May 3, 2007
We took a cheap overnight flight from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale so that it is morning of May 4 when we arrive in our destination.
May 4 is when we went aboard Costa Magica for our 16 nights transatlantic cruise with Copenhagen, Denmark as our final destination
Costa Magica is a white, huge ship carrying 2720 passengers and over a 1000 staff and crew. It has 17 floors, 13 of which is for passengers use.
May 5 port of call is Nasau, Bahamas. It was hot and sunny and I was sick, my throat hurts and my tonsils hurt when I swallow. We got off the ship, walked to town, took pictures and walked back to the ship.
May 6 and 7 are 'sea days' meaning there is no land, we were just on the ship basically eating many, many times a day, sleeping, attending shows, going to karaoke bar, joining trivia games, socializing with new acquaintances, just hanging out, drinking tea, coffee, iced tea (alcoholic drinks cost extra). etc...
May 8 for those who were sea sick was a good day - we got to step on land - port of call is King's Wharf, Bermuda. We love sea days, we don't cruise for the ports of call but for the food and relaxation on the ship but we did get off the ship to stroll a bit and to buy meds for my tonsilitis (my diagnosis).
May 9, 10, 11 and 12 were wonderful, relaxing sea days. By this time, we got tired of eating too much so we were drinking lots of tea and eating lots of fruits and nibbling on caesar salad with parmesan flakes and salty anchovies as toppings. Great life.
A huge percentage of the ship's staff and crews are Filipinos, perhaps 70-80%. We always hang out in the buffet playing cards, drinking, eating and talking to Filipino waiters/tresses. I've learned a lot about what life is for them working in a ship and relationships that develop among them.
May 13 port of call was Azores, Portugal. We walked to town to find a cheaper internet connection because on the ship it is an insane amount of money like $24 per hour. We did not remember though that in most countries in Europe, they practice a long lunch/afternoon break and all stores, shops and malls close. Along the beach though some stalls selling drinks and souvenirs are open for business. Cruisers from Costa are enjoying cold beers priced a lot cheaper than the ship's, was my assumption.
May 14, 15 and 16 were sea days again. My tonsilitis came back and Mar is feeling sick too. We can't stand the heavy colognes and perfumes cruisers were wearing. I remember reading somewhere that French or maybe most Europeans love their colognes and perfumes and wears them perhaps excessively.
May 17 port of call was Le Havre, France. We were a little bit excited because I was looking forward to eating pastries and bread from France. We took a bus to go to the city. We enjoyed our leisurely walk on the streets observing their fruits and vegetables shops and their prices, real estate shops and home prices. There was one stainless steel toilet on the side of the street, where you gotta put coin in order to use. We went to a mall and bought lozenges, gawked on food displays, window shopped, bought pastries and bread from a patisserie, bought water and coffee from another shop and sat on the mall lounging area where we people watched until it was time to go back to the ship.
May 18 port of call was Dover, England. We took a bus to go to a castle, took another bus to go to town. We used free internet from a public library in town, window shopped, bought some books from a vintage shop selling used books. Mar took out cash from HSBC in order for us to do a little bit of shopping and eating. We visited a church, took lots of pictures, did a lot of walking and sat on the benches, people watched and took a bus to go back to the ship.
May 19 was at sea day. It was bittersweet for me. Our 16-night transatlantic cruise was coming to an end. This was our last full day on the ship, our pampered life will very soon be over. On the other hand, I am super excited to see Copenhagen and begin our planned RVing in Europe.
May 20 port of call is Copenhagen, our final destination for this cruise. We enjoyed our last morning on the ship, long and heavy breakfast on the buffet, took a bath and relaxed on our cabin till we really had to go. Got off the ship, our visas were not checked by Immigration, we were walking down the streets of Copenhagen in no time at all.
My next blog is about our 1day/night in Copenhagen.
Cheers.
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