Interesting changes

Well originally we were supposed to go to Boston, New York, Port Canaveral then Miami. But because of the bad weather in the Atlantic, our route was changed to Bruges, Le Havre, Madiera thenLes mer
Information about the TA

We've been informed that the TA itinerary has been completely altered due to bad weather conditions in the North Atlantic.
So, instead of, Boston New York and Port Canaveral. We are now doingLes mer
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Never got off the ship I'm afraid.
Halloween

Halloween was quite good fun, with plenty of people dressed up, both adults and children. Nic, Annika, the kids and me all dressed up, but I didn't stay up for the parade, where all the guests whoLes mer
Santa Cruz de Tenerrfe

With the itinerary rearranged we stopped in Tenerife today.
Nothing very exciting happened, I just had a stroll around the town.
Vigo, Spain

After leaving Southampton, we were one day out, on the way to the Canaries, when during the night we had a problem with the ships stabilisers. Apparently the problem was quite serious, so we had toLes mer
Roma, Italy

After we docked at Civitaveccia cruise terminal and picked up the transfer to our hotel in Rome, which was the Venetia Palace, in the centre of the city. We had an hour or so before we could check in,Les mer
La Spezia, Italy

La Spezia, Italy 🇮🇹 today, and I'm afraid I didn't get off the ship again, as the weather was awful.
Not that it bothered me as I have been to all the ports on this trip, and there was nothing ILes mer
Marseille, France

The title says Marseilles, but I'm afraid I didn't get off the ship again. I've been to all the ports before and there's nothing I really want to see in them, so staying on board is a niceLes mer
Palma de Majorca, Spain

Today we were docked in Palma de Majorca, but I've nothing to report as I didn't get off the ship, I've been here a number of times and there was nothing I really wanted to see.
In the evening all theLes mer
Day 1 on the new Symphony of the seas

First impressions of the ship are good, it's just like the Harmony of the seas.
The only place we've really seen up to now is, surprise, surprise, the Suites/Costal Kitchen Lounge, which is fabulous,Les mer
Somewhere near England

After a nice drive down to Southampton with Maz and Sue, we boarded the new and improved Independence of the seas.
I must say that they have done a great job with the refurbishment.
Nothing that I canLes mer
Chania (Souda), Crete Greece

Today we arrived at the Greek island of Crete. The itinerary says Chania, but we actually docked at a place called Souda, which is about 5km from Chania. There was a local bus service into the town,Les mer
Jerusalem, Israel

Today we docked in Ashdod, Israel 🇮🇱. We should have come here a couple of years ago, but we couldn't dock as there were missiles being fired at the Town, so sailed on up to Haifa, so I didn'tLes mer
Aqaba Jordan

Today we docked at Aqaba in Jordan, this must be my fifth visit to the port and I've still not done the trip to Petra. Two main reasons are firstly the price its so bloody expensive from the ship. AndLes mer
Suez transit

This morning we started the transit of the Suez Canal. I have done the transit 5 or 6 times before, but it still amazes me.
The manpower it must have taken to dig out what is essentially a massiveLes mer
Pleasant and uneventful trip so far.

It's been a nice uneventful trip, and as usual we've made new friends and met a lot of old ones.
Joe's been a star and everyone loves him.
Not been anymore complaints about him being in the lounge butLes mer
$32.99 !! Wtf!

We took Joe into the pool today, and he loved it. The lessons he had off Emma have paid off in spades, he's totally confident in the water and is swimming like a fish. At one point he actually jumpedLes mer
Dubai

The hotel we stayed at was nice enough, with exceptional staff most of who came from Nepal 🇳🇵.
Nic and I went out to see the Burj Khalifa, while Sheila stayed in the hotel with little Joe whoLes mer
And we're off.

The Emirates flight from Manchester to Dubai, was ok and uneventful, except for the father of the family in front of us trying to steal our Joe's colouring books and pencils.
It had slid under hisLes mer
Conclusions

Not a bad cruise, food average, cabin good, great location on deck 9 not far from the concierge lounge.
Plenty of activities during the day, not that we did any of them.
Extra stuff for pinnacleLes mer
Boston, United States

Well after 6 straight days at sea, we finally arrived in Boston Massachusetts. As you will know this is where the American revolution started.
This was my first time in Boston and I was pleasantlyLes mer
Beatles diamond gig

Karl and the lads from Beatles Celebration, we're on board from Southampton to Boston, and did the usual 3 spots in the theatre.
And once again Karl offered to do an extra gig in the star lounge freeLes mer
Quiet cruise

Well we are into day 4 of the crossing, and although it's been quite pleasant, it has also been quite uneventful.
We had a nice meal on day 2 for suite guests and pinnacles.
Up to now nice is theLes mer
Pleasant surprises

With the amount of diamonds and above on the ship, the evening drinks have been moved from the diamond lounge, to the Star lounge.
It's not my favourite location for evening drinks, but I know lots ofLes mer
Coach to Southampton

Well, up to now the coach journey has been good.
The check in at the coach station was great and very quick, we got on the first coach to leave and we are making good time, despite having to come offLes mer