New Year’s Eve

It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m determined to put my slightly tragic (from a sightseeing perspective) visit to Abu Dhabi this morning aside and concentrate on enjoying the build up and anticipation of the encroaching New Year.

My husband has given the boys lunch and put them to bed for a sleep.  He returns to the buffet to keep me company as I have my own lunch.  They had a late night last night and tonight, we assume, it will be late again.

We have a rough plan – sleep, swim, dinner (for the boys).  Then we can put them into the kid’s club while we get changed and go to dinner at the restaurant.  Pick them up after our dinner and get them to bed.  Then, have a drink on our balcony & pop upstairs for the countdown and fireworks at midnight.  Usually the ship is scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi at 11pm but tonight departure is delayed to ensure we can catch the fireworks from the deck.  It should be a good view.  We’ll be able to see the Corniche as well as Al Maryan Island.

Things go more or less to plan for the evening.  The boys and Jason have sleeps.  I take the boys for a bit of a paddle and play in the water, it’s too cold to swim today so we have a spa instead.  They are excited and their energy is revived after their afternoon nap.  We have to pull them up to calm them down.

Then we take them to the Sports Bar around 5:30pm for a burger.  They’ll have dinner with their friends in the kid’s club but not until 8pm and we know they won’t last till then without something to eat.  The Sports Bar has ten pin bowling and some arcade games.  Bowling on a ship is a bit of a novelty and we have a round between us.  The boys check out the motor bike games and then their burgers arrive and they happily head off to play Lego with their new found friends.

My husband and I shower and dress.  Tonight’s dress code is ‘gala’ which gives me all the excuse I need to dress up.  I’m glad I did as we head out to dinner, albeit the early seating, the black ties and flowing gowns are out in anticipation of the party.

After dinner we find a quiet spot in the Mixology Bar – a classy space decked out in Art Deco style with a 2 piece band (piano and vocals) playing.  It’s perfect for us and has a relaxed atmosphere as we take a seat and order a drink.  I’ve been anticipating my negroni all day.  We listen to the music and chat for a while about what 2018 might have in store for us.

We’ve already checked on the children once and they weren’t ready for bed yet but now it’s 10pm and we know it’s way, way past their bedtime.  Before long, they are tucked up fast asleep.  My husband had the foresight to bring a baby monitor with us and we set it up.  It reaches from our room up onto the deck above our cabin so we can keep an eye on them.

Unfortunately it drops out and the main party is scheduled for the Aqua Deck around the pool and towards the middle of the boat.  We wander around for a bit then get ourselves a drink and find somewhere to sit to while away the hour until midnight.

We’re in a perfect people watching position.  Everyone is dressed for the occasion and I guess this is where the term ‘Promenade (deck)’ originates.  Then, champagne in hand, the time is close.  We make our way toward the aft for a good view but really, I think the entire starboard side would have been ideal.  It must be getting close and then I spot the countdown on one of the buildings on the Corniche.  10, 9, 8, the digital numbers are visible from where we are and the crowd around us picks up the count.  7, 6, 5, everyone is smiling and I look around at Jason.  4, 3, 2, 1 “Happy New Year” as the fireworks begin and champagne corks pop all around us.  We share a toast and a kiss filled with expectation as 2018 is upon us.

We make our way down the two flights of stairs to our deck and watch the rest of the fireworks from there.  We would have had an equally wonderful view from our balcony but not the joy of anticipation with the other passengers.  After about 15 minutes the firework finale explodes on the Corniche and I’m sure the dance party will be ramping up around the pool  We, however have welcomed the New Year and are now ready to lay it, and us, to sleep for a few hours at least.

Twenty-eighteen beings with a day on Sir Bani Yas Island in the morning and I am just as determined to be awake to enjoy it as I was to enjoy NYE2017.

Would I Return?

Yes.  I have more to do in Abu Dhabi.  The fireworks were wonderful but there are lots of NYE fireworks throughout the world, ideally, I’d like to see in New Year somewhere different next year.