LIFEHOUSE SPA THORPE-LE-SOKEN

 

LIFEHOUSE, A LIFESAVER!

 

　

As a resident of Thorpe-Le-Soken, I have watched with interest the development of Thorpe Hall. From the days of “The Lady Nelson” nursing home with its beautiful landscaped gardens which were often open to the public, through the demolition of the hall and subsequent use of some of the buildings as “The Studio”, to its present day incarnation as “Lifehouse”.

Lifehouse is a modern spa retreat with 89 bedrooms, a restaurant, café and bar and of course those beautiful gardens. The spa itself has a good sized swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, inhalation room and an ice cold plunge pool. On site there is also a hairdressers, a well equipped gym, relaxation room with massage chairs and a library with free internet access. There is an assortment of treatment rooms offering an array of treatments from manicures to a full body massage.

There are various packages that allow you access to all this indulgence, from yearly membership to overnight stays and day and evening packages. Day and evening packages start from as little as £45.

My wife and I booked ourselves in for the “Stop The World” day package which would allow us access to the spa, gym, gardens and grounds from 9am to 6pm. Included in the price of £180 was use of a robe during our visit, complimentary slippers, all gratuities and access to the Lifehouse Resort activities programme, this could be anything from Pilates to Latin dance. Also included was an hour long full body massage, a 35 minute House face treatment, a 45 minute manicure or executive hand care treatment, a two course lunch and a welcome drink on arrival.

We arrived promptly at 9am having used the new access road from Frinton Road to drive to the car park and then walk the short distance to the reception area. We registered and were then shown where the changing rooms were for us to change into our swimwear, robes and slippers. We were given a wristband with an electronic fob to operate the lockers and an account number to use for any purchases, so no need to carry cash.

Once in our robes and slippers, we were given an escorted tour of the facilities which finished in the café area where we had our welcome drink. We then made our way to the swimming pool and thermal area where we spent the next hour and a half until it was time for our first treatment at 11.30am.

I had never had a manicure before and I didn’t really know what to expect but I found it surprisingly relaxing, besides cutting and filing my nails and working on my cuticles, the young lady also treated my hands to a massage. From the manicure chair I made my way to the relaxation room to meet up with my wife, we just had time to try out the massage chairs before going to the restaurant for lunch at 12.45pm.

A two course lunch is provided in the price along with bottled water, a third course can be purchased at an additional cost. Lunch was superb and there was a reasonable choice, we both opted for the Dedham Vale steak for our main course.

We were due to have our House face treatment at 2.30pm and this was to be followed by a full body massage at 3.30pm. As it was now 2pm we decided to enquire about getting the appointments changed. We didn’t feel it would be wise to use the pool and thermal area after our treatments and wanted the times changed in order to use them first. The appointment book was rather full and the only way to accommodate our request was to move our House face treatment to 6.45pm.

Having changed our appointments, we headed back to the pool area where we relaxed for the next hour and a half until our full body massage at 3.30pm. After the massage we rested in the relaxation room, had a walk outside and spent time in the library. At 6.45pm we had our final treatment of the day, the House face treatment which incorporated having the face cleansed and moisturised as well as a head, neck and shoulder massage. It was then, unfortunately, time for us to leave, by the time we had changed and checked out it was 8pm, we had experienced the most enjoyable and relaxing 11 hours imaginable. I would recommend a little indulgence of this sort to anyone, we are already talking about, and looking forward to, our next visit.

HAMBURG

A GREAT CITY TO VISIT

I first visited Hamburg twelve years ago and in the intervening years have visited Germany’s second largest city on thirteen separate occasions. Duration of stay has ranged from one day to seven weeks, and I have arrived by car, boat and plane.

There is no shortage of accommodation in Hamburg with a variety of hotel styles and prices to suit all pockets ranging from the many B&B establishments to the more opulent surroundings of “The Four Seasons” or “The Atlantic” hotels, with the mid range “Holiday Inn” or “Etap” hotels among many others.

Access to Hamburg is easy with regular flights from the UK operated by Easyjet, British Airways and Lufthansa as well as Ryanair which flies to nearby Lubeck. Road links are also good and if you are bringing your own car from the UK you have the choice of the channel crossing to France and then driving through France and Germany or if you prefer (and this is the way I travel with the car), you can take the Stena ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland and then drive through Holland and Germany, an easy six hour drive with a break. Unfortunately it is no longer possible to travel to Hamburg by ferry, I did this once about eleven years ago from Harwich, it took about twenty hours but was a great way to travel. The only way to arrive in Hamburg by ship from the UK now is to go by cruise ship, Cunards Queen Mary II is often here and it is always a big event when she arrives.

Once in Hamburg, you will not be short of things to do, it is a lively place where there is always something to do. For those of you who enjoy shopping (I’m afraid I don’t), Hamburg has all the top stores you could wish for and the shopping arcades are a pleasure to walk around and a restaurant or café is never far away for that well deserved coffee break or lunch.

Architecture and heritage abounds and one of the best ways to get to know the city and see the best parts is to take part in a walking tour, you can get information on these from the tourist information office and they usually leave from opposite the Rathaus (the Town Hall). There is of course the usual open top tour bus as in every big city. A more relaxing alternative is the Alster cruises which depart regularly taking visitors to various stops around the Alster (Hamburg has two large waterways known as the Aussenalster and the Binnenalster). There are many canals and waterways within Hamburg and of course there is the Elbe which is the main river which carries all the large ships.

Other places to visit are the parks and gardens with the “Planten Un Blomen” being my personal favourite, on the edge of the park is the “Fernsehturm” (TV Tower) which used to have a revolving restaurant, sadly visitors can no longer go up the tower. The tower is next to the “Hamburg Messe” which is a large conference/exhibition centre which holds various events including the boat show.

Visitors can spend many hours down at the harbour, watching the ships come and go or taking a harbour cruise or ferry across to the other side of the Elbe. There is a Mississippi style paddle steamer to take trips on and craft of all description. By the harbour they are constructing a new building to house the Elbphilharmonie, which I believe will be finished by 2012.

Along the harbour you will find many restaurants and if you walk past Landungsbrucken (or take the U-bahn and bus) you will eventually come to the fish market, this is a must to see on a Sunday morning (05:00 to 09:30 in summer, 07:00 to 09:30 in winter). It is a lively place with market stalls selling just about everything from live chickens to souvenir coffee mugs, inside the main building you can purchase breakfast (anything from a roll to a buffet breakfast along with hot drinks, cold drinks and beer. All this whilst listening to a live rock band, what better way to start a Sunday? (of course for many it is the end of a rather long Saturday night). A short walk from the fish market and you are in Sankt Pauli where you will find the Reeperbahn with its many bars and restaurants.

Getting around Hamburg is easy and relatively cheap, the U-bahn and S-bahn trains will get you to most places of interest and the regular bus service will get you to the places that the trains don’t service. There are various ticket types which are valid on both trains and buses, ranging from a single journey ticket to an all day group ticket for up to five people (good value if you are making more than two journeys in a day). For the tourist there is also the Hamburger Card which not only gives you cheaper travel on the trains, buses and boats, but also discounts off of shopping, restaurants and museums. The Hamburger Card can be purchased for a day or up to a week.

Once you have seen and done all you want to in Hamburg (and believe me, you will need to be here a long time to achieve that!). There are many places of interest within a short drive or train journey away. Bremen is only 90 minutes on the train as is Lubeck, Luneburg is a mere 30 to 40 minutes. All three are fascinating towns in their own right and well worth a visit, trains run regularly from Hamburg’s Central Station.

If you want to travel a little further then Travemunde is a very pleasant seaside town and has ferry services over to Scandinavia, Hanover is a few hours drive away. You could even do as I did on one of my visits to Hamburg and take yourself off to Berlin for a couple of days. The list of places to visit and things to do is endless and I’m sure that anyone visiting Hamburg would not be disappointed, no matter what age or interests.

Thomson Destiny

MEDITTERRANEAN CRUISE

 

 

We flew from Gatwick to Palma Majorca to embark on our 7 night Mediterranean cruise on board the Thomson Destiny, flight time  would be just over two hours. We left on a beautiful sunny day in May only to arrive in Palma to torrential rain, thankfully the sun eventually came out and the rest of the cruise was spent in glorious sunshine.

Thomson Destiny is the largest of Thomson ships at 37,584 tons and accommodating 1,450 passengers with a passenger to crew ratio of 2.8 and is ideal for families and those taking their first cruise.

Facilities include a Casino with both tables and slot machines, 2 outside swimming pools (1 for families and 1 for adults only although this didn’t appear to be particularly well policed on our cruise), and a Library. Out of the 725 cabins only 9 have private balconies, we were in a standard outside cabin on deck 4 which was handy for the Reception, Seven Seas Restaurant, Library and shops all of which were on the same deck .

Check in at Palma was quick and efficient and we were soon settling into our cabin, the layout of the beds were L shaped with one of the twin beds under the port hole and the second bed at a right angle to it. At between 111 and 166 square feet the standard cabins are not large but our cabin was comfortable and clean. Deluxe cabins range from 164 to 239 square feet and suites 275 square feet with the grand suite being a comfortable 349 square feet.

After settling into our cabin we went for dinner in the Seven Seas Restaurant, the food was of a very good standard and the staff very attentive and the highlight of the meal was when all the waiting staff came into the restaurant at the end of service singing and with one of the waiters playing the guitar, a very nice touch.

We had opted for first sitting at dinner which meant we had the rest of the evening to take in the entertainment on board, we ended up at the Oklahoma Lounge where the resident band were playing for the sail away party, it was also where they served an excellent midnight buffet.

Day one of the cruise was spent at sea en route to Gibraltar which gave us time to discover the ship. After breakfast in the Seven Seas Restaurant we went along to the showcase for the ships excursions, we booked one of the excursions but decided that on the whole we would make our own arrangements at the ports of call. We had a tour of the bridge which was very interesting, the Captain and his officers were very friendly and answered all our questions making for a most enjoyable tour.

Afternoon tea was taken in the Lido Cafe and evening meal back in the Seven Seas Restaurant, that evenings entertainment was in the Can Can Lounge.

Day two and we decided to have breakfast al-fresco in the Lido Cafe in order to watch the ship dock in Gibraltar. We hadn’t booked one of the ships excursions for today and once ashore we searched for a local tour operator to take us on a tour of Gibraltar. We joined several other passengers in a local minibus and had a most enjoyable morning visiting the Barbary Apes, St. Michael’s caves and the military tunnels all for about half the price of the ships tour.

After a little bit of duty free shopping we returned to the ship and had lunch by the pool side and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and relaxing. Today was the formal evening so we got togged up in our best clothes (although most of the gentlemen wore Dinner Jackets it is by no means compulsory and many men were in suits), we had cocktails with the Captain before dinner then went to see the cabaret, a comedian by the name of George King and then ended the evening with a flutter in the casino.

Day three and I started the day with what was becoming my regular walk around the ship prior to breakfast. Today we were in Lisbon and once again we had not booked a tour, once ashore we went to the tourist information office to get a local map then we walked through the cobbled backstreets of Lisbon down to the main square and then back along the water side. Once back on board the ship we relaxed around the pool and had some lunch. After dinner we went with two of our dinner guests to the Oklahoma Lounge for the Kareoke show.

Awoke on our forth day to a pre-arranged wake up call as we had booked an excursion to the Harvey’s winery in Jerez, we were taken from the port in Cadiz to the winery where we had the obligatory wine tasting, we also had a tour around the local area before returning to Cadiz where we spent a little time exploring before rejoining the ship for a swim before dinner.

Day five saw us berthed in Malaga for a full day so we decided to spend the morning on board making use of the facilities whilst it wasn’t too crowded, we went ashore after lunch. Malaga was a pleasant surprise, the old town with the Cathedral and square was very pleasant and even the newer parts of town with the beaches and hotels seemed clean if not a little commercial. Dinner was once again in the Seven Seas Restaurant and we were very much enjoying the company of our fellow dinner guests, two other middle aged couples and after dinner we went with one couple to the show in the Can Can Bar.

Day six and as they say if today is Wednesday then this must be Cartagena, one of the benefits of a cruise is waking up every day in a different port, being able to see half a dozen locations on a 7 day holiday without having to pack and unpack your suitcases every day and no driving.

As with the majority of our ports of call we had chosen not to book an excursion but simply made our own way into town. That evening after dinner we went with our new friends to the Oklahoma Lounge where the other Gentleman and I were roped into judging the Miss Destiny contest, a great evening and a splendid end to what had proved to be a most enjoyable experience.

As with most cruises our luggage had to be out of the cabin for pick up on the last evening before a certain time so we returned to our cabin at 01:15 to do just that before settling down for our last night onboard. When we awoke the next morning we were back in Palma, we had breakfast and disembarked the ship at around 08:30 to get the coach transfer to the airport for our flight back to Gatwick.

The food and service throughout the cruise had been of a very good standard, the entertainment also of a very good standard, the ship is an excellent size for finding your way around and getting to know the staff and your fellow passengers, the amenities although not as great as you would expect from the newer, larger resort ships are suitable for a good relaxing family holiday or as in our case for couples and those testing the water for the first time as far as cruising is concerned.

Robert Lidster, January 2009

P&O Artemis

P&O Artemis is one of two CHILD FREE ships in the P&O fleet, the other one being Arcadia. At 44,348 tons Artemis is some 38,624 tons smaller than Arcadia, so almost half the size. She is an intimate ship with traditional features such as the wrap-around teak deck . She will accommodate 1,200 passengers with a passenger to crew ratio of 2.4.

Features include a casino with both gaming tables and slot machines, two swimming pools and two splash pools, two whirlpools, a fitness centre, a launderette, a dedicated cinema (a rare thing at sea nowadays) and a library.

Accommodation is all outside view with no inside staterooms at all, there is a total of 600 staterooms with 152 staterooms having private balconies and four staterooms having wheelchair access. There are nine passenger decks all very well designed if not a little unusual in the fact that the staterooms are all situated on decks above the public room decks. However, this doesn’t seem to spoil the feel of the ship and everywhere appears light and there is good access and passenger flow to all areas.

I was boarding Artemis in Southampton for one of P&O’s weekender mini cruises, four nights taking in two European ports Zeebruge and Amsterdam. After my long drive from my home on the Essex coast I was looking forward to a quick and easy check in at Southampton (as has always been the case whenever I have sailed from Southampton) unfortunately on this occasion not everything went according to plan, or as I would have liked. There was a bit of confusion over where I was to leave my vehicle and, even after finally sorting that out,  the check in was late opening. However, even given these minor problems, all in all still a lot less bother than checking in at an airport.

I got on board just after 12:00 so it was straight to the Conservatory Restaurant for some lunch, There was an excellent choice of hot and cold food. I then explored the ship a little, and managed to get a guided tour of the treatment rooms in the Oasis spa. It was then up on deck at 17:00 for a “Sail Away” drink, although as it was late September, and the evenings were starting to get a little chilly, we soon retreated to the warmth of the Horizon Lounge for our pre-dinner drinks.

The Horizon Lounge would prove to be one of the most popular places on the ship, with its panoramic views and comfortable seating, it also doubled as the night club in the evenings. Dinner was at 18:30 in the Coral Dining Room, a very elegant room on just one deck, the food served here throughout the cruise proved to be of a very high standard and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

After dinner it was off to the International Lounge to see the swinging 60’s show, this is the main show lounge and is very comfortable with good views all round.  I then went to the Starlight Lounge to listen to the band before ending the evening in the Horizon Lounge.

Day one and the morning was spent at sea, I got to speak to a couple of the officers who are in charge of arranging weddings at sea, something which is becoming more and more popular, they informed me that to renew your vows cost from £250  and a wedding costs from £1,000.

We arrived in Amsterdam at 14:00 and I joined one of the ships excursions, we boarded a coach which took us on a tour of the City, stopping off at a beautiful windmill which had been turned into a home. We continued  on to a clog makers, where we saw the clogs being made, and had the opportunity to sample some home made cheeses. We finished off the excursion with an hour long canal trip.

That Evening I had dinner in the speciality restaurant “The Grill”, a good choice of steaks and fish dishes. I then went to the International Lounge to see Darren Day, the cabaret act for the evening, and then onto the Horizon Lounge for the Kareoke.

As the ship was to be in port over night it was possible to go ashore at anytime and spend the evening in Amsterdam. I decided not to go ashore as I was more than happy with the facilities onboard.

Day two and after an excellent breakfast in the Conservatory Restaurant I made my own way ashore, around a 20 minute walk into the city. After a most interesting couple of hours spent at the Anne Frank Museum I had a most enjoyable lunch at a pavement restaurant in Dam Square before rejoining the ship at about 15:00.

Tonight was formal night, so it was cocktails with the Captain prior to dinner and another evening of good food and entertainment.

Day three and we arrived in Zeebruge, it was possible to take the ships excursions into Bruges etc. but I decided to make my own way, taking the ships courtesy bus to Blankenburg the local train station and taking the train into Bruges. Once there I ambled around the little cobbled streets lined with chocolate and lace shops, and whiled away some time sat at a restaurant in the square opposite the Bell Tower, it was a beautiful sunny day and unfortunately all too soon I had to return to the ship for my final evening of the cruise.

Throughout the cruise the food, entertainment and staff had all been of a very high standard, the ship was clean and well looked after and it was a friendly atmosphere. Being a child free ship meant that life on board seemed less hectic, calmer and easier to sit back and relax. Although this was a weekender minicruise,  which will understandably attract groups of revellers i.e. stag and hen dos, there was no evidence of any misbehaviour on this cruise and a good time seemed to be had by all. The average age on this cruise was probably mid fifties, Artemis has a loyal following with the highest repeat bookings of any P&O ship.

For those wanting a medium sized intimate ship with good service, food and entertainment and child free, look no further than Artemis.

 

Ocean Village Two

 

Having always been one for the more traditional style of cruising (I do enjoy dressing up for the formal nights), I finally decided it was time to try out some free style, less traditional cruising. With this in mind I booked my wife and I on a seven night Mediterranean cruise on Ocean Village Two out of Palma Majorca.

We were flying out of London Gatwick with Thomson, and with the flight departing at 08:00 it meant an early start, leaving home at about 01:30. We had booked car parking through Purple Parking on the Internet and drove to the APH car park which is located about 10 to 15 minutes drive from the airport. We arrived at 03:20 and quickly checked in and got the transfer coach to the airport.

Check in at the airport was very quick, it helped with us getting there in good time, so we were already there when check in opened. Once we had checked in we could relax a little, look around the shops, and treat ourselves to a good breakfast from one of the many restaurants. The flight itself took just over two hours and the transfer from the airport to the ship took less than an hour, check in at the port was quick and straight forward and we were on board by 12:30.

As the cabin would not be ready for us until 15:00 we decided to go for some lunch and explore the ship. Ocean Village have two ships, with Ocean Village Two being the newest and, at 70,310 tons, the largest of the fleet. Built in 1990 and originally known as Crown Princess it became Ocean Village Two in 2007. The ship has eleven passenger decks and can accommodate  a maximum 2,053 passengers, the passenger to crew ratio is about 3 to 1.

Facilities on board include a casino with both slot machines and gaming tables, two outdoor swimming pools, four whirlpools, a self service launderette, a gym and, in my opinion, one of the best spas on the open seas. Accommodation is in any one of 832 cabins of which 628 have an outside view and 198 have private balconies, there are 10 cabins with wheelchair access. We had booked an inside cabin on a guaranteed basis which means that the least we would get would be an inside cabin but it was possible that we would be upgraded to a higher grade of cabin depending on demand. We were very fortunate to be upgraded to an outside cabin on deck five which was on the same deck as the Reception, Cyber Zone (Internet access area) and the Village Square where a lot of the entertainment and art auctions take place.

After the mandatory safety drill and a shower we rested in our cabin which was comfortable and, at 187 square feet, a reasonable size. The cabin had a large picture window, a double bed, tea and coffee making facilities, television, direct dial telephone, safe, refridgerator, easy chair and stool, dressing table, hairdryer and ample wardrobe space.

We had dinner on the first night  in the Plantation Restaurant which has 24 hour buffet dining, the restaurant was pleasant and the food was reasonable (similar to what you would expect on a packaged holiday in an average 3 star hotel).

After dinner we watched the circus type acts in the Village Square, very talented youngsters, that was followed by a singer. After our very long day we were ready to retire by 23:30.

We spent the next day at sea, so plenty of time to get to know the ship and make use of it’s facilities. After breakfast in the Waterfront Restaurant (self service) we went to a presentation on the spa facilities,  we were lucky enough to win free passes for the week (usual cost £70), we also booked ourselves a Hot Stone Massage. We then went to a presentation on the Ships excursions. We took Lunch  in La Luna Restaurant which is one of the speciality restaurants on board, we had one of their pizzas which did not carry an additional charge but certain dishes do.

We attended an art auction in the Village Square, these are getting very common on certain cruises and can be interesting to attend, and if you are looking to purchase some discounted artwork maybe a way to do it. However on this cruise I did find that it was a little too much as there was an art auction almost everyday of the cruise. We then spent some time in the Spa which we found to be excellent with a good sized Sauna, with floor to ceiling windows affording some wonderful views when you are in port, as well as  steam rooms and relaxation areas. We then went to one of the many treatment rooms for what would be a most enjoyable Hot Stone Massage.

We had Dinner that night  in the Waterfront Restaurant, the food proved to be very similar to the standard of the Plantation Restaurant.

Day Two and we were in Tunis which was a new experience for us as we had never been to North Africa before, we had booked a ships excursion which left at 08:00 and took us by coach to Carthage an ancient area dating back to Roman times with evidence of their water systems and salt works. We also had a tour of the Souks, very interesting and very easy to get lost if you don’t have a guide. We saw where they made carpets, also a perfumery, and finished our tour off with some local drink and food in a restaurant whilst being entertained by belly dancers and musicians.

Back on board the ship and it was more time in the Spa as well as another art auction and dinner in the Waterfront Restaurant .

Day Three and we were docked in Civitavecchia, again we had booked a ships excursion, this time to take us to Rome with a tour of the Vatican. The tour left at 08:00 and the coach took about 90 minutes to get to Rome. As George Bush had chosen this morning to visit the Vatican our tour had to be changed, we would now be visiting the Vatican in the afternoon. The driver gave us a tour of the city before depositing us close to the Trevi Fountain we proceeded to a local Restaurant for lunch before our tour culminated in the visit to the Vatican.

As we were missing the style of dining that we were used to on cruises, tonight we booked ourselves into James Martins Bistro which is a speciality Restaurant for which you have to pay a supplement (around £12 per person). It was well worth the extra charge as the food was excellent and the atmosphere very good, much more civilised to have waiter service when having dinner.

Other ports of call during this cruise were Genoa which was easily accessible from the port by either walking or using the courtesy water taxi, Cannes where we had a ships excursion into Monte Carlo and our final port of call,  Barcelona which was again easily accessible by taking the courtesy coach and then walking into the city centre.

The ship is a good looking vessel and as I have previously stated the Spa is one of the best I have been in, however, the standard of the food could have been higher as could the entertainment. Ocean Village advertise themselves as being the cruise for people who don’t do cruises, if you do happen to be a person who does cruises and enjoys being waited on and all the indulgence of the formal ships, then Ocean Village may not be for you.

 

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE (NCL)

NORWEGIAN JEWEL

 

 

Having previously only experienced free style cruising on one occasion, on a seven night Mediterranean cruise on Ocean Village Two, I was anxious to try it again with a different cruise line. I therefore found myself boarding NCL Norwegian Jewel at Dover for a three night mini cruise to Amsterdam.

NCL are the main players in the Free Style Cruising market and the Norwegian Jewel is one of 10 ships in the NCL fleet and at 91,740 tons is one of the larger ships, she can accommodate 2,376 passengers and with 1,000 crew has a passenger to crew ratio of 2.3 to 1. Facilities include a Casino with both gaming tables and slot machines, two outdoor swimming pools, no less than six whirlpools, a Spa and fitness centre, Internet Cafe and various bars and eating establishments.

Accommodation consists of 1,188 cabins, 783 of which have an outside view, 540 have private balconies and 27 cabins have wheelchair access. We were staying in an AF grade mini-suite on deck 11, there are 12 passenger decks in total.

On first appearance the ship can seem a little garish with its brightly painted jewels along the outside of the ship and the brightly decorated interior, however, the ship is nicely laid out and the decor grows on you after a while. Our cabin was reasonably spacious and had all the usual requirements of television, refrigerator, safe, hairdryer etc. we were also lucky enough to have a bath as well as a shower.

We were on board by 12:00 so went for lunch in the Azura Restaurant, where we could choose from a very good range of hot and cold food from self service stations. We had a  leisurely lunch, finishing off with coffee and cakes. The afternoon was spent getting to know the ship, unfortunately as this was August and proving to be a typical British Summer the weather was not good enough for us to use the outside facilities and, as there was not an inside swimming pool, we were limited to what we could do. On the subject of covered swimming pools, I do feel that this is something cruise lines need to address  if they are going to continue to increase the amount of ships cruising out of the UK, especially when sailing outside of the summer season, passengers really do need to be able to make use of the facilities. As it was, the only real entertainment we had this afternoon was the safety drill.

We were due to dine at 20:00 (as dining is free style there is no first and second sitting but you do need to book a time in the main restaurants). We were dining tonight in the Tsars Palace, a beautifully decorated room. Although this is free style dinning it is still waiter service in the main restaurants, this is where NCL differ greatly from Ocean Village, where everything is self service unless you pay extra for the speciality restaurants. The food and service was of a very good standard and the ambience perfect.

The next morning we started with breakfast in the Tsars Palace where it was waiter service, you can also take breakfast in the Azura Restaurant where it is self service or in one of the smaller dining establishments where you have a more limited choice of food.

We left the ship at about 11:00 and walked into Amsterdam which took about twenty minutes, we strolled around the main shopping area and made our way to Anne Franks House, we were hoping to go inside the museum but as there was rather a long queue and it was raining we decided against it. We did however visit a little cafe next door to Anne Franks, where we had a drink and planned our route back to the ship.

We took the canal route back to the main train station, and then retraced our previous steps to get us back to the ship. We were back on board at 14:30 and went for a late lunch in the Azura Restaurant. After Lunch we went to the Spinnaker Lounge where Martin Roberts, from the TV property programme Under the Hammer, was giving a presentation on making money from property. The talk was interesting and entertaining and there was the opportunity to purchase copies of Martins book. After the presentation we stayed in the Spinnaker Lounge as the ship was now departing Amsterdam, and it was a good vantage point to watch the ship pass through the lock that would take us out to the open sea, fascinating to watch.

After Dinner we went to the Stardust Theatre to watch Cirque Bijou a show featuring aerialists, rhythmic gymnasts, acrobats and bungee jumpers. It was an excellent show, very entertaining, after that we went to the Spinnaker lounge for what was billed as NCL’s White Hot Party, it was dancing to the resident band and then finishing with a disco, many of the crew attended and it had a bit of a party atmosphere.

The next morning and it was breakfast once again in the Tsars Palace Restaurant, we sat by the window looking out over Dover, the ship was already docked and passengers could now disembark. After a good hearty breakfast we returned to our cabin to get our luggage, we hadn’t had to leave our bags out for collection the night before, which is common on cruises, but were taking them off ourselves. As this was my first cruise with NCL I don’t know if this is usual procedure, or if it was because it was just a three night mini-cruise so therefore passengers did not have much luggage.

Disembarkation was rather unusual in that, unlike on most cruises where you are given a time to disembark, we were all allowed to disembark at the same time. Unfortunately, this resulted in long queues to get off the ship which also meant that you had to walk almost to the end of the ship before turning around to join the end of the queue, then walk back the way you came, to get off the ship. A little forward planning could have avoided this situation, however, all in all a most enjoyable weekend, we had the free style element but still had the option of waiter service in the restaurants, the best of both worlds.

 

 

DFDS DANA SIRENA

HARWICH TO ESBJERG

 

 

 

 

 

 

For anyone wishing to try cruising without having to spend a lot of money, or spend too many days at sea, there is another option other than the recognised cruise lines. There are several ferry companies operating out of the UK with regular crossings to Europe, some of which require an overnight stay on board resulting in an economical way to experience cruising.

Obviously, the facilities on board these ferries are not in the same league as the large purpose built cruise ship, with their swimming pools and numerous other resort type attractions. However, the standard of cabins and restaurants can be surprisingly good and it can certainly be a most relaxing way to cross the sea, as part of your European holiday or, as in my case, a mini trip in its own right.

We were sailing out of Harwich with DFDS on the m.s. Dana Sirena. The ship was built in 2002 and can accommodate over 600 passengers and 435 cars, it provides an alternate daily service, carrying car and foot passengers, as well as freight, from Harwich, on the east coast of England, to Esbjerg in Denmark. The crossing takes approximately eighteen hours and you can choose from three cabin grades, with either inside or sea view cabins.

The time of departure was 18:00 and check in started at 17:00. Unlike airports there is no need to arrive hours before. We arrived in good time at 16:45 and as we had driven to the port we left our car in the Pay at Meter car park, it was then just a short walk (or lift) up the stairs to the terminal building. There is a cafe and toilet facilities, as well as the DFDS office prior to the departure lounge, Harwich is also served by a direct rail service to London Liverpool Street and other local branch networks for those not wishing to drive.

Check in was quick and efficient and we were soon settling into our twin cabin with sea view, the cabin was small but comfortable and had its own private shower/wc. I arranged to have a tour of one of the Commodore De Luxe Class cabins and lounge, these are situated higher up on the ship and can only be accessed by staff and passengers staying in those cabins. The cabins are larger and  resemble a good hotel room. When staying in these cabins, guests also have access to a private lounge and bar where they can take their meals if they wish, rather than going to the main restaurant or bar. There is always a steward on hand to help.

Feeling rather envious of the fantastic views and comfort of the Commodore Class, I returned to my own cabin and got ready for dinner. There are four eating options, The Seven Seas Restaurant, Explorers Steakhouse, The Blue Riband Restaurant and The Lighthouse Cafe. We decided to treat ourselves to The Blue Riband Restaurant with its a la carte menu, excellent food and very pleasant surroundings, the waiters were very attentive. Tables by the windows are reserved for those staying in the Commodore Class cabins. The Seven Seas Restaurant serves hot and cold food from a self service food station,  for those wanting lighter snacks, the Lighthouse Cafe should suffice.

After dinner we took in the entertainment in the bar, a male singer/guitarist who was very entertaining with a good mix of songs. We then retired for the night to our adequately comfortable beds. Ships time is CET (one hour ahead of British time).

I had a very pleasant walk around the deck before breakfast, a little bracing as this was mid October but the sea had been (and will continue to be so throughout our cruise) very calm. Breakfast was a full English in The Seven Seas Restaurant, after that it was a case of relaxing until our arrival in Esbjerg at 13:00.

The ship does offer a coach excursion to Ribe, a beautiful town to the south of Esbjerg but as we had experienced that excursion on our last mini trip to Esbjerg (which incidentally was from Harwich on board The Dana Anglia some ten years earlier, and was a three day mini trip with one night in port in Esbjerg) we decided this time to make our own arrangements and once ashore we headed directly to the offices of Scandlines and purchased tickets for the next ferry over to the little island of Fano.

The crossing took just twelve minutes, on what is basically a car ferry. The upper deck had basic seating available for foot passengers. The island of Fano is well worth a visit for anyone who enjoys scenery and peace and quiet, it has many thatched cottages and has a certain charm about it. We explored Fano for a couple of hours before returning to Esbjerg where we discovered, that as it was a Saturday afternoon, most of the shops were closed. However, we found a nice cafe/bar and whiled away the time before boarding at 17:45 for our 18:45 departure.

As we had enjoyed our meal in The Blue Riband Restaurant so much the night before we decided to eat in there again. We did look at the food available in The Seven Seas Restaurant and it did look very nice, and would have been easier on the pocket, but we felt like spoiling ourselves as we were having such a good day. As with the previous night, the food, service and atmosphere were perfect, I certainly didn’t expect to find such good food on a ferry crossing the North Sea. After dinner we took in the entertainment again in the bar before retiring to our cabin.

In the morning we had a full English breakfast in The Seven Seas Restaurant before having a walk around the ship, it was a beautiful sunny Autumn day, the sea was the calmest that I had ever seen the North Sea (and I have crossed it dozens of times) and as we sat on deck resting, taking in the sunshine we really could have been on a cruise. We arrived back in Harwich at 12:00 feeling relaxed and recharged.

For anyone wanting a mini break with a difference this is certainly an inexpensive option, DFDS also have a service from Newcastle to Amsterdam and have a good selection of short breaks in Denmark, Sweden and Holland. 

CSMA HOLIDAY ACCOMODATION

WHITEMEAD FOREST PARK

 

 

　

The CSMA (Civil Service Motoring Association) leisure retreat at Whitemead in the forest of Dean was the destination for our family weekend break. There were five adults in our party and we had hired a six berth, self catering deluxe log cabin for our three night stay (Friday to Monday). It was out of season so we had taken a bit of a risk with the weather, but for early November it was dry and sunny, albeit a little chilly.

 

The drive from our Essex home took just over five hours with a stop on the way for lunch, the distance travelled was just over 200 miles. On arrival we picked up the keys to our cabin from Reception and armed with a map of the camp, we went in search of our home for the next three days.

The cabin was situated close to a small pond, around which, over the weekend, we would see various wildlife. We had a parking space by the side of the cabin, so not too far to carry our bags and the essentials that we had brought with us, no need to bring bedding, towels or cooking utensils as all of these were provided. Externally, the cabin didn’t look very big but once inside it was deceptively so. There was an open plan lounge/kitchen/diner, which also served as the third bedroom with the pull down sofa bed. The master bedroom had its own en-suite shower, a double bed and its own TV. The second bedroom had twin beds and there was a separate bathroom. Off of the lounge was a good sized wooden decked veranda with table and chairs.

 

Having unpacked, I went for a walk around the camp to get my bearings and explore all that there was on offer. The facilities included a heated indoor swimming pool (just as well for November), two hot tubs, a sauna, a steam room and gym. There was a restaurant and bar as well as a showroom (The Venue) where live shows were regularly held. There was a mini-market where one could purchase all the things you might need, or had forgotten, and also toilet and shower blocks which were supplied for the use of those staying in mobile homes and caravans. I went back to the cabin just long enough to pick up my swimming trunks and towel then I was off again to sample the pool, sauna and steam room. After a most enjoyable time unwinding in the pool, I returned to the cabin for dinner and a relaxing night in front of the TV.

 

I was up early the next morning, had my breakfast and made my way to the swimming pool before the rest of my party had arisen. It was a little too early as it happened, as I was left standing outside the pool waiting for it to open,  the life guard was late for work and no one was allowed in the pool until he arrived. I spent about an hour in the pool then went to the reception to pick up some leaflets on the area. Back at the cabin we all looked through the leaflets and decided to head towards Tintern Abbey as it was one of the few attractions in the area that appeared to be open this time of year.

 

Whitemead, and the forest of Dean, is very close to the Welsh border, and Tintern Abbey even closer. We arrived in the area just before lunch time and we viewed the Abbey from the outside but did not venture inside as there appeared to be very little to see as it is mostly a ruin, albeit a beautiful one. This morning was very cold and there had been a sprinkling of snow first thing, so having walked around Tintern for a while, and starting to feel a little cold, we decided to retire to the Abbey Hotel for lunch. After lunch we headed into Wales and drove around a little, stopping for a while in Monmouth and heading towards Abergavenny before heading back to Whitemead and the warmth of our cabin for tea. After Tea we went to “The Venue” and watched the live band “BrumBeat” performing some old classic numbers, they were very good and it was a most enjoyable evening.

 

Next morning and it was an early breakfast and swim again for me, this time I managed to persuade my wife and sister-in-law to come with me. After our swim we made a few purchases from the mini-mart before heading off for the day in the direction of Ross-On-Wye and then Malvern. We had Sunday lunch at the “Nags Head” just outside Malvern, the food was very good and the place had a great atmosphere with shelves full of curios, it was obviously a popular place to eat as it was packed out and we had to wait for a table. After lunch and it was a slow, sightseeing drive back to Whitemead where my wife and I enjoyed a walk around the camp and surrounding area before tea, then it was drinks in the bar before bedtime.

 

Our final morning at Whitemead, but before we left, I had one last swim in the pool. To break up the journey home and to get the most out of our short break, we decided to drive to Bourton-On-The-Water where we had tea and cakes and also visited the CSMA Motor Museum (it is attached to the CSMA holiday cottages). After a most enjoyable stop off in Bourton, we continued on our way home, stopping once more at the South Mims service station for another break from driving.

 

All in all a great weekend away, the weather could have been better, but that was our fault for deciding to go away in November, but all things considered we were reasonably lucky, with the worst of the snow holding off until we had got home. From this, my first experience of a CSMA holiday retreat, I would highly recommend them, I certainly enjoyed myself as did the rest of my party.

DFDS Princess of Norway

　

NEWCASTLE TO AMSTERDAM

 

As we approached the DFDS Seaways International Ferry Terminal at Royal Quays North Shields, we could see the m.s. Princess of Norway looming high above the terminal buildings. We pulled into the car park in good time and managed to secure a good parking place close to the pay machines and footpath to check in. Neither my wife nor I had travelled this route before, indeed it was our first visit to the Newcastle area. We live some 310 miles away close to the port of Harwich and have sailed from Harwich to Esbjerg in Denmark with DFDS Seaways on two occasions, this would be our first trip from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

Check in started at 14:30 and was quick and easy, taking only a few minutes. Boarding would not commence until 16:00 for a 17:00 departure. There was ample seating in the terminal, as well as a shop, a café, an amusement arcade and a Burea De Change so plenty of things to keep you occupied. There was also a model of a Roman fort from the second or third century A.D. as well as models of DFDS Seaways’ Prince of Scandinavia and Queen of Scandinavia. Besides the check in desks for DFDS Seaways there was also a check in desk for the many cruise ships that visit the Port of Tyne,  many of the ships name plaques are displayed on the wall.

By the time boarding started there were some 200 foot passengers waiting to board, we were amongst the first to board and, as with check in, it took no time at all (one of the reasons that I prefer travelling by ferry or cruise ship, as opposed to flying, is the fact that you do not have the lengthy check in and waiting around that you get at airports). Once on board, we were greeted by a crew member who directed us to the lifts which would take us to deck 8 where our cabin was situated. As we stepped out of the lift on deck 8 another crew member was waiting to point us in the right direction (this is the kind of service that makes you feel special and makes one company stand out above others).

Our cabin number was 8102 and was a sea view cabin, overlooking the bow (front of the ship), this afforded us great views. The cabin was compact but comfortable with four berths, two lower and two upper (as there was only the two of us, the two upper berths were stowed away). Between the two beds there was a table, there were several coat hooks and clothes hangers, a mirror, radio, and an electric point  (do remember to take an adapter with you if you wish to use UK appliances). The shower/wc was compact but again had everything that you needed, bearing in mind that for many passengers it is only for one night (although as we were on a mini cruise we would have this same cabin for two nights). Towels are provided and there is a liquid soap dispenser by the side of the wash basin, you need to provide all other toiletries yourself.

Once we had settled into our cabin we went out on deck to explore, and to watch the ferry sail out of port. The facilities on board were very impressive with three restaurants. The 7 Seas Buffet Restaurant serves a fantastic all-you-can-eat buffet dinner in the evening and breakfast every morning. The Blue Riband Restaurant is a’ la carte and has a smart casual dress code, the standard of the food in this restaurant is first class and the atmosphere ideal for that special occasion. The Explorers Steakhouse is exactly what you would expect from the name and the dress code is casual, all three restaurants recommend reservation. Besides the three restaurants, there is also the Bake’n Coffee Café which is informal and offers a very good range of sweet and savoury food as well as hot and cold drinks.

There are a number of onboard bars, all of which offer comfortable and spacious seating areas. The Compass Bar which serves cocktails, beer, wine and spirits, also offers whiskey, brandy or wine tasting with a Sommelier. The Navigators Bar is the venue for live music from the Troubadour, and the Columbus Club is the largest bar on the ship and features a stage where a live band performs, this is also the venue for the late night disco. There is also the Sky Bar which is located on the top deck, it offers fantastic views and serves cold drinks, nuts and crisps. Unfortunately this bar was not open during our cruise as it only operates during fine weather due to it being open to the elements.

Onboard entertainment consists of live music, disco and video screens, two cinemas showing the latest movies, a casino with three gaming tables for Roulette and Blackjack as well as slot machines. There is also a Kids Club with a “Ball Pool” and cartoons, and during the school holidays there is a children’s entertainer with magic, treasure hunts and games. There is also a shop onboard where you can purchase everything from clothes, perfumes and jewellery to wines, spirits and tobacco (a great place to pick up those last minute gifts).

The ship itself can accommodate up to 1,250 passengers in 478 cabins, it is 161metres long and 27 metres wide, has a maximum speed of 21 knots and has room onboard for 600 cars. The ship was built in 1986 and has had refits in 2003 and 2006 and sails under the Danish flag.
Having toured the ship and seen as much as we could, I inquired at reception if it would be possible to view one of the Commodore Class Cabins, luckily for us a few of the cabins were vacant and Philip a crew member very kindly took us to one of the cabins on deck 8. The cabin was about twice the size of the sea view cabin that we had and it featured a double bed, television, wardrobes, complimentary mini bar, room service and complimentary hot buffet breakfast. Although we were unable to view one, Philip informed us that the Commodore Class Cabins on deck 9 were larger with separate living and sleeping areas. We left the cabin promising ourselves that next time we must book ourselves a Commodore Class Cabin.

That evening we had an excellent meal in the 7 Seas Restaurant before taking in the evenings entertainment which included listening to the Troubadour (Mike Hutchinson) an excellent singer/guitarist playing old standards in the Navigators bar, later we listened to the Pink Panther band in the Columbus Club (a four piece band with a female singer), playing a mix of old and new music. During the interval there was Bingo presented by John Morgan the Cruise Manager.

The following morning, due to strong winds, we arrived into Ijmuiden later than expected at 11:30 Central European Time. The transfer coach into Amsterdam takes approximately 40 minutes and drops you off outside the Victoria Hotel which is opposite the central train station, we opted to stay on the coach for a guided tour of the city which lasted for about another 50 minutes. Our driver Marie was very competent and handled the coach with great expertise around the busy roads of Amsterdam whilst our guide Harry provided a most interesting and informative commentary. When the tour was over we were dropped off at the Victoria Hotel. The return coaches would depart between 15:00 and 16:00, this gave us ample time to find a restaurant for lunch. We ate at “De Roode Leeuw” on Damrak not far from Dam Square. We caught the complimentary transfer coach back to Ijmuiden at approximately 15:15. And did not need to check in as we already had our boarding cards as we were on a round trip. Boarding started at 16:00 and once back on board we rested before dinner, we then took in the evening’s entertainment, which tonight included a music quiz.

We arrived back in Newcastle the following morning at 10:00 impressed with our DFDS Seaways mini cruise to Amsterdam. We both felt that this trip was ideal for those seeking a restful break for a couple of days and the service that we experienced was excellent. Along with the entertainment, the food was comparable to many cruise lines that we have experienced. This really is an inexpensive way to cruise, or a most relaxing and enjoyable way to travel to Holland.

P&O Arcadia

 THE WEEKENDER

P&O Arcadia is one of two child free ships in the P&O fleet, the other ship being Artemis. At 83,500 tons Arcadia is by far the larger of the two ships and can comfortably accommodate 2,016 passengers, with 880 crew members under  normal operating conditions. Maximum operating capacity is 2,388 passengers.

Features include a Casino with both gaming tables and slot machines, two outdoor swimming pools (one with a skydome which covers it completely in inclement weather, making it usable all year round), five whirlpools, a Gymnasium and Spa, Self service launderette, a Library, a Sports court and driving range, Internet access, shops and many bars and dining options.

My wife and I were boarding Arcadia in Southampton for a two night cruise to Zeebruge, car parking had been pre-booked and we had been supplied with a sticker to display in our car windscreen. Once through the port security check, the car park attendant directed us to our designated car park, it was then just a short walk from the car park to the cruise terminal. On approaching the entrance to the terminal, our cases were taken from us and loaded onto the ship, we then entered the terminal building where check in took less than ten minutes.

We were staying in a Deluxe Balcony Stateroom where the two twin beds had been converted to a King Size bed, we had a bathroom with a small bath, shower and WC, there was a two-seater sofa and a coffee table, ample wardrobe space and table and chairs on the balcony. A special touch was the mineral water and temple Spa pamper pack which was waiting for us on arrival. Overall a good sized room, nicely decorated and laid out.

Dining options on board are varied with the self-serve 24 hour Belvedere restaurant, the open deck Neptune Grill serving burgers and other fast food items, Caffe Vivo serving coffees and pastries at an extra cost, and the Meridian Restaurant, which is located on two decks and connected by a spiral staircase, serving breakfast and dinner (two sittings) . There are also the speciality restaurants for which you have to pay an extra charge, these are Arcadian Rhodes run by the tv chef Gary Rhodes and the Orchid Restaurant, these are smaller and more intimate than the main dining room.

For your entertainment there is the Palladium show lounge which has seating on three tiers, this is where all the major productions are staged including acrobats, dancers and cabaret acts. Other entertainment is held in various bars around the ship.

Once we had deposited our belongings in our cabin we went for lunch in the Belvedere Restaurant which served a good selection of hot and cold dishes chosen from self service food stations. Food was of a good quality and plentiful, with tea and coffee stations to get hot drinks from as well as cold drinks, or you could order drinks at the table.

After Lunch we decided to explore the ship in order to get our bearings and plan how we were going to spend the next two days aboard Arcadia. At 17:00 there was the mandatory Emergency Drill, once that was over we returned to our cabin to get dressed for the “Sail Away Party” before going into dinner at 18:30, it was open sitting for dinner in the restaurant on the first night. Tonight the dress code was smart casual so trousers and jacket would suffice for myself and a smart dress for my wife. As we left Southampton the Hyde Band played on the quayside, luckily for us our cabin was facing the quay so we could listen to the band as we were getting ready for dinner, occasionally going out on the balcony to watch the ship cast off.

After an excellent meal in the Meridian Restaurant we went to the Palladium to watch the cabaret which tonight was TV comedian Brian Conley, an excellent show which included audience participation and had everyone in stitches. After the show we went to the Rising Sun for the Karaoke show where I was coaxed into taking part (Tom Jones eat your heart out). We then retired to our cabin for a good nights sleep.

Day two and after a very good breakfast we went on deck for a walk and take in the sights of Zeebrugge . The ship had docked at 08:00 and would be leaving at 17:00 so plenty of time to visit Zeebrugge, Brugge or any of the surrounding area, or just relax onboard ship. For those wishing to go ashore there was a choice of seven ships tours to go on, or you could make your own way. There was a complimentary bus to Blankenburge where you could then get a train to Brugge or many other destinations, or just spend time in Blankenburge.

Tonight was Formal night so a chance to dress up, men in Dinner Jackets or Tuxedo and Ladies in Evening or Cocktail dresses. Before going into dinner there was a Gala Reception party held around the Neptune’s Pool & Bar at which the Captain and Officers attended. We had dinner at 18:30 and then went to the Palladium for the Arcadia Theatre Company’s show Le Cirque Arcadia. We finished the night off in the Crows Nest with a little night cap.  

The next morning we were back in Southampton, after a good full English breakfast in the Meridian Restaurant, we disembarked from the ship. This had been a most enjoyable mini-cruise, the ship was clean and well laid out, the staff polite and always helpful, food and entertainment were of a very high standard.

For anyone who has yet to experience a cruise, these mini-cruises are an ideal way to test the water, (no pun intended!) if you are not sure if cruising is for you then what better way to find out, not too long at sea if you are not a great sailor and good value for money, you never know you may become addicted to cruises, I know I am.

Venice by Train

AN ALTERNATIVE TO FLYING

For a long time I had thought about alternative ways of joining cruise ships abroad other than flying, although I am a great fan of flying I wanted to try something, well a little more romantic. So I put together a cruise holiday, out of Venice, with travel from the UK to Venice by train.

As the 08:57 pulls out of Thorpe-Le-Soken train station bound for London Liverpool Street I am struck by the significance of this rather unremarkable start to my journey. This is a journey that will take me across Europe to one of the most romantic places on Earth…Venice!

The one and a half hour journey is one which I have done literally thousands of times so holds little surprise for me, however, it is a bright sunny day and as we make our way through the Essex countryside I rest and contemplate the journey ahead.

On arrival at Liverpool Street station, I make my way to the underground in order to get to St. Pancras station where I am to catch the 12:29 Eurostar train to Paris. I arrive at St. Pancras at 10:50 so I decide to spend the spare time I have, exploring this recently renovated station, top of my list of things to see is the famous ‘Champagne Bar’, I look but don’t sample as it is still pretty early in the day.

Check in for Eurostar was quick and easy and once through into the departure lounge I found plenty of seating areas, with a shop and places to get something to eat and drink. The train left one minute early and was very nearly full, we stopped at Ebbsfleet, Eurostars’ newest station, to pick up more passengers. The train was comfortable and had a buffet car where you could purchase food and drink. We arrived at Gare Du Nord on time at 15:50 C.E.T. after what was a quick and efficient, albeit a somewhat unremarkable, journey.

From Gare Du Nord I had to get across Paris to Gare Du Bercy, I chose to use the Metro which entailed changing trains at Gare Du Lyon. Anyone not confident with using the Paris Metro would be better off hiring a Taxi. Gare Du Bercy is a rather unimpressive train station with very limited facilities so as I had some time to spare before my overnight sleeper train to Venice departed at 18:55, I went to a nearby café to have a drink and watch Parisian life pass by.

I had booked a basic four berth couchette which just happened to be at the front of the train, so a very long walk along the platform. I did start to count the coaches but I gave up after a while, all I know is it was the longest train I had ever been on. The compartment was basic with two upper berths and two lower berths, it was originally designed as a six berth so plenty of room, and at 80 euros each way it was value for money. There were more expensive berths which had more room and more privacy, but if you are on a budget, and you don’t mind sharing with strangers, the basic couchette is fine.

There was a restaurant car but as I had already eaten I remained in the compartment and spent the next couple of hours in conversation with my travelling companions who were a middle aged French couple on their way to Venice for a holiday and a younger Frenchman who was on his way back to Milan after visiting his family in Paris, as my French is almost none existent the conversation was in English. Once all conversation was exhausted we each made up our beds with the bedding provided. Sheets and pillowcases came in sealed plastic bags and looked clean and fresh, I had one of the upper berths which proved to be surprisingly comfortable once you got use to the movement of the train, and I slept reasonably well.

Next morning after a wash and brush up in the washrooms provided, I made my way to the restaurant car for breakfast. Breakfast consisted of a bread roll, marmalade, two slices of cake, yogurt, fruit juice and coffee all for just 7 euros. After breakfast I returned to my compartment in time to watch as we crossed the Liberty Bridge which links Venice to the mainland. What a magnificent sight to see Venice appearing in the distance with water either side of the train. We arrived in Venice on time at 09:39, allowing for the one hour time difference it had taken me almost exactly 24 hours to get from my home in Thorpe-Le-Soken to Venice.

The Port of Venice is about 2 Km from St Lucia train station, now the sensible thing to do and what I would recommend to anyone else is to take a water taxi which will take you directly to the port. However, I decided to walk as I had plenty of time before boarding began at 11:30. It took me about forty minutes but that was with a break halfway for a rest, 2Km may not seem very far but when you have luggage and you are in Venice, with all those bridges, it is longer than you think, it was also a very hot day. Still, it was worth it, for when the port came in sight with three cruise ships in port, it truly lifted my spirits and to see The Splendour of the Seas, the ship I was to cruise on, in the early morning sunshine was a beautiful sight. Check in was ridiculously easy, with my luggage taken off me as I walked to check in and check in itself taking no more than ten minutes and I was onboard by 11:30.

This proved to be a most acceptable alternative to flying and was certainly more interesting. When the time came for my return to the UK at the end of my cruise, I had a whole day in Venice as the train didn’t leave until the evening and I had even more time in Paris than I had on the way out, so plenty of time for sight seeing. I would recommend anyone with an adventurous nature to consider this means of transport for their next European cruise.

Stena Hollandica

 

HARWICH TO HOEK VAN HOLLAND

We arrived at the port of Harwich at about 21:00 for our 23:45 overnight sailing to the Hook of Holland on Stena Lines Ropax Seamaster Hollandica. Check in had already started at about 20:30 and there were only a couple of vehicles in front of us at the check in. It only took a couple of minutes to be checked in, having shown our passports and internet booking reference, we were then handed a map of the ship and our boarding cards which would also act as the keys to our cabin.

We drove through customs without being stopped and was then waved on by the port staff, to the car lanes, to wait, prior to boarding. Because the Stena Hollandica is predominately a freight ship, the cars are loaded on board in batches, a few at a time in-between the lorry’s being loaded. We were soon waved on by the staff and were on board by 21:30, we were guided into our parking spot and took the advise of the notices to: “put on hand-brake, leave in gear and turn off alarm”. On a recent trip to Scotland whilst on a car ferry from the Isle of Skye we had forgotten to switch our alarm off and within a few minutes of setting sail we could clearly hear our car alarm sounding as the ferry was rocked with the movement of the waves. I don’t intend making that mistake again (very embarrassing).

On leaving the car deck it is worthwhile taking one of the tickets from the pad which is situated by the lift/stairs which tells you which car deck you are on and which colour steps you need to take to return to your vehicle the next day, it is all too easy to forget, especially after a nights sleep. We were on car deck 3 and took the brown stairs to our cabin on deck 9, everywhere was well sign posted and it was easy locating our cabin .

We had chosen an inside two berth cabin which was the cheapest option at £37 for the cabin, add to this the £120 for the flexi ticket for the car and two passengers and our total fare, one way, was £ 157. Our cabin was clean and bright,  with a WC and a shower, it had everything we needed for the seven hour crossing, there was also a dressing table and mirror as well as hooks for coats and a small rail for hanging clothes. We had bunk beds, and as I lost the toss of the coin, I got to sleep on  the top bunk.

As prior to boarding we had eaten a most enjoyable meal at the Pier Hotel in Harwich (a birthday celebration for my wife) we did not eat on board, however, we did explore the ship and check out the various eateries etc.

There is the Metropolitan Restaurant on deck 7 which serves hot and cold food from its buffet and grill, a set price for the three course (eat as much as you can) buffet is 25 euro and represents good food at a reasonable price. Also on deck 7 is the Food City restaurant and bar where you can purchase fast food items, both restaurants serve breakfast as well as dinner.

Other amenities on board include a 24 hour reception, a bureau de change, a kids corner, teenage area, a cinema, a casino (blackjack and roulette) and a shop as well as the Stena Plus Lounge where for a small extra payment you have a comfortable lounge with free Wifi, newspapers and teas and coffees. The Stena Hollandica will hold 900 passengers in 398 cabins and can carry 300 cars, she is 240 metres in length and 28.7 metres wide and is capable of a speed of 22 knots.

Having explored the ship and decided against any purchases in the shop, ( with the pound as weak as it is against the euro there are very few bargains to be had) we retired to our cabin at around 22:30, still over an hour before we would set sail. Disembarkation the next morning would be at 07:00 central European time with a wake up call at 06:00 so we had just enough time to get seven hours in bed.

The beds were surprisingly comfortable, and the crossing very calm. Aside from waking up on a few occasions throughout the night, we managed a reasonable nights sleep and were up and getting dressed long before the ships announcement that breakfast was being served. We grabbed ourselves a cup of tea from Food City ( no breakfast for us as it was our intention to get a few road miles under our belts and then stop on route). Another walk around the ship, including outside on deck, and we were being called, along with all the other vehicle drivers, to return to the car decks (I’m glad I took that ticket to remind me where I parked).

We were off the ship and through customs by 07:00, feeling refreshed after our good nights sleep, and ready for the long drive ahead, we had 335 miles to drive through Holland and Germany to get us to our destination of Hamburg, but we felt ready for it.

We had chosen to drive to Germany as we were visiting our son who lives in Hamburg and there were things that he wanted us to take over for him (the excess baggage costs with flights would have been astronomical). As it happened we were sailing just one day after the Icelandic Volcano erupted and all European flights were grounded, this was indeed fortunate as had we been booked to fly we would not have made it. DFDS use to have a sailing from Harwich to Hamburg but as the route proved unprofitable they discontinued it some years ago, however anyone heading for Holland, North Germany, Denmark or many of the Baltic states who need or would like to drive rather than fly, the Harwich to Hook of Holland is a very good choice, there are two sailings a day, one daytime and one overnight and once in Holland you have access to very good motorways, there is also excellent train connections for those travelling by foot.

Stena Britannica

 

HOEK VAN HOLLAND TO HARWICH

Driving across Europe can be a beautiful thing, imagine the French Riviera, Monte Carlo, the Italian Lakes, beautiful countryside bathed in glorious sunshine! Now think German autobahn and 335 miles of motorway driving from Hamburg to the Dutch port of Hook of Holland.

We had been on the road for three and a half hours and had covered 210 miles, some of it at high speed on excellent motorway, but much of it through slow moving road works, it seems motorway driving is pretty much the same the world over.

We needed a break and had stopped at the AC Hotel at Holten in Holland, we stretched our legs, had a cup of tea and made use of the facilities for approximately an hour before once again nestling down behind the wheel for the final 125 mile drive to our destination.

We had only one reason for wanting to get to the Hook of Holland and that was to catch the overnight ferry back to England, it sailed at 22:00 and it was now 17:15 and we had been on the road since 12:45. All in all it had been a good drive, a little slow at times due to road works but the weather was good and, as it was a Saturday, there were very few lorry’s on the road.

The rest of the drive was pretty much uneventful and we arrived at the port at 19:00 just as they had started check in, we presented our passports and internet booking confirmation and was handed a map of the ship, along with our boarding cards which would also act as the  keys to our cabin. We were then waved on to the next box where a Dutch immigration officer once again checked our passports. We then proceeded along the car lanes  stopping briefly whilst they loaded some lorry’s on before us, we eventually got on board at about 19:30.

We parked the car as instructed by the crew member and applied the handbrake as well as putting the car in gear (better safe than sorry, you don’t want your car rolling into the car in front or behind if the ship starts rocking). I also remembered (unlike a previous occasion) to lock the doors but not put on the alarm, evidently it can get a bit annoying for the crew to have car alarms sounding all night long once the motion of the ship sets them off.

On leaving the car deck I took one of the tickets from the pad by the stairs/lift which indicates which car deck you are on and which colour staircase to take the next day when you return to your vehicle. We were on car deck 3 and would need the green stairs. We took the lift to the ninth deck where our cabin was situated. As we were only on board for one night and it was a short crossing lasting only seven hours, we had decided to opt for the cheaper option of an inside two berth cabin, there are also outside cabins and higher grade cabins to suit all budgets.

Our cabin had cost £37 plus the fare of £100 for the car and two passengers, making a one way fare of £137, the cabin was clean and bright and had everything we would need for our journey, a shower with WC, a dressing table with mirror and hooks and hanging space for our clothes. The sleeping arrangements were in bunks with access to the top bunk gained via a small ladder.

Having checked out our cabin we went in search of food, we first checked out the Food City on deck 8 which serves individually priced items and smaller snacks, ideal if you are in a hurry or on a budget. We decided to push the boat out (no pun intended) and went to the Metropolitan Restaurant on deck 7 where there is a buffet/grill with a set price of 25 euro for all you can eat.

A crew member welcomed us, as we entered the restaurant, and suggested that we look around the restaurant and the food on offer before making up our minds. This we did, and as the food looked so delicious we asked to be seated, requesting a table with a view at the front of the ship, overlooking the bow. Once seated, the waiter took our drinks order and then left us to choose our starters, main courses and deserts at our leisure throughout the evening, only stopping by now and then to enquire on whether any more drinks were required.

The food was of a very good standard and the ambiance of the restaurant very relaxing, we sat enjoying the meal for about two hours as the sun set on the Hook of Holland. We finished our meal with a cup of tea, and watched the deck hands  casting off as the ship turned around and headed for England.

After dinner we explored the rest of the ship starting with the shop which was very well stocked with the usual booze, fags and perfumes as well as souvenirs of Holland and sweets and the like. Having sailed on these sort of ferries many, many times before over more years than I care to remember, I can tell you that there are very few bargains to be had these days. The tax break that we Brits use to get from Duty free went several years ago and now with the pound being so weak against the euro the prices on board are pretty much the same as in the UK.

After a little window shopping we went on to explore a little more of the ship. The Stena Britannica is what is known as a Ropax Seamaster and is predominately a freight ship but which will also take car and foot passengers in some comfort. She is 240 metres long, 29.3 metres wide, can carry 900 passengers in 395 cabins, 300 cars and can maintain a speed of 22 knots, taking seven hours to get from Holland to England.

Amenities on board include: a 24 hour reception, a bureau de change, a kids area, a teenage area, a cinema, a casino, the Stena Plus Lounge, as well as two bars and the two restaurants already mentioned. Everything you need for an enjoyable North sea crossing.

Norway on Balmoral

12 NIGHT NORWEGIAN CRUISE WITH

FRED OLSEN

My wife and I were departing Dover on-board the Balmoral, the largest of the Fred Olsen cruise ships, we had sailed on her before back in March 2008 on a Caribbean cruise out of Miami, this time we were embarking on a twelve night Norwegian Fjord cruise. Back in 2008 the Balmoral had only just started service with Fred Olsen, having been purchased by them in 2007 and then refurbished, including being stretched with a new middle section.

Balmoral is some 715 feet long and weighs in at 43,537 tons, she can accommodate in the region of 1,400 passengers and has almost 500 crew so a good crew to passenger ratio ensuring good service and a high level of passenger satisfaction. Her on-board amenities include two swimming pools (both outside), four whirlpools, a casino, a self service launderette, a theatre, a library, internet room, shops, various bars and lounges and a spa (offering various massages), hairdressers and gym.

The ship itself is a most handsome one with classic lines and painted all white, she benefits from a full walk-around teak deck where four laps equals a mile. The handrails are finished in varnished wood and the interiors are tastefully decorated and the public areas have an open airy feel to them. There are various cabin grades to chose from, ours was a standard inside cabin on deck 4 which although not enormous was of a reasonable size and had everything we needed for our stay, we were in twin beds which were positioned in an L shape. There are ocean view cabins as well as ones with balconies and of course the larger suites, the higher up the ship you go the more expensive the cabins, with the suites being on deck 10.

The food on-board is of a very high standard and there is a good choice of restaurants, the main restaurant Ballindalloch on deck 6 has two sittings for dinner as do the two smaller restaurants the Spey and the Avon on deck 10. The Palms Café on deck 7 is a more casual eatery with open seating and self service food. All restaurants have open seating for breakfast and lunch, giving you a wide choice of places to eat. Besides breakfast, lunch and dinner there is also morning coffee and afternoon tea served in certain lounges and a supper club at 11:45pm in the Palms Café so no need to go hungry.

Fred Olsen are very much a traditional cruise line and have a very loyal following, the age group tends to be mostly over sixties and mainly British. On a cruise of this length it is normal to have three formal nights and a couple of themed nights as well as informal and casual nights, so you need a big suitcase to pack all those changes of clothes, luckily with sailing in and out of a UK port, there is no weight restriction on your luggage.

The entertainment on-board was of a good quality and was varied with something to please all tastes. The main shows were held in the Neptune Lounge on deck 7 and these could be anything from a comedian to the Balmoral show team putting, on mini musicals. In the various bars and lounges were trios and solo artists, as well as karaoke nights, race nights and quiz nights and of course bingo. During the daytime there were lectures, talks on the ports of call and various presentations and classes. Plenty to do or you could chose to do nothing and relax by the pool in one of the many deckchairs. We were lucky with the weather for even though we were sailing in the North Sea at the end of August and beginning of September, we had some really warm days with blue skies and very little rain.

Our itinerary for this cruise would include two days at sea as well as port calls in Amsterdam (Holland), Invergordon (Scotland), Stavanger, Eidfjord, Skjolden, Olden, Molde and Bergen (all in Norway) with a final call on the way back to Dover in Antwerp (Belgium). Unfortunately our luck with the weather changed on our way from Bergen to Antwerp and we hit a gale force 11 which not only spoilt the cruise for several of the passengers who were laid up with sea sickness, but it also meant that we couldn’t make the speed we needed to in order to reach Antwerp. We were therefore, diverted to Rotterdam in Holland, a big disappointment for me as I have visited Rotterdam on a couple of occasions and although it is a perfectly nice city, I would have much preferred to have gone to Antwerp, a place that I have yet to visit.

We didn’t book any of the ships tours as we intended to make our own arrangements. This was not only in order to keep costs down but also because as we had never been to Norway before, we didn’t see the sense in paying to go further afield when all our ports of call would be new to us. Most of our berths at the ports of call were within easy walking distance of the town or city and for those that were a little further to walk we were provided with courtesy buses to take us in.

For the most part we just strolled around, taking in the views but in Amsterdam having caught the courtesy bus to the central station we walked to Anne Franks house. I had been before but it was the first time for my wife, it is a very moving experience and well worth the 8.5 Euro entrance fee. In Eidfjord we took the little road train which for a fare of about £10 will take you on a 55 minute ride up through the surrounding hills with great views of the Fjord and the cruise ship, taking in Viking burial grounds and the towns churches and wood carving centre. In Bergen after walking around the fish market and sampling some delicious fish, we took the Funicular to the top of Mount Floyen (a height of 300 metres) with its wonderful views of Bergen and delightful walks through forest and lake area. The Funicular runs constantly and takes about 7 minutes to get to the top and costs about £7.

The scenery in Norway is spectacular, the air is the freshest I have ever breathed, and for the most part the towns and cities are clean and safe. I personally preferred the smaller ports of call such as Eidfjord and Olden as these represented everything I had come to expect from Norway. It was a most relaxing, enjoyable cruise, one I would very much recommend.