THE SCOTTISH ADVENTURES OF A CRUISE SHIP ADDICT

Arsenal The side of the Town Hall Cartagena is a strange town. I thought we were going to a small place, but actually it is quite large with universities and an Arsenal. Mum and I got off the ship early and I wanted to go to the Roman Amphitheatre, but we arrived too early and went shopping instead. Half the ship ended up in the same little shops along the main street. Mum wanted to go on the bus tour, and actually, it was relatively inexpensive compared to Barcelona. Segways When the bus tour finished we went back to the ship to have lunch, a sleep, and we started our packing. It seems strange to pack four days before the end of the cruise, but I’ve learned that if you don’t pack on a ‘land’ day, then you run the risk of packing while feeling sea sick – not a good idea. The Bay of Biscay is unforgiving and has laid people flat (and green!) in the past. Better packing before you’re laid out than trying to pack in a swaying ship. Leaving...

As a veteran of many cruises, including cold weather cruises and round the world cruises, I should be an expert at packing by now (and I'm not too bad). However, this latest cruise has left me stumped! A fortnight in the Med is fine, but add the dimension of a Strictly Come Dancing cruise (aka Dancing with the Stars), and it leaves me fraught with terror! I am a girl who is rarely out of comfy shoes now. Also first sign of sun, and I'm in shorts. I'm overweight and curvy. It's not easy to shop if you've left something at home.  And this spells disaster for a SCD cruise! For the first time in years, I'm having to find and pack high heels, fancy dresses and make up. Usually I can get away with one nice dress, a couple of pairs of trousers and nice Flyflots. But now I find myself packing moderate heels and fancy dresses. The trouble is when I last did serious cruising (4 cruises in one year, and at least two over many years), I had a wardrobe where I just pulled ...

Sunday 9 November 2008 - Vigo This is at least my fourth time in Vigo, but it is the first time I've actually got off the ship. Usually Vigo is on the way out after a bad crossing of the Bay of Biscay, or its on the way back when it is the last port before Southampton. I've learned the hard way to pack on the last port day of the cruise. There is nothing worse than feeling seasick and the ship is rolling, and trying to pack a case. Believe me, not to be recommended! As QE2 wasn't leaving Vigo to 7pm, Evie and I had a sleep in the afternoon and then Campbell took us into the town. There is a massive shopping centre two minutes walk from the ship and the first shop was a wine shop! Well I was at home! I also bought a beautiful necklace there with huge blue, clear, red and black beads. The weather was awful. It rained and rained. This was a taste of things to come!