2016 Navigator, Med,10 July

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10 Temmuz 2016
2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Southampton
10 Temmuz 2016, İngiltere ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Good journey down to Southampton 🇬🇧, mainly due to Andrew Gibb texting Sheila to tell her that the A34 was completely blocked by an overturned lorry.
We where actually only a mile or so from the A34 exit off the M42.
So we stayed on the motorway and came around the M4, M3 etc.
Martin and Andrew where stuck for about two hours on the A34 😵.
Boarding the ship was very good and quick, after we'd braved the initial mob at the boarding gate doors.
We went to the concierge lounge last night, and the gang where all there, I won't name them all as there's two many, but I will just mention George and James, who I didn't expect to see as they'd not emailed me or anything.
Suffice to say, we should have an interesting cruise.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Happy birthday Sheila
11 Temmuz 2016, Celtic Sea ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
We'd booked Chops Grill last night for Sheila's birthday, and had a lovely time.
Great company and a great meal.
We are crossing the bay of Biscay at the moment and it's a bit rocky.
So a lot of people will probably stay in bed late.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Sea Day
12 Temmuz 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Still at sea and steaming for Gibraltar 🇬🇮.
The weather has improved, but still not nice enough to sit outside.
Anyway I spent most of the day in bed, as I've still got this flippin head cold.
I made it to the concierge lounge for the evening drinks, so I can't be that bad, lol.
We had quite a large company again, and did the usual furniture removing with the chairs.
The concierge Nadja, even commented on what a large friendly group we were.
Speaking of Nadja, she seems a lot better than the last time we met, and that was only 3 weeks ago.
Chatted to George Barritt most of the evening, so nice to see him and James again, must be a couple of years since we last met.
After the concierge drinks, we did the usual, bite to eat in the Windjammer and then bed.
Exciting times.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
MLife
13 Temmuz 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Well the MLife membership came up trumps again, 5 free drinks, a meal for two in Giovanni's, and no 5% charge when drawing cash at the casino.
Considering the membership is free, it's a definite no brainer joining.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Gibraltar
13 Temmuz 2016, Cebelitarık ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Today we where in Gibraltar 🇬🇮, one of my favorite ports.
We had a nice stroll into town, and after Maz had bought some stuff from the pharmacy just by the square at the town entrance, we decided to have a walk down one of the side streets, as Main St was as usual packed with tourists.
We only walked along the next parallel street to Main St, which was Cannon Lane, but it made for a much more pleasant experience, as there were no crowds and it was quite shaded, which was a welcome relief from the sun.
At the end of the lane we turned back on to Main St and had a drink at The Royal Calpe pub.
It's quite nice in there and we've been a number of times before.
After that it was a stroll back to the ship for a sleep before the evening drinks.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Villefranche-Sur-Mer
15 Temmuz 2016, Fransa ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
After an uneventful day at sea, and quite rough and rocky night, this morning we arrive in Villefranche - sur-mer 🇫🇷.
This is the port for trips to Nice and Monaco 🇲🇨.
Now today there are two problems.
1, the weather, as it's a tender port, if the sea is to rough we won't be able to tender in.
And 2, the terrible events in Nice yesterday, where there was a suspected terrorist attack, and 80 people were killed and many more injured by a truck, which drove into the crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day.
This will put a lot of people off going ashore.
There seems to be no end to the violence and killing, so called in the name of religion.
On a lighter note, soft arse (me) fell over in the cabin the night before last.
I was trying to undo my shoe laces, with my foot up on a chair.
When I did a Del Boy and toppled over and hit my cheek on the table.
Needless to say, alcohol had a big part to play in the event.
Also I swear that the Captain swerved to avoid a fish or something.
That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. 🤕Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Civitavecchia (Rome)
16 Temmuz 2016, İtalya ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
A quick update on yesterday.
With the attack in Nice and the state of emergency being declared in France 🇫🇷, it was decided that, we would not stop at Villefranche for everyone's safety.
So all day and night we've very very slowly sailed on to our next port, which is Civitavecchia in Italy 🇮🇹.
We have actually docked, so I'm guessing everything must be ok in Civitavecchia.
I know Sheila and Sue won't be getting off, but Maz and I probably will.
Oh yes last night we had a delegation go down to the casino to sort out the MLife membership.
Long story short, with an Mlife membership on every ship you travel on you are entitled to a free meal for two in any speciality restaurant, five free drinks in the casino bar and no charge for drawing cash out of your account.
Well obviously once the gang found this out they asked for my help in joining.
Now as diamond plus and pinnacle members they are entitled to the top platinum membership, which gives all of the above benefits.
But Royal Caribbean are saying as new members they are only sapphire level which gives none of the above.
But we have gotten hold of an official Royal membership chart which clearly shows we are correct.
So it's now been faxed to Miami. Exciting times, lol 😁Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Civitavecchia, Italy
17 Temmuz 2016, İtalya ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
When we arrived in Civitavecchia 🇮🇹, yesterday there where six other cruise ships in port. Five of them were our size or bigger, so that would have meant about 15 to 20 thousand people in the town, so I'm afraid I gave it a miss and stayed on board.
I'm guessing that the number of ships was because of the terrible events in Nice and also the attempted coup in Istanbul, Turkey 🇹🇷, the cruises had rejigged their schedules and all decided to do Civitavecchia instead.
Anyway today we are docked in Livorno, so hopefully I will get off for a mooch. We'll see.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Livorno, Italy
18 Temmuz 2016, İtalya ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Got to stop doing this!
Got to Livorno 🇮🇹 yesterday and because it was Sunday, expected everything to be closed.
Guess what? Wrong again.
Martin and Andrew told me in the lounge that evening, that it was a lovely place to walk around and that most of the shops and cafés etc were open.
Then this morning I read a comment that my mate Frank had put on Facebook saying that they have done Livorno up to attract the tourists who don't want to go to Pisa or Florence.
So lesson learned, I think I'll be getting off from now on.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Diamond lounge
18 Temmuz 2016, İtalya ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
The other night we decided to try the diamond lounge, instead of the concierge lounge.
It's a much nicer lounge, mainly because it has windows and an outside seating area, which is ideal for the weather we have been having.
It's a shame on the suites concierge and the two bar servers down in the concierge lounge, as they have been lovely, but it is so much better upstairs.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Genoa, Italy
19 Temmuz 2016, İtalya ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Yesterday we docked at Genoa, in Italy 🇮🇹.
Sheila once again stayed on board ship, so Sue, Maz, and I went ashore and decided to get the open top bus tour of the city.
Now at €15 each it was a reasonable price, but I'm afraid there's not a lot to see.
Not like Rome with the Colosseum etc.
But at about an hour or so it wasn't a bad ride, and there where some very typically Italian buildings to see, with very ornate brickwork and decorations.
Problem was as with most Italian cities there was also a lot of graffiti, all be it very colourful graffiti, it still tends to spoil the general look of the city.
But as I said for the price, it was not a bad bus ride.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Villa del Principe, Genoa, Italy
19 Temmuz 2016, İtalya ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After we got back to the port on the open top tour bus, Maz and Sue decided to go back to the ship.
I wanted to have a mooch around the town, so I left them at the port and walked to the main road and crossed over.
Within about two hundred yards from where the bus had stopped, I came across an open door, and inside I could see some marble or maybe alabaster busts.
So I wandered in to have a look, just inside the door was a security guard, who informed me that I was welcome to have a look around the gardens, and better still it was free!
I didn't even know that there where any gardens there.
I'd only seen the entrance hall, from the street, so off I go for a walk around the gardens.
Well what a lucky break this was, as the gardens and the villa were beautiful, and only two minutes walk from the port.
The villa itself was also a museum, and for about €10 you could buy a day pass, which would get you in all the towns museums.
But we were only in Port for a very short time, so it wasn't worth it to me, so I just wandered the gardens and a very small part of the house.
The house was called Villa del Principe, and it was build in the 1500s by Prince Andrea Doria. Who apparently was the only Prince of Genoa.
Anyway I spent a very pleasant hour or so wandering around the gardens, and if you are ever docked in Genoa and don't fancy the hustle and bustle of the city, this is a beautiful place to visit and right by the port.

Web page below

http://www.doriapamphilj.it/genova/en/Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Bernie Flint, a blast from the past.
19 Temmuz 2016, Ligurian Sea ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
For a change last night we went to the theatre and saw the show.
It was Bernie Flint, who was a winner on Opportunity Knocks back in the 1970s.
In fact he holds the record for the longest run of wins in the shows history, 12 weeks on the run he won.
Anyway he put on a good show with a mix of comedy and music, and to me he's another example of these talent show winners making a good living after the shows have finished.
He's never been a superstar, but even after 40 odd years, people still remember his name and he's still travelling the world making a good living.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Giovanni's Table
20 Temmuz 2016, Ispanya ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
Last night Sheila, Sue, Maz and I went to Giovanni's Table restaurant for our evening meal and it was wonderful.
The fact that it was our complimentary meal from our Mlife accounts, only added to the experience.
In all seriousness, the meal and the service could not be faulted.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Remote control from Miami
20 Temmuz 2016, Ispanya ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Martin a friend of mine on board reckons that the ship is being driven by remote control from Miami, as the visibility of any senior officers is nil.
We've not had any senior officers come into either the concierge or the diamond lounges.
At the lunch with an officer that we get for being above 350 cruise points, there where only very junior officers, and assistants.
Even at the meal for pinnacles and suite guests, Maz informed me that it was also very junior officers.
Even around the ship, you never see any officers, and as for the Captain, Staff Captain, or the Hotel Director, I wouldn't know them if I fell over them.
I have found out why this is by the way.
It's basically because they don't have to anymore.
A senior officer that I know on board told me that Miami in their wisdom have stopped scoring ships on officer visibility, so they have stopped being visible.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Málaga, Spain
21 Temmuz 2016, Ispanya ⋅ 🌙 23 °C
Yesterday we docked at Málaga, Spain 🇪🇸.
It's a lovely city with plenty to see.
Sheila, as usual stayed on the ship and relaxed.
Maz and Sue wanted to do their second favourite thing in port, that is shop at El Corte Inglés, which is a large department store, on the lines of John Lewis in England.
Btw their favourite thing, is finding a Starbucks and having a coffee ☕.
I didn't fancy either so I went for a walk around the city, which as I said is a lovely place.
It has some outstanding buildings.
Across from the port you have the city hall which is an imposing structure with some beautiful fresco work on the outside walls.
Right next to that is the Bank of Espanía with its huge columns across the front.
Then you have what looked to be the oldest of the three buildings, which housed part of the University of Málaga.
This is also a really beautiful building with unusual roof edgings, which I would describe as having external rafters and some beautiful irregular pointed brickwork. You will see better in the pictures below as my description is a bit crap.
Further around from the university building there is a small Roman amphitheatre, which looks like it is still used for plays or small concerts.
Also in this part of the town are lots of the typical Spanish, narrow winding streets, with lots of beautiful old buildings, many of which appeared to be getting renovated.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Castle Gibralfaro, Málaga, Spain
21 Temmuz 2016, Ispanya ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
Right across from the port entrance you can see Castle Gibralfaro, perched at the top of Mount Gibralfaro which part of the foothills of the Montes de Málaga.
Anyway the castle sits 130m on top of the hill, and I thinking that I'm an intrepid explorer, decides to have a walk up to have a look.
So I set off not realising that the pathway up is about a 1:10 climb! After about 60 minutes and two stops, to let my breathing fall to a more normal rate, I reach a viewing platform which is apparently about 3/4 of the way up. The views I must admit where amazing, you could see right over the port and the city.
Also from here you could look down into the local bullring which from that vantage point looked particularly impressive.
I decided that that the views couldn't be much better right at the top, so that was as far as I went.
Now coming down, although easier on the lungs was murder on the knees.
Having said that I think it was well worth the climb to get the views and pictures I got and to see the beautiful flowers and trees on the way up and down.
When I got back to the ship, someone told me that you could get a bus to the top!
But although that would be less life threatening, it would not be as much fun as the walk lol.
I've put a Wikipedia link below, for anyone interested in reading about the castle.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GibralfaroOkumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Lisbon, Portugal
22 Temmuz 2016, Portekiz ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹, and I know I said I was getting off at all the ports from now on, but we docked right down by the 25 de Abril Bridge, 25th of April bridge for the non Portuguese speakers.
And that means a 20 minute shuttle bus ride, at $9 per person, which I refuse to pay, or a 45 minute or so walk into the city.
This really Ps me off when the ship could dock further down where the walk in to the city centre is 5 minutes.
It's all down to finance, it's a lot cheaper to dock in a container port, than the passenger terminal, and the company gets the added bonus of $9 per head shuttle fees! 😤
So I'm afraid there's nothing to report from sunny Lisbon.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Last sea day
23 Temmuz 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Well here I am up early again on the last day, and I've just said goodbye to my early morning friends.
They are a group of cleaners all youngsters who start work at 5am and do a 12 hour shift 7 days a week with only a few hours off every fortnight.
One of their few perks is to nip in the concierge lounge very early in the morning and take a nice latte back to their mess room.
Now they are not "officially" supposed to get a coffee from here, and the first morning of the cruise, I'm in my spot writing my blog and having a drink, when the door opens and they all come in.
Now they are not expecting anyone to be in the lounge, so when they see me they all panic, quickly apologise and leave, before I can say anything.
So the next morning I'm waiting for them, and just one lad pokes his head in, to see if anyone is in the lounge.
So I went over to him and said if he's trying to get a coffee, please feel free, as I didn't mind in the slightest.
So they got their coffees, and left. Each morning since if I've been up early enough, I've seen them, and they are a great set of boys and girls, very respectful and always open the door quietly and wait for me to say come on in, by this I mean they don't just barge in.
We've all been complaining about the lack of senior officers being visible, which is true.
But I must say that the general staff, ie, cleaners, bar staff etc, have been lovely and friendly.Okumaya devam et
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2016 Navigator, Med,10 July Rulocal
Back Home
24 Temmuz 2016, İngiltere ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Well that's another cruise completed.
Over all a decent cruise, but mainly due to the friends we have in the diamond and concierge lounges.
Our cabin was a junior suite number 1354 situated close to the lifts on deck 10,so very handy for both lounges and the Windjammer.
One of the down sides to the cruise was the lack of senior officer visibility, and also the suites concierge Naja was not the best, her attitude left a lot to be desired.
Anyway our trip home was excellent and from leaving the ship to arriving at our house took 3 hours 50 minutes and that included a 30 minute coffee break.Okumaya devam et
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Gezinin sonu
24 Temmuz 2016