Sea days are welcome right now, sandwiched between blocks of three or even four days in different ports.  At 28°C with part cloudy skies, days like these are to be savoured and enjoyed as much as possible.  This morning I just managed to grab breakfast before the Lido on Deck 9 closed at 10.30.  I took my full choice of food outside and was joined by table companion Bruce, who I assumed by his name to be Scottish!  I got that one wrong. He grew up in India where his father was promoted to a senior management position on India’s railway system.

I thoroughly enjoyed my morning in the sunshine on Deck 9.  Lunch, which in the Britannia Restaurant is usually on the small side was more substantial than anticipated.  I chose the Thai Green Chicken Curry pie with mash and broccoli. One of my “five per day” then.  I doubt that the dessert was as sugar free as suggested. 

Whereas I have been to Roseau, Dominica on two previous Caribbean cruises, 28/1/22 and 28/2/22, Queen Victoria’ hasn’t.  Tomorrow is its maiden call there, but very little has been made of this.  Queen Mary 2 has been calling there during her Caribbean cruises since December 2009.  I wonder whether anything special has been laid on for Q.V’s first arrival at Roseau. 

This sea day between Oranjestad and Roseau has been blessed with magnificent sunny weather with temperatures reaching 28°C. Tonight was a nod to the 1920s in Cunard’s Roaring Twenties Gala Night.

Today in Roseau.  24/1/26

This morning, after a patchy sleep, I made sure that I wouldn’t miss breakfast like I almost did yesterday.  Somehow, en-route to Deck 9, I made an enquiry at the future cruise office regarding a similar voyage to this in 2028.  The offer wasn’t as spectacular as I had hoped, but wasn’t bad either.  I missed my breakfast! 

15,000 live in Roseau, the capital of Dominica.  Like other islands visited on this voyage, the backdrop is dramatic with cloud covered mountains in the distance.

Missing breakfast isn’t a disaster. Already, lunch (and it needn’t be heavy) is available from 11.30 and it’s past that now.  I managed to grab a couple of pieces of French Toast and a small pancake to deter hunger pangs until just under an hour later.

Yesterday, while gazing across to the horizon, I could just see a strange vessel.

Now for a wander off the ship – it has stopped raining!

Passengers leaving the ship around lunchtime were serenaded by a well turned out band, possibly a family. It was hot and I was more than happy to accept the offer of a 90 minute trip to “the interior” to explore into the spectacular backdrop.  I was reminded by the driver/guide that the island was volcanic and thus very fertile. I’m sure we only saw a small part of Dominica.  The roads, even the main road are steep and very bendy.  We were taken to view the waterfalls (albeit from a great distance), the sulphur streams. and driven through the botanical gardens which still has the school bus crushed where a huge tree came down on it during  Hurricane David in August 1979.

At dinner, Bruce had arranged a curry banquet for those who wanted it.  This was for table 510 only. Not everybody opted for the chicken curry with embellishments.  Some of us went to the show in the Royal Court Theatre afterwards for 45 minutes of comedy.   I ended up having a final social drink with Bruce at a table on Deck 3 overlooking ballroom dancing in the Queens Room.

I have been invited to join Chris and Jackie from our table 510 for a scenic taxi ride including Shirley  Heights overlooking Nelson’s Dockyard, during our day-long stay at St. John’s Antigua.

Many thanks for reading. David  03.45 hrs in his stateroom, having woken up briefly.