Cute young twin girls waltzed on to the ship telling everyone who would listen they were going on a sea cruise. I was in the queue right behind them and immediately the 1960s hit song came into my head: "Oooeee baby, oooeee - won't you let me take you on a sea cruise!"
But when the ship docked back in Durban four nights later I was singing a different tune: "Jy's my rooi rok bokkie, ah, ah ,ah, Ons gaan heel nag sokkie, ah, ah, ah ..."
Boere bop singer Kurt Darren performed on the cruise, brainwashing me to the extent I couldn't get the raw melody out of my head!
We had been on a sea voyage which took us to the Mozambican island of Bazaruto, and the party on the main deck under the "African stars" on the third night was a regte foot-stomping affair with Darren the star performer.
Getting on to a floating hotel and being in close proximity to hundreds of other people without the choice of leaving had been daunting. As our vessel, the Melody, sailed out of Durban with the shoreline eventually fading into the horizon, I wondered whether I had made a big mistake.
But, as time passed and I adjusted to the surroundings, I realised this was real time out... no cellphone reception, no urgent calls from the office, family or friends to help sort a problem - just the sea air, a chair on the deck in a reasonably deserted part of the ship and time, precious time, to dream... and snore.
If that sounds dull it wasn't - it was really lekker.
Of course, there was loads of entertainment going on in other parts of the Melody and there was plenty of food, booze and more than enough to occupy the mind.
The evenings were magnificent - the big skies revealed all the stars. On two nights, lights were switched off and some bright spark told us all about the Southern Cross, the Belt and Sword and all the rest as we wallowed in letting the stars get in our eyes.
Here's an example of a typical day on board, if you aren't into dreaming and snoring:
- 7.30am: Walk-a-thon - a brisk walk around the ship;
- 8.30am: Stretch class;
- 9am: Soft aerobics;
- 10am: Teen scene - mini Olympics;
- 10.15am: Tour of the Melody, visiting the bridge and the engine room;
- 10.30am: Sports tournament - table tennis contest;
- 11.15am: Sensual dance classes;
- 12.00: Fruit and vegetable carving;
- 2.30pm: Golf chipping contest;
- 8.45pm: Latin tropicale - a celebration of song and dance inspired by the Latin spirit.
And in between all this, there's breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper - served on the upper deck or in the elegant dining room.
Plus there's live music at a variety of venues all hours of the day and night, as well as other on-and below-deck entertainment, such as a casino and bingo. A variety of shops on board have a lot to offer.
Absolutely no chance of being bored... and if you're single and on the prowl there's an excellent chance of meeting a like-minded person. On the first night a singles evening aims to get the unattached attached.
So there's really fun for everyone, and time for those who just want to dream, snore and all the rest.
While this scene of fun, laughter and relaxation is going on, the Melody glides its way towards Bazaruto. The plan is to spend the third day on the island if the sea is calm enough to use the rubber duckies to safely ferry passengers there and back.
On the day we dropped anchor off Bazaruto the sea was mill-pondish, so we climbed aboard one of the little boats and sped our way to shore.
Bazaruto was fun - where we landed there's nothing, just beach and some scrub, no trees. We walked while others snorkelled, or just lay around soaking up the sun and eating and drinking from the buffet facilities laid on by the Melody.
Our walk took us to an even more deserted part of the island where I risked some skinny dipping while keeping a beady eye on the scores of crabs which inhabit the area.
Bazaruto looked an idyllic getaway destination worth revisiting one day with more time to spare.
Back on board at the end of the day, we were soon headed back to Durban.
I visited the skipper of the Melody, Capt Pinto Ciro, on the bridge during the return journey.
He's been at sea for the past 30 years, during which time he calculates he has gone around the world 140 times, raking up about three million sea miles.
Capt Ciro has been at the helm of the Melody for the past seven months and runs a tight ship.
Ciro says his crew is made of people of 27 different nationalities, but he is quick to point out that the bridge is manned by Italians only.
The 28-year-old Melody, which is based in Naples, will be doing cruises out of Durban until April/May when it leaves to work in the Mediterranean. It has facilities for more than 1 500 passengers and 550 crew.
The cruises out of Durban cost as little as R2 510 which includes all meals and a heap of entertainment. Buy two, get two free specials are on offer.
Back in Durban the cruise is over too quickly, leaving me with happy memories and struggling to get the "Jy's my rooi rok bokkie" song out of my head.