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  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 3

    Bremerhaven

    February 12 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    We planned an afternoon in the museums of Bremerhaven, but most of the museums here were closed because it was a Monday. So instead we had a pleasant meander through the docks, looking at the fascinating bridges and interesting old and new architecture (and a very wonky tower). We passed a store of buoys, which meant we both learned what they actually looked like below the waterline! We watched a ship transit through a huge lock, and like watching the ships manoeuvre through numerous different bridges, it was fascinating.

    Back on the ship for late afternoon, we watched from our balcony a huge American-flagged car transporter navigate the docks. The docks here are massive - the second largest in Germany apparently. So despite the industrial view from the cabin, it is interesting to watch. A quick game of crib in Anderson's before dinner and then some cross-stitch after wrapped up the day.    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 3

    Bremen

    February 12 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Our pilot for Bremerhaven arrived on board by helicopter, apparently the norm for this port. Alas, as it was in the small hours of the morning, we didn't see it. Even if it hadn't been, guests were told to stay indoors and off balconies.

    Docking in Bremerhaven, we headed out after breakfast through the large, industrial port, out the other side of town to the train station. The lengthy walk was dotted with fascinating bridges and lots of historical ships.

    A 40-minute train journey saw us arrive into Bremer, and we crossed quickly into the historic town centre. The Alte Rathaus and Cathedral are centuries old and stunningly beautiful, even on a grey February day. We popped into the Cathedral before heading into Schoon, the preserved, ramshackle old town of over 100 houses, winding pathways and fascinating nooks and crannies. We came across a beautiful glockenspiel between the gables of two warehouses, sculptures and fountains, and lovely little shops hidden in corners.

    A hunt for a traditional little pub proved fruitless, so we wandered back to the station, grabbing a pretzel en route!    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 2

    At sea 🌊

    February 11, North Sea ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Today is our first , and now technically only, day at sea. We were due a second day at sea on Tuesday. However, our first stop of Hamburg was replaced at last minute with Bremerhaven, which we will now port in from 8am Monday until 9am Tuesday.

    We weren't sure how busy breakfast would be on such large ship, although we were pleasantly surprised. That said, the toast was so hard you could have built houses out of it. We spent a relaxing day mostly in the cabin - watching Elementary and Bull, cross-stitching/wording, and using the balcony. The sea was incredibly still and calm, despite a grey, rainy morning. In fact, we have felt almost no roll at all on the ship since leaving - it is perhaps the most like a floating hotel that we have sailed on. Wandering through the ship, each of the pools was more full than we'd seen on a ship before, with children *everywhere*. Ben usually goes to hear a guest speaker on sea days but today's guest speaker was on the 'Secret of Happiness'. Didn't sound anywhere near as interesting as ones we've heard previously. The sea day calendar was pretty standard - looks like quite a lot on but not much we're interested in. That's fine, that's what we expect.

    We booked the Olive Grove Mediterranean restaurant (included) for lunch/dinner- as it is booking only, times were very limited so we ate about 4pm. This, like Anderson's, seemed to be a more secluded spot on the ship and the food was delicious.    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 1

    Southampton

    February 10 in England ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We learnt today its worth checking if Southampton FC are playing at home on the same day a 5000-strong cruise ship is departing, because the traffic in Southampton was rather chaotic!

    Despite the size of the ship, boarding was very quick and simple. The size of the ship and its 18 decks however did mean a considerable climb with our luggage to our cabins - no lifts allowed, as always.

    We've a fabulous balcony cabin, with a lovely bathroom and nice seating area. The Iona is the most recently built ship we've been on and the decor in the room reflected that. However, doing a famex around the ship, a couple of things leapt out:

    - the balcony cabins that end on the promenade directly are *very* weird. 100% no for us, thank goodness we did not book one
    - 5000 people is *a lot*. No, really. And the vast majority are quite different to passengers we've come across on other cruises
    - it is very clearly half term week. There are children everywhere
    - the ship has some similarities to the Britannia, including - most annoyingly - that most of bars are also thoroughfares.

    The main atrium is three floors high, with massive windows that bulge out like a bay window. However, it also feels a bit like an airport lounge. First thoughts - that ships this bit might not be our thing in the long run! That said, the two infinity pools do look nice, and the buffets run the width of the ship rather than length, which is always preferable.

    We did manage to hole up in Anderson's Library bar for the evening, which was a pleasant and slightly smaller spot.    Read more

  • TravelerArtesina Skiing
    Day 5

    Trucca Turra

    January 6 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C

    The weather cleared through lunch, so after a some discussion we decided to hand in our ski gear and walk to the Trucca Turra chairlift. This took us higher up into the mountains with absolutely stunning views over the Alps; we think we could see as far as Turin in the distance. Some of the group had been up here before the snowfall and had a lovely walk. However, the snow was now a foot deep and soft, so walking any distance was a mission. Fabulously, and unplanned, we found there was an open bar up here - despite the piste being closed, plenty of cross country skiers were about. So we grabbed a couple of beers and enjoyed the stunning views, before grabbing the chairlift back down. A beer and a game of crib in La Tana before trekking back up to the hotel.

    Before dinner, we were treated to Ben and JP using the newly acquired tray to 'run' the nursery slopes, and it was many, many beers after dinner before we finally went to bed!    Read more

  • TravelerArtesina Skiing
    Day 5

    Last morning at Artesina

    January 6 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

    A final day of skiing at Artesina today. There had been some debate over what resort we'd be in today, but the snowfall here and the faff of ferrying minibuses to a resort an hour away meant we stayed at Artesina. We managed to get almost the first chairlift up of the day and had the newly groomed slopes absolutely so ourselves for the first run of the day. We ran four runs, had a beer break, and ran four more before the weather closed in again so we went for lunch whilst it cleared.Read more

  • TravelerArtesina Skiing
    Day 4

    Night skiing at Prato Nevoso

    January 5 in Italy ⋅ ❄️ -1 °C

    After dinner, we got a coach back to Prato Nevoso. Doing hairpin bends down and back up the mountain in foot deep snow was rather alarming, but the driver was a pro. We donned ski boots and headed up the chairlift into the night and the gloom. The visibility cleared up quickly and the heavy snow stopped, which made for a beautiful night of skiing. We had a rather rocky start as the sticky snow have welded to the bottom of my ski in an ice block that meant I had no control at all. After clearing the skis, we were away, running the blue twice and the read three times on virtually empty slopes. The chair lifts were absolutely freezing, which did make the rides up rather uncomfortable!Read more

  • TravelerArtesina Skiing
    Day 4

    Le Tana Del Lupo

    January 5 in Italy ⋅ ❄️ -1 °C

    In the heavy snow, we walked out to find a bar slightly down the road from the hotel. We'd planned to follow the road down but Ben found a beautiful footpath that traversed down the hillside in amongst the snow-covered trees. The bar had a fabulous selection of beers, so we sampled them all and enjoyed some free Italian tapas (aka fries) while the snow continued to pour. The trek back up, after a brief go on the swings outside the bar, was rather more arduous than the journey out, being in deeper snow and uphill!Read more

  • TravelerArtesina Skiing
    Day 4

    Back to Artesina

    January 5 in Italy ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C

    The plan for today was to stay in the resort on our doorstep. We set the alarm early as the weather was supposed to come in today and it was snowing even when we got up. We managed to get almost the first chairlift up and had a good couple of runs on the blue before the weather set in, reducing visibility massively. Having done four runs down we stopped for a coffee, before deciding we'd take a longer break and go for a walk instead.Read more

  • TravelerArtesina Skiing
    Day 3

    Prato Nevoso Afternoons

    January 4 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Stopping for 'lunch' (beer) at the top of the two open runs at Prato Nevoso, we spent a delightful couple of hours under glorious sunshine. Although, the toilets being Eastern-style was a bit of a surprise (and logistical challenge in ski gear!). The afternoon saw us mainly run the red, including three runs of me losing a glove, searching for a glove, recovering a glove. We squeezed in one more blue before we walked to meet the bus and drove home with a beautiful sunset over the valley. I had earned myself some glorious blisters from my ski boots, but at least without an allergic reaction to the socks today.

    After dinner back in the hotel, one of the staff led the day's awards for those who'd done something daft, today's award going to the two chaps who decided to walk back to the resort and got lost. The hosts had also put in karaoke, which led to an interesting rendition of 500 miles and Sweet Caroline, both accompanied on the beer tray, which later resulted in a head injury!    Read more

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