Cruise

Note for Cruise blog entries.  All entries have been put on together so scroll down to this first one to read them in order.

Following my Dad’s death and sorting everything out for Mum, we thought that Mum could do with a holiday.  First step get her a passport as hers ran out last year.  Next look for a holiday that was easy on the feet.  A cruise seemed perfect, especially one that left and arrived back from England.  A trip around the Norwegian Fjords seemed to fit the bill perfectly as many older people do this trip.  Trouble was it was by this time it was close to the summer holidays so prices go up.  We found a trip that unusually departed from Dover.  The only other ships that depart from Dover that I know are the ferries so I hope its a bit better quality than those.  This trip is with Holland and American Line (HAL) who I haven't heard of but Claire did a bit of research and they seemed ok.  They have been around for a while as they were first established in 1873.  They have 15 ships and carried over 750,000 cruise passengers last year.  However, they stopped transatlantic trips during the early 1970’s handing over to Cunard’s RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.

We are traveling on the MS Ryndam which was built in 1994 and carries 1260 passengers over 9 decks.  It was refitted in 2010 to include a spa and stateroom upgrades.  First stop Oslo following a 2 day cruise to get used to the ship.

Plain sailing, we set off at about 8am having stayed at Mum’s bungalow in Melton.  We had a pit stop on the way there where Claire got a hot chocolate and we had a toilet break.    We arrived at Dover cruise port and they took our luggage directly from our car so mum and Claire got off while I parked the car and walked back.  We wheeled mum in to registration where we didn't even have to join the cue they registered us at a special desk, handed us our embarkation card and our room keys and we embarked immediately.  We dropped off our hand luggage and had a look around.  Mums room is massive and she has 4 port holes and 3 wardrobes.  Our room was a little more like other cruise rooms we have stayed in; good job we don’t have a cat.  However, we do have a proper bath with a shower in it.  Still nice all the same.  We were actually upgraded so we could be on the same deck and near to mum so from one port hole we now have a window with curtains.

First stop the 11 floor where the pool and hot tubs are as well as the lido grill where we ate lunch.  Very nice too.  At the other end of this deck is the new spa so we toddled along to have a look and Claire and mum have booked up for the spa and relaxation rooms.  You can use these for the entire trip and its the same price whenever you book it so it makes sense to book on your first day.  Mum had a free test massage with Dolly and was so impressed that she has booked a massage for 8.30am tomorrow morning.  Early breakfast for us all tomorrow then.  Claire and mum can then follow mums massage with their spa.  I might as well get up and have breakfast with them so I can start my relaxation day early and get ahead of the game.

We have booked the early sitting in our dinning room tonight, which starts at 5.45pm.  We had the obligatory safety meeting by your lifeboat.  They told us that its supposed to be similar to a real emergency - we are all dead, what a shambles.  We started out with Claire and I have been allocated boat 6 whereas mum has been allocated boat 4.  Who is going to wheel her to it?  Everyone was crowded out on the same deck and when it finally finished after a roll call, we had to wait for ages for a lift.  The down side of a wheelchair is that you have no choice but to use the lift, even if you only need to go one floor; you just have to wait.

Our table 44 for dinner was lovely with a sea view and the food was fabulous.  Because mum has a disabled very large stateroom she has been allocated to eat in the Queens Grille, therefore as we are looking after her we eat there too.  What a result!

Note for Cruise blog entries.  All entries have been put on together so scroll down to this first one to read them in order.

Following my Dad’s death and sorting everything out for Mum, we thought that Mum could do with a holiday.  First step get her a passport as hers ran out last year.  Next look for a holiday that was easy on the feet.  A cruise seemed perfect, especially one that left and arrived back from England.  A trip around the Norwegian Fjords seemed to fit the bill perfectly as many older people do this trip.  Trouble was it was by this time it was close to the summer holidays so prices go up.  We found a trip that unusually departed from Dover.  The only other ships that depart from Dover that I know are the ferries so I hope its a bit better quality than those.  This trip is with Holland and American Line (HAL) who I haven't heard of but Claire did a bit of research and they seemed ok.  They have been around for a while as they were first established in 1873.  They have 15 ships and carried over 750,000 cruise passengers last year.  However, they stopped transatlantic trips during the early 1970’s handing over to Cunard’s RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.

We are traveling on the MS Ryndam which was built in 1994 and carries 1260 passengers over 9 decks.  It was refitted in 2010 to include a spa and stateroom upgrades.  First stop Oslo following a 2 day cruise to get used to the ship.

Plain sailing, we set off at about 8am having stayed at Mum’s bungalow in Melton.  We had a pit stop on the way there where Claire got a hot chocolate and we had a toilet break.    We arrived at Dover cruise port and they took our luggage directly from our car so mum and Claire got off while I parked the car and walked back.  We wheeled mum in to registration where we didn't even have to join the cue they registered us at a special desk, handed us our embarkation card and our room keys and we embarked immediately.  We dropped off our hand luggage and had a look around.  Mums room is massive and she has 4 port holes and 3 wardrobes.  Our room was a little more like other cruise rooms we have stayed in; good job we don’t have a cat.  However, we do have a proper bath with a shower in it.  Still nice all the same.  We were actually upgraded so we could be on the same deck and near to mum so from one port hole we now have a window with curtains.

First stop the 11 floor where the pool and hot tubs are as well as the lido grill where we ate lunch.  Very nice too.  At the other end of this deck is the new spa so we toddled along to have a look and Claire and mum have booked up for the spa and relaxation rooms.  You can use these for the entire trip and its the same price whenever you book it so it makes sense to book on your first day.  Mum had a free test massage with Dolly and was so impressed that she has booked a massage for 8.30am tomorrow morning.  Early breakfast for us all tomorrow then.  Claire and mum can then follow mums massage with their spa.  I might as well get up and have breakfast with them so I can start my relaxation day early and get ahead of the game.

We have booked the early sitting in our dinning room tonight, which starts at 5.45pm.  We had the obligatory safety meeting by your lifeboat.  They told us that its supposed to be similar to a real emergency - we are all dead, what a shambles.  We started out with Claire and I have been allocated boat 6 whereas mum has been allocated boat 4.  Who is going to wheel her to it?  Everyone was crowded out on the same deck and when it finally finished after a roll call, we had to wait for ages for a lift.  The down side of a wheelchair is that you have no choice but to use the lift, even if you only need to go one floor; you just have to wait.

Our table 44 for dinner was lovely with a sea view and the food was fabulous.  Because mum has a disabled very large stateroom she has been allocated to eat in the Queens Grille, therefore as we are looking after her we eat there too.  What a result!