MEIN SCHIFF 4, 7th September 2015, Part 8, the final one

Friday 11th September 2015
Today is a sea day, as we sail from Oslo down through the North Sea back to Hamburg. Again we enjoyed 'trolley' breakfast in one of the restaurants.

Trolley breakfast


This morning we decided to attend a Concert with Declaimers, in the Klanghaus. This is the concert hall on board, built with perfect acoustics. There was some music, quite a lot of Declaiming in German, and a few pleasant pictures on the screen behind the stage, but I felt the occasion was somewhat wasted on me.

In the Klanghaus

Outside the Klanghaus

The gift

I loved this picture, seen on the way to lunch


Lunch was booked in the Hanaimi Japanese restaurant, which had lovely views out to the sea. It seemed to be quite windy out there but of course there were intrepid shuffle board players on the deck, well wrapped up again the elements. It wasn't raining but looked as if it might soon.

Meanwhile inside the restaurant we watched the preparations for our meal with great interest. It is many years since I went to a Japanese restaurant so I was happy to have help with choice of food.

Place setting


The presentation was beautiful to watch and the quantities seemed huge, but it was all very interesting. I was offered a small taste of a starter from one friend, which I accepted as it looked innocuous, but it reduced me to an eye-watering state. Phew - glad I didn't choose that one myself.

Eye-watering

My plate of tuna - far too much


I had tuna for my main course and enjoyed that with various vegetables.

Some other choices


Just as we were finishing our meal the Captain stopped to speak to us, having finished his meal at a nearby table. He asked how we were enjoying the ship and trip and seemed happy as he listened to our replies.

Outside the weather had improved so I went for a sunny walk on a breezy top deck which was exhilarating and enjoyable. People smiled at me whilst eating ice-creams, others raised their champagne glasses (plastic) to me from their hot tub as I went past (it was someone's birthday celebration at a nearby Bar), others smiled sleepily each time I went past them, and others were fast asleep under a mound of blankets: we were all happy with our lot.

The day continued with a drink before the evening's show, called Blue Elements, which was enjoyable even without live music in the theatre, followed by another delicious dinner in one of the restaurants. Once again the restaurant staff were able to seat us at a table for 7, which made for a convivial time.

Some of us were out on deck at 11 p.m. to watch the Pilot come aboard as we prepared to start our journey to Hamburg on the River Elbe. In the darkness we could see the Pilot mother ship, which we had last seen in her berth at Cuxhaven on Saturday.

On deck after the Pilot came on board


Ships seen: distant ships as we sailed from Oslo to Hamburg, the Pilot launch and mother ship at the entrance to the River Elbe


Saturday 12th September 2015
Back in Hamburg at the end of our trip, the weather was cool and damp. Three friends had left the ship as soon as we berthed, but four of us had breakfast together and waited in one of the lounges as advised. We were to join coaches outside the terminal building to be taken to the main city railway station. At least, that was the plan.

View from the Bridge, in Hamburg


When we arrived outside the terminal building it was to discover crowds of fellow passengers all waiting for non-existent coaches. We found out that there were demonstrations going on in the city centre, all traffic had been stopped or held in traffic-jams, and our coaches were not allowed to go there. It seemed as if local taxis were not prepared to go into the city either, and we couldn't see one anyway. There appeared to be no alternative plan. Being enterprising folk, we four went for a local bus to a local station, and caught a train straight through to Hamburg Airport. We had to cope with our luggage (little in my case) and lots of steps, but at least we were on our way and didn't need to panic.

Once at the airport and with our luggage checked in with British Airways, all was well and we could enjoy a light lunch and wait for our flight to be called.

I flew with the other three to London Heathrow airport, then said my goodbyes and continued my own journey home.

Mein Schiff 4



I had really enjoyed the TUI and MEIN SCHIFF 4 experience, especially with the pre-cruise add-ons as I called them, and would be happy to sail on one of their ships again.

MEIN SCHIFF 4, 7th September 2015, Part 2

Saturday 5th September 2015
After an early breakfast at the Stella Maris hotel in Hamburg I was collected by some of my friends, ready to pick up a hire car and drive up to Brunsbuttel. This is the town at the end of the Kiel Canal, on the River Elbe. We planned to sail on the 12.10 ferry across to Cuxhaven, near the mouth of the River Elbe.

The route from Brunsbuttel to Cuxhaven

Locks at the start of the Kiel Canal

Red arrow marks the linkspan pier on the plan

The pier and linkspan

A passing ship

Saaremaa arriving

About to drive on board

Builders plate


The weather was bleak, grey and wet, with occasional sunshine. The ferry was late arriving at the pier linkspan because of the strong wind so we didn't leave until 1.10, but hot soup and rolls in the ship's cafe soon restored our spirits. The ship was SAAREMAA, built in Norway in 2010, and joining this route only on 20th August this year.

Anne Marie Bistro, serving goulash soup

Life ring

OOCL Montreal heading into the Kiel Canal

In the cafe

Godmother

Ship details

Neuwerk

The big Pilot mother ship Weser

Waiting to disembark


Once in Cuxhaven and in sunshine we could be tourists and enjoy coffee, apple strudel and ice cream, before driving around to see the famous ATLANTIS at her berth.

Atlantis, well tied up at Cuxhaven

Atlantis


It was interesting to note that the ferries out of Hamburg today had been cancelled, because of the strong winds. It seems that even the never-to-be-forgotten HALUNDER JET has had to stay in port and not travel to Helgoland, in South Utsire!

Today's ferrying trip was in fact our Plan B because we had booked to travel today on the new HELGOLAND ferry from Hamburg to Helgoland and back. She was built but having problems, before being handed over to Casson Eils for use. We saw the advertisements for her in Cuxhaven but no starting date was now shown.

The new Helgoland ferry we should have been on


We three travellers had all experienced what felt like life-threatening sailings on other journeys to Helgoland and were really looking forward to a safe and enjoyable trip on the new ferry. Ah well, we each received refunds on our tickets and looked forward to being able to sail on her in the future.

Muhumaa back to Brunsbuttel (gross tons 1,700)

Nautica leaving the Kiel Canal for Amsterdam


Then it was time to catch the ferry MUHUMAA back to Cuxhaven, leaving at 5.05 p.m and arriving at 6.30 p.m. Once back in Brunsbuttel it was decided to head a few miles alongside the Kiel Canal because there was a tiny ferry there, just waiting to be used to take us across the Canal!

Our Stettin ferry route, shown on the map, just on the other side of Brunsbuttel


This was the little STETTIN, which held 4 cars and some pedestrians.

About to board the Stettin

Driving on

On board the Stettin

The Berlin passing us in the other direction


Then we returned to the main route back to Hamburg, following the end of a rainbow, under a grey sky. The hire car was returned and we made our way back to the hotel for a very satisfying dinner.


Ships seen: Saaremaa, Arabian Breeze, Elizabeth Rus of Transferrica, ER Athina, Yan Cux 2, Neuwerk (Coastguard), Blue Bella, Patricia Esberger, Blue Antares, Deo Volente, Neckar High, Atlantis, Flipper, WMS Groenigen, Muhumaa, Timbus, Wolf 7 tug, Seagard of Transferrica, Nautica the cruise ship exiting the Kiel Canal on her way to Amsterdam, APL Changi, OOCL Montreal, Stettin the tiny ferry across the Kiel Canal, St. Johannes, Berlin


To be continued...

Summer 2011 Part 11 Heligoland to Hamburg

Part 11
Heligoland to Hamburg

Friday 15th July
So we three reluctantly made our way back to the HALUNDER JET. We boarded and this time our seats were on the upper deck in Comfort Class, with free tea, coffee or juices available. I noticed that one small area had a covered rail and coat hangers for Comfort Class passengers. I also noticed that the front rows of seats had seat belts fitted to them, presumably to be used in certain conditions. I imagine they were worn this morning. Again, food was available to order with table service. The sun was still shining and at 4.30 p.m. the crowded vessel pulled away from Heligoland, after an unforgettable visit!

Ships and route

Halunder Jet ready for boarding

After a few minutes we realised that the First Officer had been right about the weather and sea conditions for the part of our journey to Cuxhaven, and we all felt a lot happier.

Calmer seas

This time the journey took the scheduled 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the disembarking passengers were soon off the ship and the new ones on, under sunny and breezy conditions.

Weather signs at Cuxhaven

We stayed on board of course as we were to continue to Hamburg for the two and a half hours journey. Cuxhaven is on the south side of the River Elbe so we went out on the stern deck this time to watch us enter the wide River.

Unknown ship

Tug Vogelsand

Ark Futura

We could also see VISTAMAR at her berth and then watch her leave to sail north again. At last I was able to get a good photograph of her in sunshine.

Vistamar

As we left Cuxhaven we were able to move to the empty front row seats which we had booked originally, so that was lucky.

As the river narrowed very slightly we had to keep within the marked buoys, and of course slow down when nearing other vessels, whatever their size. On the port side we soon approached the western end of the Kiel Canal, at Brunsbuttel, and could see the start of the locks. Goodness, some of Father’s photos were taken eighty years ago when he came through the Canal to here, on the ARANDORA STAR. One of his photos is of him and some others sitting inside the edge of the ship’s funnel, going through the Kiel Canal, so it must have been the dummy funnel! One day I hope to do that journey myself – one day.

The River Elbe wound its way round a slim island in the middle, and then we approached and stopped at Wedel Point – the Welcome Point.

Welcome Point

Coming alongside at Wedel

It was a daily stop for the HALUNDER JET (three hours from Heligoland) and exciting for us: every time a ship passed the Point in daylight a piece of music was played over the loudspeakers, appropriate to the nationality of the ship. We dropped our passengers off, picked up the new ones, and as we left we heard a stirring piece of German music, which lasted for several minutes. Apparently the man who owns the Restaurant and Café there has a CD collection of about 300 national anthems or similar and tries to play the appropriate one for each vessel that passes. Some ships acknowledge this with a whistle, some just ignore it, but the rest of us are perfectly happy and amused. There is a list of expected vessels and their passing times on a notice board in the grounds.

Soon we came to the A380 Airbus factories on the south side of the river. Planes fly in to be fitted out here, and in fact we could see an AIRBUS SKYLINK plane beside the factory, with several others being completed. That reminded me that I saw a RORO vessel in Palermo recently which had the AIRBUS sign on the side of it, and was carrying parts for the aircraft. We also saw the Blohm & Voss ship repair yards as we neared Hamburg. All along the riverside we could see secluded homes tucked into the hillside woods, and frequent sandy beaches on the north side which were being enjoyed by many people.

We finally came in sight of Hamburg city and this reminded me of a couple of Father’s photographs as he approached it on the ARANDORA STAR in 1931. He could see some docks on one side, (and now I’m home I have scanned the photo in case anyone can recognise the funnel markings of the ship in the picture).

Hamburg docks 1931

and railway lines and railway wagons on the other side,

Approaching Hamburg 1931

as well as several church spires. This was the end of our trip, as the sun was sinking in the west.

Halunder Jet

The sky was finally clear and the light golden as we approached the quayside. Just ahead of us was our final destination of the day: the CAP SAN DIEGO.

Cap San Diego

We had booked to stay on board her, as yet another ship experience, and it took us only a few minutes to walk along the quayside, across an old bridge that had obviously been updated at some point, and onto the pontoon leading to our hotel ship.

Welcome on Board

We checked in, paid for our cabins, and enjoyed the thought that we were on board our third ship of the day.

My cabin 206

My bunk

My cabin 206 was spacious, with a view over the starboard side to the water, city spires, buildings and ships moored along the other pontoons. It was disappointing to discover that no food or drink was available on board, other than breakfast in the morning, so we had to leave our cabins and go ashore for a light meal. The public rooms on the ship are available for hire, and we could see people in those rooms, which were then locked up when they left. Why does this sound familiar? Ah well, I was in Hamburg for the very first time and staying on an hotel ship and looking forward to my weekend in the city.

Ships seen: Dublin Express, MSC Joy, Atlantis, 2 DFS freighters, Funny Girl, Lady von Busum, Amaranth, Grandi Napoli, Vistamar,Pilot ship and Mother Pilot Ship, Delta Hamburg, Juyul tanker with an Arabic name too, Anne Ehler (small feeder container), Euro Snow, Finn Breeze, Emma, PAL Line Trans Odin, Ever Eagle, D S Agility from Monrovia), Marie Fresno (Dutch sailing vessel), harbour ferries, Marstan, Ragna, Kristin Schepers, Cap George, City of Beirut in the floating dry dock, MSC Charleston, several other ships in the docks, Cap San Diego hotel ship.

To be continued…