Yesterday was Belfast.
We'd visited Belfast a number of years ago when we drove round the coast of Ireland. We liked the city then, and we liked it yesterday on our quick whizz round. Both times the weather was grand, and that always helps.
We had a relaxing start to the day before a 9:30 departure into the city from the port. The port is a typically industrial area built on reclaimed land, next to the city airport. That's not to say there's no history, but it is gritty.
The extremely knowledgeable guide took us through the city centre and gave us a few minutes to look at the City Hall and the Titanic memorials in the grounds.
We had four hours at the Titanic Museum which was probably about right, although if you've got the time and stamina, the museum would benefit from a full day.
The building itself is a stunning landmark. It's white and in the shape of a huge star - referencing The White Star Line which ran the Titanic. The front of the building is the shape and size of the prow of Titanic and it towers over visitors as they arrive. It is certainly impressive.
I'd arranged to borrow a wheelchair for Sacha. I knew it was a huge undertaking to visit the place, and she's struggling with her walking at the moment. So I piloted her around - which is fine, but we are completely incompatible when it comes to museums! She reads carefully and slowly, I skim and get impressions. We didn't quite come to blows, but it was close.
The museum is on four floors and includes a cable car ride through a virtual shipyard factory. There's displays of the construction and the working lives of the Belfast people who were in the shipyards There's the ship - design, fitting, decoration and provisioning. There's the disaster, the reasons, the rescues, the deaths, the survivors, the investigation. There's also a fascinating exposition of the discovery of the wreck which includes a difficult to describe presentation of the sea floor and the outline of the Titanic.
We had a bite to eat and a drink in the overpriced cafe and we're ready in good time for the coach back to the ship (not the Titanic).
Once on board, we had of course, missed lunch but we're in time for the afternoon snacks, something we'd not needed before.
Dinner time was dressing up time for the last time, and we watched the coast of Northern Ireland slide gracefully away while we eat.
The evening show was completely different - and exceptionally good This was a series of acts put on by various crew members and groups of crew staff. There were Philippino dancers and Thai traditional costumes, a couple of amazing singers, and hip-hop dancing from the engine room crew. Our cabin stewardess was in a Bollywood dance trio in an Indian first for Fred Olsen. Even I enjoyed it.
Today we are powering down the Irish sea and will be going along the south coast of England tonight.