Vasco da Gama Part 6, Gothenburg

Saturday 20th July 2019
This morning I was up on deck by 8 a.m. to watch us approach Gothenburg. The ship notified passengers that today was the 50th Anniversary of the moon landing; I remember watching that event on television with my late husband, and being astonished with what we were seeing. It was all very exciting at the time.

Deck plan list

Ship profile

Lovely glass

Stena coming and going

Lengthy promenade deck



We disembarked as soon as the ship was cleared by the Port officials about 10 a.m. and headed for the tall-masted VIKING ship which is now permanently moored at the waterside.

Masts galore

They look interesting

A nautical nicety

Goteborg


VIKING is a delight on board and we enjoyed seeing a little of her as we decided to have a rather unnecessary cup of coffee.

A fire on the television on board Viking

The long bar on Viking

The other bar at the end of the room


I think one of the attractions was all the woodwork in the long bar, plus the sight of a huge television screen showing a picture of a wonderful fire in a grate. I had to laugh at the sound of the fire apparently crackling as the logs burned slowly - well, that was authentic...

Viking


This morning we are booked on the little ship ST. ERIK for a lunch cruise whilst sailing around the Gothenburg southern archipelago. She was built in 1881 and has obviously been altered over the years but is fascinating on board. We boarded at 11 a.m. and lunch was served once we sailed, seated at allocated tables in the restaurant. As expected there were always people around and so I chose not to take photographs in the Restaurant, but the decor was lovely, the furniture comfortable and the food very enjoyable.

The City of Rotterdam caught my eye

At last I was able to take a photograph of Vasco da Gama

Details of St. Erik, thanks to http://faktaomfartyg.se/st_erik_1881.htm



This is a lovely picture of ST. ERIK, with thanks to Michael at http://liners.gmxhome.de for bringing it to my attention
https://www.stromma.com/globalassets/sweden/groups_charter/gothenburg/fleet/our-boats/photos/ms-st-erik/01_St-Erik-stromma-kanalbolaget-goteborg?w=623


Here is the history of the ST ERIK: http://www.skargardsbatar.se/sterik_1881/

and the GÖTEBORG: http://www.skargardsbatar.se/nyaskargarden_1915/

with thanks to Alistair D.

St. Erik flag

On board St. Erik

Route

Froja

Ylva

Trubaduren

Stena Jutlandica

Goteborg in the sunshine


Out on deck afterwards we could enjoy the archipelago and other vessels around, including FROJA, YLVA, TRUBADUREN, and the aged GOTEBORG. It was warm and sunny, and earlier I had enjoyed being able to look across the water at VASCO DA GAMA.

Interesting

Stena Scandinavica

Stjarno

Stena Carisma, still going nowhere


We finally returned to the quayside and had to disembark, after a lovely sunny sail around the local Gothenburg waters. Then it was back to our ship VASCO DA GAMA on the shuttle bus and then up on deck. We watched as STENA DANICA approached but didn't enter the harbour, but went back and turned round. We didn't know why that happened but she then turned and entered the harbour.

On a staircase where I hadn't been before, I noticed an interesting sight.

A giraffe and a chandelier

The other side - another clever giraffe and a chandelier


There was time for a coffee before relaxing and then preparing for drinks in the Ocean Bar, followed by dinner this evening in the Waterfront Restaurant in Deck 7's stern, with wonderful views from the picture windows. The Show this evening was called Rock Around the World.


Ships seen: Viking, St. Erik, City of Rotterdam, Stena Danica, Stena Carisma laid up, Stjarno, Stena Scandinavica, Goteborg, Trubaduren, Ylva, Froja, Vasco da Gama


To be continued...

Vasco da Gama July 2019, Part 5

Friday 19th July 2019
Today's activities will hark back to the Exploration side of this trip - I will meet a good friend and we will embark on the VASCO DA GAMA. I had a late breakfast at my small hotel and then walked down to the main station to leave my rucksack in a locker while I had a coffee and watched the world go by yet again. There were many people struggling with rather large suitcases.

A leaflet with unforgettable memories

Stena Scandinavica and Color Magic at the bottom of the road

Laboe leaving Kiel

Schilksee following Laboe

Vapiano



My friend and I decided to walk along the waterside to where we could see the big cruise ship VASCO DA GAMA was berthed. Checking in meant joining a queue inside a big tent, and that was our introduction to Transocean Cruising in Kiel. Passengers were allocated a check-in time according to cabin location which should have been a good idea in theory - in practice it was impossible. We and probably nearly a thousand others had to queue for over an hour, standing up in a hot and airless tent, with little signs of movement ahead of us. I felt sorry for those passengers having to stand outside in the queue.

Eventually the boarding must have started and I could check in, register a credit card and hand over my British passport to be kept in Reception on board. I am never too happy to relinquish my passport but was assured I could get it back when it had been registered. I was given my boarding card and noticed it had my date of birth printed on it - that is rather unusual in my experience.

I had booked for this trip over a year ago and fortunately was allocated one of the few but spacious twin cabins on Veranda Deck 9 for single use.

My cabin 9056

Builders plate


I soon left my rucksack there and went to join my friend for lunch in the Club Bistro up on Lido Deck. We are due to sail from here in Kiel at 4 p.m. but have Lifeboat Drill before that.

Sailaway from Kiel was interesting as I noticed familiar sights I had seen on the previous days, including the entrance to the Kiel Canal. Soon we were heading out to the sea and on our way to enjoying this 3 night cruise. Our first port of call will be Gothenburg in Sweden tomorrow, then Copenhagen in Denmark the day after, before returning to the port of Kiel on Monday.

Heikendorf

Regina Seaways

Nina 1 with empty cable reels

Deck plans: Boat and Upper decks

Atlantic, Main and Promenade decks

Sports, Lido and Navigator decks

Navigator and Veranda decks

Ship profile


We met for drinks in the Champagne Bar before dinner, which was all very enjoyable. My diary says we went on deck after dinner to watch us sailing under the Great Belt Bridge - an amazing sight from below of course as it was still not dark.



Ships seen: Costa Pacifica, Regina Seaways, Schilksee, Color Magic, Stena Scandinavica, Laboe, Bulk, Heikendorf, Vasco da Gama, Nina 1 with the empty cable reels


To be continued...