ASTORIA 9th March 2017, Part 3 the final one

Saturday 11th March 2017
Today we are due in Antwerp, Belgium, and of course we have to leave the North Sea, enter the Westerschelde Estuary and then sail along the River Scheldt to reach this huge city. We are due in at 9 a.m. and once again there were problems with the gangway so our disembarkation was later than planned.

Reception area

Elpinor Bar

Part of the Sirenes bar and lounge

Map showing Antwerp

Tug Fairplay III

Old riverside ironwork

Red Star Line Museum, Antwerp


Today many of us will visit the Red Star Line Museum, which is located along the riverside and well worth a visit. The exhibition, on several floors, is based on the almost 3 million people who emigrated to America (New York and Philadelphia) using this historic shipping line from Antwerp. Many of the passengers were fleeing from Eastern Europe, sailing from Antwerp, Southampton and Liverpool, to what they hoped would be a new life. The exhibits that we saw were often heart-breaking, especially to those of us who appreciate our freedom nowadays. The Line was started in 1873 and was in service until 1935. There was an interesting cutaway model of one ship, the BELGENLAND, but many of the exhibits were very personal to the passengers and had been donated to this museum, which opened in 2013.

Belgenland model


Back in the medieval city outside the Museum it was time to find somewhere for lunch and recover the emotional balance of the day.

A view in one street

The main square




I walked back to the ship and then stood on the terrace of the viewing platform nearby to take stern photos of ASTORIA. I wanted a bow picture as well so chose to walk along the cobbled quayside for that, before getting back on board.

Astoria from the stern

The view behind me, 1602, the old and the new

Astoria from the cobbled quayside


There was time for more photos before afternoon tea, and the chance to discuss what we had all done today. We are due to sail at 6 p.m. but some passengers were still missing so we were late leaving, and I had time to pack my few belongings and prepare for drinks and dinner on our last evening on board ASTORIA. We are a group of friends with a love of ships in common, and it was fascinating to hear what other interests we all had.

View forward at night


Ships seen: Astoria, riverboat Verdi, tug Fairplay III, West-Hinder with a red hull, Belgenland the cutaway model in the Red Star Museum

Sunday 12th March 2017
Overnight we sailed back to Tilbury and this morning after breakfast we had to disembark from ASTORIA and get home.

Cabin 458, a de luxe junior suite, seen on the way out

The original booking hall and ticket office

The front window of one of the original ticket offices had been covered up

But there was a broken cover over the other window


Public transport was reliable until of course Southern Rail had to be used. Ah yes, it's a Sunday so this meant replacement buses for part of my journey.

Astoria life ring


I had really enjoyed my little trip on ASTORIA, with a delightful group of people, and would recommend trying this ship with Cruise & Maritime Voyages.

ASTORIA 9th March 2017, Part 2

Friday 10th March 2017
I was a little reluctant to leave my comfy bed after losing an hour's sleep last night because of the clock change to get us onto European time but I arrived at breakfast as planned after a quick walk on deck to watch us arriving in today's port of Amsterdam. This is the capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands although the seat of the Dutch Government is in The Hague.

Several of us met at the gangway for our planned day trip but "technical problems" at one end or other of the gangway meant we had to wait for 45 minutes until they were resolved. Once ashore we could head to the car hire offices and pick up the vehicle for the day. Five of us were going north to the port of Den Helder, to travel as foot passengers on the new ferry sailing across the water to the island of Texel. I live in sheep country so I knew the word referred to a particular variety of sheep, but I never expected to set foot on its island of origin.

Map showing Amsterdam near the bottom, and Den Helder to the north, with the island of Texel north of that


It was a straightforward run up to the port, where we parked for free in the ferry car park, then watched the older ferry SCHULPENGAT depart for Texel just across the water.

Schulpengat

Schulpengat with her two vehicle decks


As she left Den Helder the new ferry TEXELSTROOM left Texel and headed our way so we were able to see the shape of her as she approached.

Texelstroom

View to my left


She unloaded and loaded quickly on her two vehicle decks and six minutes later were walking into the lounge.

I loved the 'sky' in the lounge ahead of me

The view to the stern on my left


The internal design was fresh and new and I loved seeing the 'sky' on the ceiling mural. Midships was the food serving area plus souvenirs on shelves opposite, with ample room for passengers. There were seating areas at both ends of the deck and they proved very comfortable, with good views.

Walking along to the food serving area midships


The ferry takes 20 minutes to cross the 4.2 kms distance to the island, so we were able to enjoy a meal and stay on board for the return journey back to Den Helder. That was a good 2.50 euros well-spent for a return ticket!

The company name TESO

Texelstroom leaving, viewed from the ferry car park

The TESO leaflet

The leaflet details

The back of my ticket


Then it was time to collect the car and head back to Amsterdam and return the car to the hire office. Afternoon tea was available on board ASTORIA after we walked back to the cruise terminal, ready for departure at 5 p.m.

Partial view of Astoria at the Amsterdam Cruise Terminal

Ship picture on Cruise & Maritime Voyages brochure



After that there was time to meet in one of the bars before dinner. Service was much faster this evening, which we appreciated, and then we went to see the ABBA Dancing Queen show for this evening's entertainment.

Ships seen: Astoria, Schulpengat, Texelstroom


To be concluded...

ASTORIA 9th March 2017, Part 1

Thursday 9th March 2017
I set out for Tilbury Cruise Terminal and, despite the ongoing difficulties with using Southern Rail for part of my journey, I managed to reach my destination. I am booked with friends to go on the good ship ASTORIA, newly acquired by Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) and we are to sail for three nights and visit Amsterdam and Antwerp before returning to the London Cruise Terminal here at Tilbury.

Once at Tilbury railway station I met friends and we took the local bus to the cruise terminal, which saved quite a difficult walk or taxi ride. In the Terminal building I met even more of our group and realised we had come from various parts of the UK, the USA, Denmark and Germany. The internet makes so many friendships possible and we all seem happy to be able to arrange to travel together occasionally on a particular ship and trip (including cruise ships and ferries).

This ship was launched in 1946 at 12,165 gross tons for the Swedish America Line, with the name STOCKHOLM. I think many of us know of her disastrous collision with the ANDREA DORIA in July 1956; she subsequently changed ownership and names over the years. Now at 16,144 gross tons, her past names include ITALIA PRIMA, CARIBE, ATHENA and AZORES amongst others.

Stockholm bell

Astoria Deck Plan

Cabin 415

I have cabin 415, which is an inside double cabin for single use on Deck 4 Mediterranean Deck. My cruise card shows my name and nationality, plus my Muster station and lifeboat number. I noticed that it also has my date of birth on it, which is something I have not encountered on any other ship's cruise card! I wonder if that will be considered a controversial matter for CMV and their passengers...

The outside deck area of the Buffet Restaurant


Many of us met for lunch in the Buffet Restaurant and afterwards we attended Boat Drill before we left Tilbury at 3 p.m. Up on deck I met someone else who was enjoying photographing ASTORIA and ships generally - more congenial company. He was a retired eye-surgeon from Switzerland who had worked in Syria 'before the war'.

Show Lounge

Show Lounge

That must be the card room

I admired this glass lampshade


I walked around the ship and up on the Observation Deck at first sight I thought that the deck was wooden but closer inspection revealed that it was very dense carpeting, with almost unnaturally straight lines of caulking. That was a surprise but, after being amused, I realised that although unconventional, it might prove hard wearing.

It looks like deck carpet

Ferry Princess Pocahontas seemingly laid up over the other side of the river

The little cross-river ferry Duchess M that was in use


We left Tilbury and as we sailed along the River Thames out to the sea we could see many of the old Thames Forts (the Maunsell forts), built in the second World War to help defend the United Kingdom. They are built of concrete and metal, and are still an amazing sight.

Some of the Thames Forts


Later that afternoon one of my friends mentioned that he had seen two Americans taking photos around the ship. He pointed them out to me as they were standing not too far away, and I realised that I knew them! They were friends I had last met in New York several years ago but I recognised them straightaway. Isn't life extraordinary? I went over to say hello and they recognised me too and so, after catching up on news, I introduced them to other 'shippy' friends nearby and they became part of the group for the rest of our time on board. They had travelled over for this ship trip and were then planning more touring in Europe, so it was an amazing coincidence that we should all meet up on board ASTORIA.

I went to unpack in my cabin and later met friends for drinks and dinner. Service was very slow at our allocated dinner tables but we suspect this is because the ship is new in service but we enjoyed the food. After dinner there was a choice of seeing the Welcome Show, dancing or film shows.

Ships seen: Astoria, Duchess M the local cross river ferry, Grande Amburgo of Grimaldi Lines, tug Svitzer Laceby, tug Svitzer Bootle, Princess Pocahontas


To be continued...