| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
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28th June 2021 |
Piraeus Athens Greece |
Visiting the famous Acropolis! |
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30th June 2021 |
Limassol Cyprus |
Exploring the South West side of town! |
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2nd July 2021 |
Rhodes Greece |
Glorious day in the Old Town! |
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3rd July 2021 |
Aegiali(s) Amorgos Greece |
Climbing up to Tholaria! |
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4th July 2021 |
Ag. Nik. Crete Greece |
The Heart Beat of Crete! |
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5th July 2021 |
Chania Crete Greece |
Glorious day in the Old Town! |
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6th July 2021 |
Nafplio(n) Greece |
First Capital of Modern Greece! |
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7th July 2021 |
Fira Santorini Greece |
Glorious day on the blue & white island! |
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8th July 2021 |
Piraeus -> ATHens -> LHR |
Home at 10 pm! |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
Having left my balcony curtains open, I awoke to the light just after 6 o'clock. At 6:45 I had the full English breakfast al fresco on the terrace (La Terrazza) as we tied up at cruise terminal B, which is actually beyond terminal C! I was off the ship soon after eight on a wild goose chase to find an Aldi which turned out to be the name of a Greek office company! I did however find a Lidl about half a mile beyond the Piraeus metro station. Here I bought a lovely pair of trainers / sneakers for just 15 euros, to replace my old pair which had fallen apart earlier in the previous cruise!
Doubling back to the metro station, I spent 2.30 euros on a return ticket to Athens. I alighted at Monastiraki as usual and climbed up passed the Ancient Roman (not Greek) ruins to the Acropolis.
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Here I shelled out 20 euros, as the reduced rate for Senior Citizens was only for EU residents! On just entering the site, I bumped into Anne & Ruth, who were just departing for the airport, after their tour of the Acropolis. I enjoyed viewing the Parthenon, the Caryatids and the views across down town Athens. I climbed back down via the two amphitheatres to catch the metro back from the Acropolis station.
Back at Piraeus metro station, I went in the small electric train museum which has free admission. I then walked back around the port to Cruise Terminal C. Here it took nearly an hour to be re-tested and processed through two waiting areas. Back on board, I had a small anchovy and caper pizza overlooking the pool. I then slept for an hour and a half. I did half a dozen lengths, but only spent five minutes in the jacuzzi as it was already bubbling when I entered it.
Back in my new suite on deck six, I updated my blog, but was unable to back-up my day's photography from my old phone, not having taken my new phone ashore with me for fear of being mugged! At six o'clock it was time for the safety drill and at 6:45 Vicki introduced all of us on the hot pool deck. At 7:30 I attended the solo travellers in the Dolce Vita lounge. Katherina, Nelli & her mother Helen were already ensconced when I arrived. We were joined by Katrine from Hannover in Germany, Ellie from St. Augustine in Florida and Carla from Denver in Colorado.
At 8:15 Katherina made her excuses and I led the other five down to the Atlantide main restaurant. I began with the crab bisque and continued with the so-called salade nicoise which was mainly raw tuna. I had ordered the prime rib of beef, but a filet mignon arrived instead, but Helen came to the rescue by offering me half of her prime rib. I think the waiter had mixed up our orders! We also had extra mushrooms and asparagus which was a nice touch. I finished with the sugar free fantasia. We had an Australian red wine, although I was offered my favourite Argentinian Malbec.
The party broke up at 10:30 and, after updating this blog, I went to bed at 11 o'clock. During the day I had been carrying my old phone, so I don't know how many steps I must have done!
I awoke at 6:10 and got up at 6:40. At 7:30 I had the full English breakfast as usual al fresco on the terrace (La Terrazza). I did 8 circuits (one mile) of the top deck walking track whilst Jeffrey was doing my suite. I spent most of the morning adding my new photos to my Limassol talk. At 11:15 I went to the moussaka demonstration having a small taster and a little Cypriot red wine to wash it down!
At noon I went up to the Grill by the pool for the Greek buffet. I had a small portion of moussaka together with both lamb and chicken doner kebab pittas! I then slept for an hour and a quarter. At 3 o'clock I gave my 40 minute talk on "Limassol: the Port for Cyprus" to a much bigger audience than on the previous cruise! Vicki, the Cruise Director, wrote in her report: "Guests have been very complimentary of Martin."
Afterwards I continued updating my port talks with the photographs I had taken. At 5 o'clock I watched my Limassol lecture on the TV, before doing six lengths of the pool and spending ten minutes in one of the jacuzzis. Back in my suite, I got into my ruby red formal outfit complete with Greek/Turkish hat!
At 7 o'clock I hosted the solo travellers in the Dolce Vita lounge: Ellie from St. Augustine, Carla from Denver, Katrine from Hannover and newcomer Barbara from San Francisco. At 7:30 Katerina arrived from the welcome cocktail party to co-host with me in place of Sofia and Katrine left to watch the Germany versus England football match. The former led us down to the S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Tasting) Kitchen. I began with the lobster spaghetti starter, continued with the Turkish style lamb chops and finished with the chocolate bahklava. We had Turkish red wine to drink.
Barbara left first as she was cold under the air conditioning, followed by Katerina who was on duty upstairs. Ellie, Carla and myself broke up in time to go to the "Mind the Gap" production show, which was as good as the first time and I managed to stay awake throughout! I went to bed having done only 5,700 steps (about two miles) during the sea day, just after 11 o'clock.
I awoke at 6:30 and had the full English breakfast at 7 o'clock al fresco on the terrace (La Terrazza). Back in my suite I worked on this blog and my next few lectures. When Jeffrey came to do my suite, I did four circuits (half a mile) of the top deck. I chatted to the ship's jeweller, a Brit living in Florida, who was photographing HMS Queen Elizabeth, the new UK aircraft carrier which had arrived over night. She was flying the white ensign, but the large logo was a red, white and green ER? She was accompanied by four tugs, two support vessels, a frigate and RFA Fort Victoria!
At 9:30 I caught the first shuttle bus into the city. I began at the tourist information office, where my wi-fi code was still working from last week. I explored the huge new marina development, before heading for the KEO brewery, which didn't have visitor tours. I photographed the Cami Cedid mosque, which had been redecorated, but was not open to the public.
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I then went in St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox church. In the city centre, I walked along St. Andrew's Street to find a shop selling superglue for my brown dancing shoes. I went in the Agia Napa cathedral, before doubling back along the boardwalk. I then caught the 11:30 shuttle bus back to she ship.
At noon, I had my favourite cheeseburger & fries al fresco in the Grill by the pool. I then dozed for 75 minutes. At three o'clock I gave my 40 minute enrichment lecture entitled "Mamma Mia: The Greek Musical!" for a second time. Vicki, the Cruise Director, wrote in her report: "He has a great attitude." I then worked on my upcoming port talks. At 5:40 I did half a dozen lengths of the pool, followed by ten minutes in one of the jacuzzis. I sat out on my balcony for the first time as we sailed away from Limassol.
At 7 o'clock I hosted the solo travellers, joined for the first time by Stella from Central London and singer Josh. At 7:35 Katerina led Nelli, her mother Helen, Ellie, Carla, Katrine, Barbara and myself up to La Terrazza, the Italian restaurant on board. I began with the thick tomato paste soup and continued with the Countess Catherine de Medici salad. I pigged out on the calf's shank (Ossobuco), whose meat just fell off the bone, followed by some Italian semi-hard cheese. At 10 o'clock I went to the Operatic Duo's show time for a second time and managed to stay awake through out! I went to bed soon after 11 o'clock, having done over 13 thousand steps (over five miles) during the day.
I awoke at 7 o'clock after a night with one pang of cramp in my leg muscle, maybe due to not taking in enough salt? My right middle finger also hurt for the first time, first sign of arthritis like my mother? I had the full English breakfast at 7:30 al fresco on the terrace (La Terrazza). At 10 o'clock I gave my 40 minute talk on "Rhodes: the Island of the Knights". At 11:15 I went to the Turkish street food cooking demonstration, where I sampled TWO portions of the kebabs with a glass of Turkish red wine. Up outside the Panorama lounge I chatted to Katrine from Hannover for 10 minutes, before lunching on the freshly prepared shrimp wrap by the pool. I then slept for two hours, all my exertions finally catching up with me!
When I awoke I watched my Rhodes talk on the TV, before pressing on with my next few port talks. At six o'clock I did six lengths of the pool, followed by ten minutes of wallowing in the bubbles. At seven o'clock I hosted the solo travellers with newcomer Sarah from Los Angeles joining the regulars. We were joined by Katherina, Camila and Slavko, making four hosts who wanted to eat out at the Hot Rocks Grill by the Pool! Here I sat with Slavko to my left, Carla opposite me and Katherina to my right. Further down the table were Katrine, Helen, Sarah, Camila, Barbara and Elli making ten of us in total at a long table. I began with the Caesar salad with anchovies followed by the filet mignon steak which I cooked on the hot lava stone, with a jacket potato and large amounts of vegetables. We were entertained by talented guitarist Charlie, who was sat facing me from the performance area.
At ten o'clock I went to the excellent Ballroom Dance duo Alex & Magdalena's "Story of Love" show time. It was exclusively Latin American, featuring the salsa, samba (my favourite!), paso doble, Argentine tango, rumba and finishing with the jive. No waltz, foxtrot or quickstep and surprisingly no cha cha either! I retired at 11 o'clock only to find from the next day's programme that our port on Amorgos had been changed from Katapola to Aegiali(s)! So I spent half an hour removing the main port of Katapola from my lecture, but was unable to find many images of the new smaller port of Aegiali(s). My lecture is going to be a bit shorter! I had only walked less than one mile during the day at sea.
I awoke at 6 o'clock and got up at 6:30 ready for the full English breakfast at seven al fresco on the terrace (La Terrazza). Reception still thought that we were going to Katapola not Aegiali(s) tomorrow and the tours desk couldn't explain the reason for the change of port to me! I was one of the first off the ship at 8:10 heading for the Jewish quarter in the east of the Old Town of Rhodes. I then traversed the Muslim quarter on the west side, before arriving at the Christian quarter in the north.
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I walked back down Soukratos, the main shopping street, before going back outside the Old Town walls. I then walked around the entire dry moat of the medieval fortifications in the hot sun with no way out until I had completed the circuit of the walls.
I got back to the ship at 10:50 after doing more than 15 thousand steps (6 miles) in the heat! I spent the rest of morning updating my Amorgos talk to reflect the change of port. At noon I had a small anchovy and caper pizza in the Spaccanapoli pizzeria on the top deck. I then dozed for 80 minutes.
At three o'clock I gave my 35 minute talk on Amorgos. Vicki, the Cruise Director, wrote in her report: "All that attend are always very complimentary about Martin's lectures - his delivery and information." At six o'clock I did half a dozen lengths of the empty pool and spent ten minutes in one of the jacuzzis. At seven o'clock I hosted the solo travellers, but only Barbara and Ellie joined Katerina and me. We didn't want to go to the booked pizzeria, so headed off to the Atlantide main dining room instead. I began with the mushroom soup poured over two king scallops.
When Fernando, the larger than life Venetian Society Ambassador, came in to the resturant on his own, Katerina invited him to join us. I continued with the Caesar salad with duck as well as anchovies. Then I had the NY strip (sirloin) steak with proper chips and asparagus. I declined the desserts as show time approached. I enjoyed the excellent Rock Rhapsody tribute to Queen for a second time. Having updated this blog, I went to bed before 11:30.
I awoke just before seven ready for the full English breakfast al fresco on the terrace (La Terrazza). One lady wrote: "Are you going ashore? One of the best islands! I actually went there for a holiday! Amazing!" I snuck on to the last tour tender away at 8:45 and was ashore before nine. It didn't take me long to photograph the little port, before walking along the curving beach at the head of the bay. At the end of the beach, I headed up the stone steps to the cliff side footpath to the lovely little beach of Levrossos. Higher up the cliff was the only five star hotel on the island, Aegialis, which I photographed. I continued up the roadway to the lovely little hill side village of Tholaria. The same lady wrote: "Tholaria. I went there too! Bringing back memories, pretty little village." From here I headed west along a track to see the gorge of Mikri Glifada, but failed to find the ancient settlement of Vigla.
At 10:30 I had had enough of the heat and dust so I backtracked all the way down to the hotel. I continued down to the little port on the road, not the footpath and beach by which I had ascended. I got back to the quayside at 11:30 and caught the 11:45 tender back to the ship, having walked over six miles! Just after noon, I lunched on a cheeseburger & fries without a bun but with all the trimmings at the Grill aongside the pool. I then slept for 75 minutes, before giving my 35 minute lecture on Aghios Nikolaos. Vicki, the Cruise Director, wrote in her report: "In a beautiful port, he had a nice sized audience and they were very responsive to his lecture."
Back in my suite, I updated this blog and back upped my photographs. I had a phone call from reception inviting me to dine with Fernando that evening, but I had to decline as I was hosting the singles. At six o'clock I did six lengths of the pool and spent ten minutes in one of the jacuzzis as usual. I then changed into my black formal outfit.
At seven o'clock I hosted the solo travellers: Ellie, Barbara, Katerina, Katrine and Carla. The first two had also been invited to dine with Fernando, so I just had the last two to host at dinner. At eight o'clock we descended to the main dining room Atlantide. During the meal Katrine from Hannover spoke of her continuing regret about the actions of the Nazi regime. I had two king scallops to begin, followed by the day's salad. For my main course I had the veal shank, which was a bit fatty. I finished with the sugar-free dessert as usual. At the end I went over to Fernando's table to thank him for the invitation to dine with him that I had had to decline.
At ten o'clock I watched the excellent Grande Amore operatic production show which I had missed on the previous cruise. When the show ended at 10:45, I waited for the second half of the England versus Ukraine football match to restart, but felt too tired, so I went to bed instead! During the day I had walked over 18 thousand steps, that's over seven miles!
I awoke at 6:10 and watched the first part of my talk on Amorgos. At seven o'clock I had the full English breakfast al fresco on the terrace (La Terrazza) as we sailed into St. Nik's. Back in my suite, I updated this blog. I was off the ship at 8:15 walking south west along the prom to the main town beach, the marina and the sand beach beyond. I found the little Virgin chapel and the large Trinity cathedral, where a service was spilling out into the street. I climbed up above the famous lake, before descending again to the north east side of the lake. I went in the archaeological museum, but only one room of posters was open. I explored the north west prom for the first time as far as the sandy beach. Back at the lake, I photographed the fishermen's crypt, whose graffiti had been painted out.
By 10:30 I had had enough of the heat and so headed back to the ship. Here I had an early, small anchovy and caper pizza, before sleeping for an hour and three quarters. At three o'clock I gave my 35 minute talk entitled "Souda Bay: the Port for Chania". Vicki, the Cruise Director, wrote in her report: "Another very good lecture from Martin." One gent wrote: "Wow Souda Bay. All those scuttled WW2 warships. We've been to Chania and really like it there. Nice itinerary Martin." I then continued working on my upcoming lectures. At five o'clock I walked 100 yards to the little beach right next to the ship, where I took a quick dip in the clear, cool waters. This was my one and only swim in the Mediterranean during both cruises! The same gent wrote: "Yours is a lovely ship Martin. It looked beautiful in the morning sunshine as we came down the hillside into Aghios Nickolaos."
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At 6:30 I went to the second ballroom duo's showtime. They did the samba (again), the cha cha (for the first time), a Singing in the Rain routine and a Michael Jackson tribute. Alex's attempt at the notoriously difficult moon walks was not completely convincing! At seven I had to slip out to host the solo travellers. I was joined by Katherina, Carla, Barbara, Ellie, Nelli, Helen and Katrine. We dined in the S.A.L.T. restaurant. We all began with a meze of little tasters. Some of us had a bowl of spaghetti with lobster pieces as our pasta course. Some of us had the delicious lamb and most of us finished with the chocolate baklava.
At 9:45 the dinner party broke up and some of us got up to the top deck to see the municipal fireworks to celebrate three cruise ships in port. Silver Moon had pole position on the quayside with Celestyal Olympia just ahead of us. Poor old Seabourn Odyssey, which I had last been on also here in the Aegean back in 2012, had to anchor offshore and tender in! Then the four singers began their Simply Divine show time beside the pool. I sat with Marcia and her husband who had both gone to school in Wigston, where I lived from 1981 to 1987, and now live in Clarendon Park in Leicester. When Vicki called the Y.M.C.A., I rushed forward to help lead it off. At 10:30 I went to my suite and to bed at 11:15. During the day I had walked over six miles (over 15 thousand steps)!
I awoke at 7:30 after sleeping for eight hours, ready for the full English breakfast as usual. At 9:30 I caught the first shuttle bus into town. I explored the huge market, before calling in at both tourist information offices (municipal and national). The Municipal Art Gallery had free admission, but only one painting worth photographing. The famous archaeological museum was closed due to its impending transfer to a new site. Next came the large Orthodox Cathedral and the quayside Hasan Mosque.
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I continued east around the old harbour to the Great Arsenal (Arsenale Grande) and the two arcades of Venetian shipyards. I doubled back via the side streets to see the great Byzantine walls, before doing the other half of the quayside.
I declined to go into San Salvatore church to see the Byzantine museum there, but did shell out three euros to go into the Maritime Museum. I climbed on to the roof of the Venetian Firka Fortress and up the tower for the views across the old harbour. I worked my way back via the side streets, but just missed the noon shuttle bus. So I explored the east side of the old town including the church with both a Venetian bell tower and an Ottoman minaret! I then caught the 12:30 shuttle sitting with Marcia and her husband from Leicester again.
Back at the ship, I had a cheeseburger and fries without bread at the pool side grill. Back in my suite, I didn't have time for a siesta, so I worked on my laptop. At three o'clock I gave my talk on Nafplio(n) on the Peleponnese peninsula, where we will be tomorrow. Vicki, the Cruise Director, wrote in her report: "Very good comments for Martin again." Rather than go ashore and explore Souda town, such as it is, I had a late siesta of an hour and a half. I then did my usual swimming and wallowing, but the ship left 15 minutes early, so I only had 5 minutes in the jacuzzi, before rushing down to my balcony to watch the scenic sail away through Souda Bay. I sat nearly naked on my verandah for only the second time this cruise, there is very little point in me having a balcony as I am always so busy elsewhere!
At 6:45 I hosted the solo travellers as usual, but only Sarah and Ellie joined Sofia and me in La Terrazza restaurant. I began with my favourite lentil soup and Capri salad, followed by the lovely Saltimbocca veal. I had a small portion of Italian cheese rather than a dessert. At 10 o'clock I watched cruise director Vicki's one person tour de force comedy show. When it ended I went to bed at eleven o'clock.
I awoke just after seven o'clock ready for my usual breakfast al fresco on the terrace (La Terrazza). At 8:55 those of us having PCR tests were allowed on to the first tours tender away. I did most of the sights of the old town, before heading east to the new town. Here I got hopelessly lost, what with the Greek street names, the lack of a map and the absence of house numbers! I finally arrived at the LifeCheck laboratory ten minutes late for my 10:30 appointment. After filling in various forms and paying the 60 euros bill, I was quickly swabbed, once on the tonsils and twice up the nostrils!
I turned up into the gap between the two castles and between the new town and the old, to get to the beach. It was rather stony and packed with Greeks! I walked along the beautiful crazy paving footpath which goes around the headland. Unfortunately the chapel in the grotto on the point was closed.
I found the entrance to the very cool tunnel cut deep into the Acropolis hillside. Only one of the three lifts at the end of the tunnel was working to take me up to the Palace hotel. The hotel itself was still closed due to the pandemic, but the villas with an infinity pool were in use. The TUI rep kindly gave me a free walking map.
I explored the fortified Acropolis with views both north over the old town and south over the main beach. I descended by the slippery stone stairs, through the Toro gate to the old town. I went in both the Catholic church in a former mosque and its underlying crypt.
Back at ground level, I went in St. Spyridon's Church where the first Governor of Greece had been assasinated. I popped into the Town Hall to get another free map from the Tourist Information counter in the foyer. I photographed the outside of both the War museum and the Folklore museum, but since neither allowed photography inside, declined to go in either. Back at the Coast Guard station, I didn't have long to wait for the 12:45 tender back to the ship.
At one o'clock I lunched on two smoked salmon croissants, followed by a berry mousse, al fresco outside the Arts Cafe for the first time, sat with Sarah from LA. At three o'clock I gave my 37 minute port talk on Santorini. Vicki, the Cruise Director, wrote in her report: "We have continued to receive good comments for Martin's lectures."
Back in my suite, I updated this blog and back upped my photographs. Just after five, I went to the pool on deck 10, but there was little room for swimming lengths, so I began with ten minutes in one of jacuzzis. By then the numbers in the pool had reduced, so I was able to complete my six lengths. At 6:30 I went to the excellent Magic of the Musicals production show, but had to slip out at seven to host the solos.
At 7:45 I led Nelli, Helen, Sarah and Ellie up to the Hot Rocks Grill by the pool. I began with the Caesar salad with anchovies and then had a large rib eye steak, which I cooked on the hot lava rock. I had one jacket potato with butter and one vegetable skewer, no sauces! At the end, I had two scoops of the sugar free ice cream of the day. The table broke up just after 9:30 for Nelli & Sarah to go to the Liars Club game show, which is like Call My Bluff. I adjourned to my suite to watch one of my lectures, before going to bed at 11:10.
I awoke at 6:40 ready for my full English breakfast with views of the newish lava flows in the centre of the Santorini caldera. My PCR test result had come through in the night and I updated my UK Locator Form. I had to wait until 9:35 for the first independents tender away. On the island, I shelled out six euros to go up in the cable car to Fira town. I first walked south to the main square and the Metropolitan cathedral, before heading north along Saint Minas's footpath right on the edge of the caldera. I visited several Greek Orthodox churches in the southern half of the town and several Catholic churches in the northern half.
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At 11:20 I had had enough of the heat and so turned back south again, walking along the road. It took me one hour to get all the way back down to the quayside. I was the only person on the 12:45 tender back to the ship, which was devoid of people. I had two smoked salmon croissants and a berry mousse in the Arts Cafe, before watching my Nafplio(n) talk to the telly.
At three o'clock I gave my 35 minute talk on Piraeus: the Port for Athens. I then dozed for half an hour, before going for my complimentary rapid antigen test. At five o'clock I did six lenghts of the nearly empty pool, followed by ten minutes in one of the jacuzzis, with the remarkable skyline of Fira town overlooking me!
Back in my suite, I sat out on my verandah nearly naked to dry off, watching the local tenders ply back and forth under the dark, basaltic cliffs. I then started to pack. At seven o'clock I hosted the solo travellers for one last time. Katrine wanted to dine alone in the Atlantide main restaurant, whilst Nelli & Helen were dining with their travel agents Jonathan & Kevin. Carla was dining with Fernando, which left Josh the singer and me to host Ellie alone in the Silver Note restaurant! I began with the Maine lobster, continued with the lamb, duck & vegetables. When mother Helen had gone to bed, Nelli came to join us for dessert. Josh and I finished with BOTH desserts: Berry Fantasia & Chocolate Volcano! Having finished my packing, I had an early night at 10:30 ready for my long day tomorrow.
I awoke at 6:15 fifteen minutes before my alarm. I had the full English breakfast al fresco on the terrace with a view of the distant Parthenon silhouetted by the rising sun. Back in my suite for one last time, I watched my "Piraeus: the Port for Athens" lecture on the telly. I vacated my cabin at eight o'clock and waited in the Observation Library. I watched four men training four dogs on the quayside.
Out on the pool deck, I bumped into Ellie, where I suggested we descend to deck three early to beat the elevator rush. Down on deck three Nelli and her mother Helen were already waiting. Katerina came over to say goodbye and after five minutes our baggage tag colour was called. We soon picked up our bags and were all on the complimentary coach. This left on time at 9:15 heading south east along the Mediterranean coast.
After three quarters of an hour we turned north east, getting to the airport after 75 minutes. Here I found a seat next to a power socket and proceeded to update this blog and charge my laptop & smart phone. I spent most of the day updating these blogs on my laptop.
At noon I had some of the ship's nuts for lunch, together with the bottle of soda water I had brought all the way from home! Check-in opened at 14:40, but then took 30 minutes. My sixty euro PCR test was not required, the ship's rapid antigen test cut the mustard. The UK locator form was also scrutinised. Passport control took 20 minutes as we were not able to use the EU booths which had no queues! I am still a "remoaner"! Security only took five minutes, but the keyboard of my laptop was swabbed!
The BA plane only arrived at four o'clock, so we left 40 minutes late at 5:30. The plane was only one third full. I had a window seat with a lovely view of the Gulf of Kotor in Montenegro and the red roofs of Dubrovnik in Croatia. We were given a bag of crisps and a bottle of water. I then got my laptop out and updated this blog, which I don't think I have ever done before on a flight. The crossing of the Alps was cloudy and rather bumpy! I had a clear view of Zeebrugge and the huge wind farms as we crossed over the North Sea. We flew up the Thames estuary with great views of London.
Unfortunately after we landed, the air bridge wouldn't work, so we sat on the plane for 45 minutes, until steps could be brought up to the rear door. We then had a scenic coach tour around the outside of terminals 5B and 5A, until we could alight at the main building. Fortunately my e-passport worked at the automatic gate and I was quickly through without anyone checking our extensive paperwork! I caught the Piccadilly line train to West Hounslow to collect my car. I had to pay the Skylark Motel an extra 30 pounds for 10 more days car parking. I got home at 10 o'clock and slept for nine hours after a fabulous cruise! With all the walking and swimming I had done, I actually lost some weight on these two cruises!
Vicki, the cruise director, wrote in her report: "Martin P. Lee was excellent with the solo travelers. He enjoyed taking responsibility for them and dining with them."
One lady later wrote: "I thank you for making my cruise special!"
Another lady wrote: "Great blog Martin. And I'm one of the recurring characters I see. Thank you so much for hosting the solos every single night. You were so, so patient with all of us. It was much appreciated. And your port lectures were excellent and very helpful. I'll wave to you when the Moon crosses paths with your ginormous ship next week."
A third lady wrote: "I really enjoyed your two blogs about Greece and the surrounding area. The weather was great, destination, food, the ship and the company."
One of the cruise staff wrote: "Thank you for everything Martin! Hope to see you soon!"
The head of Silversea Entertainment wrote: "It was a pleasure meeting you in person aboard Silver Moon and once again, thank you very much for the second voyage."
A little bird tells me that I scored 8.95 (89.5%) in the end of cruise questionnaire. Apparently one needs a score of 8.5 (85%) or better to be invited back!
8 Port talks 7 Lateral flow rapid antigen tests 6 Old ports: (Piraeus, Rhodes, Limassol, Ag. Nik., Chania, Fira) 5 Silversea cruises 4 Old islands: (Rhodes, Cyprus, Crete & Santorini) 3 Silversea ships: (Silver Wind, Silver Muse & Silver Moon) 2 New ports: (Aegiali(s) & Nafplio(n)) 1 Enrichment lecture: (Mamma Mia: the Greek Musical!) 1 New island: (Amorgos)
Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure Spirit of Discovery Black Prince Black Watch Balmoral Boudicca Braemar QE2 QM2 QV QE Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Sapphire Princess VoD Discovery P&O Oriana