The funny thing is this; I was slightly distracted and disturbed by something that you come to take for granted, yet mysteriously becomes magnified when sat on a bar stoll on the stage in front of a couple of hundred passengers. There is a constant rumbling when we're at sea, the incessant throb of the engines and props beavering away somewhere down in the bowels of the ship. It's there at all times, yet you just don't really notice it after a while. But I was aware of it when I was singing and playing - and the odd thing is - I thought it was the effect of nerves! I honestly thought my knees were shaking and knocking together in some bizarre, monstrous display of the heeby-jeebies. It wasn't until the second verse, about half way through the song that I was able to recognise exactly what it was I was experiencing. I could relax, play and sing, and enjoy it, and just accept that the vibration was there, albeit slightly magnified and a little distracting, and several people who I have spoken to since have confirmed that the performance was a good one and that I didn't appear to be displaying any nerves whatsoever.

My only other reservation was the guitar. It was a classical, nylon-strung guitar, different in several ways to my regular steel-strung acoustic which is wider in the neck and not so punchy in its delivery. What I'm saying is, I struggled a bit with the opening and closing instrumental bits, this is my excuse and I'm sticking to it. If I am fortunate enough to be asked on future cruises, I will most definitely bring my own instrument next time.

Other acts on the bill included a group of dancers doing a line-dance-type thing, a comedian, a female singer who sung 'Climb Every Mountain', a 92-year old woman, called Winnie who played her own composition, and another pianist bloke and a chap who sung a medley of Al Jolson songs (a bit badly, I'm afraid). Top of the bill was another male singer who sung 'Jerusalem' exceedingly well, and something else I can't remember the title of.

All very good stuff and extremely enjoyable - I'm glad I did it, and handed my camera to a bloke in the front row in order to take some photographic evidence of the event, which I shall post on the website if get the opportunity when we're in Gibraltar tomorrow (I have a tour in the morning, so I'm hoping I'll get a chance in the afternoon). The day after that we're in Lisbon, Portugal, where Saga Rose's sister ship will also be berthed - which, I think I've overheard, we'll be allowed to take a look on, and of course it will provide an excellent photo opportunity!!

I'm off to see a comedian now, followed by a couple of late night drinks in The Preview.