Today was the last of quite a number of sea days since we left Valparaiso. We began it by enjoying breakfast, sitting at our favourite table.

We'd had a late night last night, because we'd stayed up to join in some stargazing with the officers.

The clear skies in this part of the world provide an excellent opportunity to take a guided tour of the heavens and once all the deck lights were turned off, we stood in the warm air enjoying the spectacle of the night sky including a better view of the Milky Way than we usually see at home.

We'd hoped to see the current line up of planets which we'd read about earlier, but we'd already missed Venus, which had sunk beneath the horizon by now. But Mars and Jupiter were there to be spotted together with constellations Leo and Gemini.

This lunchtime, we joined Executive chef Pascal, visiting wine expert Daniel and Head Sommelier iNyoman for another wine tasting lunch, this time focusing on the wines of the Southern Hemisphere.

These occasions always begin with a table filled with glassware of all shapes and sizes and within seconds, that collection is added to with a glass of Kir Royale. Not a bad way to start.

I'm not sure what it says about ourselves and our friends, but whilst the guests on the adjacent table to ours exercised some restraint

there never seemed to be anything left in our glasses when the time came to move on to the next course! (Names removed to save reputations!)

Well, of course, both the food and the carefully chosen wine during these events are delicious. However, for the rest of the day, one feels the effects of a good lunch and when dinner time comes there is somewhat of a dilemma.

Yesterday morning, during breakfast, our lovely waiter from Mumbai, India, reminded us that there was to be an Indian buffet this evening and we'd find one or two of our favourite dishes there “to graze upon”. So, we ended the day by retuning to our favourite table on the outdoor deck at the stern of the ship and sat in the warm night air beneath the Southern Cross, enjoying a couple of small plates.

The perfect way to end another lovely day.