message.  Quite a few had signed in yesterday and thought that covered them for all the sessions.  We had more than the 20 we had socially distanced space for.  Peter had to put on his authorative voice to get everyone to understand the situation, and then we negotiated with the extra's to sign them into the afternoon class.  The whole business slowed us down a bit, and one man left in a huff, but all was well in the end.  They did a pretty good job of the painting too, the Rock of Gibraltar as a tonal study.  I was surprised. 

Tracey the Cruise Director reminded everyone that they needed to sign up everyday for the classes in the lunchtime announcement, but we still ended up with a few people we very politely had to ask to vacate their seats.  There was also a spat between passengers about seating, but that was sorted out, and once again the class went well.  I think we are all organised now though, and everything will be plain sailing from now on (pun intended).

In other news, the sea has been a tad rougher than the last two days, but the ship handles it really well and I barely noticed.  I also found the time to go through the excursion list.  We will be revisiting Troy, and taking a look at some gorgeous waterfalls in Antalya, amongst other things.  It should be fun.

Evening meal with Terena and Jerry in the Grill again. Terena has been on a Saga ship before, and she has been really helpful advising about excursions etc. 

And finally, more time on the balcony, looking at the stars and listening to the waves.  All is good in our world.   

Monday 23rd May - First Classes

So the plan was to get up early, have breakfast and then turn up for registration.

That didn’t work!  But we did manage to get in our first cuppa before heading downstairs to the craft room.  (We are on deck 9, the craft room is on deck 7).

It all went reasonably well, Rolando had been issuing tickets so that people didn’t queue, and the two classes were filled up within the hour.  We turned a few away, but there weren’t many.

Then it was upstairs to deck 12 and the Grill for breakfast.  Breakfast is a massive style buffet. There is just about everything you can think of (and a few things you wouldn’t), available.  Peter went for the full English including black pudding.  I kept it a little simpler, just marmalade on toast and a couple of little danish pastries.

The first class was at 11am so we were up there early to try and get everything ready.  Saga had provided the paint kits, Peter provided cardboard boards.  Water, wash brushes, notes and leaflets, all had to be set out.  We set the spaces up so that people were socially distanced and everyone, including Peter had to wear their masks for the whole session.  He was a little rusty, but he got through the first session without too much trouble.  All was well. 

Next a leisurely lunch, a short nap, a covid test, and then classes again at 3.30pm.  The class was a repeat of this morning, but we knew better what we were doing and Peter had found his groove. Whilst he was busy with the class I went to the “Explore Ashore” desk to find out about the tour excursions.  (We hadn’t had any info up until now).  

The lad on the desk was lovely.  He explained that Saga need escorts that have had first aid training, so that won’t be us then. He also explained that we can go on all the “inclusive” tours like any other passenger and at no extra cost.  I got a list of all the tours, both the inclusive and the ones with costs, so that I can work out what we want to do.

Back to the cabin (or stateroom as Saga calls them), for a break, coffee and shower before getting togged up for formal night.  I had thought we might not bother, but Terena say’s she’s going for it, so I made Peter put on his black suit and dicky bow, whilst I put on me posh frock.  Dinner in the grill, with Terena and Jerry again, then we went to watch the Flyrights – a Motown and Soul trio in the Playhouse. Everyone has to socially distance, so there was a seat between each couple, and we all had to wear masks, even whilst seated.  No drinks either.  Despite all that, it didn’t lessen the experience, and you’re not that long in a show anyway.

The Captain came on stage first and introduced the senior staff.  He’s been announcing the results of all the covid tests over the tannoy system for the last couple of days, but he did it on stage today. So far everyone has been clear apart from the one crew member from the Spa that tested positive yesterday.  Good going I think.  After the Captain came the Flyrights.  I wasn’t sure about them at first, but they got better as the show went on.  Peter thought they were very good.

And finally back to the cabin stateroom and tea on the balcony, listening to the waves.   We were both tired though, and the clocks are going forward so we lose an hour’s sleep, so time for bed. More classes, eating and covid tests tomorrow.

Sunday 22nd May - Lazy Day into the Bay of Biscay

Unusually, Peter has not been thrown into classes immediately.  Apparently the Art and Craft classes have been at the centre of Covid outbreaks in the past, and as I’ve already pointed out, Saga are very Covid conscious. This means that classes won’t start until we’ve all had another negative covid test.  Every person on board ship is being tested daily for the first five days of the cruise.

Because of the stringent covid measures, we’ve decided to spend our time away from the bars etc. and keep to ourselves for now.  The infamous Bay of Biscay has been quite smooth so I've not had any seasickness issues. We’ve watched one of the lecturers talks from our cabin, sat on the balcony a lot, and walked 8 times around the promenade deck (2 miles).  We came across a resting migrant, (or perhaps a stowaway), which I thought was a little Cetti’s Warbler, I've been corrected and it turns out that it is a Chiff Chaff.

I’ve found the launderette, we’ve written out blogs, sat on the balcony some more and watched Gannets and passing ships.  So generally we’ve taken it very easy.  At 2.50pm we went for our daily covid test and got the all clear again. Phew!  (I’m beginning to feel a little less worried about it) and Peter can run his first two art classes tomorrow.

The evening meal was in the Grill again, and once again we sat with Terena and Gerry.  They seem a nice couple. During the meal, the Captain announced that all the passengers had tested negatively for Covid, unfortunately one of the staff had tested positive.  That person, plus 3 associates would now go into isolation for 5 days.  Tough eh?

We have to be ready at 8.30 am for everyone to be able to register for tomorrow’s classes, although the classes themselves will not be until 11 am and 3.30 pm.  We’ve never had to be ready so early before, (except for tours), so this is all new.  But we are treating this cruise like being on probation in a new job, so we are naturally on best behaviour and going with whatever instruction we are given.

So early to bed and see what tomorrow brings.