We got a check out at 14|:00 which was good as we had to check in for the cruise at 18:00 a kilometer down the road from the hotel. Penny wanted to get a few things for the cruise tried to find some where decent to eat ended up at KFC which I ate and then Penny wanted to go to her favourite restaurant with the dumplings, she was happy and took away a goody bag for latter on.
We got down to the cruise check in and there was a queue which we joined. The English complain about the Germans pushing in and not queuing ,well the Chinese are bloody good at doing it. It was going slowly and this pusher ins just made it worst. Eventually we checked in and then had to wait for a bus. After 30 minutes we had to follow a woman through a Chinese emporium which took 4 minutes and then reached the xray machine, put our bags through and then we found our bus. The bus depot says luxury cruise place nothing luxurious so far. What is disconcerting I see alot of Chinese people with bags loads of food, cooked chickens, noodles, pringle type crisps etc etc. What do they know about the food on this vessel?? The bus takes about 90 minutes to reach our destination the driver certainly knows where the horn is. Get off the bus collect your own bags nothing luxurious yet then down about 50 steps to where there are 3 cruise boats tied up along each other. We have to snake through 2 of the boats to get to ours on the outside. We are shown to the level 2 dining area and Jeffery the very camp cruise manager introduced himself to us. He informed we are the only Westerners on this trip which does not bother us. He said we could have an upgrade from Junior Suite to Executive suite for 100 pounds and the internet in for free as well and the use of the swimming pool, you have to buy a cap to wear whilst swimming.
I got settled in all unpacked bag put away and there was a life boat muster drill at 21:30. Penny found the complimentary bottle of red Chinese, which is ideal for cooking purposes only, but she is sticking with it. Put the life jacket on and went to level 5. Well the Chinese came in dribs and drabs some with and some without their life jackets and I am sure alot stayed in their cabins. The crew should have got all people out of their cabins. Penny and I had a dispute as she reckons life boat musters are not mandatory and I am saying they are according to SOLAS international marine law.
We are booked on a tour for 07:45 Tribe of 3 Gorges back at lunch time and then off to see the 3 Gorges dam after lunch. We then sail after 18:00 tomorrow night.
Maurice's Travel 