AEGEAN ODYSSEY 17th June 2018 Part 4

Tuesday 19th June 2018
This morning it felt as if the ship was moving a lot, and I remembered we were in the Bay of Biscay although fairly near the coast. I'm told that the ship had been rolling a lot during the night, but my mid-ships cabin seems to have protected me from much of this.

Deck Plan


Breakfast was available in the Terrace Cafe and I was there for 8.45 a.m. Porridge was one of the delights available in the hot food station inside the Cafe although I could have gone outside to the Terrace to ask for an omelette or similar cheerfully cooked whilst I waited. Fresh teas or coffee appeared as requested, with a large choice of cold dishes also available from a central buffet area.

Many of us wanted to be in the Ambassador Lounge for the 9.30 a.m. start of a lecture about The Gothic Art and Architecture of France by an on-board expert lecturer. Hugh Ellwood held our attention for nearly an hour with a fascinating explanation of the various styles to be seen, with wonderful pictures to accompany his words.

Yesterday I went up to the top deck to look at the Observation Lounge and Bar, and it was a good job I did. Every time we have been up there since it has been occupied by the Bridge Instructor and players; apparently this cruise is advertised as one for Bridge players, although all the paperwork I have received mentions Harbour & Gardens Sailaway.

Observation Lounge

The Bar inside

The Observation Bar just outside

View into the Library


After today's lecture we all took a coffee break in the Charleston Lounge, with sea views out of every window on the port and starboard sides. The sea was calming down as we headed north towards Ushant and it seemed that the skies were clearing too. I took the opportunity of taking some more photographs up on deck in the hot sunshine that followed; this little AEGEAN ODYSSEY is really not a good sea-boat but I can forgive her a lot for all the other things she offers on board with her staff, activities, excursions and itinerary.

Pool view in Bordeaux

Promenade Deck in sunshine

The long view

Pool view today at sea

Another view


Terrace lunch was followed by rest and relaxation in the Charleston Lounge although that changed once dolphins/porpoises were spotted a short distance away on our starboard side. There must have been 30 or so in the two pods that we saw for about 15 minutes as we sailed through the calm waters. The sun shone down and the water sparkled on their sleek bodies as they rose and dived again through the sea.

Towels beside the pool

Calm sea and sunshine

Looking aft

Calm now but heading towards another weather depression


Ahead of the ship from the top deck we could see another huge cloud weather depression on the horizon but for the time being it was pleasant to be out in the sunshine up high and looking down at the swimming pool. I liked seeing the bright red and blue towels rolled neatly in stacks at each corner of the pool. We could have attended the Quiz in the lounge or then listened to the Odyssey Trio but we thought it was better to enjoy the sea air before the next weather depression came over us as we turned north-west and rounded Ushant, but the sheltered deck furniture and plump cushions were oh so comfortable...

My diary notes for the rest of the day simply say dinner, drinks and bed, which made a lovely end to our sea day. Tomorrow we are due early in Falmouth, Cornwall, so there are plans to be made for the good things to see and do when we get there.

To be continued....

MINERVA 14th May 2016 Part 6 at sea rounding Ushant

Thursday 19th May 2016
Oh my, we're at sea and it is very rough. The sea and sky all looked grey, although the ship seems to be riding it well. I was able to go for a late breakfast although the Veranda Restaurant was not as busy as usual. I decided to miss the first lecture at 9.30 about gardening and plants, helped with the current jigsaw in the Library and went to the 11.30 a.m. lecture about The Language of Icons, given by The Rev'd Canon Ian Ainsworth-Smith.

The ship was very quiet today as I believe many people were seasick, and stayed in their cabins. I had lunch with some friends and then took to my bed to help pass the time and weather conditions. We are travelling around Ushant and of course that can be a very wild part of the coast.

It reminded me of the trip that I made with my late husband in June 1996 when we were invited to commemorative events on the islands of Molene and Ushant, held to remember the DRUMMOND CASTLE. She was a Castle Line ship that foundered off the notorious coast of Ushant, like so many before and since, on 16th June 1896 coming up from Cape Town. The weather on the 16th June 1996 was absolutely calm under a beautiful blue sky, so we all felt very fortunate. Wreaths were put into the sea from various local and national French organisations, including one from Union-Castle Line. My husband worked as Business Travel Manager for Union-Castle Travel in London and had arranged for a big anchor of flowers to be made and available for us to collect in Le Conquet. We were on a local lifeboat, with many larger ships forming a loose circle around us and the marker buoy in the ocean, as the wreaths were tossed into the sea.

Two hundred and forty-three passengers back then did not survive, but three were saved by the people of Molene, when they managed to get ashore. In time the news finally reached the UK, and caused great upset at the terrible news of the disaster. There were public collections in the UK for the island people of Molene and 'numerous tokens of gratitude' given; Queen Victoria was so grateful for their life-saving efforts that she donated a clock which was sent to the island as a gift.

Our visit was quite emotional for the islanders, as well as us, and it was memorable to meet a few relations of the survivors, who had also made the journey to the islands in June 1996. We left gifts at the local museum and with the Mayor, and were pleased to have been invited to be part of the day's events and lunch. We were amongst one hundred and fifty official personalities representing France at the ceremonies, and felt very honoured to have been invited from our country.

Back to today though, and by 6 p.m. it was time to attend a short Choir Rehearsal, ready for our evening appearance (well, all 5 minutes of it) with the Opera del Mare at their 9.30 p.m. Concert. Our MINERVA cruise is 'Glorious Gardens and the Chelsea Flower Show' so of course the songs tonight were a celebration of Flowers and Gardens. We made our short appearance on stage for a chorus in 'We'll Gather Lilacs', standing very firmly on the stage to counteract the movement of the ship in the rough seas, and felt very pleased with the applause given for our tiny part in the proceedings.

At 10.15 many of us went up to the Orpheus Lounge for a Trivia Quiz and that was a fun ending to a strange day. The clocks go back 1 hour tonight ready for our port of call in Guernsey tomorrow, when we will be back on our own British Summer Time. That will be another tender port so we do hope the weather and seas will have improved and allow to anchor there.

No ships seen today.

To be continued...