Vision of the Seas - 7 Night Copenhagen To Southampton

Vision of the Seas - 7 Night Copenhagen to Southampton

Zeebrugge! Since 2007, I had been here fifteen times, including this day, and five of those were this year with two more to come! I'm probably one of the port's most frequent visitors so deserve an award such as Freedom of the Port of Zeebrugge and Bloody Blondie! Yes, the blonde bastard security bloke who stops you taking photos of your own ship, or worse, stands there, arms folded, watching silently to intimidate, was back on the dockside ready to harass people. No one else does this, only him with his superiority complex. He was like a wild animal in June when I was there on QM2, even going after people in his car. July he stalked me from one end of Oriana to the other before turning his attention on an old lady. Awful man. After breakfast I braved his obsession but managed to get the bow shots plus walk all the way up to AIDAmar with no problems. Security guards by the German ship were more than happy to let photos be taken. However, when I returned to the bow of Ducky, I heard a radio behind me and saw him lurking. His colleague wasn't stopping anyone but all you had to do was look at your ship and Blondie would pounce. Piss off, Blondie, you jumped up twat!

I went back to bed and surprisingly slept until 2pm. There had been a crew drill which ended with one solitary blast on the horn. I went to the Schooner Bar for a drink. It was fairly quiet except for an American woman playing Farkle with friends. You could barely hear what they were saying but Foghorn Gob was so loud you wanted to glue her mouth shut. She would criticise her friends' dice rolls and when she won, she got louder. Oh you really wanted her to talk a walk - on the OUTSIDE of the ship! When she wanted to play again, she got a unanimous no which made her moan as they left, her hubby wearing an obvious curly wig. Not quite as hilarious as the American perma-tanned botox man from the bus trip to the ship in Copenhagen but still funny. I joined some quieter Americans from my Bremerhaven tour and their friend Lynn, who was a nurse. We did the quiz, getting 11/20 which wasn't bad and better than their 1/20 the previous day. They then all went to bingo while I went to sailaway which was windy and cold but dry. When I went back in, I noticed the band were playing to no one, poor things.

Time for some shopping! Outside, I ended up being persuaded to take a raffle ticket for a draw to win a Cote d'Azur watch and jewellery set. I'd bought one a couple of weeks before on Constellation to help use up the $125 onboard credit so didn't really want another. I was still there talking when the raffle began at 6.30pm, surrounded by women practically salivating for a piece of costume jewellery you can buy for $20. Ticket after ticket was pulled with no one coming forward to claim their prize then mine came up! Course you need to be anorexic to wear the watch but the rest would be nice on formal night, which tonight was but I couldn't be bothered taking it out of the box. There was another Crown & Anchor party but with so many members of this trip, I couldn't be bothered. Just had a shower and relaxed until dinner. Afterwards, our speed was over 23 knots - wooo! Get waddling, Ducky!

I woke up at 2.45am and stupidly used the phone to check the AIS. I say stupidly, only because of the cost using the mobile at sea. Not so stupid when it showed Astor was on our port side. We were both due to arrive in Le Havre for 7am but we seemed to be overtaking. I threw some clothes and my coat on and went to the Prom deck where I saw her - miles away! Back in and sleep.

My alarm was set for 6am but when it went off, we were already alongside. There was still Astor to arrive - I hoped! I went up top and was chatting to a Canadian pilot at Halifax cruise port as the ship arrived. He and his wife also had port holes with a massive window ledge. It was dry but bloody cold!

Breakfast and a warm up! Orlando hadn't done the cabin so I did the internet. Rather annoyingly, unlike other lines, it doesn't tell you how much time you have left when you log off or an option to buy more when you log in. There was a quick flash of something after I'd logged in but I had no idea what it said. Could have been free cruises for life for all I know. I had overheard a lady the day before say to her mother she was just cut off when the time ran out. So back to the cabin at 8.30am, which still hadn't been done. Sod it then. I'm going back to sleep, which I did until just before noon. Lunch with a great view then on shore for photos. It was via deck 1 until 4pm when they were changing to mountaineering up to deck 4 - eeek!

Back on and a drink in the VERY quiet Schooner Bar. It was just me and the bar lady. Astor was sailing at 1.30pm so it was one way to kill time. We talked about Vision's new refit date, the things done to Splendour, how internet and phone would be miles better, especially for crew and many other things. Back outside for the departure and Astor was on time, only blowing her horn in response to the harbour patrol. It was nice to hear but she could have done it regardless.

I had my disembarkation labels but it was Green 21 instead of 3 (Crown & Anchor Platinum and above). Also, despite handing in the form to add gratuities, I was left pre-paid envelopes. The form said to take advantage of pre-paid so I thought nothing of it. I went to change my luggage tag then relaxed for the rest of the afternoon until going to the Schooner at 6.30pm to give Orlando time to do the room but when I returned the envelope was still there. He said it was empty and thought I'd changed my mind. They all were so why deliver them???? I tried explaining about the form but he became very rude. "We believe you," he said snidely. Considering he and his mate were often just standing around talking the entire week, didn't change ANY towels, including the shower mat (which was filthy after constantly being left there and walked on by him when I wanted a clean one) even when thrown into the shower, did the room when they felt like it or rushed you out like the first night, he was bloody lucky I was giving him anything at all. No problems with anyone else, only him which was a shame. It was the International Parade of Flags at 8pm, which is one of my favourite parts on Vision. She did them on the shorts too but Navigator or Indy didn't so I have no idea whether they do it on longer trips. I don't remember it listed on Jewel when I went to the Baltics. During my first cruise on this ship in 2008, the then Captain, Stein Bjornheim, led everyone, proudly flying his Norwegian flag. The Captains during the previous two cruises were barely seen anywhere. So it was wonderful seeing the present one, Srecko Ban, leading with his Croatian flag and having a great time down there as Captain Bjornheim had. This is one reason I LOVE the brands of RCCL. Most officers muck in with events rather than being aloof and haughty. On some ships of other lines, you don't even see the cruise director all cruise, but their deputy. A happy ship, they say, comes from the top and it certainly shows on the RCCL ships I have sailed on. Dinner afterwards and they'd decided to do open seating to fit everyone in after the long trips to Paris. Pity it was still virtually empty. There was no departure announcement from the Captain like the other ports. Instead we just slipped away from the berth and for some reason, the Prom deck lights kept going on and off. Back to the cabin afterwards and I was that tired I was in bed by 10pm.

As we were due to arrive at 6.30am with Grand Princess half an hour before us, I set my alarm for 5am. I checked the annoying info channel and saw, far from being around Calshot or in the Solent, we were at Netley, ten minutes from Hythe! Bitch being early! I got up on deck as we were passing the pier and it was bloody cold! Waverley was all lit up beside a dark Shieldhall while Grand Princess appeared but it was difficult getting photos as we went to the Upper Swinging Ground to turn rather than swing off City Terminal. Grrrr! We docked shortly before time.

The queue for the Windjammer stretched to the open deck! I left it until before 7am when it was slightly easier to find a seat. Time to get some more photos since it was lighter now and it was great having Vision back again where she was named. Why don't they let us keep her???? Wonder if they'd be annoyed if I slipped her into my pocket?

I went to the Showboat Lounge, which was the C&A lounge to wait. Everyone had gone long ago but it was too early for me. Rather annoyingly, thanks to the sodding boat show, Dock Gate 8 was closed, which I would have walked through meaning I could go now. Instead, I would have to take a taxi to Town Quay. I was aiming for the 8am ferry so left just after half seven.

It's always sad leaving my beloved Ducky but I would be back later to watch her sail away for another year. Despite a few issues it had been another great cruise and reaffirmed her place as my numero uno Royal Caribbean ship. She doesn't have gimmicks like Voyager class upwards, and she's not flashy. She's perfect for me and I hope I can go on her again sooner rather than later.

To see more photos of the other ships, go to the Other Stalking and Various Ships in Port indexes. And to see her sailing from Southampton that evening, click here.

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