Our final Sea day is a chance to rest up and take it easy before our last four ports of call.  Last night we spent Sailaway up in our favourite outdoor position; a high midships deck, which lets you see the views from both sides. We watched fascinated as the captain reversed out of Salerno, spun our massive vessel through 180 degrees, and manoeuvred out through a tiny and awkwardly angled gap in the breakwater. It never fails to amaze. Another favourite vantage point is the Promenade deck, where you can walk uninterrupted right around the perimeter, pausing at the stern to be mesmerised by the wake water churned by the propellors. It’s a nice spot to sit and read a book.

This morning we squeezed through the Straits of Messina, with the Italian mainland to port, and Sicily to starboard. The captain’s midday update has just told us that we are now rounding the toe of the boot of Italy, and that at around 8pm, we will sail from the Ionian into the Adriatic.  He likes to share nautical trivia as well.  Speaking of trivia, we triumphed again this morning, but rushed away before they could inflict more coasters on us.

Massively tall pylon at entrance to Straits of Messina

Messina port

Mainland Italy