Thursday night was the last "chic" dress evening, and a special menu in the dining room. We enjoyed blue cheese soufflé, lobster tail, mushroom risotto, and crème brulee.
That evening a group of passengers who had been practicing as the ship's "choir" performed on the stairs of the grand foyer. Then another group of passengers performed a dance routine - "Flash Mob". We had seen them practicing throughout the week, disturbing the afternoon tranquility of the Passport Lounge. After seeing the show, we decided the Flash Mob needed a lot more practice!
Our last day aboard we decided to try the Sushi Cafe for a change. It is the only venue aboard that charges by menu item (other restaurants are included or charge a set "surcharge"). Unfortunately, I didn't care for most of my meal. The edamame we started with were fine. My ginger chicken gyoza were nothing like I'm used to. Chunks of chicken instead of minced, and it didn't appear cooked enough. The waiter assured me it was thoroughly cooked, but offered to exchange it. I next tried shrimp dumplings, which again were not typical. I ate only one of them. Ron fared slightly better with a bowl of pork belly ramen. We both ordered sushi rolls, which also didn't appeal. Too bad - our craving for Asian fare was NOT satisfied. At least the hot sake and champagne were good. The waiter did discount the meal, and the concierge apologized.
We had to have our bags packed and outside the cabin door before 10 PM Friday evening. We had to remember to empty the safe - not jewels, but the "contraband" JWBlack in "rum runner flasks". Just for an occasional nightcap, since all of the premium brands were included in our package. The Scotch will continue with us to its place of origin.....
Saturday (April 29) the ship docked in Southampton around 5 AM. We went to the Oceanview Cafe for breakfast.
Ron went to Deck 5 to register me for wheelchair assistance. We were told to be there at 8 AM, and a pleasant gentleman wheeled me down the long passageway, to the luggage claim area (all neatly arranged according to assigned tag numbers), and out through Custom s to the taxi area. Ron had also engaged a porter for our nine pieces of luggage. I was so glad to have assistance - I would have been in pain before we even set out.
The taxi ride was a little jarring, as the driver sped through the busy streets and through numerous, interconnecting round-abouts. I said I much prefer the gentle pace of life aboard ship! The driver wasn't very helpful about getting us close to the rental car pick-up. He deposited us in the middle of the parking garage, piled the luggage for me to "guard" and sent Ron off on a long walk in the wrong direction. There wasn't anyplace to sit and it was a very chilly 20-minute wait. Eventually Ron did locate the office and then had another walk to collect the car. Meanwhile he brought two luggage trolleys, and we wheeled them to a handicapped area where he could collect me and the bags without exiting the car park. The good news was that he was given an upgrade to a beautiful Mercedes GLE 350 AMG with only 6,000 miles on it.
We took out full insurance coverage, and the rental agent commented that it didn't matter how much we banged it up. This was reassuring as we tenuously set out to find our way out of the airport. The car did have a GPS system, which Ron programmed for a small town in the Lakes District. We couldn't get the GPS to "talk" to us, and Ron wanted me to look at the map to verify what he was seeing on the screen. I said, "I can't!" I was too nervous (more accurately, terrified) to take my eyes off the road. He reminded me that I used to drive on the left, and I said I couldn't do it today! The first time I ever drove on the left I went all the way to the Melbourne suburb of Mordiallac (about 15-miles) before I had the nerve to turn around (and only then because there was an unavoidable round-about).
We stopped off at a rest stop and bought an atlas of the UK, which had print large enough for me to see. This helped a bit in planning our route. We went up the A3 to A34 and through Oxford. Around that area were brilliant yellow fields of rapeseed (used to make canola oil).
We stopped outside the city of Stafford for lunch at a place called Shire Horse (also known as Chef & Brewer). My phone was able to pick up enough signal to search for restaurants, and I found one that had a few things going for it - easy location to find, abundant parking, and "not a chain". While I was looking at restaurants I discovered that this was a bank holiday weekend! No wonder the traffic had been so horrendous the entire way!!
Despite being such a "superbly located" spot, we could see it but not get to it, and had to drive around on confusing round-abouts a few times before pulling into the car park. It wasn't an old pub, purpose-built in 2002, but purported to have fireplaces - which was a bit of a fib since they were all filled with stacked wood. The hostess tried to seat us a small tables against the wall (which Ron really doesn't like), so he kept asking for something else. We finally accepted a small table, but not pushed against a wall. I had the Atlantic cod fish and chips with "garden peas". Ron had hoped for shepherd's pie, but it wasn't available. He had steak and ale pie, and added his mashed potatoes and my peas to make his own shepherd's pie. It wasn't a memorable meal!
We weren't even half-way to The Lakes District, but Ron was very tired from the stressful morning and drive. He checked with the attached hotel, a Premier Inn chain. But we decided we would drive a little further into the village of Stone to see what was there. We came upon The Stone House Hotel, part of the "Bespoke" hotel chain. Ron went in to see a room, which was great, but a long flight of stairs up and another down. He then discovered a short-cut through the garden, requiring no stairs, and agreed to take the room. The hotel was formerly an old country estate, and has undergone a lot of renovations, but still requires a lot more! Just hope the owners have "deep pockets".
Our room was a small suite with fresh paint, carpet, and a small but very modern bathroom. Unfortunately, Ron dubbed the bathtub "suicidal", as the side was so high you could hardly climb in, and the bottom was sloped and slippery!
Later in the evening we went into the dining room and shared duck and orange pate, Thai chicken, and a skimpy platter of Stilton and local cheeses.
So, we survived our first day on the busy dual carriageways, driving on the "wrong" side and eating English pub grub. A restful sleep in a comfy bed, but we both still feel like we are rocking. We remember from our last cruise that it takes a few days to get over that feeling.
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| Blue cheese souffle |
That evening a group of passengers who had been practicing as the ship's "choir" performed on the stairs of the grand foyer. Then another group of passengers performed a dance routine - "Flash Mob". We had seen them practicing throughout the week, disturbing the afternoon tranquility of the Passport Lounge. After seeing the show, we decided the Flash Mob needed a lot more practice!
 |
| Passenger Choir on Stairs at main foyer |
Our last day aboard we decided to try the Sushi Cafe for a change. It is the only venue aboard that charges by menu item (other restaurants are included or charge a set "surcharge"). Unfortunately, I didn't care for most of my meal. The edamame we started with were fine. My ginger chicken gyoza were nothing like I'm used to. Chunks of chicken instead of minced, and it didn't appear cooked enough. The waiter assured me it was thoroughly cooked, but offered to exchange it. I next tried shrimp dumplings, which again were not typical. I ate only one of them. Ron fared slightly better with a bowl of pork belly ramen. We both ordered sushi rolls, which also didn't appeal. Too bad - our craving for Asian fare was NOT satisfied. At least the hot sake and champagne were good. The waiter did discount the meal, and the concierge apologized.
 |
| Strange "Green Roof Tuna Rolls" |
We had to have our bags packed and outside the cabin door before 10 PM Friday evening. We had to remember to empty the safe - not jewels, but the "contraband" JWBlack in "rum runner flasks". Just for an occasional nightcap, since all of the premium brands were included in our package. The Scotch will continue with us to its place of origin.....
Saturday (April 29) the ship docked in Southampton around 5 AM. We went to the Oceanview Cafe for breakfast.
Ron went to Deck 5 to register me for wheelchair assistance. We were told to be there at 8 AM, and a pleasant gentleman wheeled me down the long passageway, to the luggage claim area (all neatly arranged according to assigned tag numbers), and out through Custom s to the taxi area. Ron had also engaged a porter for our nine pieces of luggage. I was so glad to have assistance - I would have been in pain before we even set out.
The taxi ride was a little jarring, as the driver sped through the busy streets and through numerous, interconnecting round-abouts. I said I much prefer the gentle pace of life aboard ship! The driver wasn't very helpful about getting us close to the rental car pick-up. He deposited us in the middle of the parking garage, piled the luggage for me to "guard" and sent Ron off on a long walk in the wrong direction. There wasn't anyplace to sit and it was a very chilly 20-minute wait. Eventually Ron did locate the office and then had another walk to collect the car. Meanwhile he brought two luggage trolleys, and we wheeled them to a handicapped area where he could collect me and the bags without exiting the car park. The good news was that he was given an upgrade to a beautiful Mercedes GLE 350 AMG with only 6,000 miles on it.
We took out full insurance coverage, and the rental agent commented that it didn't matter how much we banged it up. This was reassuring as we tenuously set out to find our way out of the airport. The car did have a GPS system, which Ron programmed for a small town in the Lakes District. We couldn't get the GPS to "talk" to us, and Ron wanted me to look at the map to verify what he was seeing on the screen. I said, "I can't!" I was too nervous (more accurately, terrified) to take my eyes off the road. He reminded me that I used to drive on the left, and I said I couldn't do it today! The first time I ever drove on the left I went all the way to the Melbourne suburb of Mordiallac (about 15-miles) before I had the nerve to turn around (and only then because there was an unavoidable round-about).
We stopped off at a rest stop and bought an atlas of the UK, which had print large enough for me to see. This helped a bit in planning our route. We went up the A3 to A34 and through Oxford. Around that area were brilliant yellow fields of rapeseed (used to make canola oil).
We stopped outside the city of Stafford for lunch at a place called Shire Horse (also known as Chef & Brewer). My phone was able to pick up enough signal to search for restaurants, and I found one that had a few things going for it - easy location to find, abundant parking, and "not a chain". While I was looking at restaurants I discovered that this was a bank holiday weekend! No wonder the traffic had been so horrendous the entire way!!
Despite being such a "superbly located" spot, we could see it but not get to it, and had to drive around on confusing round-abouts a few times before pulling into the car park. It wasn't an old pub, purpose-built in 2002, but purported to have fireplaces - which was a bit of a fib since they were all filled with stacked wood. The hostess tried to seat us a small tables against the wall (which Ron really doesn't like), so he kept asking for something else. We finally accepted a small table, but not pushed against a wall. I had the Atlantic cod fish and chips with "garden peas". Ron had hoped for shepherd's pie, but it wasn't available. He had steak and ale pie, and added his mashed potatoes and my peas to make his own shepherd's pie. It wasn't a memorable meal!
We weren't even half-way to The Lakes District, but Ron was very tired from the stressful morning and drive. He checked with the attached hotel, a Premier Inn chain. But we decided we would drive a little further into the village of Stone to see what was there. We came upon The Stone House Hotel, part of the "Bespoke" hotel chain. Ron went in to see a room, which was great, but a long flight of stairs up and another down. He then discovered a short-cut through the garden, requiring no stairs, and agreed to take the room. The hotel was formerly an old country estate, and has undergone a lot of renovations, but still requires a lot more! Just hope the owners have "deep pockets".
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| Garden outside our room at Stone House |
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| Ordering much needed beverage at Stone House |
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| Part of bedroom in small suite at Stone House |
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| Lounge - Stone House |
Our room was a small suite with fresh paint, carpet, and a small but very modern bathroom. Unfortunately, Ron dubbed the bathtub "suicidal", as the side was so high you could hardly climb in, and the bottom was sloped and slippery!
Later in the evening we went into the dining room and shared duck and orange pate, Thai chicken, and a skimpy platter of Stilton and local cheeses.
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