Military aircraft and the bombe in the dining room!!

Can Ray fit this dessert into his mouth?? We think so!!

Since we are coming to the end of this sector, a lot of activities were drawing to a close. It almost feels like the final day of the cruise, however we don’t have to pack and put our cases out - yahh!! 

It has been very foggy looking all around today, but the Captain has just informed us that it is in fact, sand mist, from a sandstorm on the Arabian Peninsula. The position map on our stateroom is still not working.

The captain has revised our arrival time into Dubai, and now estimates that we should arrive at about 8.00pm. In recognition of the delay, every passenger has had $100 each in compensation added to our shipboard account - this delay must really be costing Princess dearly. 

This afternoon was the testing of the boat building contest - teams competed to construct a boat and then sail it across the pool loaded with 6 cans of beer. Lots of fun and laughs. 

In the early afternoon, we were reading our books, when suddenly, there was an enormous booming noise, low down outside our window.......turns out that it was a military aircraft which patrols these waters as we are now entering the area where pirate activities have taken place. It flew past at a very low altitude, passing three times and tipping its wing to the bridge as it passed over. The captain has said that the bridge is required to report our position and status to the military ‘minders’ on a six hourly basis. A series of water jets has been set up along the outside decks and a ‘pirate drill’ will be held after we leave Dubai. The CEO of security for Princess is also boarding in Dubai.

Dinner tonight was the traditional Bombe Alaska parade at dinner - the lights are turned out and the chefs, kitchen staff and the  junior waiters parade through the dining room carrying the Bombe Alaska’s aloft - traditionally they are lit with candles, but the current OHS laws require that fake candles are used. It is quite a spectacular sight. Love the look on Ray’s face when he was served a huge slice.... and he didn’t even order any. 

The World Cruise choir and crew show were also held as this will probably be the last onboard night for this sector - if we arrive in Dubai at a reasonable time, most passengers are planning to go ashore for the evening.

Cheers