Waking up in Barcelona

I get up early and that's a fact when I am on a cruise ship as I want to see the ship approaching a harbor and docking. Five a.m is usually good. Having missed our stop in France due to bad weather the ship had a lot of time to sail on to Barcelona. So much time she arrived in the dark and when I awoke at 5 the ship wasn't moving. When I looked out through the balcony curtains I could see we were tied up in port and there was thunder and lightning and heavy rain.

I kept to my usual routine of coffee up on deck but under cover so I could stay dry. Would it rain all day?

I had to go inside and kill time by taking some last-minute photographs.

The Wheelhouse Bar which we visited for our Pub Lunch and that only

The library which neither of us use. Carol uses her kindle daily. I take mine but seldom open it.

Explorers Lounge where the art auctions are held and bands play at night

Art which reminds me our luggage is packed and will be waiting for us in the Disembarkation hall when we get off the ship in a couple of hours

Its still raining outside in Barcelona harbor but it's warm which is a plus and what you expect in Spain

The mountain (big hill really) is Montjuic (Mon-joo-eek pronunciation)

The Photo Gallery is ready to open for the last time on our cruise

Stairwell art

Celebrity Equinox is berthed behind us

As dawn approaches other ships arrive in the harbor

The Costa Fascinosa will go beyond the Celebrity Equinox and spin around to face back out to sea

The clouds haven't lifted so rain is still a possibility

Off to breakfast, our last on the ship. It is served in Sabatini's which normally is closed on Disembarkation Day.

Our last American meal until we reach Chicago on Monday

Another cruise ship backs into the harbor

She is the Pullmantur Sovereign but was formerly Sovereign of the Seas in the Royal Caribbean fleet once launched in 1988. She had a 20 year career with Royal Caribbean. RCI owns Pullmantur.

Sovereign was skillfully moved in behind us

Now we can see Montjuic in the daylight. Little did we know we would soon be at the top of it looking back down at our ship....

Sabatini's Breakfast and Crown Grill dinner

On our last day on the Emerald Princess, sailing off the coast of the South of France in the rain, with the sun shining elsewhere, we had all the time in the world to enjoy another fine breakfast in Sabatini's, the ship's Italian Restaurant. We meet here at 9 a.m when we are not rushing ashore for an early tour on land.

The restaurant is high up on the ship looking over the stern and the ship's wake

Elegant decor in the lobby

The dinner menu is shown to tempt buyers later in the day. Breakfast is complimentary for suite passengers only. Dinner is $29 per person.

There are only 3 waiters but that is enough as at 9 a.m there are maybe only 6 to 8 people dining quietly (the operative word). Cappuccinos are ordered as is fresh-squeezed orange juice and iced water so we won't die of thirst today. Pastries and croissants are brought forth and enjoyed. A simple American breakfast for me with ham, bacon and scrambled eggs with white toast and marmalade hiding from my camera.

Carol's Belgian waffles with bacon following her yogurt parfait and fruit cup

We take our time over breakfast. I certainly had nothing to rush to. Carol did have a presentation on Barcelona to attend in the theater later in the morning and I stopped by for a moment.

Typical on cruise ships for the masses are the "sidewalk" sales or jewelry, $10 watches and tee shirts during the voyage and particularly the last day. We are not interested in these. I buy Duty Free cigarettes and a fridge magnet of the ship, only.

On Promenade deck there's a little section of plaques from ports around the world that the Emerald has been welcomed in.

And a montage of the main officers on board for this sailing

There are appropriate reminders, like this one in the ship's buffet, to keep your hands clean to prevent the occurrence and spread of Noro Virus which can ruin the cruise for you and everyone else. It's an illness not restricted only to cruise ships of course.

I think we took advantage of the for weather and time on our hands to pack our luggage early in preparation for leaving the ship on Saturday morning in Barcelona. This would leave us free to enjoy our last evening on board with a farewell dinner.

It stopped raining late in the afternoon and that lifted our spirits!

It gets dark around 6 p.m in early October and by 8 we were eating dinner in the Crown Grill-the Princess American Steakhouse on many of their big ships.

I bought a bottle of red wine earlier in the week for my MDR dinners and it was brought forth to be identified.  Salads were devoured.

8 ounce filet mignon with herbed French fries, my favorite meal on land or sea. Some small lobster tails were brought to us, included in the $29 per person charge. You can't get food on land this good for such a low price!

Lastly another Norman Love chocolate dessert with hazelnuts.

Our conversation was a reflection on our vacation so far and the wonders of Italy. Tomorrow would be a new port for us and we were not getting off the ship to fly home. We would be staying in Barcelona for two days!