Christmas on Arcadia!

The Headliner's Theatre Company will be putting on a Panto over Christmas.

Good Day Everyone,

Great to be back at my desk on board Arcadia! I am well rested after a good leave. It is amazing just how busy you can become in doing nothing...........I just got away in time before the snow came.

I left home on the 16th December, with mixed emotions leaving family and close friends in the build up to Christmas! Once I arrived in Southampton I spent the Thursday in the Office - Carnival House - a most impressive building. It was very exciting to see everyone under one roof and what a 'glass house' to work from. I can see why my shore side colleagues love their new surroundings. I joined Arcadia on Friday, she was just back from her Christmas Markets Cruise. It does not take long to settle in again, after unpacking I got my cards and decorations up in my cabin and feel right at home.

Our retail staff are kept busy.

We enjoyed a good crossing from Southampton to Madeira. Oriana was in port with us and she sailed at 1800 hours. There was a lively Christmas atmosphere as Oriana sailed passed Arcadia and we were all shouting greetings to one another. Arcadia sailed at midnight. I managed to get ashore in the evening to see the Christmas lights in Madeira - they do it so well. We also enjoyed dinner on one of the many restaurants to choose from. The steak on the stick is always a winner! It poured down with rain for most of the evening but this did not dampen our spirits. If you have not already done so you should plan to spend a New Year Celebration in Madeira where to put on one for the best fireworks extravaganzas in the world.

The first two days of the cruise were good for getting everyone settled in on this 23 night voyage. We had the Commodore's Welcome on board Reception on the second day, and now with Madeira behind us our passengers can relax and wait for 'Christmas at Sea' to arrive!!! The ship is all set for Christmas and we now have five sea days before we begin the run of ports in the Caribbean. The Officer's Choir have been practising for Christmas Day and I will be accompanying them on the piano.

The Pastry Team get to work on building the Gingerbread Village in the Atrium.

James gets to cut the ribbon at the official opening! The Atrium was packed with passengers taking photos.

Pictured here with Geoff Goes our Executive Pastry Chef and his team, also our Cruise Director Nigel Travis.

Christmas is a particularly busy time for our Food and Beverage Department. Steve Mitchell is our Food and Beverage Manager and Andrew Yuill is our Executive Chef. Yesterday morning I cut the ribbon at the opening of the Gingerbread display village in the Atrium. It is a joy to be sailing with Nigel Travis once again, Nigel was writing this blog for a time when I was on leave, so he can always fill in for me! Nigel is on board until San Francisco on the 1st Feb 2010. What a surprise to have our MD of P&O Cruises - Carol Marlow blogging also! Well done.

We have some fabulous ports of call ahead, Antigua, Tortola, St.Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent and Barbados on the 1st January. What a nice start to 2010!! Then after all the new year celebrations there are six days at sea as we cross back to Vigo in Spain, on the 8th January and then back to our home port on the 10th January when we will embark on our 2010 Arcadia Round World Cruise. So lots to look forward to.

I hope you are all set for Christmas and that your plans go smooth. We are looking forward to Christmas on board our great ship Arcadia.

Enjoy the festive season.

Best wishes,

James.

'Christmas is a time to recline in the comfort of your friendship'