Life on board a cruise ship

I have to describe a little of life on board ship, as there were five days on the Atlantic before we returned to Southampton. We would often walk around the promenade deck. Some people would walk determinedly, looking straight ahead and ignoring everyone else to the extent they would sometimes nearly walk into you. At the stern end of the promenade deck, where it is sheltered, were some chairs, which were often occupied by readers or sewers (I mean people who sew, not drains!) or some other sort of craft maker. Of course there was always enough going on inside to occupy everyone, Spanish lessons, music concerts, of all sort and all kinds. I used to enjoy the classical ones in the crows nest. In fact life on board, at least for me, was a series of never-ending treats and delights. There were films, live music and dancing shows and talks and lectures. The gym was well equipped and there were instructors on hand and classes available. There was an art gallery, with a changing array of pictures, all of a high standard of craftsmanship. There were art classes and the results were shown off. There was a talent show, mostly impressive, one was somewhat embarrassing, but that too had its amusing side. I imagine that particular act was the life and soul of one of the dinner tables, who had been persuaded to take part in the show and did not go down well with a wider audience.

Apart from the transport and port lectures, which were excellent, I thoroughly enjoyed a couple of "radio plays" performed by members of the entertainments team. The deputy entertainments manager, Dominic" started something with his music quizzes, which were so popular, people spilled out of the venue into surrounding areas. He introduced the ship to a 1960s song "Dominic the Donkey" thereby unleashing passengers hands in "ear wagging" at him every time they met him on board, accompanied with a raucous "eeeh aaaw, eeeh aaaw". Apart from walking on the promenade decks and the upper decks, we would often linger and watch the sea, perhaps we might spot a shoal of dolphins. There were often little petrels (sea birds) caught on deck, shivering in corners, but members of staff would gently pick them up and release them back to their ocean habitat, with no ill effects.