Claire's Cruise

Well done to Phil for doing such a brilliant job with the blog whilst we were away; it wasn’t easy without having the rip-off on-board internet package but he persevered when we docked and was very patient downloading his photographs as mostly connection was slow.  It seems like an age since I have posted anything and I’m not sure that I have anything much to say. But as always I’ll give it a whirl.

Not sure where to start but I suppose the cruise on the Ryndam is as good as any. First let me begin with the positives, and yes there were a few negatives, but more about them later.  Our trip to Dover was smooth and without delay; the embarking was great, Phil dropped us off at the terminal and a porter was soon there taking all our bags for us.  Phil parked the car and then he soon joined us and within 10 minutes we were on board the Ryndam.  Of course the wheelchair helped push us in first but nonetheless I was very impressed with the Dover terminal staff, a great improvement on Southampton and in fact, all the other overseas ports that we have boarded.

I was very impressed with the Holland and American ship; some of the reviews hadn’t been great but the ship was in good order and everywhere was spotless.  We checked out our rooms on Deck 4 and then headed to the buffet  @ the Lido on Deck 11.  The afternoon was spent checking the various decks on the ship then it was back to our respective rooms and then out for dinner.

It was Phil’s idea to renew mum’s passport and she did seem enthusiastic about going on a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords but I have to say, even at the outset, I had my reservations.  I really wanted her to enjoy herself and have some fun but I don’t think mum enjoyed her week away that much.  I don’t know if Phil said but mum insisted on paying for us as well as providing the spending money and although we did try and say no, she was persistent.  This was very generous indeed, but for me, it put the pressure on and I was even more worried that she would have a good week. 

Phil will probably argue that his mum did enjoy the cruise but I have to disagree.  I think she was totally out of her comfort zone and it made me realise what a simple life she lead with George.  Although she liked the food, the formal dining intimidated her; she didn’t appreciate the fancy menus even though she seemed to enjoy most of the food.  Mid-week Bet had a bit of a melt down and it was sad to watch the silent tears trickle down her cheeks whilst we were sat on the upper deck sailing in-between beautiful fjords having just left a port. It made me realise just how much she must be missing George and how very strange it must have felt going on a holiday without him. 

Bet did enjoy her Elemis stone massages and her beauty therapist was excellent with her.  I managed to take mum to the spa most days even though it felt like I was risking life and death on each visit (hers not mine) but thankfully no falls or accidents.  I think the most happiest I saw Bet all week was when she opened her front door to her little bungalow where everything was familiar.  We tried hard to show her a good time but I think she would have been happier sitting in the caravan with a mug of tea, a plate of bread and cheese and the soaps.  This we can do and at least it won’t cost her a penny.

So to conclude my thoughts on the cruise; the food / service / staff/ entertainment were all excellent however the drinks, the trips, the Spa and the internet charges were hugely extortionate and would deter me from booking another Holland and America cruise.  The only other comment I would say about the Norwegian Fjords is that they didn’t take my breath away.  It was certainly very pretty but maybe it would have been better if we had gone later in the year when the snow was lying on the mountains and perhaps then we could have also managed to see the Northern Lights.

The day we left the ship was a long day not helped by a call before 6am from mum seeing if we were ready to go to breakfast.  We weren’t ready as we were still in bed although we were half awake.  We know how much she fusses, the phone call was because she thought there would be long queues for breakfast (they weren’t) so we got dressed, picked her up in the wheel chair and were in the Lido restaurant before half six.   We got off the boat by 8am and were back in Melton Mowbray by 11am mainly because the traffic was lighter because it was a weekend and also because Phil put his foot down.

I kind of thought we may have to spend the afternoon settling mum back home but Phil had other ideas.  We had unpacked, opened blinds, picked beans from the garden, shopping at Tesco and were seated for lunch at the Harborough Hotel in town by midday.  Not long after we left mum in Melton and got back to the flat about 3pm having stopping off in Northampton to collect post.  Sue had been in to the flat whilst we were away; she'd picked up the post and newspapers, sorted out the caravan, and unblocked our loo with the plunger that she brought back from the caravan and even brought me sunflowers and put them in water in my lovely green vase.  What a good friend.  Phil thought he might do some paperwork but we were both knackered and spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening slobbing out and catching up with recorded TV.  I did sling in several washes into the machine and dryer but that was pretty much it.

We were up early on Sunday (before 6am) which gave me a chance to do hours of ironing whilst watching more recordings.   Sue texted me once she was up and I was straight round for cups of a tea and a weeks’ worth of catch up, two hours’ worth to be precise.  Lunch at home was bolognaise from the freezer with whole-wheat spaghetti and this was followed by a visit from Harriet.  It was an easy afternoon and evening; a few phone calls and emails and then more TV.

Yesterday I picked up Sue and took her with me to the gym.  I don’t think she was much looking forward to it although it didn’t take much to persuade her to join me.  But actually she surprised herself by how much she enjoyed it (and me!) and we were at DW for nearly 3 hours having done a respectable stint in the gym and water aerobics in the pool followed by a dip in the Jacuzzi and a sweat in the steam room.  We stopped off at the city centre en route back home as I had a couple of things to do.  I put in cruise photos in Boots, we had soup and a roll in M&S and Sue brought a new watch from the watch and clock shop.  We had a laugh when we got back to Sue’s because when we closely inspected Sue’s watch we realised that she had brought the same watch as mine except that hers was gold and mine was silver.  Of all the watches in all the world, how bizarre but we obviously have similar tastes in some things, not all, but timing is obviously one of them!

I have just about recovered from the week away with mum and I fear I may be coming across as an ungrateful spoilt daughter-in-law but this is certainly not my intention.  It’s just that it was a struggle with the wheelchair at times, our activities were restrained and I think we would have definitely seen more of the entertainment programme if we were travelling by ourselves.  But I am thankful for being treated and know how lucky I am to have seen another part of the huge wide world that we live in.  Cruising last week, caravaning next week. Variety is the spice of life.