Alicante/Not Cannes!

Landing in Alicante, we berthed alongside Oceania Cruises’ Riviera. I reckon Riviera is about 90,000 tons as she was just a little smaller than us.

The shuttle buses into town picked us up outside the Cruise Terminal and whisked us into the centre of town, right next to the beach. I made my obligatory trip to the Pharmacy, where I picked up Biodramina, the best seasickness tablets in the world. I can only get them in Spain. Wandering into town, we got lost trying to find the shops, and asked a lady directions. Hilarity ensued as this Italian lady, who spoke ok English, tried to direct us, but couldn’t find the right words. Que me, who, in my best pigeon French went ‘Parlez-vous Francaise, s’il vous plait?’ then she went ‘Oui’ and we started having a conversation in pigeon French. I knew my French conversation classes would come in handy!! Although my French is still horrendous. Then we got lost again, with some ladies from the ship. The ladies went into a café and we parted company – still lost! Then we found a landmark (I still don’t know what it was!), and I was able to direct us to the shopping centre – or lack of it. I’ve still yet to find any decent shops in Alicante, but if you want a Pharmacy, there’s one on almost every street! Up the street where the shopping centre was supposed to be, we found giant Mushrooms. I don’t know why they were there, or why anywhere would have giant mushrooms in the middle of the street!

 

Back to the ship and lunch and sleep. We were exhausted. Afterwards, while mum was in snoozeville (population 1), I wandered off for a walk round the ship (well, I have to burn some of these calories off), and ended up watching the Sailaway Pool Party. During the Conga to Amerillo, I joined it between two ladies we knew from the Dinner queue. Off we went around the running track and down into the Pool stage where we all proceeded to sing New York, New York, and Radio Ga Ga. The Cruise Director asked one little girl if she would growl at the Captain for sounding the ship’s horn. Seemingly it makes children cry (Queen Mary 2’s did this to Evie many years ago). At that point I had to leave to get down for dinner.

This is the first time since we boarded the ship that I sat and thought ‘what could we do tonight. There’s nothing on’. How wrong I was!! After dinner, mum went to choose her photos (no Titanic staircases yet!), and I looked at the programme. I found Tucker, the Comedian who does the audience warm up for Loose Women. We were in stitches. The lady next to me recommended The Crystal Room to watch the dancing, so mum and I made our way there afterwards. After receiving our drinks, I took a swig of my diet cola, to find it was full-sugar cola. For someone who has had barely any sugar in the last 6 months, I became shaky with the sugar-rush. I could barely talk and began shaking uncontrollably. I was incredibly lucky. I explained what had happened to the waiter, and he brought me a diet cola to replace this.

Tucker

The Crystal Room

At 10.30pm, we were allowed into see the Strictly Janette and Aljaz Live Show. Spectacular dancing, spectacular costumes, spectacular everything. Did I mention it was spectacular? Janette and Aljaz will be leaving tomorrow, and we have two new dancers coming on. And Craig Revel-Horwood is getting on at Gibraltar.

In the afternoon, the Captain announced that we would not be going to Cannes (sorry, Campbell, no crisps) because of perceived bad weather. Instead we would be making our way to Ajacco in Corsica, where we can be safely tucked up in a berth, instead of floating about at anchor. I knew this might happen as it was mentioned to me on Tuesday. I don’t mind though, because as I said to the Captain, I really don’t care what ports we go to, Britannia is the star of the show!!!