Cruise BW872
on the Black Watch
from Southampton
to the Canaries
Christmas
2008

Date: Port: Flag: Escort: Comment:
21
Dec
2008
Southampton
England
24
Dec
2008
Lisbon
Portugal
Cascais &
Sintra
26
Dec
2008
Funchal
Madeira
Cabo Girao -
27
Dec
2008
San Sebastian
La Gomera
Tour &
Jardin Tecina
Sangria &
Salad
28
Dec
2008
Las Palmas
Gran Canaria
Las Palmas &
Bandama
-
29
Dec
2008
Arrecife
Lanzarote
- Shuttle bus to
Costa Teguise
30
Dec
2008
Puerto del
Rosario
Fuerteventura
Betancuria &
North
-
31
Dec
2008
Santa Cruz
Tenerife
- Tram ride
to La Laguna
04
Jan
2009
La Coruna
Spain
- -
06
Jan
2009
Southampton
UK
- -
Date: Port: Flag: Escort: Comment:



Loraine, Len, Keith & Martin



Loraine & Keith



Betancuria, Fuerteventura

Betancuria, Fuerteventura



Mount Teide from La Gomera

Mount Teide from La Gomera



Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria



Lanzarote

Lanzarote



Royal Palace at Sintra near Lisbon, Portugal

Royal Palace at Sintra near Lisbon, Portugal



Madeira

Madeira



Tenerife

Tenerife


Here's my report on the cruise:

   Just to let you know that I am back from the Canaries after my cruise on Black Watch. The weather was good except for one cold wet day on Fuerteventura. In Lisbon we were berthed near the Albatros (ex. Royal Viking Sea). I think that the rumours that Fred. Olsen might buy her to join her sister ships Black Watch (ex. Royal Viking Star) and Boudicca (ex. Royal Viking Sky) are unfounded. I was a tour escort at five ports including Fuerteventura for the first time. The New Year's eve fireworks on Tenerife were not a patch on Madeira's.

   I taught line dancing a couple of times and led the evening participation sessions on the Western and Tropical nights. I shared a cabin with Len Pye formerly a night porter at King's College, Cambridge. The dance couple were Loraine Webster and Keith Davey from Leeds.

   The Garden Cafe had half a dozen theme buffets when we were bounced into the main restaurant - lobster and fillet steak here we come! I had a cold for two days so declined to be Santa Claus on Xmas day. I did however operate a spotlight for two evenings. We had an exciting medical evacuation by helicopter off Brittany. One of the pianists, who had already had one heart attack and who smoked, drank and was overweight, had another one!

   Black Watch (BW) is better than her sister ship Boudicca for several reasons:

   However I still prefer the Balmoral & the Braemar!