Thursday 7 May 2026

Sailing Toward Tangier

The weather has finally taken a turn for the better. The day is still partly cloudy but the temperature has warmed up enough for me to take a few laps around the deck.

Last night’s trivia group dinner was great fun. Eight of us managed to consume large quantities of food and drink. Turned out to be Amanda Pillsbury’s birthday as well. Will and I met her and her husband as we traveled from Rome to Miami last fall. So in addition to my regular dessert (citrus cheesecake with pistachio ice cream), I enjoy a small piece of chocolate birthday cake.

Today begins with blueberry pancakes in the Colonnade and a good long nap afterwards. Lunch involves a tour through the kitchen as we pick out everything we wish to eat. Waiters then take the plates to tables we have selected.

This afternoon I start to think about packing again—which always comes too soon. But this afternoon I receive disembarkation information and luggage tags for leaving the ship in Lisbon on Sunday. Since I have accumulated more than I came with, I am glad that one of my free purchases has been an expandable luggage bag.

Dinner begins with Prosciutto di Parma with Ricotta Flan followed by a Greek salad, strangely without lettuce. The main course is a large NY strip steak served perfectly medium rare. Of course I have just a few glasses of champagne and an indescribable chocolate concoction for dessert.

We don't arrive in Tangier until noon tomorrow (and depart at 10pm). My tour begins at 1pm just outside the entrance to the port. I hope the nice weather continues so I can enjoy the sites of Tangier instead of just sitting on the bus in the rain, as I had to do last year. I will report how the day turns out in the next blog.