Was on holidays

Yes that is right, I was on holydays, or holidays the last 12 days for the long weekend/Easter holiday.

It was a long planned-pre-booked holiday since last year, for a cruise.  I thought, as usual during long weekend, everything gets booked out immediately and gets very expensive.  So I booked a cruise, which I have never done before for 9 days to wherever our budget will take us.  Search results show New Caledonia islands.  Sounds good.  Was already excited since the day I booked but was more excited as the date of boarding nears.

I took 5 days off from work, as we have 3 days holiday Easter Friday, Monday and Anzac day.  So that was all good and in between are weekends.

We boarded P&O Pacific Jewel and I knew there will be limited running as we will be on the sea for 6 days and the rest will be port days but i dont expectt myself to run during port days.  I knew there will be a gym facility, but who knows how much capacity this will take out of the 2500 passengers or so in the ship.

As we boarded the ship, it was all good.  Toured a little bit of the ship and learned that their is a running track.  Great! Howevere, it’s 6 laps for a kilometer! Good luck if I do not get dizzy going rounds and get thrown out off the boat.  Yet I was happy to have that track.  And the following days and 4 days, did some runs around the “track” and at days that I was feeling lazy, I went to the gym and did machine work outs.

Lap measurements

The gym - photo borrowed from P&O

The track at night

We have been eating a lot during those 9 days, buffet and 5 course dinner and conciuos as most on the ship would be gaining kilos, inches around their waist.  Guess what as the cruise was finished I am glad to learn I just gained a kilo or kilo and a half! less than I expected.

The experience was really wonderful and can’t wait to plan for another one next few years when we have saved.  Don’t worry for the fitness lovers who wanted to go for a cruise but do not want to gain weight, the Lifts do not work as often as expected so you climb up and down the stairs, Salad and soup options are served, the Gym can accomodate around 25 people max per period, and it wasn’t that bad after breakfast time, lunchtime or after lunchtime.  Most often very busy and have to wait for your turn just before breakfast time.  Also the cruise provides different classes, like cycling session, Pilates, yoga and stretching, and “run a mile” and boot camp during shore days.

If you can, at least once in your life experience the cruise life :).