Ruby keeps us all guessing

The mystery deepens . . . two days into Saga Ruby’s mystery cruise and we still have no idea where we are going. Only Captain Alistair McLundie and a handful of senior officers are privy to the secret, and they are doing their best to keep 600 passengers confused.
Shortly before leaving Southampton on Friday evening, the captain announced the first three days of the voyage would be at sea, and we’ll only know he wasn’t bluffing if we make landfall before Tuesday morning. He asked passengers not to cheat by using portable GPS devices and advised that if anyone thought they would be able to use the position of the sun to work out the ship’s course they should think again because he’d be likely to change direction under cover of darkness.
Passenger predictions for our destination were wide-ranging, from the Canaries to Iceland, and one sage soul stared out at the five-metre waves and confidently declared that “it doesn’t look like a Biscay swell.” Another forecast that we must be making for Oban, on Scotland’s west coast, because the captain has his family home nearby.
As it happened, Saturday’s weather conspired with the captain to keep us all confused: gale force winds and low cloud kept the sun hidden from anyone brave enough to venture out on deck; most passengers seemed happier in the comfort of their cabins.
Sunday morning has dawned brighter, with the sun shining from our port beam – which would mean we are heading south, but for how long?
There’s a packed house in the ballroom for this morning’s Sunday service; I wonder if they – or Captain McLundie – are praying for some divine guidance.
My own prediction is that when I switch on my mobile phone on Tuesday morning I will be greeted with a text message welcoming me to… who knows where? Red-faced with embarrassment, or glowing with pride at guessing correctly, I’ll let you know then.
In the meantime, like everyone else on board, I’m happy to relax in the comfort of a Saga Ruby armchair, reading a book from the library or listening to a talk from an air safety expert, and looking forward to roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for lunch.