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.

Summer 2011 Part 9

VISTAMAR - Day at sea

Thursday 14th July
We have a day at sea, sailing south towards Cuxhaven, at the mouth of the River Elbe. Early morning tea and coffee was available each day but we took meals in the Restaurant at our assigned table, and after breakfast today we had to prepare for Lifeboat Drill at 10 a.m. Every passenger had to stand outside his or her cabin wearing a life jacket, and then wait to be taken to muster stations outside on the deck. There was a roll-call of names and cabin numbers, the usual instruction of what to do in the case of emergency, and then we were dismissed.

4 Deck atrium

Small but perfectly formed

Lots of greenery throughout the ship

Lifting the spirits?

We didn’t want to be involved in the Keep Fit so-called entertainment so decided to investigate the free beer and music (the 4 piece Convoy Band again) to be held out on the Lido Deck by the pool. By this time the weather was deteriorating, as we were heading into the stretch of water between Norway and Denmark (the Skagerrak), and it was windy and cool. The flapping flags above the deck were rigid with the strength of the wind, and the ship was moving a lot, so even the band decided to move inside. Some hardy souls continued to enjoy their drinks out on deck, but it wasn’t comfortable so having filled our lungs with just enough fresh air, we went inside too. I was ill for a few minutes (what a nuisance) but recovered in time to walk into lunch.

Restaurant lunch was very poorly attended, and there were sympathetic looks and remarks from the staff. I took to my bed and had a wonderful deep sleep and met my chums for Afternoon Tea. We had all missed Playing Darts and Shuffleboard but felt better for a rest. As forecast, the ship’s motion lessened; there was still a swell but no visibility.

Hospital waiting area

Card room

Afternoon Tea in the Musiksalon was really well attended so obviously everyone had managed to get back on their feet again ready to enjoy more wonderful cakes and pastries – the Feasting part of the trip continues. The Boutique staff brought some of their goods for sale into the Musiksalon where we were all queuing for dainty food, so I bought a reminder of the fact that VISTAMAR is registered in Venezia – a small item of Murano glass that couldn’t be ignored. Postcards, key rings and photographs of the passengers were on sale in the Reception Foyer at the foot of the atrium, so it felt as if the ship had come alive again with so many people around.

Reception

The next Entertainment started soon after tea, which was a Lecture about the North Sea with slide pictures. The language difference didn’t seem to make a problem as we listened and saw pictures and graphs about tides, sea beds, birds, animals, the coastlines, weather and currents. It was all very interesting until the moment we were instructed about the life cycle of the Danish worm that lives on their beaches. That became so detailed and rather horrifying because of what it eats and produces, that we vowed never to go barefoot on a Danish beach, ever.

Captain Antonio Mattera had invited all passengers to a Cocktail Party so it was posh frock for me and smart gear for everyone as we sat with a glass of fizz in hand in the Musiksalon as the Cruise Director introduced the Captain, who made a speech and in turn introduced his senior Officers. Fifteen minutes later everyone was heading down to the Restaurant for Gala Dinner, in a very happy and jolly atmosphere.

Gala dinner

Gala dinner

The food was enjoyable and then, just before dessert was served, the lights were turned out. Music started, napkins were waved, and yes, the waiters walked in with cakes and fireworks blazing. The catering staff appeared and were introduced en masse to great applause, and then they all went back to work, the lights were turned up and we were served with Baked Alaska. It may have been rather predictable, but there’s nothing wrong with that on some occasions.

Music was provided back in the Musiksalon and then it was Show Time again, with international songs and Anton of the Tyrol appearing with other singers. Later there was music for dancing, Snacks were served to everyone sitting in and around the room, and there was a chance to see a Cabaret Show up in the Veranda Club.

One of the suites

Another view of a suite

Keeping tabs on the passengers

We went for a walk out on the damp decks,


Caring for passengers...

and found out that our speed today had been between 10 and 12 knots. At 7,500 tons this is a small ship and vulnerable to low pressure weather fronts (again/still) as well as sea conditions. Earlier we had been told about future cruises and itineraries for VISTAMAR and how she was going on a wonderful trip across to South America leaving just before Christmas, but I can’t quite see the appeal of this small vessel going across the Atlantic from Tenerife .

I really like this ship and the way she is run and I would certainly consider sailing on her in warmer waters, perhaps on one of her short Mediterranean or Aegean port-intensive cruises. This ship VISTAMAR has an original style and I certainly enjoyed my short cruise on her.

Tomorrow we are due to arrive early in Cuxhaven and then go to Heligoland, so that promises to be interesting.


Ships seen: none

To be continued…