Sovereign Cruise Part 2

Saturday 25th June 2011
I enjoyed breakfast and, after checking out from my hotel, went along La Rambla to meet my two travelling companions at the Christopher Columbus statue. We had more coffee and then did a harbour tour on OMNIBUS, which gave us our first view of SOVEREIGN in port.

Sovereign

I remembered I had first seen her in the port of Los Angeles on 17th January 2005 as SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, so I was excited to be sailing on her today.

Sovereign of the Seas 17th January 2005 at sunrise

Wind Spirit

Silver Spirit

Liberty of the Seas

Khudozhnik-Kraynev

We took the port bus to the cruise terminal, checked in and boarded the ship for our 7 nights cruise. I am in cabin 2104, which is an outside double for single use, at first sitting dinner.





Atrium view




Lunch on board was chaotic – we were all sent to the restaurant expecting a sit-down meal, but instead everyone had to queue for a long time, half way around the restaurant, to serve ourselves, buffet-style. Hmm, don’t think they’ve got this organised, but I suppose it’s because the ship is in port for such a short time, and there are lots of other things to be done.

SOVEREIGN appears to be a huge ship in my eyes, but at 73,529 gross tons is not really considered that nowadays. She was built at St. Nazaire, France, in 1987 for Royal Caribbean Cruises of Oslo, Norway, and was named SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, to carry 2,524 passengers. She was handed over in December 1987 and began cruising out of Miami in the USA, as the largest cruise ship in the world. I’m told that in 1999 she was the first cruise ship with Internet facilities on board; in 2005 her port of registration was changed to Nassau, Bahamas, and in 2006 she began sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida. In January 2009 she became part of the Pullmantur Cruises Company, registered in Malta. Her name was also changed then to SOVEREIGN. In 2011 she was based in Barcelona, Spain, for 7 nights cruises with Pullmantur, and we were to sail on her Mediterranean Breezes trip. We left at 5 p.m.




Deck Pools

Braemar leaving Barcelona

Braemar and Wind Spirit

Silver Spirit

During our first look around, I found that my eyes were often going to the circular 360º Bar & Lounge, high up on Deck 14 aft, which was originally known as the Viking Crown Lounge. It’s something quite new to me and proved to be a delightful location for an after-dinner drink.

Entrance to the Bar/Lounge

Near the stairs leading up to the Bar/Lounge - an original Royal Caribbean piece of artwork



In the Lounge

Part of the Lounge

Artwork near the Lounge






Ships seen: Omnibus, Maersk Stralsund, an Iscomar ship whose name I couldn’t see, Silver Spirit, Braemar, Moonlight II and its helicopter pad, Sunrays and its helicopter, Sovereign, Liberty of the Seas, Wind Spirit (with its 4 masts)

To be continued...

SOVEREIGN Cruise 25th June 2011 Part 1

Friday 24th June 2011
Here I go again, flying out to Barcelona, ready to join Pullmantur’s ship SOVEREIGN tomorrow on a trip delightfully called ‘Breezes of the Mediterranean’.

I had checked in by mid-afternoon, in a small hostal just off La Rambla and then strolled straight for the Harbour Tours at the bottom of La Rambla, enjoying the shade of the huge plane trees set both sides of the central pedestrian street. I didn’t know what ships to expect, but it turned out to be a 7 cruise ship day, as well as other interesting vessels around the port. THOMSON DREAM was visible as tour boat ENCARNACION set off,

Thomson Dream



and then AIDA VITA’s stern and hull came into sight.

Aida Vita

Once under the high road bridge leading to the cruise ship terminals, I could see MSC SPLENDIDA, BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS, NOORDAM and CARNIVAL MAGIC.

Four in a row

MSC Splendida



Brilliance of the Seas

Noordam

Carnival Magic

Distinctive Magic

and then tucked into another area near the Thomson ship was COSTA SERENA.

Costa Serena

The harbour tour took 35 minutes and goodness it was interesting. In the fishing boat part of the port was SEA SHEPHERD (Steve Irwin) and her ‘baby’ trimaran Brigitte Bardot, so I shall have to find out more about that vessel. I think I’ve heard of her, but know very little about her.



I watched CARNIVAL MAGIC leave her berth and turn, before heading out to sea.

I went back to the hotel then - my spacious single room also had a small balcony so I could sit outside and look at my day’s photographs with my feet up on one of the chairs – bliss in the shadowed warmth of a Spanish summer afternoon.

One of my travelling companions arrived that evening so we could enjoy dinner in a popular restaurant where one has to queue to get a table – always an excellent sign!

Ships seen: Encarnacion, Thomson Dream, Aida Vita, MSC Splendida, Brilliance of the Seas, Noordam, Carnival Magic, Costa Serena, Sea Shepherd Steve Irwin/Brigitte Bardot, Khudozhnik Kraynev, Punta Mayor (the orange coloured Rescue Boat) and lots of fishing vessels and private yachts

To be continued...

Paris Weekend September 2011

I went to Paris by Eurostar train from London's St. Pancras International station, on Friday 16th September, and it was a most enjoyable trip. The engine was called Michel Hollard, the depot name on the side of it was Le Lande, and I was in carriage 17. The weather was clear and warm so I could see a lot of the English and French countryside during the 2 hours 21 minutes journey.



I am given to understand that five trains that have broken down in the past have all been maintained at the French Depot (Le Lande) and driven by French drivers, so I was happy that my journey had not been delayed in any way.

I went to see the Eiffel Tower, which is still so eye-catching.























My visit was planned so I could visit the FRANCE Ship Exhibition, which proved to be fascinating, and several times I felt as if I was on board, amongst so many cabin and room settings, and details of the construction and sailing of this ship.







I went also to Galeries Lafayette, which looked so ordinary a building from the outside.



Inside however it was absolutely stunning, with a huge glass dome of glorious colours, theatrical design, balconies on each floor facing inward, rose-coloured lighting in places and lots of people. The ground floor under the huge atrium and glass dome gave a spectacular view all around. What an amazing place, and so unexpected after the rather ordinary outside.







The next day I visited the Opera House, with free entry because it was Open Weekend in Paris, and again it was a spectacular sight, and a fabulous place.



The Auditorium was not open as rehearsals were taking place. There was a circular entrance hall, and then we went up a grand staircase (obviously to see and be seen) to a long gallery – all chandeliers and gold.








There is also a new Opera House in Paris, which looks very modern from the outside. The new and old Opera Houses get Euros 130 million per year from the French government as a subsidy. They also get visitor revenue and seat revenue. That visit was a wonderful free treat.

Lunch was at the Gare de Lyons,



the Big Ben Bar, which was another surprise.





And this is a station buffet? I think not - it's fabulous! This is where the PLM trains used to depart, on their Paris/Lyons/Marseilles journey.



The various Salons here in the Station depicted some of the ports. We sat in the Salon Algerien which had an enormous picture on one wall, high up; there was lots of very comfy seating all around the room.







The cloakroom had posters outside, with more paintings and murals in the main Restaurant, and our snack lunch was huge and beautifully presented. I shall never forget this place and the kindness of my companion in bringing me here. As we left we saw a very contented white cat curled up and asleep in the corner of one of the huge Chesterfield settees. I knew how he felt.




The next tourist treat was to see the Arc de Triomphe,



and then to make a quick visit to the famous Sephora store in the Champs Elysee.



Dinner was enjoyed in a vast Art Deco establishment, La Coupole (Cupola), a very popular restaurant built in 1927; the dome in the middle was done in 2008 by 4 international artists, and the pillars were painted and mirrored too. There was lovely food and service, including a memorable fig tart.



I returned home the next day, again by Eurostar train, at great speed and in comfort, which was an excellent ending to my enjoyable Paris weekend.

Trafalgar Day