Mediterranean Cruise – 2024

Wed Oct 30^th

Drop Bowie off with Sue Berenson, then drop car off with Levan at the cruise terminal at 14:00. Check-in 14:00 – 15:00, depart Malaga 19:00

Journey was smooth. We quickly checked-in, then found our cabin – quite nice. Had a snacky lunch in the buffet, then beers. We dozed for a while, and then found out that our 7:45 dinner time was wrong. We had to choose from 6:30 and 9:00, so we chose 6:30.

We had margaritas in the Il Grappolo d’Oro bar, then walked down to the Il Palladio restaurant and found they wanted us on a shared table. We told them we didn’t want to share and they said they’d do what they could for next time. So we joined a table for eight with a UK couple and two Belgian ladies… and two spare seats. Had an underwhelming dinner, but discovered a decent red and a decent white wine, but only by the glass. We watched during dinner as we left Malaga. Then had Margaritas in the bar, and an early night.

Thu Oct 31^nst

At sea (anniversary)

Went to the Le Fontane restaurant for breakfast, and they again tried to put us on a large table; we again said we didn’t want to share so they grudgingly found us a small table. Disappointing breakfast… no granola, watery orange juice, lukewarm coffee, poor bacon, and nearly cold when it arrived.

In the restaurant for dinner, there clearly were tables for two, but no-one made any real effort to find one for us. So back to our ‘usual’ table.

Saw a decent song and dance production in the Teatro Carlo Felice. Then Margaritas, then bed.

Fri Nov 1^st

Arr Marseille 09:00, dep 17:00

Tried getting an Uber (“several within 4 minutes” but when you commit, it tells you one is on the way and will get there in 17 minutes). We cancelled it and took the shuttle bus to the Old Port. It was All Saints Day and everywhere was very busy. We looked at the Hop-on, Hop-off buses, the tourist trains, and the boat trips to the Château d’If and the Calanques, but the queues were horrendous, so we wandered around the harbour for a while, and ended up with large (but expensive) beers, then the shuttle back to the ship for lunch, glasses of wine and siestas.

Our dinner companions told us they’d just booked to go on the Portafino trip, so I went to the excursions desk and was told they’d just sold the last seats on the trip. Bugger!

I had a migraine in the evening, just before dinner.

Sat Nov 2^nd

Arr Genoa 07:00, dep 16:00

Walked to MSC terminal building looking for tourist info. Found a small booth and learned that the excursions to Portafino got back too late. So we got a taxi into town, wandered around a depressing (World Heritage!) old-quarter, then returned to centre and had beers. We then we did the steep walk up to the Castle area for its views. Then flagged down a taxi to return us to the ship for lunch, wine, siestas, etc.

Sun Nov 3^rd

Arr Barcelona 13:00, dep 18:00

Ship wasn’t due in until 1pm, so had a nice relaxed start to the day. Had an early lunch, and a migraine with my lunch!

Dull and rainy when we arrived. Left the ship around 1:30 for our 2:30 entry to the Sagrada Familia. Then found the access roads were closed because of a cycle race, so we were cutting it a little fine when we got there. Then there was queuing, security and crowds. Slightly disappointed with the interior, but the stained-glass windows were very nice. Taxi back to the ship with a decent safety margin.

Mon Nov 4^th

At sea (Spanish coastline?)

I calculated we had 9 drinks each, starting with beers in the Pirana Bar at 11am (and including wine with dinner)! Very little of the Spanish coastline to be seen during the day. After dinner, we could see the lights of Melilla (to the south), and Algeciras (to the north) very clearly as we passed through the Straits of Gibraltar.

Tue Nov 5^th

Arr Casablanca 09:00, dep 22:00

We found a taxi to take us to the sights for a couple of hours. Then as we were leaving, a French woman stopped us and got in the front. Cheeky! We stopped for pics at Rick’s Cafe, then spent at least an hour in the impressive Hassan II Mosque. We stopped at a sea-front cafe for drinks, and the rest of the time we were driving around an anonymous city in heavy traffic. Worth it for the Mosque though.

Beers, lunch, wine, siesta, Margaritas, dinner, Margaritas. Migraine!

Wed Nov 6^th

At sea

Beers, lunch, wine, siesta, Margaritas, dinner, Margaritas.

ack to hotl for a doze, then walked to Cockle Bay Warf on the opposite side of Darling Harbour and had a disappointing meal in the Adria Bar-Restaurant.

Thu Nov 7^th

Arr Tenerife 08:00, dep 16:00

Walked around the town, and then as far as the Auditorio and Black Fort. Then beers outside the Auditorio, and a taxi back to the ship.

Lin had a raspy throat and was feeling a little chesty.

After dinner, we decided to go and see the ‘sand art’ show in the theatre. It was pretty dire, so we left early. Negotiating the stairs in the theatre in the near dark, I missed a step and heard a ‘click’ in my right knee, and was in a lot of pain. And then had to walk the entire length of the ship! I had a very uncomfortable night.

Fri Nov 8^th

Arr Funchal 09:00, dep 16:00

My knee was still painful, so we called the medics who came with a wheelchair and took me for tests. They did two X-rays, and told me there were no broken bones, and thought there was no soft-tissue damage either. They gave me some heavyweight painkillers/anti-inflammatories, and a knee brace and charged me 230€. With the knee brace, I was able to walk back to the cabin without needing crutches.

It was overcast in Funchal, so we didn’t bother leaving the ship.

By the evening, my knee was hugely improved, but I was now getting a scratchy throat myself! And Lin was feeling worse as the day wore on, so she sat next to the spare chairs at dinner.

Sat Nov 9^th

At sea

Lin had a very bad night… diarrhoea 7 times, and in a lot of joint pain. She stayed in bed all day. I now realised I was getting a cold. Had dinner without Lin. Then did most of the packing before bed.

Sun Nov 10^th

Arr Malaga 08:00 (Straits of Gibraltar early?)

A tough day for us both – I finished the packing, then had breakfast without Lin. I had a table to myself for about a minute, when some fat German woman joined me, and proceeded to cough, sneeze, sniff and hawk her way through breakfast. Then we had to leave the ship, collect our luggage, wait for the car, pick-up Bowie and drive home. By the end of it, we were both knackered, and Lin was in a lot of pain.