Cape Town, Day 2

Photos

We had only the Signature TA network exclusive event today so we slept in. We went to Marketplace about 8 am for breakfast. By 9 am, the PA was announcing final call for those disembarking independently here in Cape Town. It is segment turn over day. We just chilled in the cabin until 11 am and time to go out in front of the terminal to catch the 11:30 am bus to the Mount Nelson Hotel for lunch on the lawn. Our hosts onboard said that Signatures network of TAs has about 60 full WC guests aboard and about 45 came to lunch. Lunch was overwhelming. Hopefully Clay has a picture of the menu to post. They brought each course to the table to be passed and self served except dessert which was on a buffet table. They served drinks to us as well. It was a lot of food! No one needed from noon to 3pm though and the first bus left around 2 pm with the 2nd a half hour later. I don't know if they thought people would wander the grounds or if they just overestimated the time. I did wander and it only took about 10 minutes and I used the ladies room too. When we got back aboard, Clay went and made all our specialty restaurant reservations for this last segment. We walked out to catch the 2:30pm shuttle to the mall and chased it as it left at 2:28pm. We walked over and through the mall without finding anything we wanted or needed. We arrived at the shuttle stop at 3:25 pm and boarded. It waited until 3:40 to leave and then stopped as 2 women exited the mall and caught it pulling out. I guess someone heard our complaints. There is no reason for those shuttles to leave early! When we got back aboard this time, I went to the library to return a book and pick up our Magic Castle at Sea tickets.

We have approved Waterside menu for dinner. We'll go to bed early since we have to be in front of the cruise terminal building tomorrow at 5 am. We are booked for a private car and driver to Aquila Private Game Reserve for a 7 am half day game drive. I think I mentioned before that Serenity is scheduled to depart Cape Town at 7 pm tomorrow. Historically, turnaround day has an hour early all aboard instead of a half hour. So we expected 6 pm. Instead they notified it was 4 pm with a all guests mandatory immigration exit face to face and emergency muster at 5:15 pm. Today we got another letter stating that the mandatory Immigration Inspection will start tomorrow at 2:30 pm and conclude before 5 pm. We are assigned to group 5. I have no idea what time that means we'll be called. The thing is once you've been through you are stuck aboard! In acknowledgement of that and the late notice, I suppose, the letter mentions that guests returning to Serenity at their leisure between 2:30 and 4 pm may pass through inspection in the terminal on the way back so make sure you have your keycard and passport in your possession. I don't remember such an unpleasant cruise departure from our final SA port in 2001. I don't know if the rules have tightened or if it was because our last port then was our first this time, Richard's Bay. If Crystal didn't notify those passengers joining here any earlier than they told us, I am guessing some people's plans are in conflict. We should actually be back before 2:30 pm tomorrow. But still you hate to spend the last several hours of your time in South Africa stuck on a ship just looking out. I remember Sydney doing the same kind of thing when we embarked an Oceania cruise for reasons that were never explained. Not a warm & friendly visit vibe, especially when most visitors have to travel a very long way to visit either Australia or South Africa. Oh well, welcome to modern travel.

Photos