Well the ship has docked safely after doing a 360 degree turn and backing in with the aft end to two floating pontoons. Amazing how these huge ships are captained and manoeuvered so delicately.

After watching us arrive it was time for food again at the Windjammer which is the buffet style dining on deck 11.

My only complaint would be that whenever we have been in here so far it has taken us 20 minutes to get a table due to the fact that some passengers seem to just sit here all day.

Food is excellent with a wide variety for all. Service again is fantastic with Royal Caribbean staff doing everything they can for you.

Hygiene is also very tight with sanitisers being used at all entrances and serving utensils changed every 20 minutes.

Also noticed the lifts even had plastic coverings on the buttons which again were changed frequently.

After lunch it was time for the ice show in Studio B which was amazing. Tickets are free but you have to check in the Daily Compass for when they are being issued.

There were 10 skaters with 1 from the US, 1 from Canada, 1 from the UK and the rest from Russia. The speed and agility was breath taking with only the slightest area for error. One stunt involved a male skater awinging the female skater by the ankles off the floor. Just one more millimetre would havespelled disaster.

Sat in the Horizon Longe just about to enter Cobh. Very tight port but pilot seems to be doing a great job.

Sorry for the late blog post but very busy yesterday catching up with some friends we had not seen for over 7 years.

We left our hotel in Southampton at 11.15am and arrived at City Cruise Terminal at about 11.30am. Handed our luggage over to the waiting stevedores who loaded the waiting luggage trolleys. Upon entering the terminal building we were greeted by a lots of check in desks with those holding a set sail pass to the right, in the middle general check in and at the far left priority check in for diamond, platinum and suites.

At Cruise Connections as long as we have your completed booking form we organise your set sail pass on a complimentary basis as part of our excellent service.

Check in was very quick and unbelievably we were onboard the ship by 12 noon!!!

Word of warning to anyone who has any form of mobility problems – the distance from the check in desks to the ship is quite considerable and if necessary Cruise Connections can organise help for you in the form of a wheelchair.

 When we received our cruise tickets we were advised check in would be from 1.45pm however the girl on the check in desk told us that check in opened at 10.30am with boarding beginning as early as 11.30am.

After we had checked in we made our way through to the departure area and on the waqy we passed 2 check in desks for people withmobility problems.

At check in we were isued a yellow card with a number on it and this was used when we were called to embark the ship. We passed through some double doors manged to dodge the obligatory photo as after a late night I certainly did not want my picture taking. There was then a short walk to some elevators before commencing the long walk along the tunnel type gangway.

We eventually arrived on Deck 4 where our photos were taken against our cruise card.

Woke up this morning with a sore head probably due to the loud music of the nightclub my hubby and I were in. We met up with a friend we had not seen for 20 years who just happened to be the GM of the top nightclub in Southampton called Oceana.

www.oceanaclubs.com

I have to say we were well looked after in the Ice House with a private suite and complimentary drinks. If anyone fancies a night out there let me know and I will see if I can get free tickets for you.

Managed to stay out till 2.30am which is a rarity as normally we then have four kids to look after but due to fantastic parents we are child free for another four days!!

Stayed at the Etap Hotel which is near the Ibis and Novotel. Only £37 for the room plus £3.25 per person for continental breakfast however you get what you pay for. The rooms were very bijou and there was a distinct smell of stale smoke lingering in the corridors. My recommendation for future…….do not stay here!

Time now 11am and just about to head for the port when the taxi arrives. Can see the Grand Princess from here but weather in Southampton today not very nice. Wish us luck as we have packed two bottles of wine to see if we can smuggle them onboard. Don’t tell anyone!!!! Will keep you updated.

Next posting hopefully from City Cruise Terminal. Also check out www.facebook.com/cruiseconnections.

Sat at Forton services having a coffee waiting for the coach. Due any minute now.