We have just returned bronzed and refreshed from our cruise around the Med which we shared with 3,000 plus passengers on P & O’s amazing new flagship, The Venturer. It was so vast that I only mastered my way around its countless corridors – all beige and identical – by the end of our 16 day trip.
Here are some of my highlights:
Most unusual kiss: This happened on the Greek island of Zakinthos during a 
visit to St Dionysios (Dennis) Church, named after a miracle worker who died 400 years ago. His saintly remains are entombed there in an elaborate silver casket which is opened twice a year when worshippers are allowed to kiss his feet.
Miraculously, during our visit a group of devout women persuaded the Greek priests to open it especially for them and pray for their loved ones. As I am half Greek, I was allowed to join the locals for this very holy encounter. I felt my knees tremble during this emotionally charged unique experience. One by one, the women handed a piece of paper of the person they wanted the bearded priests to pray for in the presence of St Dionysios. I followed behind meekly as they filed past his canonised body, which seemed to be preserved somehow and was covered in a splendid robe.
When my turn came, I also leant forward and kissed his very exalted feet (or a piece of fabric they were swathed in). The low pitched Orthodox chanting continued with eyes cast down, followed by a great sense of peace once the women had accomplished their mission for holy solace.
It was all over within 10 minutes and the coffin was firmly shut again, despite the 
pleadings of the crowds which gathered once word got around. We were repeatedly told how lucky we had been to experience this remarkable event, said to be the highlight of the year in Zakinthos for locals and other followers.
Biggest superstition: Wondering why there was no deck 
13 in the elevator…… Are you superstitious? Most of the passengers said they were not. I admit I felt more comfortable travelling between the evenly numbered decks 12 and 14.
Most admiration: This undoubtedly is attributed to the hard working staff, mainly from India, who seemed to work constantly around the clock to provide us with endless food and clean cabins. Our cabin steward said he worked 10 hours a day, seven days a week, for six or nine months without a break. In the spa, my hairdresser told me she worked 12 hours a day with one-and-a-half days off in the week.
P & O is certainly not following the new EU Working Time Directive which has set 48 hours as the maximum working hours per week. Is that why the Southampton based cruiser is registered in Hamilton, Bermuda? Despite these gruelling hours, the staff were always courteous and smiling and couldn’t do enough to provide for our creature comforts.
Biggest disappointment: The cancellation of our shore excursion to picturesque Split at very short notice on the grounds that the berth we were due to arrive at was not safe for 
some reason. Many passengers booked this trip, including us, because we very much wanted to visit Croatia and admire its stunning scenery and heritage. I’m pleased to say we were hugely impressed with Dubrovnik and its historic ramparts, though it was a very short visit.
Best disappearing act: My son David who sometimes didn’t return to his cabin at night! He was also impossible to track down at various bars and quizzes he was supposed to be taking part in.
Best derriere: I saw this on Corfu – and no, we didn’t bump into Peter Mandelson on the Greek island from where he was running Britain during his holiday. The best butt for me was the rear view of a stunning statue of the perfectly formed Archilles, one 
of many on display at the fabulous Archilleion Palace gardens.
Best dressed boy: I am proud to say this went to my younger son James again (he also won this title on our last cruise among his peer group). Many of his clothes are his own bargain buys from Ebay.
Biggest surprise 1: Venice didn’t smell – that’s 
the first question everybody asks us. And some of the shops in Dubrovnik were more expensive than its Venetian counterpart. Venice was stunning, and all the cruise passengers lined the decks early morning as we sailed in to capture this special moment just after sunrise. We also managed a ride on a gondola around its myriad of magical waterways.
Biggest surprise 2: My husband enjoyed Greek dancing! We couldn’t keep him off the dance floor. At home, he always complains when I play Greek music, so this was quite a revelation.
Most interesting tree: A 2,000 year-old olive tree in Zakinthos – the third oldest in Europe. I made a video recording about its origins, which naturally includes mythology with reference to an assisted 
suicide, which I will publish later.
Most puzzling info: I sat in on some of the cruise talks and one of the most interesting was about the tortured and doomed life of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to hang in Britain in 1955. Why, I wonder, has an 80 year silence (according to the speaker Mike Harvey) been put on the publication of some of the Public Record files surrounding her case? What will they reveal in the 2030s when published? Who are they protecting? Monica Weller has written extensively about this with Ruth’s sister Muriel Jakubait, but refers to a 50 year cloak of secrecy. However, the questions remain the same. Why is such a lengthy period of secrecy necessary over the case of Ruth Ellis?
Many thanks again to my amusing and amiable fellow shipmates Liz, Steve, James, Abigail, Rebecca, Alex and Ben for inviting us to join them on another memorable holiday.
Update: I forgot to mention the ship’s zero tolerance against troublesome passengers. I heard about a couple of women who were reportedly slung off in Barcelona on a previous trip because they were fighting over a sunbed, and on our trip a youth was said to have been left behind at one of our shore destinations because he was selling alcohol to under age kids.
So glad you and yours had a great time, Ellee. And whilst I wished you a lovely holiday I’m glad to see you posting again, we missed you!
I have a suggestion for a post on the swine flu vaccine if you’re interested?
That sounds like such a fun relaxing holiday which you deserved 🙂 Thank for sharing it with us.
Wow Ellee this seems like a wonderful holiday and such a mixture of events.
I talked to my hubby about your great trip, but I think the two of us on a cruise would not be a good idea…
I suppose if you go with family and a group of friends it is great fun!!
thank you for sharing your holiday highlights..I thought they were all great, one that made me laugh, your disappearing son….!!!! Where was here???
Oooops…that meant to say “Where was he”..
At work, when setting tables for fine dining..we have flags with numbers on, so delegates can know their table…we have no number 13 either.
Pip, it’s good to be back and posting again and yes, please do email me your swine flu vaccine suggestion.
Anne, you will be able to ask David himself when you meet him 🙂
YOu look fabulous. I love the descriptions and photographs. thank you for sharing.
Sounds like you had a great time ..just hope David’s girlfriend does not read your blog… else she may well wonder where he was at night too 🙂
Hi Chris UK, Thanks for your comment, I have asked my webmaster Geoff Jones to look into this.
Lady M, you are too kind!
Sally, no problem there as David does not have a girlfriend back home. 😉
A warm welcome back, Ellee. You seem to have had a fine vacation. Well documented.
Lovely post, Ellee and I’m so glad you had such a great time. You look wonderful! That religious ceremony sounds moving and what an experience! I had to laugh at your tale about your “disappearing son”. Love the derrière, too!
Sounds wonderful 🙂
Welcome back, Ellee. I’m glad you had a good time and I hope you tipped the staff well.
I adore Greece. It’s the only hot country I like.
You look gorgeous, btw.
You’re looking relaxed there, Ellee.
What a great blog Ellee, especially as i can relate your comments first hand! We agree, what a great time we all had, and laughs….i won’t go into much detail here, but i just need to say ‘magic’ and you know what i mean! Thank you too for inviting us to come along to join you for another wonderful holiday.
Chris UK, my webmaster assures me everything is in order and wonders if you are trying to promote a software programme.
Liz, Yes, I know what you mean. How could I have forgotten that magical moment when Stephen went on stage with magician/entertainer Martin Daniels and had his five minutes of fame as his assistant!!
http://www.cdm-ltd.com/client-cv.php?client=83
As we were loading our car in Southampton, he still had people asking him how he did it. 🙂
Sounds like a pretty emotionally charged vacation Ellee, glad you enjoyed it!
13th? I was born on a Friday 13th and it doesn’t seem to have done me much harm, though I can imagine my poor (late) superstitious mother willing me to have come a little early (or a little late)!
Maalie, my youngest son James had to be induced and I had the choice of having him on the 13th (though not on a Friday, but I opted for the 12th instead. Glad to hear your birth date hasn’t blighted your life.
Ah it looks like you had a great hols!
Sounds like you had a really wonderful trip Ellee – and much deserved!
I trust the weather was more predictable there than here.
Yesterday was meant to be BBQ weather – rained.
Today was meant to be stormy so the boys’ coasteering trip was cancelled – it’s glorious.
The forecasts for the whole summer have not just been wrong – but spectaclularly wrong. In fact prepare for exactly the opposite of what the BBC/Met Office tells you.
An yet the BBC proclaim that they can see far into the future and indocrinate our kids daily about global warming in their news bulletins.
Kevin, yes, it was very, very hot, well into the 90s, which was too hot for me.
We had no rain in Cambridgeshire yesterday and I had lunch outside al fresco, though I understand the forecast for this weekend is showers.
One of the biggest joys for me when returning to the UK was to see heavily laden apple trees bursting with their ripe fruits in the gardens. I loved seeing the lush, green English gardens after the dry and arid tropical ones on the Med.
Re: Biggest surprise 2
Perhaps if ouzo was also involved, your husband wouldn’t complain about Greek music at home?
Pure speculation on my part, of course.
Sounds like a wonderful cruise.
Curmudgeon, good thought, but it is not to Stephen’s taste. Maybe you need Greek blood to really appreciate ouzo.
Welcome home Ellee!