Day 1-Dubai to Venice-16 Days on Royal Caribbean Splendour of the Seas through the Suez Canal

                  Nancy and Owen

                             Ray and Sue

Our Arabian Adventure Bus picked us up at Noon for a short trip to the port, and we swiftly boarded our ship. Our staterooms were ready. Spacious quarters and a nice balcony will help us enjoy our cruise. Soon we were having lunch at the Winjammer Cafe, our old hangout from previous cruises. 

We toured the ship familiarizing ourselves with the layout of Splendour. This is a farewell voyage because she will be sold to an English line after this trip. 

Like on our Panama Canal Cruise, we found a spot in the Solarium to call our own. This became our meeting place and  reading spot. Reading and looking out on the water will be our main focus on Sea Days.

We set sail at 6 PM which was our dinner time so we headed to our assigned table in the King and I Dining Room looking forward to meeting our table mates for the cruise. What a surprise for us when we were greeted by three German couples who spoke no English! Sue, Owen and I were at a loss. Ray arrived a few minutes late and managed a few words in German thanks to a long ago high school German class. A quick greeting and sharing his knowledge of how to order beer in German was the extent of our evening's conversation. I think back to happy, friendly dinners on previous cruises.

The theater presentation to welcome us aboard was the comedy and juggling of Neil Dunker.  Early to bed although lots of nightlife available on ship.