Praia da Vitória (Santa Cruz)

31st Jan. We are due to arrive in Praia Da Vitoria, Azores, on 3rd February and, so far, the Atlantic has been very calm, unlike previous journeys when we have been tossed about.

Right, now to mention the Headliners. They are the entertainment company that provides shows on the ship and the cast do a lot of singing and dancing. Generally they are very good. When we left Southampton on 3rd January, they were due to perform a number of shows as advertised on board. All were cancelled over a period of ten days. So the rumour mill started, no doubt emanating from the launderette as these things do, saying that they were all in quarantine having been tested positive for Covid. This appears to have been factual because after ten days they performed their rather late first show, which appears to have been a great success. We did not attend as I think we were dancing. Then, all their future shows were cancelled! Now what, we all thought. Other artists were shovelled in to take their place but nothing official was said. However, as Erica and I were returning to the ship from our visit to St Johns in Antigua, we saw disembarking the whole of the Headliners crew (you could not mistake them) carrying their bags and suitcases and not looking happy. A short while later, the Entertainment Manager announced that there had been some sort of internal dispute with the Headliners and they had been disembarked from the ship and flown back to the UK. It has been said that after their first and only show, they went ashore at the next port of call, got drunk and misbehaved on the ship after their return. They were then confined to their cabins, sent off the ship in Antigua and flown home. Oh dear. Don’t think much of their chances of getting another contract with P&O.

Just heard yesterday evening that an antigen test is now required for all passengers wishing to go ashore in Praia Da Vitoria. Previously no test was required. The testing will be done on Wednesday 2nd. We have been there before but after several days at sea we would like to have a good walk somewhere so we will go for our test. We are testing ourselves regularly anyway and we are negative thus far.

2nd Feb. Tested ourselves first thing this morning and continue to be negative. Then went early to be tested by P&O to enable us to go ashore in Praia Da Vitoria. Our names have not been called out by reception to call them so, presumably, we are negative. However, a lot of names have been announced, we assume because they have tested positive. Quite a lot of people will end up in the isolation units by the end of the day. There are already quite a few people in there, including people we socialise with at the evening dancing sessions. From what we understand, they will have to remain in an isolation cabin (a cabin with a balcony towards the rear of the ship) until we arrive in Southampton when they will be escorted off the ship and taken to a hotel organised by P&O until the quarantine period ends, when they can then go home unless the other person in the relationship contracts Covid when the whole quarantine period starts again. After our visit to Praia Da Vitoria we will not be testing ourselves again because we will be arriving in Southampton on Monday morning and will then do the prearranged Pcr test when we arrive home. If that proves negative, then we will count ourselves lucky to have got away with it.

The weather has certainly turned colder as we head north east towards the Azores but the sea remains reasonably calm. Still able to do the morning and afternoon dancing lessons on the open deck but today is the last day as the weather more likely to become unpredictable. Dancing continues in the atrium in the evenings. Looking forward to getting off the ship tomorrow and having a good walk around.

3rd Feb. We arrived in Praia Da Vitoria on Terceira island in the Azores this morning. Placed under our cabin door we found two certificates confirming that we had been tested for Covid and that we are negative. I assume that we are supposed to take these ashore with us for somebody to inspect them but we have no instructions. No surprise there then. We will also be taking ashore evidence of our Covid vaccinations but I doubt anybody will ask to see those. The weather is currently 15 degrees, expected to rise to 17, with cloudy skies. The last time we were here it was very windy but no wind today so we should have a pleasant day.

Currently sitting in a cafe with free wifi so taking advantage. It is now quite warm and enjoying the town. Jean, a fellow passenger has joined us for coffee. Now up to date and made a telephone call so will be on our way again.Read more