HAYNES WORLD

Thursday 19th July 2018
I was up and about at 6 a.m. this morning, still at sea on PRINCE. My first call was to the bar for a cappuccino and croissant, and all was well with my world.

Superfast XI heading towards Igoumenitsa

The bell (but for whom does it toll...?)

Looking forward

View from the deck

Looking astern, at ships and mountains

Looking ahead towards the channel where we head to port and Igoumenitsa

We went to Reception and had a pleasant chat with the Chief Steward about the ship. He says the bell is from PRINCE but we are not so sure it is, as different letters seem to be engraved on what we photographed this morning in daylight. We told him about our trip two years ago on the previous PRINCE, when we met the Captain. He said that the captain had retired (which we knew) but that he had brought PRINCE down from Denmark. I said we had met him and he had told us about that and invited us onto the Bridge. The Chief Steward said if and when we came on the ship again we could visit the Bridge. We thanked him very much.

I asked how they had managed to move the lorry that was stuck on the ramp last night and his first reply with a smile was the one word 'Magic'. He then said they had other means, which worked. It was a shame about such a long delay on the first trip of the new ship.

We all shook hands and thanked the Chief Steward and said our goodbyes to him.

The hot sun was blazing down out on deck as we started to head into the narrow channel that would take us into the Greek port of Igoumenitsa. I can still recall one of my first visits there many years ago: that was when we arrived at the unearthly hour of 3.30 a.m. because we needed to connect with another ship sailing from the port early that morning. I put my turquoise-coloured pashmina down on a concrete bench in the terminal, put my head on it and stretched out my body and was instructed to 'go back to sleep for a few more hours'. I did that very easily, as I fell asleep wondering just what on earth I was doing with these new ferry friends...

Calm waters as we neared the quay

Today however we sailed into Igoumenitsa about 7.30 a.m. and disembarked, and walked to sit in the shade of the terminal building facing the harbour. We wanted to wait and see the next arrivals and if we had entered the terminal we could only exit on the far side and not get back onto the quaysides. As usual it was very hot, but the swifts were flying gracefully and tweeting gently over our heads.

Prince, after we had disembarked

Whilst we waited for the BARI to arrive, we watched vehicles disembarking from PRINCE; most of them struggled and we realised that, like last night, the ship's stern ramp is far too short.

Bari arriving, with Cruise Europa further out

Bari turning, ready to come astern

Cruise Europa arriving

Kerkyra Express

Stern view of Bari

Ships seen: Prince, Bari, Kerkyra Express, Cruise Europa, Superfast XI

To be continued...

Thursday 19th July 2018

Plumbago - so hard to grow at home

Along the 'pavement'in Igoumenitsa

Here in Igoumenitsa, after breakfast in a nearby quayside cafe, we collected the hire car, and headed up a road leading to Patras on a mountainous route. Soon though we stopped and parked safely under some trees at a viewpoint, as tonight's ship ASTERION II was heading towards Igoumenitsa, just below us in the beautiful water. What wonderful views of her as she came round the headland and into the channel and towards the port!

Bari and Prince in Igoumenitsa

Asterion II below us

Asterion II again

What a line up

We finally left Igoumenitsa (again) and this time we are on our way to Patras on the amazing motorway over the mountains. I have since read that it was opened less than a year ago (5th September 2017) by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and was one of the most challenging construction projects. The Ionia motorway (known as Ionia Odos) took 11 years to complete and connects the northern town of Ioannina via the western mainland coastline with Patra via the Rio-Antirrio Bridge.

There was very little traffic on this route over the bare mountains, and it made for awe-inspiring views. We stopped for a break at a motorway petrol station/cafe; the outside heat was almost unbearable and the air-conditioned facilities inside felt wonderful. Then we were off again and gradually we noticed that the elevation was dropping and our surrounding landscapes were not as bare-rocked as they had been for the last few hours.

Nearing Patras we could start to see part of the route ahead, and then the top of the amazing Rio-Antirrio Bridge. It felt a little odd to approach it by road this time, as we have always previously sailed into the port of Patras on the other side of the bridge. The construction of the Bridge, which is the world's longest fully suspended cable-stayed bridge, began in 1998. I remember seeing the huge base constructions in the water there, many years before anything more was done. It was inaugurated on 7th August 2004, a week before the opening of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Previously that southern part of Greece was only reached by the road and rail bridge over the Corinth Canal, or by sea.

Once we reached the environs of the bridge we ignored the road signs directing us onto it, and headed instead for the little ferry port nearby. We were directed onto the PROTOPOROS XIV and soon realised we were heading across the water to the city of Patras.

Protoporos XIV

Looking up

Looking ahead

She was newly built and finished this year, and started service only in May. Ahead of us we could see many other small ferries, all moored at the quayside, and above us we could see the huge new bridge as we sailed along in parallel.

The Bridge beside us

Once ashore again we headed for the new Ferry Terminal but almost unbelievably all 20 luggage lockers were "out of service" and we were unable to leave our belongings safely until we could board our ship.

Out of the terminal again it was still daylight so we could drive back into the city and locate where we had to return the hire car but for now we had to find somewhere for a meal and hope that we could park nearby and lock our luggage safely away in the car. This we did but with some difficulty and in the end we took our baggage with us, for peace of mind until we could go back to the terminal and check in.

We returned the hire car and then took a taxi to the ferry terminal; our ship had arrived so we could check in and then board ASTERION II.

Asterion II

Grand Spring name visible under her current one

Lots of us foot passengers had to wend our way across the embarking lorry lanes in the darkness, but finally we climbed the ramp and could head for the cabins on this big ship.

She was built as ISHIKARI in 1991 by Mitsubishi in Kobe, Japan, and delivered to Taiheiyo Ferry for use in Japan, at 31,084 gross tons. In March 2011 she was sold to Golden Spring Enterprise, Panama, and became GRAND SPRING, which was the name we could see imprinted under her current one on the hull near the stern. A year later she was sold on, and then sold again in March 2018 to be managed by ANEK lines. Her name was changed again to ASTERION II and she has kept many of her original Japanese features for this new Patras to Venice service. Although some changes have been made, she has also suffered from delays due to loading and unloading through her original Japanese stern-door.

A deck plan

Japanese styling

Lovely

ANEK advert.

Main Bar

Comfortable seating to one side

A spacious shop, with more seating on the other side of the Bar

This was the locked entrance to an old cinema

I was delighted to find a spacious outside original Japanese-built cabin.

Japanese writing in the bathroom, on the toilet roll holder

Ahead of us we had two nights on board to explore and enjoy, sailing through the Adriatic on our way up to Venice in Italy.

Ships seen: Prince, Bari, Agias Theodora, Agias Spirydon, Protoporos XIV, Asterion II, Ana Chora II, Cruise Europa, Kerkyra Express, plus about 12 non-Bridge ferries at Patras

To be continued...

Friday 20th July 2018
After a good night's sleep in the spacious cabin here on ASTERION II, I managed to wake in time to get on deck for our arrival at Igoumenitsa. It felt odd to think we had been here yesterday but had looked down from the mountainside to see the ship sail below us. We saw various other vessels under the glorious hot sun and then went for breakfast at the large self-service restaurant. The next few hours were spent mostly out on deck in the shade, enjoying the views and blue sea as we sailed along.

Hellenic Spirit

Paws for thought

Lovely

2 Way Ferries vessel with a Greek name

Sunny sight

Lovely view

Things to see

Kerkyra Express

Part of the Self-service Restaurant

Recognisable Japanese styling

Reception

Window seats

Deck seating or sleeping

Funnel

ANEK at 50

Routes

Seeing the sea

Looking out

Ships seen: Kerkyra Express, 2 Way Ferries vessel, Hellenic Spirit

To be continued...

Friday 20th July 2018
Part 12 - The afternoon and evening
After a light lunch and a rest, I finished reading my paperback book so took it to Reception. They were happy to have it for one of the crew; we all talked about the ship and its history and it was suggested that we come back and talk to the Chief Steward on duty later.

Deck Plan

Later that afternoon we talked to the Chief Steward and then one of his colleagues. This colleague obtained some keys and we were all invited to go with him to see the locked-up Japanese Lounge and the Cinema.

Our first sight of the locked Lounge

Daylight coming into the room

Another view

And another

Dance floor

Another view

Another angle

I seem to remember that the Lounge was on Deck 9 and once some of the side curtains were opened we could look out at the sea. The lounge seemed vast and was in lovely condition considering it had been locked up for some time. There was a small stage, a beautiful wooden dance floor, lots of comfortable seating in various groups, tall mirrors and what had obviously been well-designed wallpaper. I imagine this room will be restored and put back into public use when there is time and money. What a treat that will be.

Entrance to the locked Cinema

The Cinema was on Deck 7, behind the plain door above the semi-circular step we saw yesterday. We entered through another doorway on which was hung a deep-cushioned door, obviously to contain the noise from the cinema. The tiered seats were nicely raked, they looked comfortable, and photographs of various film-stars were on the walls. It looked almost ready for a new film show and audience - maybe one day...

The door behind the entrance

Inside the locked Cinema

We thanked the member of staff who had allowed us to see and photograph the locked Lounge and Cinema, and then went back to thank the Chief Steward.

That evening at dinner it was my turn to order and pay for the wine but the Chief Steward told the man on the till that we were not to pay for the bottle, as it was a gift from him. That was so kind and of course we went back to thank him once again.

The evening continued with me giving an illustrated talk, which was much easier than it might sound. My friends will not be able to come along to the October Ocean Liner Society meeting in London when I am to be the speaker, so I had all the pictures on a USB stick which we could put into a friend's lightweight computer to view, rather than through a projector. I had a paper copy of my notes and so as we sailed through the calm waters of the Adriatic Sea that evening I gave my upcoming 'Union-Castle Line Purserette' talk to a very small audience of two! They seemed fascinated, amazed and amused in all the right places; what a novel way to spend an evening at sea we thought.

Ships seen: Asterion II, Olympic Champion, Kerkyra Express, 2 cruise ships in Corfu but too far off to identify, Hellenic Spirit of ANEK with whom we exchanged whistles as we passed, Rigel I, Cruise Olympia of Minoan Line

To be continued...

Saturday 21st July 2018
On Asterion II

We were all up early this morning ready for our arrival on board ANEK'S ASTERION II, at what the company call Venice.

Venice - but really Fusina

Our view of Venice as we sailed into port

Eurocargo Livorno was also in the industrial area

Asterion II in Fusina

The port is actually in a place called Fusina, which is many many miles away from Venice. In fact some of the skyline sights of that wonderful little city could barely be seen in the far distance. We have been here to this industrial working area before and knew that transport other than cars would be difficult, but this time was far worse. We disembarked and headed with many other passengers for the far distant bus stop beyond some of the security fencing.

There were no shuttle buses, no taxis to be seen, and no buses either, despite the timetable showing their arrival and many of us waiting. In desperation we decided to walk to a small camp site, which was near a water taxi service into what we all know as Venice. That proved to be a mile or two away around quiet lanes but we did it - with no alternative. As we all strode quietly along I heard one of my friends saying "Never again, never again", and I'm certain he meant it.

(Just as a matter of interest, I will quote from a piece in the Autumn 2018 edition of the excellent publication 'Ferry & Cruise Review'.

"Your correspondents have previously lamented the disgraceful state of foot-passenger facilities and processing that now sadly prevails at Italian Adriatic Ports. With capacity expansion in recent years, either the ports themselves have been moved out-of-town, or check-in facilities relocated notable distances away from their original central quaysides. Passengers without vehicles are often forced to traipse back and forth, waiting in uncomfortable holding areas if departing, while, if arriving, often being marooned in out-of-town locations without any reliable public transport connections. Sadly, after a superlative crossing on ASTERION II, we were forced to endure Venice, which is now sadly the worst example possible, with the once majestic arrival past St. Mark's Square replaced with abandonment in an industrial zone, largely disconnected from the public transport network.")

An hour and a half after disembarking, we finally arrived in the little quayside area in Fusina; I noticed with interest the two signs on the fence, one pointing to a bar, the other pointing to the ferry.

A Bar or Ferry decision

There were so many people waiting at the water's edge that one ferry was loaded and sent on its way, before another one came along for us to board via the little pontoon. Hooray, at last we were really on our way to Venice as we know it, on board VE 8777.

Ferry VE 8777

Through the ferry window we could see some of the day's cruise ships in port; we were heading for Zattere.

Cruise ships over there

Map of the area

Adriatic Jet, high-speed catamaran seen on the way

There we changed to another vessel and disembarked at Tronchetto ready to board the METAMAUCO which took us to the Venice Lido. We have a few hours to enjoy in Venice before catching a mid-afternoon train from here to Milan, so we wanted to make the most of it.

Lovely

One ticket to cover all my journeys

Costa Luminosa and MSC Poesia

Rhapsody of the Seas

Costa Luminosa

MSC Sinfonia

Metamauco

On board

The views all round us were fascinating and we noticed the huge crowds of people in St. Mark's Square and all along the waterside. Yet again, here I am in Venice and Following in Father's Footsteps, which is a phrase I am fond of using!

St.Mark's Square

St. Mark's Square & Campanile, Venice, taken 1st October 1930 by my father, whilst on board the Arandora Star as a Junior Engineer

Father's next photograph

The other side, and I've stood there too

Once in the Lido area we disembarked from METAMAUCO and found a shady coffee and ice-cream cafe which occupied our minds happily for some time.

San Nicolo

Walking on board

Coming back again in San Nicolo

Look at those crowds

Another ferry arrived and we travelled back on SAN NICOLO to the main island, to get to the railway station, this time on the Megaride ACTV 40.

One of our last lovely views

We left Venice by train at 3.20 p.m., on a long-distance one which was actually heading for Zurich although we would get off at Milan Centrale. This splendid train had a proper Restaurant Car as well as a Snack Bar, and we were very impressed. The train was full, very comfortable and we were glad of our reserved seats.

A few hours later we arrived in Milan and had time to go for dinner at a local restaurant before catching our overnight sleeper train.

Ships seen: VE 8777 our Fusina ferry to Venice, MSC Poesia, Costa Luminosa, Rhapsody of the Seas, MSC Sinfonia, Metamauco, San Nicolo, Adriatic Jet, ACTV 40

To be concluded...

Sunday 22nd July 2018
I do enjoy travelling on these overnight sleepers, or at least the ones I've been on here in a warm climate. I like the gentle background noise of the train on the tracks as we race through the night, the occasional change of tone as we go through a station, the gentle breezes coming through the open window, a comfortable mattress below and fresh linen around me, all of which usually ensure a dreamless, or exhausted, lovely sleep.

By early morning the sky was lightening and the guard came along the carriage to knock on the doors of those passengers leaving the train at Bari in 45 minutes time, and hand in 3 small breakfast trays. The two toilets with washing facilities at each end of the train sleeper coaches were sometimes the unpleasant part of sleeper travel, but lack of running tap water in them occasionally was often the least of these slight irritations. No matter, we arrived at Bari station about 6 a.m. and disembarked onto a quiet platform. I believe the train distance we travelled was 787 kms.

Travel-stained locomotive in Bari

Local buses were outside the station and people were out and about, and we found a small local coffee shop to sit and plan the morning. We were all going home today but had time to enjoy some time here in Bari. The local port bus took us down to the quays and there was a surprise as we could see RIGEL III in the Italian sunshine. Photos taken across the water, we could get another bus back to the station and then head for the airport.

Rigel III in Bari

Ships seen: Rigel III, which I remember seeing many years ago as Regina della Pace

I flew back to the UK having enjoyed another amazing and interesting ferry trip, in July 2018.

Happy Christmas 2018 and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year in 2019
from Union-Castle Dolly

English snowdrops in Spring 2019

I belong to a local History Society which covers a couple of local villages and the surrounding area. We meet monthly, with about 90 members on the books, although not everyone attends every meeting.

Earlier this year 2019 our Christmas Dinner was held in January, to avoid many other local December social occasions. About 40 of us went to a nearby country hotel on the outskirts of the villages and sat down one evening to enjoy a lovely meal served to us at circular tables. I knew several of my table companions only by sight but enjoyed the chance to get to talk to them. Conversation turned to cruising holidays, and then New Zealand, and the friend I was sitting next to started to tell the lady on my other side (I think in her mid-80s) that she had gone there many years ago to live and work. The lady on this other side had done the same but probably ten years before that. They discussed their memories of time there, although my friend had had to return home to the UK after a few months as her father had been taken seriously ill and her mother needed her.

I knew my friend (Ann) had flown out there in the 1960s but I asked the lady next to me (Maureen) whether she had flown or perhaps gone by ship. I said I was interested in ships, having been at sea as a Purserette with a major shipping line called Union-Castle Line back in the 1960s. Maureen said she had gone by ship, she thought Orient Line, in the 1950s and tried to remember what vessels. She sailed from the UK to Australia first of all, before sailing later on another ship to get to New Zealand. Having worked in both Australia and New Zealand during the years, she then sailed back to Australia and finally back to the UK. She couldn't remember the names of the ships but said she would have a look at home and let me know some time.

After an enjoyable evening we all said our good-nights and parted company.

Some weeks later I was at a History Society meeting and during the tea/coffee interval I managed to see Maureen and have a quick chat with her. She produced a little list of the ships she thought she had travelled on, back in the 1950s. She sailed from the UK to Sydney, Australia, possibly on ARCADIA, then later from Melbourne to Auckland in New Zealand on something else, possibly ORCADES. From Wellington she eventually sailed back to Sydney on ORANJE and finally back to the UK from Melbourne on FAIRSEA.

I thanked her for this information as it was interesting to hear about ships that I knew of but had never seen. Maureen then mentioned that I had told her I worked for Union-Castle Line at sea as a Purserette back in the 1960s. I said that was right. She then said that she had a friend she first met a long time ago, who also worked for Union-Castle as a Purserette, and that the friend's name was Daphne. I must have looked a bit surprised at this, and half-jokingly asked "Does she live in Dorset?". The answer was yes, which I found quite extraordinary, made me laugh, and quickly told Maureen why.

Back in the 1990s I had been involved in the Union-Castle Line Centenary Voyage planning with my late husband, who died in 1997, and several other people. In 1998 I had been to a Union-Castle Pursers Reunion, which are still held every 3 years, and met many others there that I knew. One lady offered me her uniform which she still had and was then kind enough to post to me, to my then home in another English county. I bought a dressmaker's body/dummy and the uniform had been on it since 1999, with my hat on top. The lady who gave it to me was called Daphne, and she lived in Lyme Regis in Dorset.

By the most extraordinary of life's coincidences this is the Daphne who is the friend of Maureen.

Maureen and I were both astounded at this coincidence and she said she would let Daphne know, as she had now moved from Lyme Regis to another nearby small town.

There must have been many many Purserettes employed by Union-Castle over the years and I find it amazing that I should make a new friend here - a lady with a friend called Daphne, whose uniform still lives on a dressmaker's model in the dining room of my home.

Daphne in a corner of my dining room, under a Port side light

Daphne standing near Union-Castle Dolly on the sideboard,
under a Union-Castle Centenary Voyage poster

February 2019

MSC BELLISSIMA
14th March 2019

Over a year ago, in February 2018, a plan was made to try the new MSC BELLISSIMA in March 2019. She offered a 3 night trip from Genoa, Italy, and four of us made bookings for single studio cabins. Time passed and subsequent work commitments meant that two of the group had to back out but two of us decided to go ahead.

Monday 11th March 2019
I stayed overnight at Gatwick Airport, ready to check in for a very early flight to Genoa the next morning.

Tuesday 12th March 2019
My alarm went off incredibly early, and I then set off to South Terminal ready to check in my rucksack for the BA flight at 7.30 a.m. This gave me time for coffee and a snack at one of my favourite food stops before boarding my flight. The UK weather had been atrocious for the previous couple of weeks, with heavy rain and high winds over most of the country. This morning was no different, although theoretically it was becoming daylight.

The plane pulled away from the stand and we were told that the flight would go south over Bognor Regis and that the plane would then climb to 39,000 feet. I knew that the more usual flights were at about 34,000 feet so the thought of 39,000 feet said it all as far as I was concerned! We were soon lined up for take-off and could feel the strength of the wind, and that huge engine power was being prepared. Take off certainly concentrated my mind, as we lurched along and then we were up and away. We climbed and climbed and climbed, and couldn't see a thing from the windows, but then suddenly we were up above dense cloud and in sunshine under a clear blue sky at 39,000 feet. Our female pilot did a wonderful job in getting us up and away.

Everyone relaxed or dozed, and I took a few pictures of snow on the Alps going south, then of the Italian coast as we headed for Genoa. We landed at 11.00 a.m. and as we taxied back to the terminal I could see the new Virgin ship being built in the nearby Fincantieri shipyard. I was able to get a quick picture of it.

Flying south to Genoa

Bumping past the Fincantieri ship yard

Close-up of the new Virgin ship, to be named The Scarlet Lady

We had flown 625 miles here and it looked as if I was in another world. On the bus to the city I noticed a chemist's sign saying it was 21 degrees C outside, although later this dropped to 15C. I got off the bus outside the main railway station and then headed up towards my hotel.

To be continued...

12th March 2019 p.m.
Part 2

My hotel front doors were firmly bolted, but then I noticed a large sign inside one of the doors pointing me in the direction of an hotel a few steps up the road. Outside that one I walked up the three steps covered in a little red carpet and found myself in a Belle Époque style reception area with smiling staff behind a desk. A little poster on a wall told me the hotel was built in 1897: Grand Hotel Savoia.

I was welcomed and told I had been upgraded from the booked hotel, and was soon checked in and shown to a lift up to my room. The room was large and beautifully furnished in what must be the style here - and the room number was the same as my own little home in the South of England. That seemed like a good omen.

My bed head

I unpacked, read the hotel book details

Hotel book cover

and discovered that on the 7th floor was a terrace, with views. That needed to be seen before going out to the Porto Antico and proved really worthwhile.

The 7th floor terrace

I could see a great deal of the bay around Genoa and, hooray, ferries down in the harbour and shipyards. I could see the airport runway and even the back half of a plane taxiing back to the terminal, as I had done a few hours before. The sky was a glorious blue and the calm around me was such a contrast with home, and memories of being almost blown off my feet a few times when walking back from my village recently.

View down to the Railway Station and the bus circle

My view above the station

View to my left, of the Porto Antico area

Before leaving the 7th floor terrace I noticed that the room behind it contained several ship models, and I imagine this was part of the hotel's conference room facilities.

Ship models in a glass case

Walking in the Porto Antico area

My next plan was to go down to the waterside and walk along to the Porto Antico part of this little city, get something to eat and then walk up to the funicolare station that I particularly liked, which goes between Zecca and Righi. It costs just Euros 1.50 each way and celebrated being 120 years old in 2017. I enjoyed walking amongst tourists and locals, before buying my ticket and admiring the posters.

One of the funicolare posters

Some of the picture cards

Ready to board and go

The ascent is in a tunnel at first before emerging into daylight; it is very steep with calls at 5 stations. The 'down' funicolare is balanced with the ascending one and they pass at the stations in the middle where the track divides for short distances. I read that the rise from bottom to top is 915 feet.

The station stops between top and bottom

The views from the top were wonderful; I could see across the bay in one direction and then down into the shipyards in another.

View from the top, to my right

View down, slightly left

A poster on the wall nearby, showing the Quail cruise ship and Moby ferries

I enjoyed seeing one of the posters on the outside wall, and noticed the ship belonging to Quail cruises shown. I can remember that ship actually being there in the harbour many years ago and taking my own photograph at the time.

I walked home again along Via Balbi and remembered staying in a small hotel along here once. I had been astonished at seeing the pictures painted on the ceiling of my room in what was once a small palace. I think it had suffered water damage over the years but most of it was lovely. That little hotel seems to have disappeared, perhaps amalgamated into the University buildings that now line part of the street amongst the coffee bars and shops.

Back at the hotel I took photographs of my surroundings and then enjoyed some offerings from the Bar Royale, whilst listening to the talented pianist in the main Lounge playing to hotel guests and visitors.

Hotel poster in the foyer

One of the small lounges

Part of the hotel's main lounge

Bar Royale pictured in the hotel book

Hotel Bar Royale

Ships seen: Scarlet Lady, of Virgin Voyages, GNV vessels in the ferry terminal area, yellow-hulled Corsica-Sardinia ferries down in the shipyard.

To be continued...

Wednesday 13th March 2019
I slept well in my delightful bedroom and enjoyed breakfast down in the Restaurant. I had time to myself this morning, as my travelling companion was arriving by train at lunchtime. I had decided to walk to the ferry terminal (Traghetti Terminale) for exercise and pleasure to see what I could see. Not a lot, was the general answer. The pavements were uneven and I had to watch my step, but once inside the public part of the building at least I could see the Arrivals and Departures boards.

Arrivals board

Departures board

These showed arrivals as ATHARA from Porto Torres, BITHIA from Olbia and LA SUPREMA from Palermo. The departures were to be GNV FANTASTIC to Tunisia, Tirrenia's ATHARA back to Porto Torres, Tirrenia's BITHIA back to Olbia and GNV'S LA SUPREMA back to Palermo. Ah, memories, memories.

I could only look out at the ships from the main passenger terminal, and that view was through glass, and above concrete balcony edges outside the glass, but I managed a few photos. I liked seeing the list of things of things Forbidden to be taken on board: Tortoises, parrots, monkeys, chameleons etc.

Bithia

Bithia's other side

Forbidden things

Athara and Bithia

Majestic and Fantastic

Then it was time to walk back to the hotel to meet my friend and wish him a happy birthday for today before we set off to see some sights. His train was on time, his check in was easy, and we were soon ready to set off for the delights of the funicular as he requested, followed by a taxi ride east along the coast to the little village of Boccadasse. This visit had been suggested by the Bar Royale Steward during a chat the previous evening. A friendly local taxi driver took us to the end of the promenade near the village, and we could then descend numerous cobbled steps down to the beach and find somewhere for a late lunch.

Boccadasse

Confetti on the steps

Steps up behind us

The views were beautiful around us and of the sea and the far mountains around the coastline; we could hear the sound of the sea crashing onto the rocks and beach below us before we arrived at the bottom of the steps. I saw confetti blown onto the steps outside several homes on the way down.

Sparkling sea and the lunch terrace

The sea again

It looked rough

A shell wall

At the bottom we decided to walk around the little beach and then up part of the other hillside, before coming back for a very late lunch at one of the beachside restaurants. We enjoyed all of that in the sunshine, but a brisk wind later sent us back up to the street-side promenade where we could call the taxi to come back for us. Out in the sea we noticed EUROCARGO SAVONA was at anchor, and then a Grimaldi vessel was sailing towards the port of Genoa.

Eurocargo Savona

A Grimaldi vessel

The day ended back at the hotel with drinks and dinner and chat about the day's events.

Tomorrow is the day MSC BELLISSIMA is due to arrive in Genoa, for us to check in and sail away for 3 nights on board.

Ships seen: Bithia, Majestic, Fantastic, Athara, Eurocargo Savona, a Grimaldi vessel

To be continued...

Thursday 14th March 2019
Breakfast in the beautifully-painted restaurant started the day well

Breakfast room ceiling
Copyright S. Morton

I smiled at this decorative piece
Copyright S. Morton

Looking down on the Lounge & Bar Royale
Copyright S. Morton

and my friend decided he wanted to go up in the funicular again to see if we could see MSC BELLISSIMA at the cruise terminal; we were soon walking along Via Balbi to the funicular and enjoying another trip up to Righi. We could see the ship, but the bare-branch trees hid some of our view.

Porto Antico area near the funicular
Copyright S. Morton

Up the funicular route
Copyright S. Morton

Snowy mountains in the distance

MSC Bellissima barely visible

We returned to the hotel, collected our luggage and our friendly local taxi driver took us to the Cruise Terminal.

Picture outside the Maritime Terminal

More ships

Even more ships

And a few more ships

I enjoyed looking at some of the large pictures in the building and we were soon through the checking-in procedures and heading on board this huge ship.

To be continued...

MSC BELLISSIMA is 171,598 gross tons, and can take a total number of 5,686 guests, with 1,564 crew members, 32 lifts, 4 pools and 19 decks. She has private passenger facilities in the MSC Yacht Club forward, on decks 16, 18 and 19. I had been allocated cabin 13324, an inside single aft port side, and it took a day to work out how to negotiate easily all the alleyways/corridors and turns needed to reach a landing with stairs and lifts. There were several 'dead-ends' on the route, which didn't help. On the way I noticed a large poster picture of the MSC ship I had previously sailed on - MELODY - which evoked a few memories, none of them good, so this new ship should be wonderful.

We had lunch in the Market Place restaurant and enjoyed walking around part of the ship, before preparing for Lifeboat drill and then Sailaway at 5 p.m. That was enjoyable as we sailed out of Genoa, with a big fire boat ahead of us sending spray high into the air before falling onto many of us passengers on deck. It hid the sight of some of the ferries on our port side now and again but as we turned and headed towards the harbour entrance I could see a good array of familiar ferries and take photographs.

Sailing from Genoa

Corsica Victoria, through spray from the water hoses

Corsica Victoria, still through spray

Moby Ale, Moby Baby Two

Ichnusa of Blu Navy

Something belonging to Balearia

GNV Cristal & Mega Express Two, as the spray caught me again

Mega Smeralda

Sardinia Vera

Ichnusa

That's a lovely sight

Moby Drea

Moby Otta

Moby Zaza

Dionea a little later

Le Rif

Le Rif in sunshine

Yacht Nero, built in 2007, and registered in the Cayman Islands

To be continued...

Once out at sea we could continue to look round and enjoy the ship before unpacking and changing for dinner. I enjoyed walking up the staircases in the Atrium because they had been created to show off the Swarovski crystals in each step. They were an amazing sight, especially with all the lighting focused on them. We arranged to meet at the Champagne Bar for a glass of something delicious before dining in the Restaurant Il Ciliegio. I haven't been able to get a translation for this Italian name, but the food, surroundings and staff were very good and we felt very welcome on board. Our dining companions were good company and we enjoyed celebrating the birthday of one of them, just the day after celebrating the birthday of my friend.

MSC's Melody

Deck plan escape route

Atrium dome and music

Swarovski stairs

Another dome show

Atrium view down
Copyright S. Morton

After dinner we continued looking around part of the ship and marvelling at the specially-created grand Dome Show on the ceiling of the Galleria Bellissima on deck 6. There are three shows every evening and I think we saw many of them during our trip. We managed to book tickets for the Cirque du Soleil at Sea in a couple of days time and are looking forward to that.

Looking through to the Atrium

Galleria Bellissima and the dome

Ice Cream shop

We think this was the Library

What I think was The Library was rather a surprise - just a few shelves of some books. I enjoyed seeing much of the artwork along the Galleria and around the Atrium, including an interesting and large moving piece at the Jean Philippe Chocolat & Cafe.

I loved this piece of moving artwork

Chocolate Shop

Chocolate Bar & Cafe

Entrance to the London Theatre

Another Dome show

I saw this in an alcove

Interesting bar seats

The dome

MSC Bellissima model

We joined the crowds of passengers promenading (this is an Italian ship after all) along the Galleria and visiting the shops, ice cream bar, chocolate bar and cafe, London Theatre, etc. I was so pleased to find that MSC have actually printed small pocket-sized ship plans and these proved very useful. They list details of Food & Beverage, Shopping, Spa & Beauty, Sport & Fitness and Entertainment. With an on-board wi-fi system available everywhere, and ship information available on all cabin and public screens, there was lots on offer for passengers.

Ships seen: Corsica Victoria, Moby Ale, Moby Baby Two, Ichnusa, Balearia, Mega Express Two, GNV Cristal, Sardinia Vera, Mega Smeralda, Moby Otta, Moby Zaza, Moby Drea, the Genoa Pilot boat, Dionea, Le Rif, yacht Nero built in 2007 registered in the Cayman Isles

To be continued...

Friday 15th March 2019
I woke early this morning, looked at the TV screen to find out where we were, and regretted that this ship doesn't appear to have a 'View from the Bridge' camera. That's a shame I thought, although I could see that we were speeding along towards Barcelona at 22 knots.

Cabin TV screen

Cabin 13324 location

I had previously photographed the cabin route out to the nearest landing/stairwell so I managed to get to breakfast in a better than expected time, which was reassuring. From the windows of the Marketplace buffet on deck 15 we could see the Spanish coast a few miles off on our starboard side and the weather looked good. We are due to dock in Barcelona at 12.30, so there is time this morning to look round more areas of the ship.

Up on deck 16 we saw more attractive artworks, the entrance to the Solarium and bags of whey available, the Virtual Games Arcade with an actual racing car which looked fun to drive, the Horizon pool and amphitheatre, and the pool deck.

I liked this

And this

Whey to go... (pun intended)

That looked fun

Horizon pool deck aft

The ship's wake

Earlier in the atrium area near the Champagne Bar on deck 7, I had looked round and noticed sick bags placed beside one of the art works I had admired the previous evening.

Sick bags and artwork

It seems that the seas had been quite rough overnight, and maybe the alcohol intake rather high too, so the bags were placed around in case they were needed.

The Atmosphere pool with North and South Bars was very popular with many passengers with ice-cream, food and drinks all near at hand. It was open but nicely sheltered with lots of poolside seating.

Atmosphere pool area

Sparkling pool water

Just forward of this was the Grand Canyon bar with huge chairs for comfortable individual seating. They were fun for morning coffee and watching the world go past in various ways.

We had planned to have lunch on board then go ashore and walk along to take a harbour tour. We watched the Barcelona Pilot come on board and then get us to our berth, before heading for the Restaurant.

Into Barcelona harbour

S.T.I.Hackney

Viking Star

Eurocargo Palermo

Grimaldi Spes

Volcan de Tinamar

Viking Jupiter

Viking Jupiter's stern, taken a little later

After leaving MSC BELLISSIMA we looked back up at it from the quayside and were amazed to notice a cabin balcony right above the Bridge on the port side. I had to blink and look again before realising that a passenger was actually standing on what must have been a Yacht Club cabin balcony. It was his/her movement that must have caught our attention up above the Bridge.

Cabin Balcony above Bridge

Person on Balcony above Bridge

The sun was hot and comfortable as we strolled along towards the other part of the harbour beyond the bridge. We had good views of the ships as we crossed the bridge and headed towards the little vessels offering harbour tours.

MSC Bellissima from the harbour bridge

On our way I persuaded my friend to walk with me into the ferry terminal on our route and he was amazed to see several ship models. I think he now realises how fascinating they can be both to see and to travel on, and I know he enjoyed seeing the cutaway model of one of them with all the tiny passengers, cars, lorries etc. standing beside the model ship in the glass case.

At the harbour tours quayside the popular OMNIBUS was there so we bought tickets and climbed on board, and were soon heading round the inner harbour and under the bridge. It was enjoyable taking photographs from sea level for a change.

Our ship from water level

Viking Jupiter

Barcelona World Trade Centre

Open Arms
copyright S. Morton

After disembarking from OMNIBUS we just had to visit the flea market that had been set up near the quayside, with so many eye-catching things glittering in the sunlight. Nearby again was the local bus that took us back to the cruise ship terminals and we were soon on board.

We met again later at the Champagne Bar and a glass of Prosecco was soon put in front of me. Dinner was good again, although the people we met at the table last night had left the ship today. Tonight we noticed that some passengers were refused entry to the Restaurant because of their too casual daytime clothing.

Question mark stools

I liked this comparison

One of the entertainment staff

After dinner we joined the usual promenaders in the Galleria Bellissima, and realised that part of the evening's entertainment was suggesting passengers dressed in 1960/1970s style, to match the Flower Glory Party theatre show. Some of the entertainment staff were dressed accordingly, but a couple of the ones I saw looked rather bored. Fortunately, up in the Sky Lounge we could enjoy the music of the jazz duo, and sample the delights of an Aperol Spritz. Tomorrow we visit Marseilles in France, so that should be another interesting day.

Ships seen: Viking Jupiter delivered a month ago in February 2019, Viking Star, Eurocargo Palermo, Baltic Chief I, STI Hackney, Grimaldi Spes, Armas Volcan de Tinamar, Omnibus for the harbour tour, L'Audace,

To be continued...

Saturday 16th March 2019
On board MSC BELLISSIMA it was another lovely warm and sunny morning as we arrived at our berth in Marseille after sailing overnight from Barcelona.

Looking aft towards the inner port

Once I was on deck I could look out and see the dry dock that I remember so well from December 2011. Back then I was on board COSTA DELIZIOSA for a short cruise of 4 nights from Savona which turned into a shorter cruise into a Marseille dry dock but with free excursions and fun on board. (See Costa Deliziosa 18th December 2011). Today after breakfast we walked round to see a little more of this new ship, and enjoyed coffee in the Horizon Pool Bar area.

Grand Canyon pool bar area

Fun seats; at first glance they reminded me of Cadbury's milk chocolate finger biscuits

The big seats were a fun design and comfortable, although with a tendency to make me slide down towards the floor. This was in port, I hasten to add.

We also found a large model of the up-coming MSC World Class ships, the first of which is due in 2022. It has a radical design bow, will carry 6,774 passengers at 205,700 gross tons.

Upcoming World Class ship

Details of World Class

Photograph

Deck scene

Reflections, right above me

My friend was having a sea day, and didn't want to go ashore here in Marseille, so I set off on the shuttle bus with my costly ticket.

Ship's bow

MSC Bellissima from the quayside

Viking Star at a nearby berth

The VIKING STAR was berthed on the other side of the quay. The route through the docks was odd, as we seemed to have very little room on either side of the coach between the security fences. I think it was just a single lane route, and occasionally we were very near the ships alongside the quay - but with fencing between us. I could see some familiar ferries but they were quite difficult to photograph because of the line of sight. I hope to be luckier on my way back because I imagine this lane has got to be one way only, but time will tell.

Pascal Paoli and Girolata

Algerie Ferries Tariq Ibn Ziyad

Vizzavona of Corsica Ferries

Her stern ramps

Vizzavona round the other side - I thought we were close, to get all these views

Here we are at the shuttle drop-off place

To be concluded...

16th March 2019 Marseille
Shuttle bus passengers were dropped off near a Ferris wheel in a vast and empty parking area. I didn't recognise where we were at first but was directed towards the harbour, and soon knew where I wanted to go: along the side of the water leading to the inner harbour where the fishermen sell their produce each morning. Crowds of Saturday shoppers or strollers were enjoying the hot sunshine here in the south of France, and it was fascinating to walk along the quayside or under the arcades in deep shade.

Under a shady arcade

It's a miraculous fish soup...

Blue sky and white tree

Le Ferry Boat

Halfway along the quay I saw what I hoped to find: the cross-harbour little Le Ferry Boat was running. I was soon on board, paid my fare, and enjoyed looking around. It takes 45 people maximum but I was one of about a dozen.

View

The water sparkled, and we soon set off and a few minutes later arrived on the other side. I disembarked and then joined a little queue of people waiting to return to my first boarding point. Well, that was all enjoyable.

I walked back to the shuttle drop-off point and prepared to get what ship photographs I could on the coach journey way back to the ship.

Walking back to the coach park - the Cathedral

Another view

Piana

Vizzavona

As I walked into the coach park the red-hulled VIZZAVONA sailed out of the harbour at speed so I was fortunate to be able to turn my camera and capture that. The journey back proved fairly worthwhile, even at speed and with the unexpected route.

Mediterranee

MN on the hull

A Superfast vessel

Back on board I enjoyed a very late lunch before returning to my cabin. Later on I met my friend and during a promenade around the ship a little later we discovered some lovely ship models in glass cases; these included MSC MAGNIFICA, MSC GRANDIOSA, MSC BELLISSIMA, MSC SEASIDE and MSC MERAVIGLIA.

MSC Magnifica

MSC Grandiosa

MSC Seaside

MSC Meraviglia

MSC Bellissima

We met again in our favourite Champagne Bar before dinner, enjoying our last evening on board.

Tonight we have a booking for the Cirque Du Soleil at Sea show, which sounds really exciting. The performance is called 'Varelia - Love in full colour' and is described as 'a tale of modern chivalry where love and courage triumph over the greatest divides'. The doors of the Carousel Lounge Deck 7 opened at 21.45 and we were soon in our allotted seats very near to the raised circular stage. Passengers were also able to book seats at raised dining tables at the back of the Lounge and have a meal there, but they seemed very expensive for such a distant view of the performance. We were given a drink as we arrived and that was just as good, and we were able to look around and watch the high level screens showing interesting light displays before the show started. Then the music started and it was time to watch the performance right in front of us - we enjoyed it all hugely.

Ships seen: MSC Bellissima, Viking Star, Girolata, Superfast something, an MN vessel, Mediterranee, Piana, Pascal Paoli, Tariq Ibn Ziyad of Algerie Ferries, Vizzavona of Corsica Linea, Le Ferry Boat in Marseille harbour

Sunday 17th March 2019
This morning we sailed back into Genoa harbour, under a sunny sky again. We disembarked and walked up to the Railway Station where my friend was to get a train on his way home. I caught a free bus taking me to the airport, where I could enjoy a last Italian coffee before flying back to England. It had been an enjoyable and interesting short trip on this brand-new ship MSC BELLISSIMA.

MSC Bellissima

ORIANA, 28th June 2019

I am a member of the international Ocean Liner Society and was one of the people who booked to join other members on the planned annual cruise on board P&O's ORIANA for a farewell cruise, lasting a week. She is due to leave the fleet in a few weeks time and many of us were interested in sailing on her for the last time. I planned to travel to Southampton on the day before sailing, and checked on marinetraffic.com that morning, to see that the ship was approaching the Channel Island of Guernsey. That seemed fine and I looked forward to seeing her on Friday.

Thursday 27th June 2019
I travelled to Southampton and soon checked into my hotel and left my little suitcase. It felt odd not to have a rucksack on my back, with minimum weight, but I could indulge myself and take several different outfits for my week on board ORIANA - what a novelty.

I had been invited to meet a couple for dinner at a local hostelry and they sent me a message to say that the sea around Guernsey was too rough to launch the ORIANA tenders so the call there had been abandoned. The subsequent message was to tell me that the ship then had a medical emergency and would be returning to Southampton that very evening and was due in just after 9.00 p.m.

P&O's ship Oriana sailing towards the Mayflower Terminal

We sat at a dinner table on the first floor of the Dancing Man Brewery looking out of a big window when we suddenly noticed ORIANA sailing past and heading slowly for her berth at Mayflower Terminal. It was nearly 9 p.m. but the light was enough for a photograph and then to spot another friend walking along the pavement below. I had already been surprised to find out that this hostelry was originally what I knew as the old Maritime Museum, with its wonderful ship models and displays. I think back then the main thing I coveted was a very large model of the CAPETOWN CASTLE, which was so detailed I think I could have pointed out my cabin when I worked on her as a Union-Castle Line Purserette - oh my, memories, memories. Back to here and now, as we managed to contact our Danish friend down on the pavement and persuade him to come and join us for a meal.

That was a pleasant evening which ended with a short tourist trail around several of the city wall remains and a visit to the 14th century Red Lion, in Below Bar; I remember it as a favourite establishment in the 1960s where sea-going Union-Castle staff would sometimes meet on the night before sailing, on a Friday at 1.00 p.m.

Ships seen: Oriana, Red Funnel vessels heading to and from the Isle of Wight, various cargo vessels entering or leaving the port with tug assistance

Friday 28th June 2019
My Danish friend was staying at the same hotel as me, and over breakfast I suggested he might like to take a little ferry to Hythe from Town Quay, as he could add it to his Ship List for the year. He was immediately happy with that idea, so we checked out and left luggage at the hotel, and walked down to the water. We saw huge container ships further along Southampton Water, and I warned him that the Hythe ferry was much smaller. We saw the Red Funnel passenger ships heading to and from the Isle of Wight, and I said the Hythe ferry was smaller than these. We saw the fast catamarans heading to and from the Isle of Wight, and again I said the Hythe ferry was smaller than them.

By the time we had passed the Town Quay location of our Union-Castle Line offices way back in 1998 when the re-launched Union-Castle Line was preparing for the Centenary Voyage, my Danish friend was starting to wonder just what he was to sail on. He soon found out when we bought tickets for the little Hythe ferry called JENNY BLUE. She is of small and unknown tonnage but is 13 metres long and is standing in on the route at present due to 'safety issues' with one of the other Hythe ferries. It was a warm and sunny day and a pleasant way to spend 20 minutes on the sparkling water as we sailed over to the little village of Hythe, on the west side of Southampton Water.

At Hythe the ferry berths at the end of the 700 yards long Pier, which carries a railway along the track to the centre of town. The original railway was built in 1909 but the current electrified rails were laid in 1922 with a 2 feet wide narrow gauge. There is a wide board walk beside the line which is a pleasant alternative to the ancient but equally pleasant wooden railway carriages. I always enjoy this little trip to Hythe and would recommend it to anyone wishing to photograph any cruise ships in Southampton port or sailing in and out.
(more information can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe_Pier,_Railway_and_Ferry)

There was time for coffee and a walk around in the sunshine, before walking back to the end of the Pier and catching the JENNY BLUE back to Town Quay in Southampton. That was a delightful way to spend a morning before heading back to the hotel to collect luggage and then get a taxi to Mayflower Cruise terminal to join the good ship ORIANA for her 7 day Iberian Cruise.

Ships seen: Red Funnel ships going to and from the Isle of Wight, Jenny Blue going to and from Hythe Pier

To be continued...

Ferrying in Greece 2019

Friday 13th September 2019
It was still dark as I flew out of London Gatwick airport at 05.35 on a damp English morning with my small rucksack in the rack above my seat. I was on a new Airbus A320 aircraft heading out to Athens. Tea and porridge were soon served (thanks easyJet), before sleep overtook most of us on the flight. Three and a half hours later we arrived in hot bright sunshine in Athens airport, and I headed off to the bus stop to take me to the port of Rafina.

Waiting at the stop I got talking with a group of British teachers also going to Rafina. They were planning to get the ferry out from there to Marmari, just an hour's sail across the water, to attend the wedding of friends. By this time I'd had texts from Greek ferry booking agents to tell me that high winds in Greece were going to prevent my booked sailings in the near future. I told the teachers about this so at least they were warned.

Once in Rafina I could feel the effects of the ever-strengthening wind and hurried to my accommodation. By this time all ferries had been cancelled leaving Rafina, including my first sailing early tomorrow morning.

I walked back into the port area and checked with the local ferry agent about sailings and she said everything had been cancelled due to very high winds. I was advised to come back tomorrow. I decided to watch the ship arrivals from a safe place.

Ships seen: Fast Ferries Andros rolled in and berthed, Panorama actually sailed over to Marmari, Sea Jets Paros Jet, Fast Ferries Hellenic Highspeed arrived off the port and had the utmost difficulty in coming astern to tie up.

I watched the Hellenic Highspeed try to turn and come astern. I stood probably 200 yards back from the quayside, in a safe and sheltered place, as I think the wind would have blown me over otherwise. The wind was blowing her all over the place, as she edged astern; ropes were thrown and fixed; more ropes were thrown and kept loose; she was trying to get astern and also to get her port side close to the quay. It took her 35 minutes to do this, with 16 ropes on her port side, and finally her ramps were lowered and the cars and vehicles were hurried off the ship. Foot passengers came down the allocated ramps and staggered across the quays, whether from seasickness or the strong winds or both, I don't know. The engines were stopped, the ramps came up partway and she was finally home for the duration.