Having boarded the ferry around 9pm Monday evening 16th March and parked up as directed, we unloaded and carried the gear we needed for the twenty hour crossing plus Stella and her bits and pieces.  I would have taken a picture, but my hands were full with my rucksack and laptop, my mind full of concentration and Steve carried the larger rucksack, with Stella’s bed rolled up and secured to the bottom of it, Stella’s bag and of course well behaved, but curious, Stella. Having checked twice that the car and caravan were both locked and secured, handbrakes on each had been applied, and we definitely had everything we thought we needed for the overnight, we made our way from parking in the bowls of the ship to our cabin on the ninth level.

We had a pet friendly cabin for our night’s sleep, which was right by the stern deck; typical layout with separate bunks and tiny shower cubical.  We found out that the Grimaldi Ferry is totally pet friendly, pets allowed on any deck and internal walkway, but obviously not inside restaurants, bars or passenger areas. 

Having found our cabin and settled Stella around 9:40 we made our way to the restaurant to be told it was closing at 10pm, so no time for pre-dinner drinkies at the bar. Quick decision. We’ll have dinner, then drinkies at the bar.  We were tired, had our dinner, moved to the bar for a nightcap and made our way back to our cabin. I took my bottle of red wine from the restaurant to the bar and Steve quenched himself with a couple of beers. After an eventful day we retired to our cabin.

The ship was due to sail at 10:10pm but in bed early it didn’t leave dock until well gone 11pm.  No matter we were on our way to Italy.

I swear the ship rock and rolled through the night and I felt myself slide down my bunk – a little.  My only thought was would the half bottle of wine that we brought back from the restaurant be safe from sliding and spillage on the bedside table. Wedging it in a corner between my bunk and the wall with my pillows, yes it was.   Stella was restless through the night, as was I, unused to the noises and movements of the ship.  I had taken possession of the only spare duvet, which left Steve a little cold, but then he should have been quicker, but then second thoughts he’s always a gentleman.

The next day, without internet or data, we caught up on our writing, and explored the ship’s decks.  As you can imagine, there were few passengers, many areas had been blocked off to conserve staff and the gift shop was too small to temp me in.

Along our route to the ferry, we had been asked many times by many people, what would happen if we were turned back from arrival at Italy.  Having sat on an outside deck, at the back of the ship, away from the wind in a sun trap, with clear blue sky, milk pond sea, and the sun shining, I would definitely have been happy to take the ferry again to anywhere.

Our ETA was 6:30pm Tuesday evening but with a delayed departure we didn’t arrive into Civitavecchia until gone 8pm.  Any plans Steve had to drive in daylight were dashed. Checking the cabin that we hadn’t forgotten anything, we made our way back to our mobile home, by now hemmed in by all sorts of very large vehicles.  When directed, we departed, me sitting in the dark with passports, covid test papers and credit card on my lap.

Driving carefully, both of us alert in case we were pulled in for any reason, we followed all the signage until we realised we were en route to our campsite and had left the port behind us.  Both sat navs programmed we made our way to Happy Camping – http://www.happycamping.net/ – which is slightly north west of Rome. The choice of campsite was made purely by it being the nearest open campsite.

Pulling in around 11pm, we were met by Piero, the night watchman. We didn’t so much as camp up as abandon ship, as the camping fields were completely empty and tomorrow was another day.