Day minus 4 - at Home

Preparations well under way, clothes from the last cruise all washed and ironed.  Everything else unpacked and left handy to repack.  

Latest update from Princess let us know we have been upgraded to an even nicer stateroom, pretty sure that’s a first, only downside is it’s one more deck to climb up to get the early morning drinks!

Day 13 - Southampton

23rd August 2019

Home again, early arrival, short delay whilst the offloading of luggage held up proceedings then ashore to collect the car and get going.

Weather still really nice, could have done with a bit more of this weather earlier in the cruise even though generally it’s not been bad at all.

Day 12 - at Sea

22nd August 2019

Today the weather continues warm and sunny.  Slowly heading back towards Southampton along the south coast, great views of The Lizard and Bolt Head during the day.

Not much going on today again except we had to take time out to pack our bags, never a favourite task.

Dinner this evening at the alternative dining option, Smokehouse, that’s US style food, excellent.

Day 11 - St Peter Port, Guernsey

21st August 2019

Saint Peter Port is the capital of Guernsey as well as the main port.  The "port" distinguishes this parish from Saint Pierre Du Bois.

Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel near the French coast, and is a self-governing British Crown dependency. It's known for beach resorts like Cobo Bay and the scenery of its coastal cliffs. Castle Cornet, a 13th-century harbour fortification in the capital of St. Peter Port, now contains history and military museums. Hauteville House is the lavish former home of French writer, Victor Hugo.

Today it’s a day anchored off Guernsey, so it’s tender operations, usual queues.

The first day of what looks like really nice weather.  Scattered clouds light airs and lots of sun.  Too good to miss so decided not to go ashore and spent the day on deck, apart from quick visits to the trivia, a win at cryptic corner, one of very few on this trip.  Lunch of hotdogs, on deck in the sun.

Dinner for one in the main restaurant, lobster tail today, dinner for one not in the main restaurant, oriental in the buffet.

Later it’s cocktails with the Captain (and a couple of hundred others), no speeches, just time for a nice chat.

Sailaway followed by an overnight trip heading west again to make a loop around the Scilly Isles.  Seems to be just a long diversion to fill time.

Day 10 - at Sea

20th August 2019

Today heading south through the Irish Sea and across the English Channel.

A day at sea, usual time spent at trivia, eating and busy doing nothing finding lots of things not to do.  

The evening entertainment in the theatre was a group “The New Amen Corner” with a show playing and singing music from the sixties.

Day 9 - Liverpool

19th August 2019

Liverpool is a maritime city in northwest England, where the River Mersey meets the Irish Sea. A key trade and migration port from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, it's also, famously, the hometown of The Beatles. Ferries cruise the waterfront, where the iconic mercantile buildings known as the "Three Graces" – Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building – stand on the Pier Head.

Ferry cross the Mersey

This morning just rolling up the Mersey into Liverpool.  Berthed quite close to all the riverfront attractions of the city.  Everything pretty much in walking distance.

Our choice for today is to take the “Ferry cross the Mersey” (for those of a certain age this will have a musical accompaniment).

After an easy start and morning coffee we went ashore.  Another advantage of taking our time is that the tide had come in far enough for the ramp from the floating dock to the mainland has reduced to an easy incline.  On a previous visit we had an almost insurmountable slope to get ashore.

First visit to get tickets for the ferry roundtrip cruise.  Then after a short wait boarded the ferry, found very nice seats at the front to enjoy the view.  It seemed a huge queue for the ferry but once on board not at all crowded.  And off we go, a downriver loop first to Seacombe Terminal, a partial change in the passengers and then off upriver to Woodside Terminal, similar change then off again to loop around back to Pier Head where we started.  About an hour on the river to make the round trip.  Rather windy but nice and sunny, the tidal flow quite amazingly strong, no wonder the tidal range is so big and all the main dock areas along the river are behind lock gates.  Excellent views of the river front and longer views back to the city’s two cathedrals.

Followed this with a walk along the riverfront past the “three graces” (the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and The Port of Liverpool Building) to the Albert Dock.  

This like so much along the river redeveloped, old warehouses made into apartments, restaurants and shopping.  Also there is much new development to complement the conversions including new offices, hotels, etc. and tourist attractions including the Liverpool Museum, the Tate Gallery and  many references to The Beatles.

Back to Victoria for the rest of the day and evening.  Quite a late sailaway with quite a turnout of spectators watching from the city.

Day 8 - Belfast

18th August 2019

Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital. It was the birthplace of the RMS Titanic, which famously struck an iceberg and sunk in 1912. This legacy is recalled in the renovated dockyards' Titanic Quarter, which includes the Titanic Belfast, an aluminium-clad museum reminiscent of a ship’s hull, as well as shipbuilder Harland & Wolff’s Drawing Offices and the Titanic Slipways, which now host open-air concerts.

A late start for us today, lucky our tour is not until this afternoon.

Even less achieved this morning than usual.  Then off ashore to meet our tour group for a highlights tour of Belfast followed by a visit to the “Titanic Belfast” museum.  We had an excellent guide, a local chap who had grown up in “the troubles” and appreciated the peace since the agreed end.  There seems to now be an agreed timetable for even the peace wall to be removed, let’s hope  for the best.  Much redevelopment of housing and new hotels are a good sign.

Titanic Memorial 

City Hall

City Hall Interior

Peace Wall

The Titanic museum is quite impressive, if a little confusing in it’s layout, and I might say a little disappointing, but still not to be missed.

Titanic Museum

Sampson or Goliath

Back to Victoria in time to go to the main restaurant for dinner followed by the show in the Theatre “One Way or Another” with the Cunard singers and dancers.

Day 7 - Glasgow from Greenock

17th August 2019

Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland's western Lowlands. It's famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city's 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it's a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene.

The berth for Glasgow is at Greenock.  Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in Scotland and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It forms part of a contiguous urban area with Gourock to the west and Port Glasgow to the east.

Today berthed in Greenock, not too far from Glasgow.  However just to be contrary we stayed on board for the morning, usual pastimes (still very short of trivia wins, one or two very good teams keep pipping us to the post !) and an early lunch. 

We are off to Edinburgh this afternoon and our excursions doesn’t include a meal.

Early p.m. down to the pier to join our excursion group going to the Edinburgh Tattoo.  All aboard a rather suspiciously elderly looking bus.  Then the fun started, a couple of broken seat backs, a number of inoperative seatbelts and no air conditioning for starters (and yes it was surprisingly uncomfortably hot on the bus).  A general uprising among the passengers got through to the tour rep but he tried setting off to see if moving improved matters.  Didn’t help that the driver missed the port exit and had to reverse, not a good sign.  No improvement, so back to the port, off the bus with promises of another bus in 10 minutes.  To cut a long story short every fifteen minutes bus arrival promised in another 20 minutes, etc. etc.

Just about two hours later (after a couple of heavy showers) cheers all round as a very nice modern bus arrived in the nick of time.  All aboard and off we went.  Luckily a clear run through to Edinburgh and arrived with moments to spare.  What seemed a shambolic queueing system actually worked and we were in our seats just as the Tattoo started, whew.

The Tattoo was spectacular and our seats amazingly positioned (did I mention we had premiere seats, thanks to lots of on-board-spend from Cunard), we were just below what was in effect the royal box.  The weather played ball too, Just one minor shower, hardly had time to get coats on. 

Music provided by the military from many nations, with dancers to lighten the proceedings.  All very good but all eclipsed by the Scottish Pipers and dancers, especially the lone piper up on the castle battlements.

After the show miraculously, considering the number of people in the streets of Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe being on at the moment, everyone was back at the bus in pretty reasonable time despite it not being where it had been promised!  The run back to the ship was also efficiently achieved.  Back on board Victoria only 20 minutes after she should have sailed, and we weren’t last.

Cunard very apologetic for the shambles and had already arranged a  partial refund of the cost of the tour.

And so to bed, excuse my French but we were knackered.

Day 6 - at Sea

16th August 2019

Overnight cruise around the north of Scotland through the Pentland Firth, continuing today southwards through The Minch and on between the Inner and Outer Hebrides quite close to the Isle of Lewis and later cruise by the Isle of Skye and on toward the Firth of Clyde. 

Day at sea, overcast and some rain about this morning, looks to be better this afternoon.   We saw in the distance the Isle of Lewis, rather misty, and supposed to see the Isle of Skye in the afternoon, we were at lunch so didn’t, but by all reports you couldn’t really see it anyway.  All the views would have been spectacular on a good clear day.

Lunch today at the posh specialist restaurant on board, “The Verandah”.  A very good steak with delicious starters and deserts.  Mind you it’s lucky it’s complementary!

Following this we went to the World Club cocktail party and then a light supper in the buffet.

Not much else achieved today.

Day 5 - Inverness from Invergordon

15th August 2019

Inverness is a city on Scotland’s northeast coast, where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. It's the largest city and the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands. Its Old Town features 19th-century Inverness Cathedral, the mostly 18th-century Old High Church and an indoor Victorian Market selling food, clothing and crafts. The contemporary Inverness Museum and Art Gallery traces local and Highland history.

Our berth for Inverness is at Invergordon.

Another cloudy/sunny day temperatures around 15

One other cruise ship at a nearby berth, the Holland and America Rotterdam.  She being berthed at the longest pier running out into the firth, you’d need a bus just to get ashore!

From our berth just a nice little walk into town, seems nice here.  The town’s shops looked to be doing good business selling to the cruise passengers, strangely even the charity shops.

We resisted and wandered along the street appreciating all the murals painted on the gable ends of the buildings, quite a show.

We did go to look at the local craft show in the Invergordon museum.  We made the same visit last time we were in town, bit of deja-vu here.  Very nice local made jewellery, wood carvings and tartans.

Back on board in time for the Folkloric show in the theatre.  Scottish dancers, singers and a piper, all very good.

Dinner this evening in the main dining room, need to turn up occasionally just so they remember us. 

Day 4 - Edinburgh, from Newhaven

14th August 2019

Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.

Our berth for Edinburgh is at Newhaven.

Newhaven is a district in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland, between Leith and Granton and about 2 miles north of the city centre, just north of the Victoria Park district. Formerly a village and harbour on the Firth of Forth, it had a population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants at the 1991 census.

Mixed weather today cloudy but with the sun popping out occasionally.  Temperatures around 15

Don’t take too much notice of the itinerary, the ship’s destination was changed before we left, but not the map.

This is no berth here for us so everyone has to get ashore by tender, always a slow procedure.  As usual we allowed the crowds to clear and for ticketing for tenders to end.  Whilst we waited we were entertained by quite a few dolphins playing and leaping out of the waters of the firth.

There was another cruise ship anchored way up river by South Queensferry but could’t identify it.

A pleasant little boat ride from ship to shore.

Once in Newhaven strolled along the harbour front and caught the free bus to Leith and the shopping centre just alongside the Royal Yacht Britannia.  Had a look round but didn’t take the Royal Yacht tour.

Return to the port, one by bus and one by foot, both arrived at pretty much the same time! even with a quick stop at the Spar for a bottle of Coca Cola.

Once back at the port took a part of the “walk round Newhaven”.  Interesting old houses with external staircases, the old burial ground etc. all featured on the bit we walked.

Back to the ship in time for donuts and coffee.  Then up to the Commodores Lounge to get on with updating our notes of the trip so far, it’s just so easy to forget each day.

Afternoon tea today in the Queens room, the full formalities, white suited and gloved waiters, little sandwiches, cakes and scones with clotted cream, very sophisticated, all accompanied by an artist playing the Saxaphone.

Just to keep up off to trivia, no win, better luck next time.

Dinner this evening German themed, very nice selection plus our favourite Kaisershmaren desert.

Evening sailaway down the Firth setting off toward the Moray Firth.  Travel distance overnight 209 nm.

Today’s show “Singers in Concert” with the combined orchestras made up of all the musicians on board.

Day 3 - Newcastle

13th August 2019

Newcastle upon Tyne, commonly known as Newcastle, a city in Tyne and Wear on the north bank of the River Tyne, opposite its twin city Gateshead.  Previously part of the County of Northumberland.  The city developed around Pons Aelius, a Roman settlement and was named after the castle built in 1080 by Robert the brother of William the Conqueror.  The city became a centre for the wool trade and later a port for the coal mining industry.  The shipyards lower down the river during the Industrial Revolution became amongst the largest shipbuilding and ship repairing centres in the world.

Cruise ships berth at the Port of Tyne some way from Newcastle City centre.

Further down river at Tynemouth is the Collingwood Monument celebrating the life and achievements of Admiral Lord Collingwood.  Collingwood was Nelson's second in command at the Battle of Trafalgar and was aboard the Royal Sovereign and took  command of the fleet on the death of Nelson. 

A warm sunny day awaited us with temperatures almost in the 20’s

Maiden call for us and Queen Victoria, just one of those places we needed to visit but seemed just too far by car, so much easier by ship!

Early morning sail in through the breakwaters at the entrance to the River Tyne, looks much too insignificant and narrow to be our destination, but this is it.  We must be quite a spectacle, lots of locals have come out to view our arrival, even the fish processors have come out of the fish market to wave!

A quick pirouette and then to our berth at the Port of Tyne.

We took our time to get ourselves going while the rush for excursions cleared and the queue for the shuttle bus reduced, it didn’t help that the shuttle bus was taken out of service to bring local travel agents to the ship for their visit!

Took advantage to have morning coffee before going ashore.  As luck would have it a shuttle bus was laid on which had two stops, the first at the local outlet shopping centre and the second at Tynemouth Metro Station.  This being our destination for the day the bus ride saved a lot of trouble walking to the local Metro station and the ride to Tynemouth.  

Tynemouth seems a very pleasant seaside town full of updated Victorian luxury properties with added retirement homes and smart coffee shops, and nice beaches, quite a revelation.

However our purpose of visiting was to visit the Collingwood Monument.  Had a little trouble finding the right route as the most obvious way was blocked by some very smart private gardens between the road and the riverfront footpath.  Luckily a nice chap gave us the gate code to shortcut through the tennis club grounds which saved us too much of a diversion.

The magnificent monument is in a lovely position overlooking the river mouth.  Included as part of the monument are four of the cannons from the Royal Sovereign used at Trafalgar, quite a close family history connection here.

River mouth 

After some time spent here a short walk through the riverside park took us back to catch the shuttle back to the ship.  Time for something to eat, getting a bit peckish.  Todays lunch included Mexican chicken enchiladas and beef fajitas, lucky we managed to get to lunch today.

Many remains of old shipbuilding in evidence near our berth, abandoned dry docks/shipbuilding docks and old waterfront warehouses etc.  One lone pub in the middle of devastation seems all that’s left in use.

Time to relax before sailaway, in this we were accompanied by large crowds all along the riverfront watching and waving as we departed.

Leaving the river just outside the breakwater were a few dolphins, then away north.  Travel distance overnight 108 nm.

This evening dinner in the buffet

Day 2 - at Sea

12th August 2019

Two nights and a day sailing through the North Sea to Newcastle.

Weather rather nondescript, fair but not much of anything.  Very little to see but sea with quite a lot of oil/gas rigs and a very lot of wind generators including a new one in progress soon to be the largest in Europe.

By noon we had travelled about 225 nm with another 240 nm to go to our first stop.

Afternoon trivia our first success, managed a win with a couple of chaps we had met on the World Cruise.

Also the first formal night, so it’s on with the best bib and tucker and off to cocktails, with Captain Tomas Connery, very kind of him to buy us all a drink or two.

Another first, in to dinner in the main restaurant to join our table of four, us and a pleasant couple from Brighton, not too much of a strain.

After dinner off to the show, Cunard Singers and Dancers in “Dance Passion”.

That’s about it for today, looking forward to tomorrow.

Day 1 - Southampton

11th August 2019

Once more in Southampton.  Back to one of our favourite ships, Cunard’s Queen Victoria for just a round trip around the British Isles. 

See itinerary and map on pre-cruise post.

Today, morning coffee in Southampton with friends we met on a previous cruise, they are cruising on Queen Elizabeth to the Baltic.  Just by chance the three queens are all in port today. Just occasionally Cunard organise a meeting of their fleet, a good opportunity for their advertising photos! But it worked out for us to catch up with time to natter before joining our respective ships.

After farewells went to drop off the car with “Parking for Cruise”, have had good service from them before so hoping for the best again.

Quickly on board, everyone else must have arrived and enjoyed the queues.

Ahhhh, just like being at home (or better).

Time for the first of hopefully many delicious scones with jam and cream, must try and resist at least a little.

Queen Elizabeth

And so the sailaway, Queen Victoria led the way followed by Queen Elizabeth with Queen Mary 2 talking up the rear.  Plenty of horns blowing as we went out.  As soon as we had a bit more sea room just down from Cowes each in turn sailed past with much more horn blowing.

Queen Mary 2

Also in port today were P&O Oriana, now sold to the Chinese (what hasn’t been!) and the Celebrity Silhouette.

Time for a relaxing evening after dinner in the buffet and early to bed, sea air is just so tiring!