2nd and 3rd November 2016 Sea day and Charleston, South Carolina

After the hectic days in New York and the Norfolk Virginia, we appreciated a sea day as we cruised along the east coast and we could feel the noticeably warmer weather.  The ship is to be very active with a whole range of events, but we take the opportunity to complete our washing and laundry activities with a Ken being almost first in the door at 7.30am and we complete the wash cycle prior to going to breakfast. 

Jeanette also determines that she will do some ironing after breakfast whilst waiting for the dryer to finish.  This means we have almost everything clean. 

Ken attends a morning presentation on the sailing history and exploits of Sir Francis Drake, we then have morning coffee with friends.  The rest of the day is relaxing and for the first time all of the pool deck is open.  Ken uses the gym and a treadmill without any real enjoyment. 

UThe afternoon is very busy with the highlight being the ship's Grand Afternoon tea.  We attend with Corey and Shawn and our primary purpose was to take photos of the 6,000 tea cup cakes on display and to listen to the string quartet. 

We dine with Bob and Susan Foster in the Grand Dining room.  They are enjoyable company. 

This is the 3rd production show and it is thoroughly enjoyable then Ken goes upstairs to the disco for an hour to list to Mo Town hits of the 70's.  Great music and he enjoyed it as one of only 30 people in the lounge. 

We arrive early in Charleston on a perfect morning, then depart the ship after breakfast at about 9.30am.  We have been here on 5 previous occasions and know and enjoy the city with its wonderful architecture and southern homes.  It is now the most visited city in the USA.  So we walk for about 45 minutes down Memory Street, enter the Calhoun Mansion and take photos of many of the beautifully restored period homes.  

It is just a perfect morning, and we determine to go back and take a carriage ride through a part of the city.  We reach the big red barn having walked through the market area and particularly enjoyed watching the basket weaving processes.  We depart our tour from the Big Red Barn with our guide Bob and our horse named Pokemon, with a group of 12 people and Jeanette and Ken in the back row.   

You proceed to an authorisation point where you are given a card which defines the route that the tour will take.  We drew number 3 which took us to several of the housing districts and we hear the stories as ton"Snobs" being South of Broads Street or Similar.  We had a great tour and thoroughly enjoyed the description and having seen the homes on the point previously we couldn't object. 

We then walked back to the ship via the markets and many restaurants seeking southern food.   We stopped at the beautiful Customs House building to take photos and answered a survey from several students doing Masters degrees or PHD's. 

Lunch was outside on the back of the ship where the Terrace restaurant was opened for the first time.  We had a hamburger and salad followed by ice-cream. 

Tonight we are dining in Toscano  Italian themed specialty restaurant and then attending the show where the pianist will play a whole different range of hits from musicals.  He is outstanding and thoroughly enjoyable.

Tomorrow we arrive in Port Canaveral but we have decided to remain on board because we have previously visited the Kennedy Space Centre and also completed the air-boat ride through the swaps and Everglades.  We will again take the chance to update our washing and gave everything ready for departure at conclusion of the cruise in Miami on morning of the 5th November,2016.

The show tonight is the final production show, but we are advised that Crystal the lead singer has a virus and will not appear, but the test of the cast do an amazing job putting on a terrific show, enjoyed by all.