Big "Yay" for Sea Days

I didn't wake up until 10.00am. Bliss.

Emma was up before then. She had breakfast with Anna and Mario at 8.15 and then went to the Lotus Spa for a pedicure at 9.30. She gets pampered, I get extra sleep. Classic win-win.

I considered playing in the 10.30 poker tournament, but that was looking like way too much effort. Instead I hung out until Emma returned, and we had brunch in the buffet.

Emma elected round two in the spa, this time going for an oxyderm facial and a fruit peel (whatever that entails - something to do with an asphyxiated elephant and a fruit basket?), and I read in the pool area near the spa.

After about 45 minutes the ship changed direction, putting me into the sun. I couldn't move to the chairs to the other side as people had reserved the unused chairs by dumping their stuff on them, and then disappearing to parts unknown knowing they'd have a nice lounge chair in a quiet area of the ship whenever they wanted it.

Which I really, really hate. Next time I encounter this I'm giving the "reservers" thirty minutes to show up before I park their stuff in the pool.

Anyhow, the point of the story was that I found out that evening why the ship changed direction. The bridge crew had seen wreckage from a fishing boat floating in the water, and the Ruby Princess circled back to see if the crew was in the water. I never got any more details on this, so I have no idea if a ship broke up at sea, or some bits simply fell off into the water. Given the condition of most of the fishing boats we've seen, either is possible.

At the time all I knew was my shady spot was gone, so I went to Deck 15 and watched an ice carving demonstration. From big block to horse in about 10 minutes. Pretty cool (pun not intended).

For the rest of day we just relaxed. Not much to do other than read, have a few snacks, go for a wander, listen to a guitarist playing in the Deck 5 Piazza, and moan about not having more sea days. Almost like being on holiday.

Being a sea day it was formal night, so we were banished from the dining rooms and had dinner in the buffet. While we were eating we passed through the Straits of Messina, and could see the lights of Sicily on the port side and Calabria on the starboard. 

Back to Italy. This time we're docking in Naples, with a visit to Pompeii and a drive down the Amalfi Coast. 

Ooooooh.