Bit of a blog - Ambience - Grand Canada Sept 2022

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 9 / 34 Qaqortoq, Greenland 

 

Good morning and thanks for following 😀 

 

Current status still at sea. Should have arrived 0500. Now 0745. Very foggy out. Tender port but we're still not close enough.

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

0800 Captain's announcement. Qaqortoq port of call cancelled due to the fog which isn't expected to lift until the afternoon making tendering impossible. We're heading for St John's, Newfoundland. Our cooperation was thanked.

 

So we never actually set foot on Greenland 😥.

 

Right call though.

Edited September 20, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[paulatsea]

1 hour ago, NorbertsNiece said:

0800 Captain's announcement. Qaqortoq port of call cancelled due to the fog which isn't expected to lift until the afternoon making tendering impossible. We're heading for St John's, Newfoundland. Our cooperation was thanked.

 

So we never actually set foot on Greenland 😥.

 

Right call though.

That’s a shame .

[paulatsea]

Hi 👋

Have you had any feedback from anyone in a standard balcony cabin ? I would be Interested to know what they are like.

🙏 

[NorbertsNiece]

1 hour ago, paulatsea said:

Hi 👋

Have you had any feedback from anyone in a standard balcony cabin ? I would be Interested to know what they are like.

🙏

I've not asked anyone what kind of cabin they're in. Sorry.

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Captain's noon update. Safety first, fog was too dense to tender.

 

762nm to St John's. We're in the Labrador Sea. Force 7 Beaufort.

 

Yesterday they screened 'The Queen' (Helen Mirren) and today will be screening 'The King's Speech'. Much juggling behind the scenes to put activities in place. They're doing great 👍

[NorbertsNiece]

Went to a super 'talk' on the history of comedic song presented by my uke teacher Steve. A Band on Ship 

 

Here's one of the songs he sang 💙

 

MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW I’M ON THE STAGE

(T. W. Connor)

Billy Bennett

 

I'm cherishing a secret in my bosom

About this dreadful stage-life that I lead

I've heard it said that Pro's are decent people

But according to the papers that I read

Both actresses and actors are dead 'wrong-uns'

Whether from the 'Palace' or the 'Hippodrome'

The chaps I meet outside know I'm an actor

But I never breathe a word of it at home.

 

So, my mother doesn't know I’m on the stage

It would break her poor old heart if she found out

She knows I'm a deserter, 

>From the Scottish Fusiliers

She knows I stole a blind-man's can, 

That got me seven years!

She knows I've been connected 

With a gang of West-End Pests

And the police have had me twice inside the cage

And she knows I mix with ladies that have got a shady past

But my mother doesn't know I'm on the stage.

 

Sometimes she sees the powder on my clothing

And then it's such a nuisance to explain

If she thought that it was powder she'd go crazy

Of course, I have to tell her it's cocaine.

The day she met me out with Gladys Cooper

She started screaming, "Murder!" and "Police!"

And would have caused a dreadful scene in public

So I told her that the girl was 'Crippen's' niece.

 

'Cos', my mother doesn't know I'm on the stage

And when I draw six hundred pounds each week

If she knew where it came from 

She’d shoot me like a dog

So I told her I'd stole the moneybox 

From an Irish Synagogue

She can think that I'm a murderer 

Before she'll know the truth

I have to have respect for her old age

And she knows that I'm a bigamist, a blackguard and a crook

But thank Heaven she don't know I'm on the stage.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 21, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Cut my nails to play the uke better! That's how serious I am about it 😭

 

Big thanks to Janette who not only recognised me but gave me some emery boards!!.... not sold in the shop....

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 10 / 34 sea day

 

Good morning and thanks for following 😀 

 

Beautiful sunrise. Not sure if either of the blue passenger ships on the tracker is us as they're satellite pickups as opposed to ship transmissions. P & O Aurora is due in St John's the same day as us.

 

Edit: still struggling with uploading....

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

[NorbertsNiece]

I'm the big blue arrow!

[NorbertsNiece]

Captain's noon update. 

346nm since Qaqortoq. 

465nm to St John's. 

Heading 194⁰

Atlantic Ocean. WSW winds

Force 6 Beaufort

[NorbertsNiece]

I've made an appt to see the hotel manager. As well as asking the burning question as to when the lift decorations were installed (not been able to get a definitive answer elsewhere) I'm happy to ask questions on your behalf. Let me know please .

[NorbertsNiece]

Captain just updated. Hurricane Fiona may affect our future itinerary after St John's. They saw me coming right?

[NorbertsNiece]

Specialty restaurant meal this evening. Fab.u.lous!

Chateaubriand replaced by Black Angus ribeye.

 

Heads up. Pairings means a taste of a suggested wine not a glass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 11 / 34 sea day

 

Today I have two ukelele classes. We typically play a game of scrabble in the morning with friends but today there is a cake decorating competition involving officers which should be fun. I'm tempted to join a tap dancing class but I don't think my Birkenstock clogs are suitable footwear! There'll be a wildlife talk and loads of other events to attend. Will see how it goes.

 

Geoff has lost a crown off a tooth 😕 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

A typical front page of a leaflet we receive nightly which details on the reverse the following day's activities. 

 

Last night's front page with information we hadn't seen. Now highlighted. 😀🤦‍♀️

 

 

[psychokitty]

21 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Captain just updated. Hurricane Fiona may affect our future itinerary after St John's. They saw me coming right?

Linda, our itinerary on Celebrity Summit has been rearranged and Halifax cancelled. In Bar Harbor today and rain was so heavy we took the big shuttle (boat) to port, looked around at the pier and got back on shuttle to ship. Hot chocolate when back on board and having a lazy ship day. 😂😂

 

19 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Specialty restaurant meal this evening. Fab.u.lous!

Chateaubriand replaced by Black Angus ribeye.

 

Heads up. Pairings means a taste of a suggested wine not a glass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks fabulous!

[NorbertsNiece]

@psychokitty

Didn't hear captain's noon announcement. Could have. Should have. But didn’t. 

 

Seems we may overnight in St John's tomorrow to avoid the hurricane. Awaiting update.

 

Geoff has a dentist appointment tomorrow morning in St John's.

[NorbertsNiece]

Cruising makes the best friends. You may not ever meet again but with social media you need ever lose touch! I meet Donna 12 years ago! Alaska with RCL if my memory serves me correctly. She's just sent me this, being a St John's resident. Unless I've missed the announcement (again) it's still not confirmed.

 

Oh we've 1300 pax on board according to the guest services manager.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Cake decorating competition between Jonny, Cruise Director, Henry, Financial Controller, Ronald, Guest Experience Manager and João, Hotel Director. They could choose chocolate or plain cake rounds to create their showpieces. Very funny. Each contestant had assistance. Some more proficient than others!

 

Short video here

 

🤞 some pics upload

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 22, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

After he performed magnificently in the cake decorating competition, Ronald, the Guest Services Manager, gave me some of his precious time.

 

The lifts were already decorated when the ship was handed over to Ambassador. This is the definitive answer!!

 

The only carpets that have been replaced to date are on deck 7 and in the Casino and Purple Turtle.

 

The medical staff comprise of 1 doctor, 3 nurses and 1 medical host.

 

The artwork on the stairs (pics to follow) is based on the International Code of Signals alphanumeric signal flags. 

 

With focus on sustainability there are no newspapers available nor are plastic bottles available for excursions.

 

Ronald is happy to answer further questions so do let me know if there's something you'd like to know.

[NorbertsNiece]

From ORCA :

 

Our Ocean Conservationists and guests on the Ambassador Cruise Line Ambience have had some incredible sightings! 

 

In a single day, as they sailed to Greenland, they saw 18 blue whales as well as fin whales, sperm whales and common dolphins!

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Just back from the theatre. Thiago is a musical theatre star. I was moved to tears in places (may have had some alcohol).

 

Sang from Phantom, West Side Story, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sunset Boulevard, Beauty and the Beast and Les Mis. Oh and Jesus Christ Superstar. Just wow again.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Tomorrow's activity sheet still shows us in town just for the one day tomorrow 🤞

Edited September 22, 2022 by NorbertsNiece