Adonia regrets, she’s unable to lunch with Dame Shirley today

From the moment she was invited to be godmother to P&O’s pathfinder cruise ship, Adonia, Dame Shirley Bassey approached her responsibilities with the enthusiasm of an excitable teenager.
At the naming ceremony in Southampton on May 21 she posed for photographs wearing the captain’s white cap, successfully smashed a bottle on the ship’s hull and dutifully intoned the familiar “I name this ship . . .” speech. Later in the evening she even burst into a spontaneous, unaccompanied performance of Diamonds Are For Ever.
Dame Shirley also made a vow that when Adonia paid its first visit to Monte Carlo, where she has made her home, she would be there to serenade the ship into port.
That day is today, and preparations for the reunion of ship and godmother have been in hand for weeks. P&O managing director Carol Marlow flew out to join Adonia in Barcelona two days ago – it’s her first time on board since she sailed on the maiden voyage.
A select lunch was arranged for Capt David Box and his senior officers to entertain Dame Shirley, and, who knows, she might even have been persuaded to burst into song again.
Unfortunately, she did not get the chance. High winds and rough seas this morning prevented Adonia from berthing in the principality.
The weather has proved problematic throughout the current cruise, which left Southampton on October 29. The Bay of Biscay threw a typical autumn welcome last week, and Captain Box was battening down the hatches as we sailed from Barcelona on Friday evening.
Thunderstorms lashed Marseille as passengers strolled around the port on Saturday, and as we set sail for Monaco, the captain was again warning of a rough night ahead.
At 8.00 am, Captain Box’s voice was broadcast throughout the ship, bringing the sad news that after consulting the local pilot, he had decided the “atrocious” weather conditions would prevent him taking the vessel alongside.
Adonia is heading for La Spezia, on the Italian Riviera; passengers who had been looking forward to a day exploring the world’s second-smallest country are instead settling into an unexpected day at sea with a hastily-arranged programme of entertainment taking place – it’s Battle of the Sexes in the Crow’s Nest as I write.
I hope Dame Shirley is not still scanning the horizon from her Monte Carlo balcony – and that she will be free for lunch next time Adonia is scheduled to be in port.