DOVER (And they’re off…)

Another day, another start to a cruise assignment. Yesterday we travelled South from West Yorkshire to Portsmouth, a journey of roughly 5 hours, arriving at the Travelodge in Four Marks in time for our customary Indian takeaway (from ‘The Saffron’, a fine establishment indeed).

This morning we enjoyed a bacon roll and a cup of tea at the local coffee shop in Four Marks, before heading to the cruise terminal in Portsmouth. None of this would be unusual if it wasn’t for the fact that the Spirit of Discovery was due to set sail from the cruise terminal at Dover.

It’s all in the plan, of course. Once we’d parked the car, a seven seater taxi duly turned up and proceeded to transfer us to Dover – a journey of roughly two and a half hours, a trip we shared with the bridge instructors.

Once we’d reached Dover, getting on board ship was efficient and painless, and pretty soon we were in our cabin (E005), followed by lunch in The Grill.

It’s been a while since we were last on the Discovery, but since it is more or less identical to the Spirit of Adventure, it feels very familiar. It’s quite minimalist in its décor, with more dark wood than its sister ship. Of the two it is slightly older, not that you would necessarily notice.

Emergency drill was followed by the customary Entertainments meeting in the Map Room (Ward Room on the Adventure), and once we’d finished unpacking and the ship was on it’s way, it was time for dinner.

It’s first classes tomorrow, so that means an early night….