| Back outside, the guide told us the Grimm fairy story, The Town Musicians of Bremen (Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten) wasn't true after one of the Americans in our group recanted the story. We continued our walk around, including a stop at Atlantis House, which was connected to the back of the Hilton Hotel. After the big cathedral, we had an hour free time. Due to our late start, we had to be back on the bus at 1pm instead of 12.30pm but a few of us, including a small group from California who had been on since the previous cruise. |
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| As we waited for the rest, the subject of the royals came up again. All William, Kate, Harry, Diana and Queen fans but despise Charles and Camilla. They were far more passionate about them than the Brits are. Everyone was back well before time, which is amazing! We headed back to the port but were caught in a tailback for fifteen minutes due to an accident. I hope the people involved were okay. The Lloyd Werft yard, which refurbed QE2 from steam to diesel and where Norway was berthed between 2003-2005 after her engine explosion, was behind the cruise port. Sadly no cruise ships were in dry dock. They opened up Gate 5 for the influx of passengers and several rushed over. |
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| Due to so many being back at once, I decided not to fight for food and somewhere to sit in the Windjammer so ordered room service while enjoying the view of Astor on the webcam. It wouldn't be the last time we would be in port together as she was also due to be in Le Havre, bit not this up close and personal. |
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| Our departure was 4pm and at least it was dry and sunny. It had also warmed up somewhat too. The terminal was packed with people waving us off while music blared from the tannoy. A sailing ship called Mercedes was out watching, following for a while after we'd turned and were heading towards open water. |
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| After such an early start, it was time for a kip. I just love those pillows. Sooooooooooooooo comfy meaning I can sleep well. I broke an ear when I was eight years old meaning hard ones cause pain. I got up at 8pm and went to the Schooner Bar before dinner. Back to just me at the table but I'm quite happy. As I was walking out of the Aquarius, I spotted something bright in the distance so popped onto the very windy Prom deck. It was the brand new Celebrity Reflection undergoing sea trials. I'd had texts from my dad and friends, Ailsa Dixon and Oskar Osmundsen, but there was no signal so pure luck I spotted her. Then it was back to the cabin. |
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| Amsterdam would be my third time on that ship, but unlike 2009 and 2011, it wasn't overnight and would be going to the UK instead of from. We were in the lock at stupid o'clock, her thrusters waking me up and keeping me in that state. It wasn't even 5.30am and far too early. Once we emerged, it was blissfully quiet so I was able to sleep a bit longer. The weather was appalling! Gloomy, windy, raining with far too many people still onboard. Ugh! Go and get some Dutch culture! After breakfast, I took my laptop to the Some Enchanted Evening Lounge, since the internet blurb said it was wifi in there. I'd bought 100 minutes a few days before but this was the first chance I had to use it. Like Celebrity, you sign up via the computer centre rather than a general screen on your own machine. It's actually very confusing because you choose and username and password then nothing. It didn't take you to another screen to chose your time plan. Anyway, the wireless wouldn't connect in there meaning I had to find somewhere else which was a pain. Usually I take my net book but I had work to do for my site so took the old laptop, whose battery lasts roughly an hour. Sockets were few and far between in the Centrum, as was anywhere really comfortable, since you had a choice of laptop burns on your lap or leaning forward with it on a very low table. The woman at Guest Services didn't seem to care they advertise a wifi area which isn't. Afterwards, I found a Crown & Anchor Platinum pin on the bed. Great! Why couldn't I have got it during my last cruise???? |
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| The Schooner Bar was dead and I mulled over what to do while watching a woman outside battling an umbrella. Since the weather was up and down, I decided to do the ship photos while it was apparently dry. It was much colder than it had been when I was there almost two weeks before to board Constellation. Much quieter too. |
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| Lunch and it was still too busy onboard. Today, in the salad selection, was a fab tandoori potato salad! I just had to take a bowl of it back to the cabin after I'd finished. The Windjammer's location on this class of ship is my favourite. It's great to eat and watch the world go by rather than stuck at the stern. |
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| Our 6pm departure was delayed due to tour groups returning late. Despite the gangway being removed at 6.15pm, we weren't leaving for another half hour, due to arrive at IJmuiden lock around 9pm. While we waited, I went to the shore excursions desk and got a refund for my tour in Le Havre. With my back twinging, there was no way I could do it now. It was a good tour too, something different to the usual Paris no other line (even Celebrity) offer. Oh well. It was amazing how many people were sat in the casino waiting for it to open. Back out and there was an amazing rainbow! Going to the top deck in the rain, you could see it was double but the second was very faint. A shame it was impossible to get the ship completely framed by it without doing it through a window. It stopped raining by the time we pulled way while the rainbow was disappearing under the clouds. |
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| The Captain came on to announce, due to traffic, we now would beach the lock at 10pm so were averaging two knots the entire trip, occasionally reaching a speedy five - wow! Unbelievably, many people were waiting for the shops to open too. By the time I went to drop the gratuities form off at Guest Services, there were even more in the casino waiting. I never could understand why people waste their cruise in there day in, day out when there is so much to do. A small flutter is one thing but these people get food and drink taken to them. Why not just spend the money they would have on a cruise in their local casino in the first place? It was part one of the '70s night in the Centrum, one thing I found annoying on Jewel and was disappointed it had now spread to Vision. Part two would be later in the Viking Crown Lounge, when and where is always used to be. Then dinner. They were doing really well with my dietary requirement and even made a salad to order for me since I couldn't have what was on the menu. We reached the lock about 10.25pm and were out twenty minutes later. It was the Quest tonight, but my back was hurting so I rested in the cabin instead - boo! |
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