We are off...

The last day in Amsterdam we had a very leisurely breakfast and checked out just before the required time of 12 pm. We trundled our cases all to the cruise terminal and deposited them for loading onto the ship. As we were already checked in and had boarding passes we were photographed and issued with our key cards for opening the cabin door and for purchases onboard. 

Once on the ship we had to wait for all passengers to turn up for the compulsory safety drill - there is always one that does not turn up. I wonder why that is?

Just after four we were off down the North Sea Cut. It was quite windy but we stayed on deck for some time.  In the end we decided to have lunch and it was while we were eating that we entered the North Sea and turned left for the English Channel. That was yesterday, and we are now just about level with Poole and heading for Dublin which we should reach tomorrow evening. 

Due to a weather system coming up from the south we are not able to go to Guernsey as the winds will be too severe for the tenders we would have to use to land at St Peter Port.  And we are even missing out Wales and England for the time being. The plan is to go to Liverpool after Dublin now, not before. This is so that we avoid the forecasted winds - lets hope that is how it works out.