Thursday 31 August - Our First Full Day on Board

We inevitably woke up early and we were up in the Café Al Bacio as it opened at 6am. A 'proper' coffee each plus a pastry (all included) and then it was off to the buffet for breakfast.

Pilot boat comes alongside to guide us into Rockland

Another pleasant surprise - as 'Elite' guests we don't have to do those dreary chores like going to the Martini Bar to get a tender ticket to leave the ship

Café Al Bacio offerings

Café Al Bacio

Found the smoked salmon - an essential item at breakfast!

Celebrity describe Rockland as a ‘quaint’ quintessentially New England coastal town brimming with historic buildings, cool restaurants and, above all, lobster and offering a 2-mile walk to the lighthouse. We did have delusions of doing that, but it looked like two miles each way rather than being a two-mile round trip, so we gave that a miss.

It was a slightly bumpy ride to shore but we made it unscathed. While we were on the boarding platform at sea level, a large fish/mammal leapt clear of the water just in front of the tender and dived back in again.  It didn't look like a dolphin but it could have been.  I wondered if it was a marlin but it didn't have quite those sharp facial features and I couldn't see a front spike.

Highway 1 runs along the east coast from Key West in the far south right up to the Canadian border.

We intended to stop here for some liquid refreshment, but it didn't open until 12.30pm and it was 10.30am when we passed by, so we had to give it a miss

Rockland is a sleepy little place with lots of yachts in the harbour and a very few shops and bars. We had a walk around and then returned to the ship.

We decided to sit outside on the tender boat which was lovely. Getting off was a bit like being on a rollercoaster as the tender bobbed a lot and the crew were extremely vigilant in ensuring that everyone got back on board safely.

After a snack lunch we chilled until the Captain's Club Welcome party where we enjoyed a drink and canapes whilst listening to one of the musicians.

We then went for our pre-dinner drink. Unlike last night the bar was heaving and it too ages for us to be served. Similarly the queue to get a table for dinner was manic - felt so sorry for the unbelievably patient staff trying to sort everyone.

Anyway E returned with a pager expecting to wait 30 minutes for a table, but within 5 minutes we were summoned.

Mickey's Ears get everywhere!

Bloody Marys do like like tomato juice!

If you scan the QR code it takes you to the menu.

Dinner was excellent as usual. We chatted to a very well-travelled couple from Edinburgh who were belatedly celebrating their Golden Wedding.