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Cruising in Northern EuropeCruising in Northern Europe
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A 8-day adventure by S Read more
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  • 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

  • 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 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 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 4

    At sea ish

    February 13, North Sea ⋅ 🌬 7 °C

    We departed Breverhamen in the morning, and headed towards Rotterdam. The ship had to turn in the river with the aid of tugs before we could leave which was interesting to watch. Much of the day was spent relaxing in the cabin - cross-stitching/wording and watching Top Chef. The at sea programme isn't super exciting, but we're fairly self-sufficient. The night was black tie night, so we dressed up and headed to Anderson's!Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 5

    Hague in the Rain

    February 14 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Rotterdam cruise terminal is quite far inland, so it was fascinating at various points in the middle of the night to see what we were sailing by in a fairly narrow channel. The last two miles of the route we actually had to do backwards as there isn't enough space for Iona to turn in Rotterdam. After breakfast, we headed across the Erasmus bridge and towards the train station. It was however a horrible, rainy, grey day so we got wind-blasted as we crossed the bridge and were very damp by the time we got to Rotterdam Centraal.

    A quick train and tram dropped us at the gates of the International Criminal Court in the Hague. We had thought there was a case being heard today but it seems to have been changed so we couldn't actually visit which was disappointing. We walked back through the Hague and to the Binnenhof, the home of the Dutch parliament. Extensive renovation means the Tweede Kamer ('second house', the Dutch House of Representatives) are currently housed in the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs...which we didn't realise until we arrived at Binnenhof and a lovely English chap directed us.

    Once at Tweede Kamer, we were told that the chamber was sadly full so we couldn't see it in action, but we were able to wander the exhibits on the ground floor, and visit the gift shop! We considered heading on to Amsterdam but as we'd seen it before and the weather was so horrible we decided to head back instead.    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 5

    Rotterdam

    February 14 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Back in Rotterdam and in the rain, we wandered to the Markthal and the cube houses. We visited these when we were here two years ago, so it wasn't particularly new. The street art and sculptures in Rotterdam are beautiful though. So we headed back to the ship to change into dry clothes and warm up! We're in Rotterdam overnight and the forecast tomorrow is grey but without rain, so we plan to visit Delft and may Leiden.Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 6

    An evening in board in Rotterdam

    February 15 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We planned for a lazy evening after coming back from Delft. In the afternoon, we happened upon performers practising for an evening show on aerial silks and hoops, a cyr wheel, and a trapeze. So before our late dinner in the Olive Garden, we visited the Skydome to watch Tribos, which we rarely do on board. The performers were superb. Also, I took what I think is my favourite picture of the holiday - as we came out of the Skydome for dinner, the second show was about to start, and we came across one of the across performers lay in the lift lobby awaiting his troupe...!Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 6

    Delft

    February 15 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We headed out into the early morning rain in Rotterdam, and decided on a tram to the station over being soaked! A relatively short hop saw us unto Delft, a quintessially beautiful Dutch town, more reminiscent of Ypres with canals than the urban sprawl of Rotterdam. We meandered canalside to the leaning church and the windmill, before heading to the Royal Delft museum via the market square and Oostpoort. The museum was well worth a visit, exploring the history of Delft blue pottery and some beautiful items. The Picasso exhibit wasn't terribly exciting but that's likely more personal preference than anything else. We rounded off Delft in the Delft Brouwhuis for a flight of local beers, before hopping on a train to Leidan.

    Oh...and everyone goes everywhere on bicycles in the Netherlands!!    Read more

  • TravelerCruising in Northern Europe
    Day 6

    Leidan

    February 15 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Three museums looked interesting in Leidan, but alas, time was against us. We walked through the town, past the windmills and the Morspoort to the main drag, which was far more city-like than the calmness of Delft. As it was nearby, we popped into the Rijksmuseum Boerhaave. This science museum had fabulous astronomical and medicinal displays, although some of the latter makes you really grateful for modern medicine. Walking on to the Burcht van Leidan gave beautiful views over the city, before meandering back along the canals to the station to go back to Rotterdam.

    Sailaway from Rotterdam was fascinating as we traversed the narrow river through the massive industrial port. Having a balcony definitely allowed interesting views as we passed by into the North Sea.    Read more

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