I had originally booked the Oriana Christmas cruise from the 17th-28th December 2010 back in 2009, but then my mum was diagnosed with untreatable cancer at the beginning of 2010 meaning I had to change my plans. A short trip would be fine, regardless of whether she was still alive by then or not, and Black Watch was ideal, even though it was sailing the same day. I'd been trying to book a cruise on this ship since I'd visited in December 2005 but it was either too expensive for a single or it clashed with something else. I could have gone a year earlier after P&O cancelled my Aurora cruise for a refit only Fred Olsen had the same idea for Black Watch! Grrr! This trip wouldn' be the same as travelling to hot climes but it would be nice to finally compare properly to Boudicca. I booked on the 15th March, the day my mum was given her prognosis and I was glad because they announced a return to the fuel surcharge on the 23rd April! I decided to pay it off on the 2nd September, leading to the shortest phone call to a cruise line EVER at two minutes, nineteen seconds! Now I hoped nothing could go wrong. The cruise booklet came in October while on the 17th November, Victoria from Fred Olsen phoned asking if I'd like an upgrade. Pity you have to pay for it, unlike other lines. But it was only an extra £19.95 to go from since outside 7027 to single balcony 8021, while the following day the ticket arrived bearing the original info! On the 22nd I received a new one, which is more than other lines give you. Sadly my mum died on the 25th November and her funeral on the 8th December. By the time the ship arrived on the 11th (a day late) for the cruise before mine, I couldn't wait to get away to have hopefully a better end to the week after a rotten start which had begun with my first birthday without her.
Well she wasn't late on the 17th, which I was very pleased about. We were in the middle of a really cold snap, though no snow for over a week, so I decided to get the 12.15pm bus to West Quay instead of go by ferry. I walked from there, making a detour via Mayflower Park to get pictures of the gorgeous Royal Viking lady as well as the P&O's, then headed to the terminal. It was lovely and sunny but absolutely freezing cold. We handed the luggage in at this end of the building then went inthe normal way. Check in had been a doddle, and we were offered a chocolate as we went to queue to do so. Then the photographer took your photo and it was time to wait. I was number 54 and called at 2.15pm after gazing at Oriana as I waited, thinking about what might have been. It's amazing how your life can change so fast. A text came through from Steve Read just as I was boarding informing me we were now arriving on the 20th at 8.30am instead of 7am and did I know. It was on their site apparently but the announcement didn't show up on my phone. They changed it on the movements after a few hours but no one knew why. We boarded via the proper gangway instead of draughty dock - yay!!!!! |
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