Ferrying in July 2018, part 9 Prince

Thursday 19th July 2018
I was up and about at 6 a.m. this morning, still at sea on PRINCE. My first call was to the bar for a cappuccino and croissant, and all was well with my world.

Superfast XI heading towards Igoumenitsa

The bell (but for whom does it toll...?)

Looking forward

View from the deck

Looking astern, at ships and mountains

Looking ahead towards the channel where we head to port and Igoumenitsa


We went to Reception and had a pleasant chat with the Chief Steward about the ship. He says the bell is from PRINCE but we are not so sure it is, as different letters seem to be engraved on what we photographed this morning in daylight. We told him about our trip two years ago on the previous PRINCE, when we met the Captain. He said that the captain had retired (which we knew) but that he had brought PRINCE down from Denmark. I said we had met him and he had told us about that and invited us onto the Bridge. The Chief Steward said if and when we came on the ship again we could visit the Bridge. We thanked him very much.

I asked how they had managed to move the lorry that was stuck on the ramp last night and his first reply with a smile was the one word 'Magic'. He then said they had other means, which worked. It was a shame about such a long delay on the first trip of the new ship.

We all shook hands and thanked the Chief Steward and said our goodbyes to him.

The hot sun was blazing down out on deck as we started to head into the narrow channel that would take us into the Greek port of Igoumenitsa. I can still recall one of my first visits there many years ago: that was when we arrived at the unearthly hour of 3.30 a.m. because we needed to connect with another ship sailing from the port early that morning. I put my turquoise-coloured pashmina down on a concrete bench in the terminal, put my head on it and stretched out my body and was instructed to 'go back to sleep for a few more hours'. I did that very easily, as I fell asleep wondering just what on earth I was doing with these new ferry friends...

Calm waters as we neared the quay


Today however we sailed into Igoumenitsa about 7.30 a.m. and disembarked, and walked to sit in the shade of the terminal building facing the harbour. We wanted to wait and see the next arrivals and if we had entered the terminal we could only exit on the far side and not get back onto the quaysides. As usual it was very hot, but the swifts were flying gracefully and tweeting gently over our heads.

Prince, after we had disembarked


Whilst we waited for the BARI to arrive, we watched vehicles disembarking from PRINCE; most of them struggled and we realised that, like last night, the ship's stern ramp is far too short.

Bari arriving, with Cruise Europa further out

Bari turning, ready to come astern

Cruise Europa arriving

Kerkyra Express

Stern view of Bari


Ships seen: Prince, Bari, Kerkyra Express, Cruise Europa, Superfast XI


To be continued...

SUMMER 2016 - July ferrying, Part 7

Thursday 21st July 2016
I may have missed the gentle tannoy call for Corfu. Here on board BARI, sailing overnight from Bari in Italy, I slept on and was up on deck for our arrival in Igoumenitsa at 8.30 a.m., a little earlier than scheduled.

Map showing our route overnight from Bari in Italy to Igoumenitsa, Greece (the red spot on the top left-hand side to the lower red spot on the right-hand side)

The water like a millpond as we sailed towards Igoumenitsa

Cruise Europa leaving as we waited

Still on Bari's top deck

Forward view of the Terminal, with the mountains behind; there is one road out of the port

Leaving the ship Bari

Again it was hot and the blue sky was cloudless as we disembarked and headed into the town for breakfast. We could take photographs of PRINCE as she was in port, then wave to one friend who was taking another ferry locally and would join us in Corfu later today.

The ex-Isla de Botafoc, now Bari

The channel we came through

Bari reflected in the clear water

The nearby fire boat

Prince nearby

The ticket office for tickets to Corfu, plus sleeping dog


I and my other friend took the 10.30 ferry AGIOS SPIRIDON over to Corfu which was a lovely sail in such calm waters.

Agios Spiridon

On deck

On board

Comfy seating

Comings and goings

Flying the Greek flag

Porthole Prince

Lefkimi

Prince and Bari

Ano Chora II

Prince, as we left Igoumenitsa

Nikolaos

Lovely sight

Calm water

Disembarking at Corfu town


Once disembarked in Corfu town we took a taxi to near the Hotel Marina (City) where we are staying tonight. The bags were left and we walked up and along to a waterside cafe for coffee and views of the waterways. It was wonderful.

View from a Corfu cafe

Agios Spiridon on her way again

An ANEK ship

Agia Theodora


Back at the hotel later I washed one pair of cotton shoes and left them to dry on the balcony in the hot sunshine, then took to my bed for a rest. What a life! The other travelling friend returned and had to rest too.

Once we'd summoned up enough energy we set out for the evening and decided to try some white Corfiot wine in a nearby cafe. That was enjoyed and then we set off to locate another Trip Advisor suggestion. My diary notes say that it was dark by now and the food, service and wine at the recommended Taverna were really lovely. The heat, breeze and swallows were still everywhere. We walked along with the crowds, saw the famous Cricket Ground, the Castle, shops filled with tourist 'stuff' and finally made our way home to the hotel for a good night's sleep.


Ships seen at Igoumenitsa or on passage to Corfu: Bari, Prince (ex Prince Joachim), Superfast XI, Cruise Europa, Agios Spiridon, Kerkyra Express, Nikolaos, Ano Chora II, Lifkimi, Agia Theodora, an ANEK vessel in the distance


To be continued...