| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
5th Jun 2025 |
Piraeus Greece |
Turn around day |
|
6th Jun. 2025 |
Piraeus Greece |
Plaka & Acropolis Museum |
|
7th Jun. 2025 |
Heraklion Crete Greece |
Gortyna & Phaistos tour |
|
8th Jun. 2025 |
Rhodes Dodecanese Greece |
Acropolis of Lindos |
 |
9th Jun. 2025 |
Kusadasi Turkey |
Homes of the Ancient Roman Elite |
|
10th Jun. 2025 |
Canakkale Turkey |
(Gallipoli Battlefields tour) |
|
11th Jun. 2025 |
Istanbul Turkey |
Most Amazing Edifices |
|
12th Jun. 2025 |
Istanbul Turkey |
Home by 15:45 |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
1) "Rhodes: Island of the Knights of St John" 2) "Ephesus: Ancient Metropolis" 3) "Welcome to Turkey!"
I awoke at 6:25 having slept for over eight hours. At seven o'clock I had my usual ham & cheese toasted muffin for breakfast al fresco a la veranda as the sun rose over Athens. When Agus was servicing the cabin, I sat in the Explorers Lounge with views of the Viking Star in the next berth, with a four masted schooner behind her.
At 8:15 I saw a gap in the departing guests and headed ashore. I walked the one mile past my usual metro station, to the main line railway station just one hundred yards further on. Here I bought a €1.20 ticket, but the assistant said I was not going to Larissa station, as shown on my map, as it had been renamed Athina (Athens). I didn't have long to wait for the airport train which took me into the city.
The main line station is not however very central, so I had a bit of a walk to the National Archaeological Museum and the lovely Areos Park. I did some photograph in the latter and took advantage of their water fountains, but it was awfully hot, so I headed for Victoria metro station at 10:30. Here I caught the subway train to Piraeus, where I had a run in with the railway museum guardian. I also found the new metro line station just outside the old one. I walked the one mile back to the ship.
At noon I lunched al fresco a la veranda on the green vegetable soup and the lamb. but the latter was rather fatty. I then slept for an hour and a quarter. At three o'clock I caught the shuttle bus back into Athens, but it took forty five minutes in the heavy traffic. I walked along my favourite boulevard along the south side of the Acropolis to the Hill of the Muses, which I had never climbed before. This afforded fabulous views of the sunlit Parthenon and Nike temples. I didn't have time to complete my favourite circumnavigation of the Acropolis, but just retreated along the marble avenue I had ascended. I caught the five o'clock shuttle bus back to the ship, which surprisingly only took twenty minutes, less than half the time going in, despite the evening rush hour.
At 5:30 I did six lengths of the cool pool, but the roof was only half open. The air above the pool was very hot and humid (91 degrees F), so I enjoyed the cooling swim. At 6:15 I asked for a sharing table in the MDR, but the early Folkloric show meant there were few guests eating early, so I ate alone. I had the lentil soup, the sirloin steak & chips and the no sugar added ricotta cheesecake to eat. I had just two glasses of sparkling water to drink and no bread to eat. I spent the evening working on my laptop, completing the blog for my third cruise on the Viking Sea and watching my lectures on the television. I went to sleep just after ten o'clock having done over twenty one thousand steps, nearly equal to nine miles of walking during the day.
I got up just after six o'clock ready for my continental breakfast at 6:45 al fresco a la veranda as TUI's Marella Explorer 2 was berthing alongside us. Viking Star was still on the other side of Cruise Terminal A, together with the superyacht Ilma. Brilliance of the Seas was stationed at Cruise Terminal C.
I caught the first shuttle bus away, but it was ten minutes late departing at 8:40 and took forty five minutes to reach the city centre. I then did my favourite walk around the base of the Acropolis. I caught the 10:30 shuttle bus, which was only five minutes late leaving and only took twenty minutes to reach Piraeus.
Back at the ship, I lunched at 11:30 on the green vegetable soup and the mixed grill from the buffet al fresco a la veranda. At 12:15 I met guide Maryanna from Luhansk in occupied Ukraine and driver Costas at bus number fourteen. We had only eleven guests to care for on the New Acropolis Museum and Plaka District tour. We began with a panoramic drive around both Piraeus and Athens, before visiting the impressive new museum. The faces of the five caryatids were eroded and worn by the acid rain and Athens smog, whilst the sixth statue in the British Museum is in much better condition. The glass top floor is an upskirting travesty, whereas the view of the Acropolis from here is stunning. We then had three quarters of an hour of free time in the Plaka old town. The run back to the port was a little slower than usual as it was a Friday afternoon.
At six o'clock I hosted the solo travellers with ACD Rick. Present were Susan, Mary, Trish from Sydney, Patois and Constanza from Colombia. I chatted to the latter about Santa Marta and Cartagena de Indias. We all had one glass of champagne to drink.
At 6:45 I hosted the first three ladies at dinner in the MDR. Here I had the sefood soup, the moussaka and the baklava to eat. I had one glass of red wine to drink. At nine o'clock I went to the excellent ABBA Songbook production show, but had trouble keeping awake, as I hadn't had my siesta in the afternoon. I went to bed just after ten o'clock having done twelve thousand steps equal to five miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at six o'clock, ready for my usual continental breakfast al fresco a la veranda at 6:30. When Agus came to service the cabin at 7:15, I returned to the Explorers Lounge, where I had watched the arrival into Heraklion earlier.
At 8:15 I met guide Maria and driver Manos at bus number twelve in the parking lot. We had a nearly full bus of thirty six guests for the Gortyn(a) & Phaistos tour. We first drove to the latter, during which I slept. This was an ancient Minoan palace similar to Knossos, but much less crowded. Our next stop was at another ancient site with a Roman Odeon little theatre and the Byzantine church of St. Titus. The larger Ancient Greek theatre was outside the archeological site's boundaries and their Acropolis was way above us. Here the driver gave me a complimentary chilled bottle of water. I enjoyed the return trip to Heraklion across the central mountain range of Crete. As I was about to propose the vote of thanks, Maria pre-empted me, so I just returned to the back of the bus.
Back at the ship, I had a late lunch of pea soup and a beef medallion with various sides. I then slept for one hour, before phoning ACD Rick to confirm my hosting of the solo travellers dinner in Manfredi's Italian restaurant on the following evening. At 4:30 I went to the Rhodes port talk which had a seven minute introduction and five minute conclusion by CD Jenna. In the middle Shorex manageress Yily spoke for eighteen minutes on the tours.
At 5:15 I did six lengths of the warm pool, but it had half a dozen people getting in my way. The roof was fully open to the hot sun. At 5:45 Francis(co) set me up ready for me to give my forty five minute talk at 6:15 on Rhodes without the concluding video.
At 7:15 I had the lentil soup, two king crab legs and the mixed grill from the buffet al fresco a la veranda as the sun set in the west as we followed the north coast of Crete. The main course consisted of beef encrusted with olive tapenade and lamb encrusted with feta cheese. At nine o'clock I went to Dr Mark Hussey's classical guitar concert, which featured Greek music. I went to sleep at 10:15 having done just under ten thousand steps, equal to four miles of walking during the day.
I got up at 5:30 half an hour before my alarm. I had an almond croissant, a praline finger and a Danish pastry at the Early Risers Breakfast in the Living Room. I had a regular cappuccino to drink, before going up to deck eight to watch the berthing.
At 7:30 I met young guide Katerina and driver Kostas for the Lindos Acropolis tour. We had a larger than usual group of thirty four guests to take care of. I dozed on the one hour drive south from Rhodes town, before walking down the hill to Lindos village. She set a fast pace up the famous marble steps to the Acropolis and of one family of six, only one young man made it to the entry gate to claim their tickets.
After a short guided tour of the fortress and the partially restored temples, we had nearly one hour of free time. I walked back down the donkey track, rather than fight my way past the hordes on the marble stairway. I didn't sleep on the return journey. For the second day running, as I was about to propose the vote of thanks, Katerina pre-empted me. I announced my evening lecture and nevertheless repeated the thanks to the driver and to her.
Back at the ship, I had the lentil soup, the roast beef and fresh cherries for lunch al fresco a la veranda. I then slept for one hour, before walking along the boardwalk to the new town. The main tourist information office was closed as it was a Sunday. I climbed up through the park to the D'Amboise Gate into the old town. I walked down the Street of the Knights, but the other tourist information office was also closed. I photographed the two main squares with their fountains, before getting back to the boardwalk. Here I met Karen, the wife of the Viking Resident Historian (VRH), also walking back to the ship.
At 4:30 CD Jenna gave a seven minute introduction and a seven minute conclusion to the Kusadasi port talk. In the middle Shorex manageress Yily did an eighteen minute spiel on the tours, but mostly it was about Ephesus, not Kusadasi. At 5:15 I did six lengths of the warm pool with the roof half open.
At 5:45 Francis(co) set me up ready for me to give my thirty five minute lecture on Ephesus. I cut out the Book of Revelation section and the Rick Steves video as I was hosting the solo tarvellers dinner party at seven o'clock. Guests Susan, Mary, Trish and her sister from Sydney came along as did VRH Charlie Armstrong and his wife Karen. We shared three antipasti plates with Italian breads, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I had the minestrone soup to start, followed by the pasta of the day: canneloni. I main coursed on the excellent Viking steak with vegetables in Gorgonzola sauce.
At nine o'clock I said my thanks and goodbyes and left the ladies in the care of the VRH and his wife, as I went to the Dancing Under the Stars with the roof still half open. I did one jive with the Australian singer, joined in Jenna's conga line and danced with three guests all from Tennessee, one of whom was called Jennifer. I slipped away at ten o'clock, but didn't get to sleep until 10:45. During the day I had done nineteen thousand steps, nearly equal to eight miles of walking.
I got up at ten to six, ten minutes before my alarms ready for my continental breakfast at 6:30 al fresco a la veranda as we berthed in Kusadasi. At 7:15 I met guide Tunc(h) and driver Sarkn at bus number six in the parking lot packed with coaches. We had an easy half hour run to Ephesus for the Homes of the Ancient Roman Elite tour. We began at the top gate and, as usual, didn't go in the little Odeon theatre as we passed by. We progressed down the ceremonial way to the hillside houses, which I hadn't been in since 2012, when I was there with Seabourn. I had forgotten how well preserved these are with their wall frescoes and floor mosaics. I got a good picture of the Poseidon mosaic which is the finest one there. Outside the huge enclosure, we had bypassed the famous communal latrines, so no photo opportunity here. We couldn't go into the Grand Theatre as this was still being renovated.
We had another easy half hour run back to Kusadasi, but there were enormous traffic jams going to Ephesus. Two huge cruise ships from Celebrity and MSC had arrived after us and had disgorged their thousands of passengers. Ephesus would have been heaving later in the day.
In town I saw my charges into the carpet store, where I said goodbye to Tunc(h) and walked straight back to the ship at eleven o'clock. I had an early lunch of clam chowder soup with sour cream, two small slices of pizza and a single profiterole with fresh cherries to eat at 11:30. I then slept for an hour and a half, before venturing into Kusadasi.
The ship's internet, using Starlink satellites, won't work in Turkey and nor would my mobile phone data allowance, so I had to stand outside Starbucks to use their wi-fi. I walked along the prom to the Bird Island castle, but they wouldn't accept my fifty Turkish lira note that the locals pay, instead wanting €10 which is eight times as much. I then walked back to the Starbucks at the port, before heading along the prom in the other direction. I didn't get as far as the marina, but did find another Starbucks I could stand outside in order to tap into their signal.
Back at the port again, I actually sat at a table this time to use the wi-fi. There was an enormous line at security with a fifth ship, Celestyal Journey having arrived, but it moved quickly. At 4:30 I attended the Canakkale port talk which had the usual tripartite structure. At 5:15 I did six lengths of the warm pool, but the roof was only one third open.
Just after six I requested a sharing table in the MDR, where I was joined by Barb and Lois, two former teachers from Ohio. After a wait, no-one else arrived so we asked to place our orders. I had the corn chowder soup, the Greek salad, the lamb chops and the no sugar added raspberry blast dessert.
At nine o'clock I went to Dr Mark Hussey's second guitar show, which was better than his first. For a start he had the four piece band behind him. Secondly he played a variety of genres other than classical guitar music. He began with the country music guitarists Chet Atkins and Willie Nelson, before continuing with the rock guitarist Eric Clapton. He had a DPhil in biochemistry from Oxford University and revealed that he had worked as a virologist at a government laboratory (Porton Down?) until he was thirty, when he began his musical career instead. I went to sleep at 10:15 having done fifteen thousand steps equal to six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:25 ready for my usual continental breakfast al fresco a la veranda as we traversed the Dardanelles channel between the Gallipoli peninsula in Europe and the Turkish mainland in Asia (Minor). At 8:30 I was the first person to leave the ship walking through the deserted cruise terminal. Outside, I turned right heading south along the promenade and beach to the water park which was 1.3 miles away. The latter sight was closed, so I switched off my tracking app and turned around. On the way back to the port, I photographed several hotels, cafes and resort complexes.
Back in my cabin at ten o'clock, I worked on my laptop, until an early lunch was served at eleven. I had the red bell pepper soup and the mixed grill from the buffet al fresco a la veranda. I caught the first shuttle bus away at noon, which took twenty minutes to get to the town centre. I explored the promenade, where I found the free WCs. I walked along the main pedestrianised shopping street and entered the Bazaar indoor market. I discovered that the castle was still a military establishment and declined to go into the naval museum. Back near the drop off point in Republic Square, I found free wi-fi outside McDonalds.
It was awfully hot, so I caught the two o'clock shuttle back to the ship. Here I discovered too late a telephone message from Yily the shorex manageress, saying that they had just found a spare space for me on the Gallipoli tour. I then slept for an hour and a quarter, before working on my laptop.
At five o'clock I did six lengths of the hot pool with the roof only one third open. At 5:45 Francis(co) set me up ready for me to give my thirty minute talk entitled Welcome to Turkey! This had been pushed back in the programme, so I had to cut out the sections of Kusadasi/Ephesus and Canakkale/Troy which we had already visited.
At seven o'clock I met Susan at the entrance to the MDR, so we sat together awaiting Mary's arrival. I had the soup of the day, Caesar salad with anchovies, one lamb kebab and the no sugar added strawberry tartlet to eat. I had two glasses of the red wine from Chile with my meal.
At nine o'clock I sat at the back of the Star theatre for the Captain's farewell, where I had a glass of orange juice to drink. I asked ACD Rick about my airport transfer details and he referred me to the shorex manageress Yily. This was followed by the excellent Beatles Songbook production show. I went to bed at 10:30, but had trouble getting to sleep. I had done nearly eighteen thousand steps, equal to seven miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke to my alarms at six o'clock as we arrived at Galataport in Istanbul. At 6:30 I had my usual continental breakfast al fresco a la veranda with the fabulous view of the Bosphorus. At 7:30 I wove my way through the labyrinthine underground cruise terminal to the coach park. Here I met guide Su and driver Engin on minibus number three. We had twenty four guests, so I had to share the back row with four others, for the short run to the south end of the Hippodrome.
Our first stop was at the splendid Blue Mosque. We then walked the length of the Hippodrome past Santa Sophia to the magnificent Topkapi palace. I had forgotten how great this place was and an hour of free time was not quite enough to see all the various pavilions. The views of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horne are truly stupendous! We had a good half mile walk to the Grand Bazaar where we had another hour of free time. I found a Caravanserai to explore, but soon left the huge market for the mosque next door. I tasted some of the baklava and Turkish Delight in the posh shop where we met up again.
Back at the ship, I finally had my luggage tags and departure details. I had a late lunch of soup followed by veal stroganoff. I then slept for only forty minutes, before venturing out again. I spent tL110 (about two pounds) on a three trip ticket for the public transport. First I caught the tram from the Galataport stop to the northern terminus at Kabatas. Here I transfered to the funicular railway climbing up to Taksim Square in the centre of the New City. I walked the length of the main shopping street, photographing just one of the vintage trams en route. In Pera, near the Genoese Galata Tower, I took the Tunel funicular railway back down to the Golden Horn. This is the world's second oldest underground railway, after the Metropolitan Railway in London. I then walked back along the prom to the ship.
At 5:15 I did six lengths of the warm pool with the roof just one third open. At 6:15 I was seated in the MDR awaiting some table sharers. I was joined by a couple from the Hudson valley in New York state and then by a couple from New Haven in Connecticut. I had the red lentil soup, the sirloin steak with chips and the no sugar added pear belle Helene to eat. I had two glasses of the house red wine of the night to drink. I went to sleep at nine o'clock having done nearly twenty four thousand steps, nearly equal to ten miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarms at three o'clock in the morning and quickly abluted. In the Living Room I had one croissant and one mug of sparkling water. Tag white number four was called at four o'clock and we had an easy run to the airport.
We had to go through security right at the front doors of the main terminal. Unfortunately we were dropped off at the far end of the huge terminal and so had to walk almost the entire length. Check-in at the BA desks took nearly an hour as other coaches had arrived ahead of us, the last one to arrive. Fortunately I was allocated a emergency door seat 11A with extra leg room.
(That very morning an Air India jet had crashed and the SOLE survivor was sat in seat 11A. Phil Gibbs wrote: "What a coincidence, but flying still the safest way to travel, after cruising." Simona wrote: "Yours is extra super special freaky.")
Both the second security check and the passport control had no queues. I wandered around the airport, but bought nothing. Near the gate I found a desk with copious power sockets, so I was able to recharge one of my phones and update this blog on my laptop. The departure lounge was packed, so I stayed at my desk until the last minute. Fortunately the plane was not quite full, so I was able to stow both my carry on case and laptop rucksack in the overhead locker.
On the flight we were given a plastic bottle of water to drink and an oat snack bar to eat. I had a great view of the Alps halfway through the journey. I dozed for half an hour, before spending the rest of the flight playing FreeCell and Hearts.
At Heathrow we were docked at Terminal 5A, so we didn't have far to walk and there were no queues at the electronic gates. By the time I had used the loo, my suitcase had arrived. I caught the Piccadilly line to the central bus station, but just missed the eleven o'clock coach departure. I hurried back to Terminal 5 to catch up with it as it called at Terminal 4 en route, but I took too long to get there. I then headed back to the central bus station and awaited the 12:10 departure.
A Poole Flixbus appeared on the display board, so I must investigate this cheap competitor to National Express (NE). In response to this competition NE have reintroduced their direct Gatwick service. However they have altered the BoMoH service, so we had to call at Winchester Park & Ride (P&R) and SoToN University, as well as SoToN Central and Ringwood. I finally got home at 3:45 after another fabulous cruise.
The best highlights had been the new Acropolis Museum in Athens, the Hillside Houses in Ephesus and the great edifices of Istanbul.
1) "Rhodes: the Island of the Knights of St John" 2) "Ephesus: UNESCO World Heritage Site" 3) "Welcome to Turkey!"
207 Cruises 55 Cruise ships (see below) 16 Cruise lines (see below) 7 Night cruise 6 Continental breakfasts 6 Tours escorted 5 Restaurants (MDR, CT, WC, PG, Manfredi's) 4 Singers (???) 4 Band members (Keys, 2 Guitars & Drums) 3 Steak dinners 3 lectures given (see above) 3 Storey atrium 3 Hot tubs 3 Pools 2 Lamb dinners 2 Beef lunches 2 Mixed grill lunches 2 Production shows (ABBA & Beatles) 2 Nightclub singers 2 Panoramic elevators 2 Classical guitarists 2 Cinemas 1 New town (Canakkale) 1 Double state room with picture window 1 Theatre (Star) 1 Nightclub (Torshavn) 1 Viking heritage museum 1 Classical duo 1 Cocktail pianist
Captain Magnus Bergman Cruise Director Jenna Beaudoin Ass. Cruise Director Rick Woska Shorex Manager Yily (pronounced Jilly) Stage Managers Sumeet, Derek, Francis(co), Sabrina & Ravi Resident Historian Charles Armstrong Cultural Lecturer Martin P. Lee from BoMoH
* Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines * Saga Shipping Company * Voyages of Discovery * Seabourn (Carnival) * Princess (Carnival) * Cunard (Carnival) * P&O (Carnival) * Celebrity (RCCL) * Silversea (RCCL) * Oceania (ex NCL) * Regent SS (NCL) * Marella (TUI) * Ambassador * Azamara * Crystal * Viking
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