Crusie 2012 
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Cruise aboard Ventura 17 days
Mediterranean April 26 – May 13
Ventura
The blog is split into three sections
Departure from Southampton 26 April 2012
Travelled down from Glasgow by air to Southampton on BE883 turbo pro. Coach arrived to take us to ship and embarkation procedures and finally on board ship just after noon. There were no rooms ready for the passengers so all congregated in one of deck 15 restaurants. Rooms ready just after 2-30 a dash as you can imagine with approx 2000 passengers making for lift not sure why as there is nowhere to go other than your room and back to eating etc.
Room great plenty of space to keep the room shipshape.
Lifeboat drill delayed to 16-30 as we are waiting for a number of passengers to arrive – there were delays on motorways and a train arriving late.
All on board attend the drill in our muster station B for a debrief on procedures in the event of emergency.
Ventura vital statistics
At 116,017 tonnes the Ventura has 15 passenger decks, 1,546 cabins and can accommodate 3,100 passengers. There are three pools: two on the pool deck and one at the stern, the center pool can also be covered by a glass-roofed skydome. We were allocated a cabin on Deck 8 which was E deck amidships.
Dinner in Saffron restaurant @ 18-30 table 95 for 10 persons.
Ventura buddies
Ventura buddies 1
Our Ventura buddies were from Lanark, Manchester, Southport and Buckinghamshire.
Departure delayed from Southampton by 4 hrs due to late arrivals – finally lines drawn at 2000 hrs.
27 April at sea
Up 0700 check out info screen on tele. We were Located just north of France, Brittany a distance of 214 nautical miles covered in 12 hrs at a speed of 21.4 knots. Quite a swell during the night just a little sway to rock you to sleep.
Weather is 10*C wind from southerly direction. (203*)
Note from captains log scheduled to arrive in Malaga @ noon on 29 April and depart @ 1730 hrs.
28 April at sea
Lazy day at sea. Getting to know the ships 18 decks and lift locations.
29 April at sea/ Malaga
Woke around 6-30 in time to see North Africa as we went though the straits of Gibraltar.
Arrive noon to a rather wet Malaga.
Rained most of the afternoon, cleared around 4pm till we set sail for Corfu @ 1730.
Evening took in Roy Lewis Phil Collins tribute concert in Havana, it was OK. Many shows to go to over the course of the cruise in the main theatre.
30 April at sea
After yesterday’s poor weather we are enjoying a warm 16* with little wind. Decks well populated. Margaret sitting in shade listening to iPod touch after an Indian head Massage treatment.
Awoke to sight of Algeria (Tines) on Starboard side, captains log informs that we are going east at 21.4 knots about 15 nautical miles from African coast.
Scilly should be in view on port side tomorrow morning.
Destination Corfu morning of 2 May
