The Brilliant MSC Splendida or Cruise from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and back. Part 6
To be continued. Start here:
6. The Sea and the Captain's Reception. Casablanca.
From Barcelona we are leaving along the Mediterranean Sea to the Strait of Gibraltar, it is getting warmer and warmer on the open decks (it was -10 degrees in Genoa, 17 degrees now in the sea). The sun is already baking. In the morning, people take sun loungers, there are many pools. People with children go to the indoor pool,
Indoor pool
we are aft and up to the solarium on the Sun deck (18 deck), children are not allowed to go there, there are a lot of sunbeds, there are also wicker "baskets" with mattresses, where it is quite cozy, there is a jacuzzi , and to the pool and bar nearby on the 15th deck.
These are the baskets on Sandek
Aft swimming pool, bar nearby
And the seal rest began with breaks for chewing with the drinks we had. Unlike last year, there is no special entertainment on deck on the American Voyager, or it is out of season, or so it is customary on this ship. Music is playing from the loudspeakers, there are ice cream and drinks in the bars, but no more. Many sunbathe, someone reads, someone takes a nap, on the deck, however, they organized volleyball. The day passes in such laziness, but in the evening we are all invited to the Captain's cocktail, which will be held in all bars on three decks of the ship. Dress code is desirable, but in bars I saw people in sneakers and jeans
Captain's reception
A very beautiful room, on the left is a fountain vase
You can see that people are dressed democratically
, this would not be allowed on an American (disrespect for the captain! ), it's more democratic here. The cocktail took place from 17:00 to 18:00, the people were mostly beautifully dressed, the waiters carried champagne, 2 types of cocktails with martinis, you could take a picture with the captain. Festive, elegant. After dinner at the theater, there was an acquaintance with the captain and officers of the ship, a good concert.
At the theater the captain greets the guests (walking in the center)
Concert
Next again, a holiday on the ship (casinos, bars, discos). These activities are on board throughout the cruise. Everyone finds their own entertainment. There is even a playing room where card game lovers gather.
I can't say when we left for the Atlantic, but when I went on deck in the morning, we were approaching the port of Casablanca.
Entering the Port of Casablanca
Interesting - in the morning, suddenly, a strong vibration began throughout the ship, an alarmed wife asks what it is, well, I'm joking: "I don't know, but just in case, get ready to swim! ". I went out to look, it turns out - the ship is mooring sideways and the side propellers are working. I went into the cabin to warn that the voyage was canceled, and she was seriously holding a life jacket in her hands. For so many years of married life, she is not used to my jokes!
Impressions of Casablanca started from the berth of the cargo port, where our handsome ship moored, where coils of wire, sectional metal, rolls of sheet steel lay. In the corner stood several buses and a dozen taxis. And the coolest thing, on the other side of the pier, some ship was loaded with scrap metal. The rumble is worth it! Amazing parking lot! I didn’t plan to particularly walk around this city, somehow I ate some Arabic flavor recently back in Egypt, but I thought about walking along the embankment to the mosque and tasting the water of the Atlantic Ocean. Seeing the reality, the desire began to disappear. We did not plan ship excursions - this is Marrakech - 125 euros / person, Rabat -121 euros / person. There were no transfers to the embankment, taxis broke the price - 200 euros per car. In short, our company split up, four stayed on the ship to sunbathe, swim and relax until the Captain's cocktail, two went on foot to explore the expanses of Casablanca. On the Sandek , it’s great, the sun is already grabbing the skin well, it’s calm, comfortable, the water in the jacuzzi is 35-40 degrees, in the pool it’s less, but also good, it cools. I calmed down, thinking that in the pool there was outboard water, and this was also the Atlantic. The mosque is perfectly visible from the ship. The surf of the Atlantic Ocean, rather rolling, breaks on the rocks.
Port of Casablanca, mosque in the distance
Somewhere in the afternoon, our wanderers appear, they said that they walked fairly well through the territory of the cargo port, they almost returned, as the wind doused some kind of chemistry, but at the exit from the port they bargained for a taxi (70 euros) and drove along sights of Casablanca. They were lucky that the driver spoke some English and served as an interpreter and guide. In the old city, we bought spices and coffee, souvenirs, drove along the Embankment to the mosque (it is the largest in the world), did not dare to enter the Atlantic Ocean (waves) and returned. Their resume - this walk could have been dispensed with, especially when they saw how we were sybaritizing (we had it !! ). Yes, by the way, and many Ukrainians could not get off the ship, because they thought that in Morocco, as in Egypt, they would stick a stamp at the exit, and then they needed a visa from the consulate. I saw how ours on the gangway made a scandal. This is how a long day in Casablanca passed. What a pity that we did not have enough time in Barcelona
