Home again

Its all over in next to no time. We had a knock on our door from  Mark at 6:30 to go for breakfast. It should have been 7:30 but Marks phone was stuck on European time.

We went down for a proper sit down breakfast in the restaurant which helps to kill a little time, as we have to vacate the room by 8:00am. We were given different disembarcation times and in the confusion Christina left the ship before us. But it all worked out in the end and we were whisked back to the park and cruise in the mini coach, to drive home. After a short coffee stop on the M40 we were back in Croft by about 1:00pm. Katie took the train and was first home closely followed by Mark and Christina.

We all had a great cruise and enjoyed some warm and sunny weather. It was a good introduction to cruisng for Gill on here first cruise.

Bruges and Chocolates

We sailed back up the Amsterdam canal during dinner, passing a party Pirate boat on the way. We arrived in the port of Zeebrugge on a warm sunny Sunday morning. I had booked a shuttle to Bruges with Viator to take us all on the 30min coach journey to the World heritage site of cobbled streets and canals that is Bruges. 

Our visit started with a walk from the bus parking area at Bargeplein through the attractive park with its lake and picturesque bridges, via the chocolate shop lined streets to the central square. As it was a Whit Sunday the town was busier than usual with a lot of locals enjoying a day out.

Everyone found some chocolates to buy and we also stopped for compulsory Belgian waffles and Fries with ketchup and mayo, before taking the shuttle back in time for an afternoon cocktail. 

We went to see the lively Celebrity Life show, with their singers and acrobats, before our final dinner in The Grand Cuvee restaurant and thrn packing. 

Amsterdam flower market

We had breakfast in the Seaview buffet restaurant as usual then we split into 3 groups to do Amsterdam. I stayed on board to rest my knee, the others spent a few hours in the city, while I am doing this blog.

It was very quiet on board and there was plenty of room in the pool and jakuzzis while most of the cruisers were off in Amsterdam. 

The rest of our party took the no 26 tram to the flower market which is set up along the canal to do a bit of shopping. Rosemary bought an Amarylis bulb and a white Agapanthus amongst other things. Gill and Katie bought some Holland memorabilia and after a coffee stop in a sunny side street, then two tram rides, were back on board in plenty of time for the 6:00pm departure. 

We were all  reunited in Cafe Bacio then had enough time to enjoy a bit more relaxing sun and yet another cocktail in the sunset bar before getting changed into our the smart chic evening attire for dinner.

Amsterdam 'river' cruise

After a lazy start it wasn't long before we were approaching the port of Amsterdam which is entered via a sea lock that looks far too narrow for our ship. 

It just fits with 120cm each side and then we enjoyed a scenic 3 hour canal cruise, past the industial area right into the heart of Amsterdam. The ship moored just past the central railway station and beside the Movenpick hotel which was dwarfed by our cruise liner.

We disembarked at about 6:30, walked through the station precinct and took a tram from outside the station, to somewhere in the city, to a bar for some local Amsterdam beer tasting with chips and mayo. 

Then two trams back to the cruise terminal as the sun was setting at 9:45. We missed our dinner in The Grand Cuvee but just made it back in time to grab some more food, including lettuce, then rounded off the day with a liquor coffee in Cafe Bacio.

Southampton mini cruise

Today we are off on a 4 night mini cruise to Amsterdam and Bruges. I drove down to the port with Gill and Rosemary and we met Mark, Christina and Katie at the park and cruise to board the Celebrity Silhouette for 4:00 pm departure.

We are all on board and Rosemary is taking Gill on a ships tour before we start eating! We are on a late dinner so we went to Celebrity Showtime in the theatre, which was Leanne Mitchell a 2003 winner of the Voice TV show.