Part 8
Thursday 6th November 2014
Today is my first-ever birthday at sea. I opened my cards from loved ones at home (I had special dispensation to be away…), my cabin steward made a funny hanging towel animal with a little note once he had seen my cabin, and prepared to enjoy the half day here in Naples, Italy. I could see lots of ships of all kinds, so today’s list should be lengthy despite the early morning damp air as we berthed. Vesuvius loomed over the bay with the usual ash cloud over it.
After a short walk to a nearby ferry terminal, we watched a few arrivals there.
We then returned to COSTA DIADEMA for coffee in the Chocolate House. The Chocolate Fountain in the glass case seemed not to be working still, and maybe the white-overalled engineers standing around it with screwdrivers yesterday had found a little problem. Ah well, the staff were able to provide fruit portions dipped in delicious chocolate and the most yummy and squishy macaroons in various colours so the coffee break was very satisfactory.
The black-hulled ship laid up by the CROAZIA JET is the CAPRI. She was built in 1962 as the passenger and cargo ship BASILUZZO for the Eolian islands. She went to Greece as the CITY OF ANDROS with her sister VULCANELLO which became the CITY OF POROS. The CITY OF ANDROS eventually returned to Italy as the small cruise ship CITALIA, then CAPRI, registered in Madeira.
Photos, lunch and a quiet time on deck prepared us for departure from Naples at 2.40 (late) under a navy-blue coloured sky. We raced away from the port at 21.8 knots, listing slightly with the swell and watching the mist become closer and cold, as we headed for Genoa.
By 6.00 p.m. our pre-dinner drinks on our favourite Deck 5 aft Bar were accompanied by a dramatic thunderstorm. There was sheet lightning all around the ship and the most torrential rain which bounced up from the deck and poured down from overhead gutters. The outside lights flickered and went out a few times and when we could no longer hear ourselves talk we retreated inside. That was all rather dramatic we thought.
A meal in the Pizza Bar was enjoyable, especially with gifts of Champagne, and a specially designed print of the COSTA DIADEMA by Roberto Bixio, issued for her Maiden Season 2014, and the company of good friends.
I returned late to my cabin to find a birthday card signed by the Captain, and a birthday cake with candle on the dressing table. What a kind thought from Costa, although too late to share with my companions.
Ships seen: Rhapsody (the ex-Napoleon Bonaparte), Raffaele Rubattino, SNAV Sardegna of GNV, Norwegian Spirit, Ala next to Patrizia (old and laid up), Rosa d’Abundo (the ex-Angelina Lauro of 1981), Marmorica (old, laid up, of Toremar), Teseo in dry dock, Aida Vita in dry dock, Dimonios of Tirrenia, Trinacria of TTT Lines, Macaiva of Gestur laid up, Fauno of Caremar, Sindaco Malvito V, Ievoli sky next to Teseo, ARV 2 (ex-Diana 2, ex Meloodia), Agata of Medmar an ex-Tallink ship, Isola de Capri of Medmar, Adiona something of Toremar, Myriam laid up, Croazia Jet and various unidentified others
To be concluded...
