Palma the Billionaires Island

Greetings from Palma!

Palma is always a very popular call with our British Passengers. Being November you can feel a cooler air but the morning sunshine was very welcome for everyone as there has been so little sunshine in the UK this year.

A big HELLO to John Heald who is the Senior Cruise Director at CARNIVAL CRUISES who shares with me the same passion for Blogging, and I look forward to meeting John someday soon as he sounds like great fun!!! It is good to have a laugh to brighten the day............do check our John's BLOG as the following link........and please come back to me!!!! Do not change channels - STAY TUNED as always.

http://johnhealdsblog.com/

I do appreciate all your comments which are an encouragement to me. Thank you also for the letters, cards and emails which I have received to the ship.

There is a lot of interesting architecture in the narrow streets of the old town. Ever wonder what goes on behind all those wooden shutters?

The Promenade area is very welcoming with all the palm trees. It is easy to walk around as there are dedicated footpaths and cycle lanes. The drivers are very courteous to their visitors. No matter where you wander in the old town area you are never far from the Cathedral.

All the leading shops are in Palma and there is an abundance of coffee shops, bars and restaurants, even ENGLISH specific ones for the tourists! I like to enjoy Cafe Americana and some tapas with friends. On occasions I go ashore on my own however I always bump into someone I know from the ship, I know more people in these ports of call than I know in my local town at home! One of my favourite Coffee Bars is simply called CAPPUCCINO on the corner by the Cathedral - there is a chain of these on the Island located in the most prestigious areas. They serve speciality coffee and teas with great style and attractive staff! They also have an all day food menu. Struck me as odd the padded leather doors on the toilets?! How do they sanitise them? Palma is also a good place to stock up on supplies as they have an excellent Mont Blanc shop where you can get all the ink, refills and notepads you need.

Today the Commercial Team were meeting to discuss items for Christmas and I was invited to look at some ideas. This is an ideal opportunity to catch up with the Managers who run all the retail outlets on board ARCADIA. The Lady Officer sitting on my left is Karen Snaith our Commercial Manager and standing between us is Marion Weldon our Shore Excursions Manager. Marion is known world wide and has a mammoth knowledge on tour operations having completed many round world cruises, grand voyages and different cruising areas. Neil and his shop team were featured in yesterday's blog.

This evening our Headliners Theatre Company are performing the Premiere of F-AABA-ulous, as the title suggests it is a tribute to ABBA and the rest.............it will be an amazing show with strobe lighting and pyrotechnics. The Entertainments Production Team have been working for three nights in preparation of the set for tonight's show along with shore side contractors who have been travelling to see that every detail will delight the audience. I have asked for a photograph of the Headliners Theatre Company for this Blog and our Cruise Director has assured me that soon you will see more of the Theatre Company.

The ropes are off and ARCADIA is out to sea bound for Barcelona. Must dash as I don't want to miss the show this evening..........

Hasta la vista,

James.

'The earth and ocean seem to sleep in one another's arms, and dream'
Percy Bysshe Shelley

PS - JH - I have left a message on your blog!