Never a dull moment at sea

I had always wondered what people do on days at sea and was slightly apprehensive that I might feel claustrophobic or start to develop signs of cabin fever. I needn’t have worried. There’s nothing better than sitting in the sun with a good book; Spirit of Adventure has a well-stocked library, and there are sun loungers dotted all about the ship so there is never any problem finding a secluded area to relax.
There are plenty of activities as well, and this morning’s main event was Ready Steady Cook, which I mentioned a couple of days ago.
Passengers are packed in the Sirocco lounge, the ship’s multi-purpose entertainment venue, to see presenter Kevin Woodford, preside over two competing cooks, fellow TV chef Lesley Waters, and the ship’s own Executive Chef, Aussie Gavin Baxter.
It’s the first time Gavin has cooked in front of an audience and he is understandably nervous to start with, but soon warms to the task, and guess what? The audience vote him an almost unanimous winner.
After the show finishes there are all kinds of activities to keep us busy; from watercolour painting to table tennis and shuffleboard. There are wine and port tastings to keep us lubricated, a quick Spanish class in Spanish for beginners which will undoubtedly come in handy ashore; lectures on Spanish history and the paintings of Velazquez for those who want to take in some culture, and line dancing and a salsa workout for the more active.
At the centre of everything is cruise director Neil Horrocks, who is always out and about, mingling with the passengers and compering events in his own inimitable style. If you’re ever short of a double entendre, Neil will be ready to give you one.