Life aboard the RMS St. Helena

So, day one and after our safety briefing which involved a 'practice donning' of life jackets, we were advised to carry a sick bag and ensure there are no loose items in our cabins.  Having then spoken to an English couple who were on there fifth trip abound the RMS, and had never received the above warning, Charlie and I decided to invest £15 into the anti- seasickness injection....apparently in the bum is less painful! 

We enjoyed a three course meal, during which we were advised the the seven metre swell was due to get worse! Both boys began to feel unwell but chickened out of the injection, Lol was prescribed some tablets, Toby's going without.  Going to bed early, hoping we sleep through most of it....or it could be a long night!!

Day Two,

Not a bad night....I just kept waking up feeling as though I was on a slow roller coaster, switching between being pressed down into the bed or feeling as though I was lifting out of it.  The boys and I spent the day playing cards, watching films, playing x-box and getting to know some of the ex-pat community & their children.  Andrew on the other hand tried to get up a few times, but quickly found the only position he felt comfortable in was lying down.  He did manage to make the Captain's Cocktail Party (invites under our cabin door), in his suit.  Apparently you can tell who's there for the first time as they tend to make more effort with their dress, which gradually gets more informal, though most men were still wearing a jacket.

Day Three

The sea is much calmer today, and we spent the morning playing quoits on the deck, and Andrew even managed to stay out of the cabin today.  After lunch the boys watched a film, whilst we had a tour of the bridge.  The small pool was filled today, though only two have been brave enough to have a quick dip. 

 

All the family entered into the deck quoits competition, one by one getting knocked out... except Lucy, who beat all comers and was victorious in the final, duely awarded on the final night, at the wonderful star-lit BBQ, with her prize of .....an Apron (all the men got tankards!)

 

The rest of the journey was relaxing and very special, such a unique, friendly, incredible way to travel.  We spent 5 days without seeing any land, any other vessels, not even any planes or plane trails in the sky! 

 

As we got nearer to the island the excitement among passengers both old and new became noticeable, and most people woke at the crack of dawn to glimpse a first sight of St Helena.  First sight was of the quarry vehicle lights as they work around the clock to construct the new airport.

Waiting to land on the Island