| Early start on the 8th July 2009 during my cruise on Jewel of the Seas. AIDAluna had arrived in Stockholm the day before and was down to leave at 7am, meaning we would pass since our arrival was 8am. AIDAluna is one I had yet to see. The third in the series, this 69,200grt ship made her debut in March. I had already seen her eldest sister, AIDAdiva and this went some way to getting the set. Just after 7.30am she appeared and I wasn't the only one snapping away. |
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| One of my fellow early birds told me there was another ship behind us so I went for a look. It was the 30,277grt Azamara Journey, yet another I hadn't seen. Originally R Six for Renaissance Cruises, she made her debut in 2000 before they went bankrupt the following year. After a sale to Cruiseinvest she was laid up for another year before being chartered by Spanish cruise line Pullmantur under the name Blue Star. From 2005-2007 she was Blue Dream after her sister and the original with that name was sold to Oceania to be renamed Nautica. In 2007 Royal Caribbean bought them out. They had originally planned for her and her sister Blue Moon to join the Celebrity fleet as Celebrity Journey and Quest respectively. Shortly before their maidens and after all the publicity, Royal Caribbean created the elite line, Azamara Cruises. Sadly they left the livery plain so they can't be distinguished from the other R ship sisters. Journey was due to arrive for 10am but would be staying overnight and docking away from us. |
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| Already docked was the rather pretty Grand Voyager, who I'd seen in Bergen a year before. She was also due for 8am so was early. Journey was down to dock near her. |
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| We turned and she began to go out of sight so I went back inside. It was a great start to the day. To read the review of my Jewel of the Seas cruise, click here. |
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