04 December 2018; At Sea / Civitavecchia, Italy.

We left Messina just before 20.00 hrs. and sailed out of the harbor with the city lit up as a Christmas tree against the mountain range to the West. From here it was northwards through Messina Strait and passing the Volcano Stromboli on our portside at 23.00 hrs. I did not see it as I was in the Main Stage to see the full performance of “Humanity” by The Dance Company, who had given a little taster show during the Hand Over Ceremonies on November 29.  Now it was the full 50 minute show and it was impressive, very impressive. The LED wall of the Main Stage is even larger than on the Koningsdam and it was used to its full potential.  So the audience was mesmerized for the whole performance and thanked the performers (And in this case also the designers of Light, Sound and Choreography) with a standing ovation.  If HAL can deliver a bit more of this, and I think they will, then the competition has to go back to the drawing Board to try to beat this.

Dancer in front of an ever moving background that wraps 270o around the World Stage.

Last night we had all the music venues in use. The Lincoln Art Center Orchestra, playing in the early evening, and then being relieved by The BB King Blues Band. Full House there. Further forward the “Dueling Pianos” of Billboard on Board who were alternating with the Rolling Stone Rock Room musicians; so there was no let down in the flow of entertainment all night. The Bar Tenders and waiters / waitresses were extremely happy with the sales as the last venue only closed at 04.00 in the morning. So thus far the Music Walk has been a resounding success.

Full House at the Rolling Stone Rock Room (starboard side). Once these musicians go on a break, the musicians in the Billboard on Board (portside) take over so there is continuous entertainment.

In real life things continued as well as we were very “nasty” by getting the late night / early morning revelers out of bed again by 10.15 hrs. for another Guest Boat drill. Well they are all on a free shakedown cruise, so if we need their help we will use them.  Focus of this morning was to check on the assembling of everybody in the Muster Area’s and the proper mustering by using the Electronic devices, we call PDA’s. Using them omits the need of the cumbersome reading out of paper lists with all the dangers of miss-pronouncing guest’s names or them not reacting because they do not understand any English at all or think that they are in a different cabin. A bar code scan takes all those problems away. But the system depends on computers and software so we better do some in depth testing to get it right. And that is what we did this morning.

More sedate but not less interesting, also a full house at the Notes. Tasting whiskies with the expert advice of the Bar Tender about what the difference is between single malt, double malt, blended and anything else what Scotland has invented in this area.

The distance from Messina to Civitavecchia is only a night+ travel and thus we arrived here in the early afternoon. The early arrival gives those who have early flights tomorrow morning a chance to disembark and take an airport hotel for the night and the rest can enjoy an afternoon or evening ashore. Civitavecchia is not known for its vibrating night life but it has a nice boulevard with restaurants and one very good pizzeria.

The Tirrenia Ferry with a Batman, Wonder Woman theme. Not exactly my idea of proper ship decoration.

There was only one other cruise ship in port so we docked at the biggest terminal on the inside of the breakwater; the only one with a Jet Way for Guest Traffic. The port is very busy with cruise traffic in the summer but it dies down in the winter and then all the temporary Marques are taken down. Leaving one forlorn Cruise Terminal in the middle of the port but it works for us. The ferry port continues to be busy all year around and the company “Tirrenia” is convinced that painting Marvel Comic figures on the outside of their ships will increase business. A bit puzzling to me, because when you travel on a ferry you see the inside except maybe the funnel. But maybe that is it. Having a selfie with a funnel with the Batman trade mark will do it.

We are staying here over night and then our first official cruise starts. Very little change in the weather from today, so tomorrow it will be sunny and nice temperatures to enjoy.