We now have the best part of three days travelling to get back to Dover.
Unfortunately the winds that started to make themselves known at Molde continued to increase. As we sailed South towards the North Sea the winds got worse and worse until we found ourselves in the middle of force 11 gales with 9 meter waves.
The ship and staff coped very well, but this was clearly something unusual and unexpected. Access to the outside decks was closed (it was too dangerous) and furniture and displays started moving around with the movement of the ship – there were breakages! It was very difficult for the kitchen crew who could not provide their normal “à la carte” menu service and had to resort to simpler fare.
There was one major incident when the force of the sea caused a window to blow in and injure a passenger, who then had to be helicoptered to hospital.
Sue, like many others, suffered 48 hours of sheer hell from sea sickness; it is a very unpleasant condition. Happily David was unaffected, although still “under the weather” from his cold which has still not cleared up.
We eventually started to approach Dover and the weather cleared. Sue woke up clearly recovered from her mal de mer. Having not eaten for a couple of days, she made haste towards the restaurant for a small breakfast!
We arrived in Dover 10 hours later than scheduled – the captain had reduced speed during the storm in an effort to make things more manageable on board. As you can see, the sea has returned to its more usual placid state!
What an adventure – we have seen the weather at its best (gorgeous sunshine and calm seas for our journey North) and at its worst. We have sunbathed, swum and played in the snow. We have been royally entertained, and spent time curled up in our beds feeling sorry for ourselves.
We have seen the Northern Lights, and spent evenings vainly searching the sky for a break in the clouds.
Well, all is well that ends well, and here we are, safely back in Dover, with calm seas and, once again, the sun is shining.