To celebrate our first Anniversary hubby and I took to the high seas and set sail to the Fjords in Norway on the Azura. We love cruising.
Yikes, did I just say that?! I’m turning into my parents.
According to the glossy brochure, on this cruise we should expect “scenery beyond our wildest expectations”. I was looking forward to this, particularly the smooth seas and the hot tubs on deck under the stars with a wine glass in hand.
I was concerned about the sea state in the North Sea as I was not lucky enough to inherit my Dad’s sea legs, but it was the Fjords. Tranquility, calmness and beauty awaited. I need not worry. I would only need to contend with one day at sea after which we’d nestle in the safety of the Fjords for the duration of our week away. Sea sickness wouldn’t even factor, I need not have bothered with the Travella tablets. Yes? Wrong. Oh so wrong.
What the brochure failed to mention was “Be prepared for a fun packed sea adventure each evening when the ship will leave the safety of the Fjord and take battle with the rough North seas and blustery weather! It’ll be too cold to sit outside and too rough to watch a show so enjoy your cabins!”. Wonderful.
Ben assured me it was not rough and it was just me.
Once the sail-away deck party had ended, I knew we had approx. one hour to get to the buffet, eat our body weight in food (it’s obligatory on a cruise yes?!) before heading back to the cabin, at which point the ship would exit the Fjord and I would already be in the comfort of bed. Once I had hung the breakfast card on the door for our lovely cabin steward of course. I was sick but not sick enough to miss breakfast in bed.
My Mum had always taught me to watch the horizon if I felt sea sick. It always worked. But it was dark outside and I couldn’t see a bloody thing. We were just a tiny spec swaying in an endless blue sea, and what’s more when I opened the balcony door the belongings in our room were almost sucked into the hallway due to the wind. Fortunately the ship’s mast cam pointing out to sea had infrared which they screened on the cabin’s TV. That would have to do, along with my stock of Travella tablets and sick bands which I hadn’t taken off since we boarded.
Hubby again assured me it was not rough and it was just me.
Two days in and I was still feeling the sickness of an evening. That night Ben fended for himself at the buffet whilst I stayed in bed. And then the following morning too. It must have been the sway of the ship in the night.
Morning sickness? Erm.
I had been test-happy for approx 6 months before the cruise and I thought some time away would be a good opportunity to have a breather and to not take any tests. It was becoming cumbersome so it was time to let it go and wait and see.
Ok, so I had slipped one into the bottom of my bag before we left for the airport.
It was the morning of Wednesday 4 May when we took the test, two days after our one year Anniversary.
Whilst I was never able to sit in the hot tub under the stars with that glass of wine, what we did get this holiday was the greatest anniversary gift of them all!
And perhaps hubby was right, it turns out it wasn’t that rough after all.
Exiting a Fjord
One Mum on a Rock 
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