Arriving into Santa Cruz de Tenerife was an exciting moment, having spent so much time here each week during the winter season on my first ship Azura. Every Friday we'd have an overnight call where we'd see guests arrive and depart for their fly cruises. As a result I've got to know the city well and have a shortlist of favourite venuess.

Senegal was a challenging port, one that left us all a little confused as to why. Why Dakar? There's a lot to cover in this post, not all good but it'll offer a glimpse into life on board and some of the issues we face and the discussions we have. As always I'll hold a bit back as this remains an unsuitable forum.

A later then planned departure from Cape Town meant a late arrival into Walvis Bay, Namibia. Which was actually a good thing for me as it meant a 6:30 start, over the planned 4:30 start. An hour or so prior to arrival we were awoken to the sound of the ships horn. Every sixty seconds. We had driven into a bank of fog which is apparently typical for this part of the world. 

What a difference a few days can make! Cape Town was due to be an overnight call and we had plans. Em and I have friends who live in Cape Town and we'd organised to meet, give them a tour of the ship before meeting later in the evening to head out!

It's been a return to sea days as of late with little new to post about in all honesty. 11 sea days with one port to break that up. That port was Port Louis, Mauritius.

After Singapore, Port Klang, the gateway to Kuala Lumpur had a lot to compete with.

The best way I can describe Singapore is a city of the future. If you could build a city from scratch, this would be how I would imagine it. During my time there, I almost expected to look to the sky and see flying cars and the whole city under a dome only to find out that the human race has successfully populated a new planet.

So it wasn't just me who had a birthday on this world voyage! And it would be rude of me not to mention it. I'm a humble man, it's not all about me. I mean, yes, I turned 50 so I agree with the sentiment that it should be all about me but being a man of the people it's only fair I share the wealth.

For anyone left reading this blog, my apologies. It's been a busy time on board and the blog has taken a back seat. Internet access has been a bit sporadic and the ports have been busy.

After a temporary hiatus during our Starlink blackout, we're back online as we make our way to Vietnam.

There's a theme emerging in this part of the world, arrive to a monsoon for it to give way to a red hot sun. And that played out upon our arrival into Bitung.