Back in cold UK

We are back now after another pre 6:00am start and a slightly delayed flight. The taxi was waiting to whisk us back to Croft on a cold and rainy day. Its 20 Deg cooler here than Majorca and certainly feels like it. However it was overcast this morning when we left Palma and was expected to turn wet and cooler this weekend.

Last day in Cala d'Or

Its our last day so we went down to the beach for a quick paddle, we had to dodge a lot of small children. Then a frappe-latte in a beach bar before setting off to find a small hotel near the marina that we stayed in  a few years ago when we hired a car for few days to see this part of the coast.

It is still there, Fowlers Hotel and owned by the same British family. We met the current owner this time, he has been there for 29 years and the business is still doing well with regular guests booking every year. It has not changed, Harrods bar towels and all, a little bit of old England in Majorca.

We decided to have a nice lunch for our last day and Rosemary found a good 3 course lunch menu at Port Petite restaurant over looking the marina. It was really good, only €20 without drinks and very photogenic plates.

We were back in time for some last rays of the sun and a sangria by the pool.

Marina today

Just wandering down to the Marina today, then maybe get the sightseeing train that goes between the various Cala. It will save the effort of walking back up the hill when it warms up later (it's 22 already.)

The Sunseekers in the marina seemed even bigger than last time, one even had a sparkling new Ferrari sports car, UK registered, parked in front of it.
We did catch the last little tourist train before siesta and stopped at La Bodega again for a lazy lunch of 6 montaditos, the tapas on a slice of toast, with a small jug of sangria.
In the afternoon, we chilled out by the outdoor pool again and I spent a few minutes in the jacuzzi until Rosemary messed around with settings.
We have a complimentary dinner in the 'a la carte' restaurant tonite. Its been almost empty every other night so expectations are not high!
The meal was authentic Mallorca, so not to everyone's taste. The starter was a plate of small cold 'cheffy' tapas, very nice. The second course was a warm fishy tapas -  not so nice! Don't think I will try rockfish again and Rosemary isn't so keen on octopus.
Rosemary main course of smoked pork loin was served from a bell jar filled with smoke. My main was a marinated beef steak, both courses were very good.
Puddings were also good on presentation and tasty and my house mojito sorbet had a real kick to it!
So overall not what we expected, but we both  enjoyed a genuine local Majorcan posh meal and it was on the house.

Santanyi market

We were up fairly early to catch the local bus to the street market at Santanyi about 30 mins away on the road to Palma.
It was the usual mix of imported tac and better local artisan stuff. The town itself is a maze of streets around an imposing central church with some nice permanent bars, restaurants and craft shops. We had a coffee and an excellent apple cake in one of them.
As for the busy market Rosemary found a nice necklace she liked and I bought a leather belt, knocked down from 25€ (best price) to 10€ (even better price). We caught the 12:30 bus back thanks to Rosemary navigational skills finding the bus stop.
Back in Cala d'Or we tried the tapas bar recommended by Michael on reception and enjoyed a much better lunch experience. We may even go again before it closes for the season like everything else in this corner of the Island.
After lunch we got in a few rays around the outside pool until the sun went down behind the buildings at 5 o'clock. Another busy day!!!

Cala d'Or

We are up early this morning and leaving the Dream later to go to Cala d'Or on the east coast to extend our holiday until the weekend. Not so much to unwind as to carry on!
We have a room with small balcony at TUI Blue Rocador looking east over the sandy beach at Cala Gran about 100ft below.

The hotel self service restaurant has an extensive range of Mediterranean hot and cold options from suckling pig to vegan salads. We also have one night in the 'a la carte' on our package, so will be spoilt for choice.
Downloaded the bus timetable for the market in Santanyl tomorrow.

Very friendly staff, perhaps because they finish for the season on 31st. The area is typical Majorca resort with high level of German holiday makers and mix of shops to suit. We have established best Tapas bar from reception staff and hope to make up for Barcelona disappointment.

Barcelona for Tapas

We arrived in our rescheduled stop in Barcelona after a slightly bumpy night. It is sunny again, we don't have much planned except a ramble on La Rambla to have some tapas.
We left at 8:00pm for our final cruise destination, Palma, before we continue with our holiday in a hotel in Cala d'Or.

Ajaccio Corsica

We have spent another warm sunny day ashore, this time in Corsica at Ajaccio. This is the birth place of Napoleon Bonapart so there is a bit of a theme going on in town. The town is a working fishing port, ferry terminal, marina and cruise ship destination. Lots of boat trips to see the costal scenery which looks very attractive, but there is not enough time on a short cruise stop. There are mountains all around the picturesque natural  harbour. We browsed the Sunday markets on the quay and in the square. We had enough time for a paddle on the sandy beach, moules frites and a disgustingly calorific crepe, before the 4:30 departure.

As previous TUI cruisers we were  invited to meet the crew this evening for bubbles and nibbles. This is really just an excuse to find who has done the most TUI cruises. The winner with 50, yes 50, was presented with a bottle of bubbly

Our next destination has changed from Palamos to Barcelona because of a potential wind problem getting out of Palamos harbour on Monday evening.

We decided to go and try the hot stone restaurant where you cook your own main course on a hot (460 deg) stone at your table. Rosemary had lamb cutlets and I had beef medallion and lobster tail. Both were very nice.

Civitavecchia for Rome

We are docked in Civi today and there are lots of 10 hour tours to Rome from the ship. Its 90 mins each way on the coach and we have been to Rome before, so plan to spend most of the day on board.
Should be quiet as there are 900 out on ship's tours today.
We walked into Civi along the promenade and back as far as the old pier complex which is now a relic of a bygone age when Civi was the Roman equivalent of Brighton. 

Now it's mostly a port for cruise ships and car ferries and a commuter town for Rome as it also has a good rail connection. There are 4 big English cruise ships including Queen Victoria and Britannia together with two small Windrush sailing cruisers in  today.
I spent the late afternoon with Don McLean and Eva Cassidy in my headphones on the sun deck.

Sorrento and Capri

We took the tender from ship to shore in Sorrento and bought a ticket on the jetfoil to Capri. Just had time for another cappuccino before the 25 minute hop to the spectacular Isle of Capri. We had a look around the harbour area before taking the funicular up to the top of the town. Stunning views all but an afternoon is not enough time to do much. Everywhere was crowded, little busses stuffed with passengers like prison  trucks. We had an early had lunch in a nice looking restaurant perched above the bay below and had the worst pizza and service ever. Must have been bad cos we actually got a discount from an Italian restaurant! We walked down the designer  shopping street with its eye watering  prices. We caught the 3:45 hydrofoil back to Sorrento just in time to get the last tender to Dream. The weather has fine today, warm and sunny and there was a nice sunrise and sunset over the bay as we departed for Rome.

We had a speciality meal in the Mistrals restaurant tonite. Good quality food and attentive service from the young staff. Shame about the Christmas music, but we did get it chsnged!

Sicily, Trapani and Erice

We decided to do a half day ship's tour to Erice which involved a short drive through the port of Trapani to the cable car terminal. The cable car whisks you up, 8 at time, the 2000 feet to the ancient city that looks down on Trapani. It was rather cloudy but warm and our tour guide said we were lucky because Erice is often very foggy.

After looking around the duomo we went to the parapet to look down over Trapani and our luck ran out. A heavy mist rolled in and within minutes the coast had disappeared, followed half an hour later by rain and thunder. We managed to see some of the Venus castle and have our first Italian Cappuccino and cake before descending the cable car and making our way back to the ship for a late lunch.

It was too wet to spend anytime back in town especially as we leave at 5:00pm. Not an ideal start to the cruise and not the first time we have experienced Sicily in the rain.

Sea Dream

Today is the only sea day and it's almost a flat calm. It started dull but brightened up a bit later. Its the captain's gala dinner tonight. Captain Watkins started his career as an HGV driver, then transferred to tankers and cargo vessels where he gained his master's qualification, before joining Thompson Cruises.
Don't think he would go down well in the Cunard fleet.
I did the wine tasting course this afternoon and we managed to fit in afternoon tea before an afternoon doze.
We crept in late to see the Captain introduce his staff at the Gala night, thereby avoiding the photographers queue. Btw The Captain actually looks and speaks like an HGV driver!

The downside to creeping in late is we ended up in the overflow part of the Orion restaurant with a few other late arrivals. It was very lacking in gala atmosphere and everything else!

Dream Cruise

We got up at 4:45am (almost unprecedented) to get a 7:50 TUI flight to Palma to join the Marella Dream, which we did by 2:00pm.

The Dream is an older style cruise ship built in 1986, it used to be the HAL Westerdam, so it is small in comparison to modern cruisers. However after a short look around we like it. Its obviously dated, doesn't  have a big choice of restaurants, but it has many cosy bars and lounges. Its clean and the staff are friendly.
We bought a 5 bottle wine package which will keep us going all week and we will probably go for the 'trio of speciality restaurants' package, both of which are being promoted at reduced prices.

There appears to be plenty of outside sun loungers which are being well used today as we do not depart until 10:00 pm. It's nice and warm but there are a few dark clouds in the east.
The outside cabin is very big, no balcony of course but a decent window and a bath!

Now it's to catch up with some ZZZZs before dinner.

Marella Cruise

We booked a holiday on the Marella Dream, previously known as Thompson cruises, for a 7 night cruise from Palma Majorca around the western Mediterranean. 

After the cruise we will stay on the island for another 4 days in Cala d'Or before flying back on 27th October.

Back Home Epliblog

Sitting here at home, looking out at the rain,  I can't believe how lucky we were with the weather in Norway and Shetland. Apart from the first day and a half at sea when it was wet most of the time, we have hardly seen a cloud let alone a spot of rain. The temperature has been more Mediterranean than Scandinavian and we needed sun tan lotion everyday.

The downside, if you can call it that, is we have been up and about taking in the wonderful scenery from dusk till dawn. As that means about 18hrs a day we are all knackered and need a relaxing holiday. Rosemary Fitbit shows she has walked 32 miles and mine shows average of 12,400 steps per day for the last 10 days.

I have until it stops raining to tweak this blog and make an album from the 430 photos so I don't forget our 50th wedding anniversary. Now there is grass to mow and hedge to cut when the sun comes out again. At least that will help shift the pounds we have put on from all the excellent food and wine we have enjoyed.
Big thank you to Mark and Katie and Christina for organising the golden bunting and attire for our big day and contributing to a memorable holiday.

Flying Home

The surprise hamper.

We had the full Irish breakfast in the hotel before taking a taxi to the airport. We all just managed to get in with some luggage on our knees.

Our Ryanair flight was delayed while it was cleaned and Marks flight, which was later than ours in any case, was delayed even longer.

When we arrived home just before 5 o'clock we were greeted by Jacky with a lovely 'thank you' gift from Mark and Katie and Christina, a Fortnum and Masons hamper.

Dublin City

Katie was the first to leave the ship as she was flying straight back to Gatwick. We disembarked Celebrity Eclipse at 9:20 and took the shuttle bus to Merrion Square, then walked to our overnight hotel, The Schoolhouse, which is by the canal. Its still sunny and warm so we are sitting on the patio wondering what to do next, if anything! It really is a nice little hotel in a restored school house.
We eventually decided to take a walk back to Temple Bar via Trinity College and the local canal for some site seeing, lunch and a glass of Guinness. On the return journey Rosemary and Christina bought some quality souvenirs from the Kilkenny House shop.
A good way to round off the  holiday, all we need now is to catch up on some sleep before we fly home tomorrow.

Over the sea to Skye and Dublin

Mark doing his bit of glass blowing

We awoke to another luvely day and we are at sea all day. Breakfast time we were passing a few miles off Skye. We were on Skye this time last year in our motorhome.
Calm seas but a little cloudy and breezy all the way down the Scottish coast. We had breakfast in main restaurant, as Mark and Katie like to start  their day with the Eggs Benedict. We watched Mark do some glass blowing on the top deck, which resulted in having a nice chunky vase to take home. After a hectic few days we all just chilled on balconies, around pools or in our rooms, meeting occasionally for coffees. Only one more dinner and sleep. We are on the 9:20 shuttle to Dublin city, Katie flies home tomorrow.

Shetland Isles

Mark trying to spot the Eclipse

A smooth crossing from Norway to Shetland and tendering to shore using the lifeboats in Lerwick, was the order of the day. We ignored the advice to wear warm clothes and we soon realised our mistake as there was a cold breeze on shore. Fortunately Mark was on a later tender and was able to bring us some fleeces. However the sun came out by midday and it was soon warm again. We walked around to Knab Head, wild life spotting and saw seals just off shore and masses of wild flowers. Back in Lerwick we visited the Charlotte Fort, not a lot to see, then shared some great takeaway fish and chips from Harrys chippy.
We were back on board via tender in time for a doze on the sunny balcony before cocktails and dinner in Sonata after a really nice day on shore.
I booked a hotel in Dublin with TripAdvisor for our final night using the Shetlands 4G before we left Lerwick.

Alesund Wedding Anniversary

The fishermans wife statue

Today is the day of our 50th wedding anniversary so the children arranged for the stateroom to be decorated with balloons and banners. We opened all the cards whilst sipping champagne mimosas and nibbling chocolate  coated strawberries for breakfast. We had cruised the short distance to Alesund for a day in the coastal town that was destroyed by fire in 1903 and rebuilt with German financial support. We walked ashore around the harbour area, browsed the shops and had a nice el fresco sea food lunch (except Mark had a pizza). Its amazing hot weather again, it could be a Mediterranean cruise.

We were treated to another gourmet dinner on board later, this time in the French style Murano restaurant. Needless to say a birthday cake also appeared with a moving speech by the maitre de. We were in time for most of the resident theatre show, Amade, followed by an Eva Cassidy tribute in the show lounge from the talented Passion Duo, then an early night.

Geiranger

The seven sisters from our balcony

We all woke up late, after 9am,  with low cloud and mist which soon cleared as we cruised further into the fjord. Now it's another warm and clear day with the waterfalls and patches of snow sparkling on the rocky sides of the fjord. We are due to dock at 13:00 so another 2 hours of scenery to go.
The Eclipse did its 360 turn between the famous seven sisters and suitor waterfalls, to gasps from our American friends. We walked off the ship and then climbed the 400+ steps beside the waterfall to the Norwegian fjord centre. We caught the HOHO bus with Katie to the Flyfalsjuvet view point high above the fjord for a different photo opportunity while Mark and Christina walked back down to the shore. We found them having a cool beer in a bar and I joined them while Katie and Rosemary did a bit of souvenir hunting.
Back on board for coffees and the sail away into the sunset and another perfect day in Norway.

Before we left I went back on shore and downloaded 4 days of the Daily Mail for Rosemary and backed up some of my photos using the Tourist bureau WiFi. Dinner was in the Sonata restaurant again, the food is excellent.

Skjolden

The mountains beyond Skjolden. 

Skjolden is at the end of the longest and deepest fjord in Europe and has a population of just 200 people. We were all awake before sunrise to take in the scenic cruise, some more awake than others. Spectacular, perfect weather again for a few hours strolling around the small Norwegian village. Walked beside the river to the lama farm and had a drink by the water watching the RIB tours come back. After lunch back on the ship we all caught up with some lost sleep ready for dinner at Qsine later.

We had an invitation to go to the helipad at the bow for the evening sailaway with the officers and a glass or two of champagne and a unique view of the ffjord. We had a good view of the high Feigefossen waterfall from the bow as we sailed by. 

The meal in Qsine was different with some very tasty fish fishes but there is just too much choice and we ordered too much food. Rosemary had to eat 6 french trimmed lamb chops! They were delicious apparently. Then it was back to our cabin for the reverse cruise to Geiranger over night.

Norway - no way.

Oh no, not the ships photographer again!!!

Bergen

It looks like the ship will hit the bridge!

We were not due in port until 13:00 so a lie in with coffee while Eclipse makes its way to the Norwegian coast. It's a much brighter day with 20deg forecast in Bergen and the clouds thinning as we approached the coast. Access to port is under the 62 metre high Askoy bridge which Eclipse just manages to sneak under with a clearance of only about 4 feet (according to Google).
When we docked the weather in Bergen was warm and sunny. We had to queue for about 40mins to go up Mt Floyen on the funicular for the views and take photos of the goats.
I had an expensive ice cream at the cafe and then it was back down to the fish market. Mark and Christina walked down different ways and Mark overshot the rendezvous point.  We went back to the fish market and had a delicious sharing platter of fresh shell fish including king crab and lobster with a cod and salmon kebab.

Sea Day

Looking down to central lobby

It rained all day for our first day heading north between the inner and outer Hebrides so not a lot of Scottish scenery. But time enough to explore the inside of the Eclipse. I listened to a Norway presentation while Katie, Mark and Rosemary did the kitchen tour and Christina slept in. We all met up for a late lunch in the Seaview cafe and then an exciting  afternoon Bingo session which prepared us for a nap before dinner. It was a smart dress day so we decided to rendezvous in the Sky lounge on deck 15 for cocktails suitably smart while Rosemary had WhatsApp conversation with Jen. The 8:30 fixed dining seemed to work well for us last night, we had a six person table 264 and the waiters were good fun, so we decided to stick to it rather than go 'anytime' dining.

We managed to catch a glimpse of Skye and Cape Wrath in  the murk before dinner. Another fine meal in Moonlight Sonata, rack of lamb and duck were both excellent and we rounded off the day in the Martini bar.

Departure Day

We were all relying on Ryanair

Our taxi arrived 30 mins early so we were at Birmingham in plenty of time for our flight to Dublin. Mark and Christina were first to arrive from Luton at 8:15, we arrived at 9:30 and Katie was last having been delayed till 12:30. Well done Ryanair. We had breakfast while we waited for Katie and then we went directly to the port in a people carrier.
We were checked in straight away and sitting in Café al Bacio drinking our first caramel machiatto etc. in next to no time. Our state rooms were ready so we were soon able to dump all our stuff and go to the cafe for lunch.

We are all next to each other in sunset balcony cabins (state rooms) 6307,6309 and 6311. We had a welcome rest before the ship left at 5:00pm. We had a fixed dining table reserved for 8:30 dinner which we decided to use instead of flexible dining for the rest of the week. It gave us time to see the first show, Rock City.  By now it was dull and wet and we retired early to catch up with our 18 hour day.

10 more sleeps

Yes, only 10 days before we embark in Dublin on the Celebrity Eclipse to cruise the Norwegian Fjords.