Today we are in Abu Dhabi, but yesterday Jessica and myself decided to treat ourselves an afternoon in the Samsara Spa.
I can now see why, if you can afford to do it, you would book a Samsara cabin on a Costa Cruise ship.
The facilities are excellent, which to be honest you would expect.
However, we did manage to use everything available and one that wasn't..!!
We particularly liked the rooms with the heated tiled beds and seats, and the cool water hoses came in very handy.
For times when the weather is not too good, there is also a winter garden where you can lie down on beds that are separated by screens and there is a sunbed effect lamp above which gives the impression of sitting in the sun.
My friends Paul and Christina also took in the Samsara Spa today - and they came out and said that if they were cruising on their own - they wouldn't book anything other than a Samsara cabin.
Here's Jessica using the interactive boards that are situated around the ship.
You can view daily news and book excursions or dinner reservations, in fact anything onboard I think.
Saves phone calls and queueing at guest relations.
OK - back to today and Abu Dhabi.
We didn't do any tour, just a short trip to the Mall for a look around and then back to the ship for lunch.
On the way back to the ship I met a couple who were in their late sixties who were on their 3rd Costa Cruise.
They were enjoying their holiday in the Emirates and said that they would come back again because the weather was very good and ideal for a weeks winter break. They also said that the Costa Cruise was very good value for money. I asked if they had any problems at all and the gentleman said "Yes - I have trouble finding tomato sauce at breakfast for my bacon and eggs..!!" That's the Brit's for you - it's the little things in life that mean so much..!!
Back on board and time for lunch.
Christina and Paul decided to have a walk around the ship. So I am on babysitting duty.
After an hour babysitting my 5yr old Godson in the swimming pool - although not sure that being drowned every 2 minutes is quite what I had in mind - we went for a walk around the top deck of the Costa Luminosa.
I mentioned earlier that we have not had a problem getting a sunbed, and there is plenty of space on the upper decks for sunbathing.
Note: I think this a good time to make a point about the sunbeds and the Lido Delphinus.
Because this cruise doesn't have any full sea days, a large number of people do go ashore which obviously means that the ship is quite empty. But in the afternoons most are back onboard and the Lido is very busy - but the Italians do like to sit around the tables at the Lido and talk and drink wine and coffee.
This evening is Costa's Italian Themed evening and the menu reflects this.
Plenty of pasta choices, Parma ham and Italian styled chicken.
Towards the end of the meal things got decidedly lively.....
Music was turned on and the famous Italian songs including "That's Amore" etc etc. The waiters and waitresses got the passengers out of their seats and danced with them by their tables. Then a conga started from various points in the restaurant and suddenly everyone was out of their seats dancing around the restaurant.
It was fabulous and lifted everyone and the whole atmosphere in the restaurant became more upbeat. People were singing and some of the waiters danced on the spiral staircase. Passengers were waiving their serviettes above their heads in true Italian style - it was brilliant.
Time for a quick night cap and then bed.
Bahrain tomorrow.
