Cruise travel Article
1
32 CRUISE SPECIAL First-time cruiser LISA BELL tries out a European cruise on board Fred. Olsen’s Line’s January 2011 Travel News Balmoral, and discovers that finding enough to do on board was never going to be a problem I ALWAYS thought whoever was responsible for the phrase ‘It’s not the destination its the journey was obviously completely insane. I have always maintained that travelling is horrendous and merely a compulsory, tedious task one must endure in order to get to their destination. However, I have now come to the conclusion that this person is not insane but quite obviously had been on a Fred. Olsen cruise, for what ajourney they offer! As a first-time cruiser, I had some reservations at the prospect of being stuck at sea for a week. Surely there wouldn’t be enough to keep me entertained? With some apprehension I boarded the Balmoral, the largest ship of Fred. Olseifs fleet, for a cruise to lberWMorrocco; calling at Oporto, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Cadiz and L.a Coruna. With T,300 passengers and ~oo crew members, Balmoral is considered to be small, by today’s standards, yet its size serves to add to the intimate, homely atmosphere that is customary with Fred. Olsen. The Balmoral boasts four large restaurants, three spacious and comfortable lounges, two bars, two swimming pools, several hot tubs, a library and a state of the art fitness centre and spa3 as well as a wide range of activities and entertainment to suit all tastes. After boarding, I was escorted to my cabin by a fliendly crew member and no sooner had I opened the door to observe a spacious room with beautiful sea views, and happily acknowledged the generous fruit basket on my table, had my suitcase arrived at the door kindly delivered by yet another friendly crew member. So prompt! I was extremely impressed and the good impressions didnt end there. Settling into my cabin and eagerly tucking into the grapes, I began to read through the information supplied in my room, namely the Daily Times; Fred. Olsen’s own daily newspaper’ informing guests of an extensive list of activities taking place each day, nightly entertainment dress code for the evening and any + other important notices. After a quick scan through this I knew that my first two days at sea would not be spent idle. And so where to begin? After indulging in a delicious buffet breakfast I assessed my options for the day ahead. ~~hould I go to craft class? Perhaps attempt a morning quiz? Try my hand at a dance class? There was so much choice that I got myself into a bit of a frenzy. I scttled for a Pilates class and a workout in the gym in an attempt to burn off breakfast The afternoon offered just as much choice with lectures, table tennis, bingo. even golfi Not to mention the options of moseying around the shops on board, having high tea on the top dcck or merely enjoying walking around the ship taking in the interesting art work the Olsen’s personal collection). As we were just somewhere off the south coast of England in late November, it was just a little too premature to check out the swimming pool. By the end of the first day I knew that all previous tiepidations were well and truly unnecessary. I soon discovered that one of my favourite past times on the ship would be eating. What a spread the ship offered. Breakfast was a selection of cereals, pastries, fruit, yoghurt and of course a fried breakfast Lunch was a mouth-watering buffet of maximum choice and I was most impressed by the dinner menu each evening; fresh fish, pork belly, lamb, veal and even reindeer were just some of the options available, alongside a vegetarian dish and the obligatory British Dish of the Day. After a superb four course meal and cocktails in the Neptune lounge where I enjoyed a fantastic perfonnance from Michael Bacala, violinist, I went to bed after my first successful day at sea, happy and extremely relaxed. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing pun intended), as something I oddly didn’t take into consideration, happened. A storm. At approximately 3. am we found ourselves in the middle of a foree i gale ia is they highest they go. I woke up disorientated as the ship was rocking at crazy magnitude, it was impossible to sleep and all my energy went into trying to not be sick. It got worse as the time went on and soon items were flying off my dressing table like a scene out of Poltergeist. It was very disconcerting. I staggered my way to breakfast to find that many of the older passengers on board were unperturbed by the disturbances, making me feel like a huge pansy. Thankfully, a fellow journalist I had befriended had taken to her cabin vomiting relentlessl), proving I wasn’t being over-dramatic. I was very grateful to her After a long day I was oveijoyed when at boo pm the swaying stopped and normality was resumed, but I couldn’t wait to get off the boat and on to dry land the~ next day when we docked at Oporto in Portugal. Each evening prior to shore excursions the Daily Times is issued with helpfUl details of the destination; currency, local time, distance to town, points of interest, etc. I was booked on the port wine and Douro river cruise which was an enjoyable and informative tour of this historic European city. Known ~vor1dwide for its port wine, naturally I took a tour of Sandeman cellars and indulged in a little bit of tasting. Oporto is the second largest city in Portugal and a registered World 1-leritage site, so there is plenty to see and do but unfortunately we were berthed here for just a fesv hours. Temperatures were in and around 17 degrees, not overly warm, but pleasant enough to stroll comfortably around, The following day was spent at sea as we set sail for Casablanca, Morrocco. Temperatures were rising, and the sea was like glass, a winning combination and perfect time for mc to sample the ship’s swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Several happy hours were spent here on the top deck, with the sea air whipping through ray hair and the sun shining on top of mc. I managed to squeeze in some more Pilates and a gym session to compensate for the hearty meals I “as consuming ever) day - a browse around the on-board boutiques and finished off the day with a bottle of wine on the top deck watching the sun set over the sea (which my Daily Times informed me would be happening at 524pm). ~Ve arrived at Casablanca early morning and I set off for my tour to Marrakesh, which was a three and a “I half- hour coach journey - it sounds long but it ‘vas worth it Marrakesh is the tourist capital of Morrocco and it’s easy to see why. Steeped in culture there is an abundance of palaces, mosques, religious sites and museums to peruse. I was keen to sample the shopping particularly with Marralcesh boasting the largest soak (market) in Morrocco. So after a traditional and delicious Morroccan lunch we headed off to the souk. ltwas bustling with vendors, tourists, musicians and crazy drivers on mopeds. Conul on Opposite Page LEFT: Ooe of the colourftil stalls at the souk in Marrakesh WELCOME TO THE ROCK You can’t visit Gibraltar without rneeting up close one of the Rock’s inquisitive Barbary apes as our coach driver found out... A $4 HOMELY: Balmoral had an intimate homely atmosphere, the writer discovered I’ SHOPPER’S SPECIAL The writer enjoying some retail therapy on the sightseeing tour to Maim +1
description
My travel article from my Iberian Cruise for NI Travel News
Transcript of Cruise travel Article
32 CRUISE SPECIAL
First-time cruiser LISA BELL tries out aEuropean cruise on board Fred. Olsen’s Line’s
January 2011 Travel News
Balmoral, and discovers that finding enough todo on board was never going to be a problem
I ALWAYS thought whoever was responsiblefor the phrase ‘It’s not the destination its thejourney was obviously completely insane. I
have always maintained that travelling ishorrendous and merely a compulsory, tedioustask one must endure in order to get to theirdestination. However, I have now come to theconclusion that this person is not insane butquite obviously had been on a Fred. Olsencruise, for what ajourney they offer!
As a first-time cruiser, I had some reservations atthe prospect of being stuck at sea for a week. Surelythere wouldn’t be enough to keep me entertained?With some apprehension I boarded the Balmoral, thelargest ship of Fred. Olseifs fleet, for a cruise tolberWMorrocco; calling at Oporto, Casablanca,Gibraltar, Cadiz and L.a Coruna. With T,300
passengers and ~oo crew members, Balmoral isconsidered to be small, by today’s standards, yet itssize serves to add to the intimate, homely atmospherethat is customary with Fred. Olsen.
The Balmoral boasts four large restaurants, threespacious and comfortable lounges, two bars, twoswimming pools, several hot tubs, a library and a stateof the art fitness centre and spa3 as well as a widerange of activities and entertainment to suit all tastes.
After boarding, I was escorted to my cabin by afliendly crew member and no sooner had I opened thedoor to observe a spacious room with beautiful seaviews, and happily acknowledged the generous fruitbasket on my table, had my suitcase arrived at thedoor kindly delivered by yet another friendly crewmember. So prompt! I was extremely impressed andthe good impressions didnt end there.
Settling into my cabin and eagerly tucking into thegrapes, I began to read through the informationsupplied in my room, namely the Daily Times; Fred.Olsen’s own daily newspaper’ informing guests of anextensive list of activities taking place each day, nightlyentertainment dress code for the evening and any+ other important notices. After a quick scan throughthis I knew that my first two days at sea would not bespent idle.
And so where to begin? After indulging in adelicious buffet breakfast I assessed my options for theday ahead. ~~hould I go to craft class? Perhapsattempt a morning quiz? Try my hand at a danceclass? There was so much choice that I got myselfinto a bit of a frenzy.
I scttled for a Pilates class and a workout in thegym in an attempt to burn off breakfast Theafternoon offered just as much choice with lectures,table tennis, bingo. even golfi Not to mention theoptions of moseying around the shops on board,having high tea on the top dcck or merely enjoyingwalking around the ship taking in the interesting artwork the Olsen’s personal collection).
As we were just somewhere off the south coast ofEngland in late November, it was just a little toopremature to check out the swimming pool. By theend of the first day I knew that all previoustiepidations were well and truly unnecessary.
I soon discovered that one of my favourite pasttimes on the ship would be eating. What a spread theship offered. Breakfast was a selection of cereals,pastries, fruit, yoghurt and of course a fried breakfastLunch was a mouth-watering buffet of maximumchoice and I was most impressed by the dinner menueach evening; fresh fish, pork belly, lamb, veal andeven reindeer were just some of the options available,alongside a vegetarian dish and the obligatory BritishDish of the Day. After a superb four course meal andcocktails in the Neptune lounge where I enjoyed afantastic perfonnance from Michael Bacala, violinist, Iwent to bed after my first successful day at sea, happyand extremely relaxed.
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing pun intended),as something I oddly didn’t take into consideration,happened. A storm. At approximately 3. am wefound ourselves in the middle of a foree i gale ia isthey highest they go. I woke up disorientated as theship was rocking at crazy magnitude, it wasimpossible to sleep and all my energy went into tryingto not be sick. It got worse as the time went on andsoon items were flying off my dressing table like ascene out of Poltergeist. It was very disconcerting.
I staggered my way to breakfast to find that manyof the older passengers on board were unperturbed bythe disturbances, making me feel like a huge pansy.Thankfully, a fellow journalist I had befriended hadtaken to her cabin vomiting relentlessl), proving Iwasn’t being over-dramatic. I was very grateful to herAfter a long day I was oveijoyed when at boo pm theswaying stopped and normality was resumed, but Icouldn’t wait to get off the boat and on to dry land the~next day when we docked at Oporto in Portugal.
Each evening prior to shore excursions the DailyTimes is issued with helpfUl details of the destination;currency, local time, distance to town, points ofinterest, etc. I was booked on the port wine andDouro river cruise which was an enjoyable andinformative tour of this historic European city.
Known ~vor1dwide for its port wine, naturally Itook a tour of Sandeman cellars and indulged in alittle bit of tasting. Oporto is the second largest city inPortugal and a registered World 1-leritage site, sothere is plenty to see and do but unfortunately wewere berthed here for just a fesv hours. Temperatureswere in and around 17 degrees, not overly warm, butpleasant enough to stroll comfortably around,
The following day was spent at sea as we set sail forCasablanca, Morrocco. Temperatures were rising,and the sea was like glass, a winning combination andperfect time for mc to sample the ship’s swimming
pool and Jacuzzi. Several happy hours were spenthere on the top deck, with the sea air whippingthrough ray hair and the sun shining on top of mc. Imanaged to squeeze in some more Pilates and a gymsession to compensate for the hearty meals I “asconsuming ever) day - a browse around the on-boardboutiques and finished off the day with a bottle ofwine on the top deck watching the sun set over thesea (which my Daily Times informed me would behappening at 524pm).
~Ve arrived at Casablanca early morning and I setoff for my tour to Marrakesh, which was a three and a
“I
half- hour coach journey - it sounds long but it ‘vasworth it Marrakesh is the tourist capital ofMorrocco and it’s easy to see why. Steeped in culturethere is an abundance of palaces, mosques, religioussites and museums to peruse. I was keen to samplethe shopping particularly with Marralcesh boastingthe largest soak (market) in Morrocco. So after atraditional and delicious Morroccan lunch we headedoff to the souk. ltwas bustling with vendors, tourists,musicians and crazy drivers on mopeds.
Conul on Opposite Page
LEFT: Ooe of thecolourftil stalls at thesouk in Marrakesh
WELCOMETO THE ROCK You
can’t visit Gibraltarwithout rneeting up
close one of theRock’s inquisitive
Barbary apes as ourcoach driver found
out...
A$4
HOMELY: Balmoral had an intimate homely atmosphere, the writer discovered I’
SHOPPER’S SPECIAL The writer enjoying some retail therapy on the sightseeing tour to Maim
+1
