Cruising

[Alan Marsden]

I was tempted to include this subject within 'Holidays'. however, I believe that once started the subject could overwhelm.
I can enjoy virtually any type of vacation, its just a question of the correct mindset ,camping, Touring,B&B, you name it, however my wife tells me that 'her camping days are over'!. I often fancied renting a barge on the UK canal system, and would still like to do so, but 'she who must be obayed' could not be tempted, so perhaps twelve or so years ago I overcame my thoughts that 'cruising was for other people', and away we went!
Our first cruise to the Caribbean was aboard the 'Horizon' the ship was then two years old. Boarding at San Juan, Puort Rico, the white ship appeared massive, the cabin was ample and afforded a window overlooking the seas. Late afternoon the ship left harbour, we had the mandatory safety drill and later our first dinner on board ship followed by a splendid show in a multi level theatre, finally dancing and a walk around a moonlit deck.We met people from many countries.
After a splendid breakfast and a full day at sea, relaxing ,reading, strolling the decks,participating in ship activities and sunbathing, a cooling shower, followed by dinner meeting our table guests. The food and service was beyond our expectations, could not be faulted. After dinner another show, later piano music in the bar,a starlit walk and bedtime. The following morning we entered Martinique harbour at daybreak, took breakfast then a mornings tour into the rain forrests, returning for a splendid lunch. The following day Antigua, then Barbados, St.Lucia and St' Thomas, a week was not enough!
This a magnificent way to spend a holiday. We have now taken several cruises in the Carib.the Greek isles, and earlier this year a cruise around South America. In terms of overall enjoyment and value for money, I can think of nothing better. Looking again now for later this year !
Alan M.

[LDunlop76]

I've always quite fancied one of those history cruises of the Med - an on-board historian gives an evening lecture on the history of a place, which you stop off to visit the next day. Not the sort of thing we can undertake till the kids have left home though - NOT their scene at all!

[William R]

Hi Alan, My last cruise was round the World at the expense of the taxpayer, leaving Southampton en route for the Med with many stops to pick up service personnel who were changing duties. The Suez Canal was no problem except for the native traders, "bum-boats" to the uninitiated. Taking in the Indian Ocean and visits to the sub-continent provided light relief on a tedious voyage. Further through the Malay peninsula and the Java Sea to the Pacific Islands, picking and dropping some of our American cousins, finally making it to the Panama Canal and Miami and onwards up the eastern seaboard to New York, where we didn`t have time to visit. A brief trip to Ireland (as was) and finally home to Southampton. Not as romantic as yours, but a very satisfying manner in which to serve one`s mother country, many thanks to the taxpayers of the day. You mention briefly trying way back to "do" the English Canals, that too is very interesting at three miles per hour, I`ve done the Shroppy and the Aire and Calder, and the Llangollen Canal, sorry there was no chance to dine at the Captain`s Table on our trips, there is little room on a narrow boat for that. William R.

[Alan Marsden]

Has anyone tried a Tramp Steamer, watching Michael Pailin's documentary of 'Round the World in Eighty days', certainly gave me ideas !
I used to worked for a gentleman who often sailed around the Meditteranian using tramp steamers. On returning to Preston on one occasion he rented the Masonic hall, put on a 'hot pot' supper and treated upwards of 250 guests ( including the Ethiopian Ambassador to UK and Tom Finney ), to an evenings slide show and discussion of his Egyptian and Ethiopean experiences.
The audience were amused and responded with applause when the Ambassador was introduced by the host together with the innocent remark," his excellency will bring a little colour to the evenings events" !!!

[magicman]

The last time I was on a cruise ship was about 20 years ago as an entertainer - it was the Oceanus. A Greek ship, but hired by Italians for the whole summer season.
The food was great, but I ended up not being able to handle it. Too much of a good thing, I guess.
I befriended the chefs down below and got an endless supply of English breakfasts whenever I wanted them as long as it was after midnight and before 6.00am !!!!!!
Happy times - lol

[William R]

Alan,, Looking at your query about a Tramp steamer - We went to the Far East on a vessel called The Highland Princess, a converted meat boat. We were met with the usual apologies regarding its state, like how sorry they were to be using the boat as it was due to be taken out of service as unsuitable, so we made the best of it. We came back on the Mooltaan, again a boat due to be taken out of service because it was unsuitable for troop carrying. Maybe Tramp steamers were better than these, but 17 weeks on the Andes was poor compensation. Tell me, is tea on Tramp steamers blue like ours was?? and fresh water tasting like disinfectant. I`m trying to think of some plus points, can`t find any. The highlight was trying to win the competition on how far the vessel had travelled in the last 24 hrs. we never did have any luck there eithjer. William R.

[Alan Marsden]

William R. I have to date not been on any tramp steamers,and I don't think they go by that name now, although there's plenty of interesting information comes up when you plug in'tramp steamers' on the web!
www.travltips.com provides some modern cheaper travel on freighters,Michael Palin was using freighters on his trip around the world.
To date , I have only used cruise ships as follows,
Horizon and Galaxy,(Caribbean itenery, Celebrity cruises ),Triton ( Caribbean itenery, line has changed since we used it,a small ship but no compaints. Majesty of the seas (Caribbean itenery, Royal caribbean ). Bolero,( caribbean itenery, another small ship, again line has changed. Olympic Countess,( Greek isles itenery, a Greek line. Royal Princess, Princess cruises ( South American itenery, Cape Horn , Falklands, Ushuia,Buenos Aries,Montivideo, Chilean Fjords,Santiago Chile etc). Total cruising time ten weeks and not one meal that was other than splendid,in fact on Celebrity and Princess I would say outstanding!
Contemplating sailing on the Galaxy again , from Baltimore to Carib. for a couple of weeks, I could live on these ships, no problem , and the larger ships now have computers, so no need to miss the Leyland Forum !