Homeward bound

This was our first cruise, and we shall be cruising again, most definitely.  On this seven day holiday we had four full days on land.  The first day really only started half way through the day.  We had two further full days on board.  The first few hours we spent walking around and getting a feel for where everything was.  The day travelling there and the day travelling back were packed with plenty of entertainment, as well as opportunities to sit and read and knit on our balcony!

We went to ballroom dancing lessons and also watched a cookery demonstration.

The shows were magnificent, with one every other night alternating with comedians and singers including Clem Curtis.  The theatre was so comfortable with plenty of leg room.  During the day there were all sorts of activities too.  Each evening we had the 'Horizon' delivered to our cabin, listing all the activities for the following 24 hours... it took us a couple of days to get into the habit of looking through this carefully and planning our day around 'not to be missed' items. 

I joined a table tennis tournament.....

There was dancing, from disco to ballroom in different venues all going on at the same time.  One bar we came across on the stern had lovely music on a grand piano.  I thought it would be worth going on a cruise for the entertainment and dining alone!  Each evening we had a wonderful selection, with starter, soup, main, dessert, coffee and varying hand made petit fours/chocolates/sweetmeats.  We had wonderful choices ranging from half lobsters to steak done just as one likes it.  The décor and the standard of cleanliness was top-notch in all areas.

For lunch and breakfast and tea we had a range of options...except we were bared from Noddy's tea party as we did not have a child to accompany us.  Just the once we went for the formal afternoon tea.....wonderful.  Such wonderful sandwiches, pastries, cakes, scones, tea etc, all beautifully served.The age range was surprising.  We had expected many older people, but this cruise had many young families, people in their twenties, thirties and older.  We spoke with many people.  Many of the young set had been on cruises with their parents when they were younger, and just loved it so much that they continue.  They certainly dressed up for the occasion and from the look of some who turned up for self service breakfast as we were having lunch, must have been partying nearly all night!  It was very quiet in our cabin area...with even no engine noise..only the coat hangers sliding along one night when we were in the North Sea!

One evening we got back to find that our valet had left new extra towels along with the night time chocolates!

Stravanger

Although the weather had changed from bright blue skies to misty grey with light drizzle, we had a wonderful time in Stravanger.  There is so much in the town of interest. 

The first part we hit on disembarkation was Old Stravanger, very neat, beautifully kept traditional 18th century wooden buildings lined the narrow cobbled streets.  This cannon was within a few metres of our quay.  Up a little steep road, the houses had pretty gardens, and planters outside the front doors.

 

This little street with pretty gardens had two liners overlooking the precision clipped espalier fruit trees.

 

As we wandered round the town we came across some delightful street scenes and liked the bronze statues.

 

 

 

 

This one with the little boy and ducks was close by the Breiavatnet, a lake in the centre of the town which was surrounded by smart houses, and which had a large fountain.

 

 

Even though we could have gone back to the ship sooner, we decided to wander round the newer part of the town, still with some old buildings. 

 



 
When I saw a couple of people enter this pretty old house, I walked close to the window and realising that it was had people sitting inside, we stepped into this old merchant's house, and enjoyed a drink and a local pastry, made of sweet dough with a custard flavoured with cardamom and topped with coconut icing.

 

Not all the buildings are white, down a few roads, we found some very bright colours!

 

 

We paid our money and joined the visit to the Cathedral of St Swithun.  There was so much to admire in the building, wonderful stone work and carvings

 



 

as well as a pulpit and and five epitaphs of which this is just one.

 

 

The pulpit depicts the story of the bible from Adam and Eve at the foot of the stairs  with the triumphant Christ crowning the top of the canopy.

 

 

These were executed in the 17th century by craftsmen from Great Britain, with Andrew Smith the wood carver who came from Scotland.

 

There was a little time left for looking around the shops and admiring handicrafts....

 

 

 

We could have visited a number of museums and other interesting places, but left these for next time!

 

This was our last stop and thereafter we were homeward bound.



First Cruise

We spent a week away on our first Cruise on board the Ventura.  Its not the first time I've been on a long sea journey, as I travelled with my family on the Union Castle ships from Mauritius via South Africa  to the UK, a couple of times before the BOAC flights started in the early 1960's, so thereafter the journeys were made by plane .

Our car journey went smoothly, and we were truly impressed by the car parking arrangements.  As we came to a halt just outside the embarkation point, we were met by the car parking company, driver and checker, and a porter appeared and all our luggage was taken away.  Twenty minutes later we were on board!  As our cases would not be at our room for an hour or so, we went exploring.  We went and had a look at the swimming pools, both inside and outside.

By the time we had found our accommodation for the journey, our cases were by our door, and after unpacking, we make ourselves a coffee.

We were delighted by the spaciousness of our suite, which had a large living room as well as a balcony, and we loved the flowers, chocolates and champagne too.

We sat on our balcony as we left Southampton, and waved as we overtook Queen Mary as we sailed between the mainland and the Isle of Wight.

After a wonderful nights rest, no noise of any engines, no fumes, and very little motion, we spent the day exploring the ship, and getting used to what was going on in different areas.  We also got ready for our first formal evening.  Here I am in my white lace dress with hand knitted shawl.  I ended up wearing the wrong dress to the wrong evening!  We were to have two formal nights, and later that week we had our black and white theme, but I was not the only one not in white on the second evening, and Mr S said I looked lovely anyway.

We had elected for 'freedom' dining, which meant we turned up to our restaurant when it suited us.  If we wanted a table to ourselves and had to wait, we were given a bleeper, and after a little while at a cabaret, our bleeper let us know that we could go into dinner.  Otherwise we accepted to share and met some great fellow diners, each time sitting with different people.

The staff were very courteous, efficient and seemed to read our minds as to what would please us.  The meals were better than I could have hoped for, and the entertainment was better than most I have enjoyed during my whole life.  Our cabin was 'seen' to several times a day, and although we could have had a full choice of meals brought to our room, we elected to 'walk out'.  Each evening we went to the theatre, as well as some dancing and cabaret...we were really spoilt.