After a couple of crazy days back home. Unpacking, washing, ironing and then repacking with slightly different attire was a challenge, especially when the washer is broken!! Thank you Val for your help.
Saturday 8th December finally arrived. The day we were to travel to Southampton for an overnight stay in the Ibis hotel prior to our cruise. My brother Trevor and his partner Helen were joining us on this adventure and meeting us at the hotel.
We had a lovely meal at TGI Fridays and went back to the hotel for drinks after that. Chatting through the evening about the cruise ahead made me even more excited than ever.
The following morning after breakfast it was time to be heading over to the Queen Elizabeth ll cruise terminal. Our cars were booked in for cruise parking, so we just drove up at the terminal and our baggage was taken by a porter, next to be seen at our cabin door. Our car was handed over and a driver took it to be parked. So easy 😍😍
Check in was just as easy and we were soon onboard the lovely Oriana. The atrium is as beautiful as ever with the stained glass roof of Tiffanys at the top being the icing on the cake 😍 

Our cabins were ready and our luggage was already arriving at our doors. Our cabin steward introduced himself, his name was Angelo.
We took Trev & Helen on a brief tour of the ship. Such a wonderful feeling being back on board. After drinks and a bite to eat we had our muster drill and then the unpacking needed attention 😂😍 Once empty, Angelo took our cases as they wouldn’t fit under our bed.
We watched “sail away” from the crows nest and finally our cruise had begun.

Our first evening was a smart casual dress code. We had chosen a table of 8 when we booked and so it was time to meet our 4 dinner companions for the cruise! Well to start with there were only 3!! Ray, Anne & Fiona (Dad, Mum & adult daughter) Remembered from first introduction as R.A.F. 🤣🤣🤣 We all got on well from the start and along with our table waiters, Rio and Alex and our wine waiter Nagasawara we looked forward to 12 nights of good food, wine, service and company. 😍

So day 2 started with a lovely breakfast in the main dining room and wonderful service.
Our first few days were going to be sea days and there were lots of activities being held around the ship. Helen had warned us before the cruise that we were going to the dancing lessons held on board and today was the day! At 11am we were in Harlequins ready for the waltz!
It wasn’t as easy as it looks but it definitely made us laugh 😂

In the afternoon Andy and Trevor had smiles on their faces as it was lessons in the casino instead of on the dance floor. Black Jack, poker and roulette were explained. I did hope that they had paid more attention to these lessons than the dancing!

That evening was formal dress for the Captains welcome aboard dinner. As we had signed Trevor & Helen up for the photo package we went along to the portrait photo areas to have them taken. Andy was also clicking away with his camera.

We enjoyed drinks in Andersons before making our way to the Pacific lounge for a pre dinner cocktail party where we were introduced to the Deputy Captain. The meal that evening as always was amazing and the company entertaining. It was then the theatre before bed.

The following couple of days were sea days and with more dancing, casino visits, lovely lunches and afternoon tea, even a game of bingo! We had lots to fill our days. We took part in black jack and roulette competitions (Trevor even won one) Andy and I loved to visit the spa late afternoon before getting ready for the evening, very relaxing.

Before we sailed Helen had been a little worried about suffering from seasickness but all that was behind her now. We had sailed for 3 days and she had been fine. 👍

On the 12th December we arrived in Madeira and as we had a tour booked for the day we were up early for breakfast in the Main Dining Room before making our way to the tour coach.

We started the tour at the cable car station in the old town of Funchal. The ride up the hillside to Monte takes about 15mins and the views are amazing. Once at the top we walked along past beautiful gardens to the start of the toboggan run.

Yes, toboggan run!! These ancient wicker-sleds were our transport down the hill 😆
There are two drivers running alongside your toboggan, pushing and steering and using their rubber soled boots as brakes. It takes about 10mins and is lots of fun.

A coach then took us to Pico Dos Barcelos, this is a view point over the city and we could see the ship too. 

We sat and enjoyed a coffee and some pastel de nata (gorgeous Portuguese custard tarts) before returning to the coach. We were dropped off down in the centre of Funchal and it was a short walk to the Blandys Wine Lodge.

We passed some kapok trees, it always looks strange with big clumps of kapok hanging from these trees. In the wine lodge we sampled different types of Madeira wine and very nice it was too. 😍 A purchase had to be made. 😍
That finished the tour but we could stay in town and get a shuttle bus back to the ship when we had had a good look around. I did bump into a giant Father Christmas 😍

That evening we had booked a table at the speciality restaurant Sindhu and we were all looking forward to the experience.
It didn’t disappoint, every course was full of flavour, spicy but not hot. The dessert was absolutely gorgeous. Even the biscuits with coffee were so tasty. The staff and their service were exemplary.

After dinner we headed for the theatre to watch the magician/comedian and he put on a good performance. I’m not great with comedians so that is high praise 😂😍

The next few days we visited 3 of the Canary Islands, La Palma, Tenerife and Fuerteventura. The weather was now 20+ degrees and was lovely for a stroll around in port or just lounging around by the pool on board ship.

In La Palma the port, Santa Cruz de la Palma is actually the Islands capital city. We strolled down its narrow cobbled shopping streets where the houses had traditional wooden balconies. The afternoon was enjoyed with a glass of wine or two and a spot of lunch by the pool at Alfresco, relaxing by the pool and even having a dip too. Finally visiting the spa before getting ready for another enjoyable evening.

The 15th December and we were in Tenerife. We decided to head into town to have a little browse around the shopping centre. Trevor was the big shopper of the day 😂😍
It is always good to get back on board ship and this day was no different, the wine and good food was calling. Once again we made the most of the lovely weather and chilled by the pool.
It was the Tropical themed evening and lots of people had dressed accordingly. Even the wine waiters were wearing bright shirts. We all played the part as the photos show. We left port much later than usual and there was a tropical sailaway party being held on deck by the pool with dancing and cocktails to enjoy.

The following morning we had docked in Fuerteventura. We had all visited this island previously and as it was a lovely sunny day we decided to spend the day relaxing by the pool. The pool was heated and actually very warm so I had a few swims throughout the day. We took part in the music quiz but didn’t do so well 😂😍The sailaway was good fun with singing and dancing around the pool.
We ended the day in the spa before getting ready for dinner.
The evening started in Andersons with pre dinner drinks.

Dinner was gorgeous as usual, Rio & Alex providing wonderful service as usual.
After dinner we headed for the Casino, Trevor & Andy had a little flutter on the Black Jack table but there was only one winner 🤣🤣

The 17th December was a sea day. We were heading north but for now the weather was still warm enough to sit out on deck by the pool.

As it was a sea day there were competitions in the casino again and both Trevor and Andy made it to the final of the roulette but that’s where the luck ended 😂😍

On the 18th December we sailed into Lisbon with Aurora following us under the bridge and into port.

Andy and I were up early for breakfast and looking forward to our day as we were meeting Vitor and Catarina who we hadn’t seen for literally years! Along with their two sons Pedro and Andre. They picked us up near the ship and took us to a wonderful old cafe where we chatted happily as we drank coffee and ate traditional pastel de nata sprinkled with cinnamon. I had brought the boys gifts from London and they enjoyed playing with them.

Catarina and Vitor gave us a beautiful China plate with a picture of Lisbon, they had bought this for our wedding gift and it had saved it until we finally got to see each other.

We enjoyed the day in Lisbon as usual, it’s such a beautiful city with so much to see. Suddenly the rain came down so we sheltered in a cafe at the edge of the square and enjoyed a lovely glass of port! Well why not? 😂😍🍷
Once back onboard we had a relaxing visit to the spa before dinner.

Two sea days followed and they were both special days for us. The first being the 19th December and this was Andy’s 60th birthday! We all went to the Main dining room for breakfast. Andy didn’t want any fuss but we made sure everyone knew it was his 60th 😂🎉 it was a lovely day and where better to celebrate your 60th birthday than onboard Oriana? It was also a formal evening with a pre dinner cocktail party held in the Pacific lounge. Our wine waiter from the dining room was working at the party and he made sure we had a constant flow of drinks at hand 😍🥂🍸🍷😍

As we entered the dining room we could see that our table was surrounded by 60th birthday balloons. We had a wonderful dinner, Andy couldn’t decide which dessert to order so he had all 3 😂😂 The wine and champagne flowed throughout. The birthday boy truly enjoyed it even if his phrase of the day was “It’s just another day!!” Finally Andy had caught up with me and was no longer able to make a point of our age difference 😂😂

The last day of the cruise, another day at sea and also a very special day for Andy and myself. Our 3rd wedding anniversary! 😍💕🥂💕😍

We had booked the galley tour for 10:30 that morning. It was a great insight to how they manage to provide such a high standard of food for so many people. There was champagne and canapés before and after the tour.

We had booked a table for lunch in Sindhu and the food was amazing once again and so much food.

We had a leisurely afternoon browsing around the shops and a visit to the casino. Then it was time to get a bit of packing done. Once packed the cases are put outside the cabin and the next time you see them is when you have disembarked. There was time for a last visit to the spa before getting ready for dinner.
Our last dinner of our cruise. Our waiters service was as brilliant as ever.
It was goodbyes all round to Ray, Ann and Fiona from Trevor, Helen, Andy and myself. We had all enjoyed our evening chats and tales that were told, it’s so important to get good dinner table companions.

The 21st December was disembarkation day. The cruise had been great, we had quality time with my brother Trevor and his partner Helen. We had eaten loads, drunk more. We had learnt to dance (well sort of). We had visited new places and a couple of old ones too. All in all a success. 😍🎉🍷🍸🥂🍾😍

There’s a sunrise and sunset everyday, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them. 

Carol and Andy X