Day 1 Gatwick to Southampton and Setting Sail

The day started with a superb Menzies Hotel full English breakfast and set the scene for the next 21 days.  A painless taxi ride delivered us to the South Terminal at Gatwick and after just a few minutes wait the coach turned up for our journey to Southampton’s Ocean Terminus.  We were scheduled to leave at 11.30, but with everyone on board, we were away before 11.00.  Just as well, as an accident on the M25 soon bought us to a grinding halt.  The crowd on board the coach were a mixed bunch with more than a few wrincklies.   Still, we’ll probably have something in common and be able to swap stories about what pee pills we’re all on.

 

After the initial hold up we were soon arriving at the Ocean Terminus in Southampton docks for the first view of the Ventura, our home for the next three weeks.   We must have short memories as the ship looked even bigger than we remember it being two years ago.

 

After a short wait before a slick check in, we were soon through the security checks and on board by 1.30pm.  Somewhat different than last time we were on Ventura, as, rather like getting onto an aircraft and turning left, as we did last time, we got on board and went down instead of up!!!  This time we have sacrificed quality for quantity and gone for an outside cabin with no balcony but for the same price we’re on board for three weeks rather than two.

 

By 2pm the luggage was outside the cabin door, as if by magic and we could move in, unpack and get settled.  A somewhat more bijou apartment that our previous one, but still comfortable and with a sea view.  As you can see from the pictures, we could have smuggled two more people into the room and all had a bed each.

 

 

4.15pm was the safety briefing and call to muster station.  Fortunately our muster station is in the main pub on board!!  This is when the Captain welcomes everyone and gives the safety briefing.   Strange how a lot more people paid a lot more attention than last time we were on board!  But hold on - the Captain comes from Wigan and has a broad accent more akin to a sheep farmer or whatever they do in Wigan, not commander of a huge ship!  Anyway, he’s a sneaky devil, as by the time we had a practice run donning our lifejackets and been dismissed, he’d slipped the moorings and we were away, just before 5pm.  No getting off now. As we went up Southampton water the sun was setting over Fawley refinery – how romantic.  By 6pm it was pitch black and we were turning right into the Solent, heading for the open ocean.  Time to retire to our cabin.

 

Having arrived back to our cabin in the bowels of the ship, it was time to contact room service for the supplies of G&T and beers, which have just arrived and about to be sampled.  We’re on second sitting diners this time so nothing to eat until 8.30pm.  That then leaves just 12 hours to digest all the courses before the next full English.

Dinner was up to scratch 5 - courses of taste bud ticklers and quite spookily, our table companions were a repeat of our last ones.  One couple came from the Welsh valleys and the other a younger couple from a seaside town.  Again, we all seemed to hit it off, we’re all on for three weeks and we were all late bookings, so nobody is upset because none of us paid a fortune for the cruise.

 

Finishing dinner around 10.00pm, we headed for one of the bars with a live group playing.  We should have been suspicious as there were vacant tables!  Having ordered a drink, we were committed to listening to the singer murder some popular songs.  Needless to say we supped up and moved on to somewhere else before retiring to our cabin.

 

It was very wet and very windy last night, which gave a gentle pitch and roll to the ship.  Just sufficient to notice.  However whenever the ship dipped into a wave it sounded as though the hull was being hit with a big sledge hammer and as we are towards the sharp end, we noticed it more.