Adonia cruise - part 4

Thursday 27 August - Portimao

Once again we watched the sail in from deck 10 and the Conservatory. It was going to be another beautiful hot and sunny day as we passed the tourist beaches of Praia de Rocha to our berth.

 

After breakfast we got the free shuttlebus into the town. This was our second visit to Portimao so we thought we see the town itself as last time we went on a tour to Sagres and Lagos. Portimao is a typical Portuguese small town with grand churches, big squares with modern fountains and the ubiquitous black and white marble set paving.

 

There was a nice seafront promenade with stalls selling boat trips etc. but we didn't really have the time for those. We were amused by a small park I which all the trees had been clothed in crochet - after enquiring at the tourist information we were told a local textile group had produced the outdoor exhibition to welcome spring. After a wander and explore round the shopping streets (and a friendly chat with an attentive cat) we walked back to the largest square. Here I had a huge cake (I thought it was two when I asked for one but got given the lot!!) and drink outside while Caryll tried to get free Wi-Fi.

 

After sitting in the glorious sun some more, I returned to the ship leaving Caryll to catch the bus to Praia da Rocha and have a long walk back to the ship. Adonia always looks like she is parked in a field at Portimao!

 

Meanwhile I had a delicious “fisherman’s sandwich” at the Grill and sunbathed until her return. We were on deck for a fabulous sailaway past the coastal resorts and stunning beaches lined with people waving at us.

 

Then it was time for a shower and change for a semi-formal night. At the quiz we drank our prize wine from the night before but lost the quiz!

 

Adonia cruise - part 3

Wednesday 27 August - Lisbon

We got up early to watch the sail in on deck with the Housekeeping Manager. Lisbon is always a lovely arrival up the River Tagus past the Belem Tower, the Monument of the Discoveries and under the 25 April Bridge. Independence of the Seas followed us in but as we sailed to the cruise ship berth near the Alfama District, she turned to port immediately after the bridge and berthed at the commercial dock - the disadvantages of a big ship!

 

We went down one deck for breakfast out on the aft deck behind the Conservatory, where Captain Box (who invariably eats his breakfast there) popped over to say hello.

After clearance, we took the shuttle in to Figuera Square and then the local bus to St George’s Castle, somewhere neither of us had visited before on our numerous calls at Lisbon. After a short but steep climb to the ticket office, we were in the main grounds and spent a lovely couple of hours or so wandering round the castle site.  The views from the top were spectacular!

 

Caryll climbed up to the ramparts while I stayed down to photograph some birds of prey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was time for one of Lisbon's famous custard tarts and a beer at the Castle café. Wandering round the feet of diners was a peahen and her three chicks, while other peacocks flew into the trees over our heads! I gave her a crumb or two by hand. 

 

Then we caught the bus back down and walked the main shopping streets. One shop was offering port tasting - too good to refuse and probably my only chance to taste old vintage - absolutely delicious! I bought a half bottle and some bargain-priced perfect-colour red/cream fabric to make a tablecloth before, as usual, leaving Caryll ashore for a little longer as I boarded the shuttle bus back to the ship. A point about these - they used to be free for everyone but now P&O have brought in a two-tier fare structure, everyone's cruise card is scanned before boarding and those on Saver Fares are charged per journey. I then sat on deck till Caryll joined me for sailaway. As Adonia drew away from the quayside we got a very good view of two classic liners, laid up at Lisbon. The Porto and the Lisboa both belong to Portuscale Cruises, http://www.portuscalecruises.pt/ . In fact they also own the Funchal that we are sailing on next month, chartered to Cruise & Maritime Voyages. It was sad to see such venerable ships out of use but hopefully a charterer will come along. The fourth ship in their fleet, Azores, is also going to CMV next year. 

 

 

 

As we sailed Adonia was surrounded by huge jellyfish - the classic Portuguese Man o'war??

Casual night, so dinner and quiz - which we won!

Adonia cruise - part 2

Monday 25 August

A bumpy night but otherwise fine. We decided on breakfast in the main dining room however as I wasn’t keen on trying to carry trays across the Conservatory.  the one downside of a small ship (well smaller - 30,000 grt) is if you hit rough seas!). She is one of the well-known R ships, most of which went to Azamara and Oceania, although Princess have one too. 

 

After breakfast  we went to the travelling alone meet – to find just two others there, albeit male!  Went back down to Andersons for our pre-arranged meet up with friends from a cruise forum. It was nice to put names to faces and we chatted for nearly an hour before lunch beckoned. On the way I stocked up on perfume (Aromatics Elixir) as it was a very good price, before popping down to Deck 4 to see if my friend - the Housekeeping Manager, was available as I hadn't spotted him yet.  Had big hug and kiss and a chat with him. He told me of plans to re-refurnish Adonia at her refit in 2016. After lunch in the restaurant I had a nap  in cabin. The first day or nearly every cruise I have done, I am usually tired  - first day lethargy! After changing for dinner we had drinks in Anderson’s and then to dinner, where 2 were missing - due to the bouncy seas - I wish someone would fill in those potholes on the way to the Med! ! Syndicate Quiz and then bed. 

 

 

Tuesday 26 August

Still bumpy and the top decks still closed as windy so no quoits for my friend. Not making any difference to me as shuffleboard courts closed for refurbishment. – grrrrr! Solos meet after breakfast followed by theme quiz (16/20). Bought a watch  - why can't I resist those sales tables?? Then met up with my friend and we went to the Conservatory for lunch followed by a doze and read in the sun! Fortunately on Adonia, the pool deck is very sheltered and good in most weather.

 

Showered and washed hair for Captain’s Welcome Aboard party. Captain David Box was very welcoming as I thanked him for his contributions to our last book. Chatted to friends and managed three drinks before dinner and the quiz.

Adonia cruise - 24th August 2014

I was up very early to see Adonia sail In at dawn from her previous cruise. She followed Queen Victoria which was shrouded in swirling mist as the day woke up. Arcadia was last in of the three that day.

 

Our cab picked us up at 11am and we were soon at the Mayflower Terminal. It was a quick check-in and after a half-hour wait (during which time an online cruise forum friend came over to say hello) we were able to board from the Promenade Deck. Entertainment officer Mel was standing at the end and said – there’s a familiar face – when she saw me. 

We headed for the Curzon Lounge for our Baltic embarkation lunch and two glasses of champagne. There was an announcement that our cabin was ready at 1pm so we went off to dump our hand luggage only to find all our luggage had been delivered so we unpacked and got straight before setting off to familiarise ourselves with Adonia again.

We had Cabin C36 – an obstructed view on the port side, but we had carefully chosen one with a view between the two tenders so very good indeed. 

 

Storage is nearly all cupboards on Adonia- not the easiest to use, and the bathrooms are minute, but fine for 12 days! Muster drill was at 3.30pm after which we went out on deck for the sailaway.  Captain David Box felt we all needed a discussion about the weather!! Obviously it was not going to be good news – a bumpy first two days. We were going to sail out through the Western Solent so we were out on deck for sailaway - after all we had three other ships to pass so there was lots of whistle-blowing to each other. 

 

 

After a while we were getting cold so went to the Crows Nest for a sherry, only going out again as Adonia neared the Needles. 

Hurst Castle Spit

 

After lots of photos we showered and changed for dinner – table 10 for 8 – three couples and us but one of our best tables and all good fun.  Went to the show and then bed.

Adonia - and a pre-cruise maritime fix

23 August 2014 saw me driving down to my friend at Hythe as we were due to board Adonia the following day for an interesting 12 night cruise to the Iberian peninsular and Morocco. The highlight of this cruise was going to be sailing up the river Guadalquivir to Seville!

Since it was a Bank Holiday weekend I thought it better to go the day before and in any event - the Maritime Festival was on in Southampton.

I reached my friend's house around midday so after a snack we set off on the Hythe Ferry to Town Quay and walked round to the Ocean Terminal where the festival was being held. It was a lovely hot and sunny day and as we sailed over, the ferry paused mid-channel to let the RedJet ferry disembark at the exact moment a flypast came overhead of a Spitfire and another WW2 aircraft - perfect!

 

The events and exhibits were a bit mixed but it was good to see the work being down to restore some of the city's old trams and to be able to walk on board Shieldhall and the steam tug Challenge before a welcome ice-cream and a wander back to Town Quay to see Aurora and Independence of the Seas sail and the University ship Explorer move berth.

 

Afterwards we had a long wait for the ferry as it was full of football supporters! Then an early night ready for the morrow.

A glut .....

Well, from four months of no cruising, I now seem to have a glut! After booking Braemar, I was still looking for a short break to use up a week's worth of leave I have this year. The perfect cruise popped up in the form of Funchal. No- not the capital of Madeira, but the classic cruise liner now owned by Portuscale Cruises, but being chartered to Cruise & Maritime to replace Discovery. It is a nine-day cruise to the Canaries and Madeira, flying home from Lisbon - hmmm - my first fly cruise. Portuscale have been operating her now for a few months, since she was completely refurbished and brought up to current SOLAS regulations. Some friends week on a week's cruise to and from Falmouth but I haven't yet had any feedback. I do like to try these classic ships before they all end up as razorblades. She is small - only 10,000 grt (and we have to cross the Bay of Biscay in late October!) but built in the early 1960s as a liner plying the route between Lisbon and the Azores so should be a good seagoing vessel.

Lisboa and Porto

We saw her sister ships in Lisbon recently - Lisboa and Porto were laid up. The Azores, another of the fleet, is also being chartered by CMV and I will try and book a visit on her early next year - so lots to look forward to shipwise.

I see no ships!

It's been a bit of a long break between ships recently. This in the main is because I had an arthroscopy on my right knee so have been unable  to drive and been at home recuperating. Whether it will put off needing a replacement long I don't know - yet!

The problem however, being at home with only the internet for company on some days is that I started browsing cruise sites - and the inevitable happened of course - I booked a cruise!

This time I am going on Fred Olsen's Braemar. I am not really a fan of Fred Olsen, but having said that my only cruise with them was on Balmoral to the Baltic back in 2010.

Braemar at Lisbon

I had a great time and the food was delicious but I did not take to the ship. This is not at all because she is old - as readers should know I love the classic ships, but somehow I felt Balmoral was a bit depressing. In part this may be because there were a very high percentage of virgin cruisers on board. This was the only cruise where I got dressed for formal night, walked into the public rooms, and went back to the cabin to change as I felt so overdressed! 

Balmoral sun deck

In my opinion, the main lounge - the Morning Light Bar, was very boring and plain, in contrast to the atrium which was all mirror glass. Also, the upper decks were a bit messy and the loungers were the horrible metal-framed ones with plastic tape wrapped round them.  A lot of people I spoke to them said how much they preferred Braemar so I am hoping for better things.

Balmoral atrium

Balmoral atrium

Balmoral Morning Light pub

The main advantage of this new cruise is that it is a three night short break so I don't need any annual leave from work. The clincher was a very good single price, especially for a twin cabin..

Anyway, this cruise drought will (God willing) be broken in four weeks time with Adonia to Portugal, Spain and Morocco so lots to look forward to.