4 BIG FISH IN A SARDINE CAN

Wow, wow and wow again! For a cruise newbie boarding a cruise ship for the first time is a jaw dropping experience. No matter what you have been told or read nothing can prepare you for that first time. The noise, the people, the excitement, the total organised chaos of a cruise terminal. Wether it's one of the mega ships that cater for 4,000 plus passengers or the more intimate luxury liners with less than 800, the experience can be overwhelming. All that I really knew prior to boarding was that we needed to drop off our bags at point A and line up at point B. 

So with the two mere males in tow, who were still trying to get their heads around the fact that they were about to embark on a cruise, we lined up with the other 1,500 odd people who were headed to the gangway. Well at least I thought it was the gangway on the other side of that door! 

First we had to collect a couple of door pass card thingy's and sort out our onboard account before having our carry on bags x-rayed, it's amazing what people try to smuggle onboard I saw all the usual no no's and even an ant farm complete with live ants! Then it's time to  be scrutinised by immigration, oh and while I think of it, don't smile at or make jokes with immigration, these people are from a different planet! Smiling gets you a frown, but a joke could cost you a body pat down! Which wouldn't have been too bad if he had been tall, dark and handsome, instead she was short, fat and hairy! Well after that delightful experience we were finally allowed up the gangplank.

Did I say wow? The ship was amazing, and huge! Well at least to a cruise virgin she seemed huge. Later I was to find out that the Pacific Sun was only a baby compared to some cruise ships. I am convinced I looked like some sort of country bumpkin on their first trip to the big smoke, every time I moved from one section of the ship to another I found something else that had me picking my jaw up off the floor! I must have climbed up and down stairs and gone in and out of bars, lounges, theatres and the casino at least thirty times in the next couple of hours and I still hadn't found our cabin! I did find the drinks waiters and the buffet a number of times though. That little card thingy, that by this time was hanging around my neck on a pretty piece of cord thanks to the lovely man at guest services, was getting a good workout. It just loved all those cocktails in the pretty coloured P&O souvenir glasses that are now gathering dust on a shelf in my lounge room, but every time I glance at them they bring a smile to my face, ahhh the memories!

I eventually made it to our cabin thanks to a little map, also from the lovely man at guest services. We had an inside quad. Two sets of bunks and a pretend window between, a curtain with a blank wall and shelf behind. We also had a little bathroom, complete with toilet, basin and shower, yes the curtain does attack you every time you turn the shower on! There were cupboards, about enough for my 14 plus 1 pair of shoes, and a tiny fridge. It was kind of like a cubby house for adults. So us four big fish were about to embark on a life changing journey in this cute little sardine can sized cabin!

Next: How Patsy and Eddy bought a race horse!