Off the ship and on to Dubai - 5 August
Very relaxed start for us as we are not off the Royal Princess until 9.15am. The cruise has been very good, although a little port intensive at the front end. The entertainment, in particular, has been outstanding, and the food excellent.
Our dinner companions were great company and, as I have regularly mentioned, our table was almost always the last to vacate.
Jim & Joanne from the US were pretty much our age. Jim a fisherman (think Rex Hunt - the "Bearded Burbler") who outwardly had all the appearances of a Donald Trump supporter (steel production background, a man of the outdoors, very solid beer drinker), proved to be very anti-Trump. His anti-Trump views would make him an excellent man on the ground for our ABC. Joanne was a very intelligent and thoughtfull lady (long time teacher) and a good conversationalist. In her own subtle way she had Jim under control despite his protestations.
Heinz & Ohla from Canada were quite a few years younger, but very good company for the cruise. Heinz quite set in his ways and Ohla much quieter - but not as the cruise progressed and she could hang things on Heinz. Not big in the blood and nursing department, Ohla was not impressed with the lack of sleep as Heinz managed his bloodied and injured arm and elbow after Edinburgh.
Martin & Sharon from out of London were the oldest on our table and were delightful company - the stereotypical Londoners you would love to have as your "english cousins". Their only shortcoming was their regular inability to find the Allegro Dining Room from their cabin - three or four more cruises might do the trick!!!
Very efficient disembarkation process had us off the ship, luggage collected, and into our Emirates transfer to Gatwick in less than 10 minutes. Very interested and friendly driver, Ali, of Pakistani heritage but a full blown Londoner accent. Into the lounge at Gatwick and a pretty much on time flight into Dubai - touching down at 12.45am.
Fast tracked through immigration and out the door for our transfer to Raffles.
We have just booked Scenic Eclipse for 2020 Buenos Aires to Lisbon, 21 days, lots of them at sea, but cruising for us has now has become all about the journey, rather than the destination... lots of ports day after day are hard work... later in the year on Seabourn Ovation we have been to many of the ports before and will be happy to stay aboard and be pampered..tough life... do not melt in Dubai, if you go to the huge Abu Dhabi mosque, remember that Pat will have to be in the full black 'letterbox' clothing and they are SO hot... Jeanette
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