2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona

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Trip start
March 13, 2017
2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Not the best of starts.
March 13, 2017 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
Sheila fainted on the plane coming over to Dubai and consequently had a heavy fall. She hurt her foot and was badly shaken up.
We had to get a wheelchair to get her on the ship as she couldn't walk.
She had planned to stay in the cabin last night and rest. But we got a big surprise in the afternoon by finding out that Sue and Maz had managed to get a cabin for the cruise.
They had originally cancelled, then tried to rebook but told us that they couldn't get a cabin.
So we were resigned to the fact that they wouldn't be on board.
So it really was a massive surprise when they knocked on our cabin door.
We were both so happy to see them that Sheila decided to go to the concierge lounge last night instead of resting, which was a mistake really as she is in pain this morning and has decided to stay in the cabin to rest up and hopefully be ok for the rest of the trip.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
So many friends
March 14, 2017, Daryā-ye ‘Omān ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Last night in the concierge lounge, there where so many people that we knew, I couldn't begin to name them all.
Suffice to say, we had a brilliant night and some good catch ups with old friends, and some good chats with new friends.
Our company as usual started with 4 of us and ended up with about 20, and also as usual it was very fluid with people leaving and joining the company all night.
If last night was anything to go by this cruise should live up to all our expectations.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Sheila still not well
March 15, 2017, Arabian Sea ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C
Day 2, and Sheila is still not well. The swelling has gone down on her foot, thanks to the spray that Sue brought her
But she's still shaken up after the fall, hopefully she'll be well enough to venture out of the cabin today.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Operation Safe Haven
March 17, 2017, Red Sea ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Yesterday afternoon we had the operation safe haven exercise. This is the safety exercise that you have to practice in the event of pirate attacks.
To be honest I'm not really sure that we need to practice standing in the corridor, which is what you have a to do if you are in a balcony cabin.
I'm sure that just telling people that they need to get out of the cabin if pirates attack would be enough.
Then again with the intelligence levels of some cruise passengers, maybe we do need to practice standing in the corridor! Lol 😁Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Top O' the morning.
March 18, 2017, Red Sea ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
St Paddy's day and another great evening in the concierge lounge.
But the only people who dressed up where a young Irish couple that we've met.
I borrowed their regalia for a quick pic.
The company has been very fluid once again, with people joining and leaving us all evening.
Really great atmosphere every evening in the lounge.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Captains Table
March 19, 2017, Gulf of Suez ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Last night we were invited to the captains table for dinner.
I count us lucky as there are 50 something pinnacles on board so the dining at the captains table has been split between the senior officers.
Anyway Captain Juan is a lovely guy and very down to earth and I think he enjoyed the meal with us as much as we did with him.
One reason in my humble opinion being that all the table guests knew each other, so there where no pregnant pauses.
In fact there were some good stories told and a very entertaining evening was had by all.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
A meal with Peter (the hotel director)
March 20, 2017 in Egypt ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Last night, Peter Dimitrov the hotel director, invited the four of us, along with two other couples for a meal in Chops Grill.
And as is usually the case with Peter we had a wonderful meal with superb company.
Peter tends to invite people he likes to dinner and not just people who are pinnacle members, who, even though I am one of them myself now, do tend to expect to be invited to meals with senior officers.
Anyway the meal and company were brilliant.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Suez Canal Transit
March 20, 2017 in Egypt ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
Some time last night we started our transition of the Suez Canal.
I have actually done the trip many times before, but always north to south, this is the first time I have travelled south to north, not that there is any real difference in the journey.
I must say though that it never ceases to amaze me how they managed to dig out the thing 150 odd years ago, and in only 10 years.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Pinnacles Lunch
March 21, 2017, Eastern Mediterranean ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
What a special treat that was. As usual Peter arranged something completely different for the last ever pinnacles lunch, on board Legend of the seas.
Firstly we were issued with commemorative T-shirts, and had a group photo in the centrum, this was followed by an authentic Arabic buffet, prepared by one of the Egyptian chefs. We had this sitting outside on deck in a restricted area of the ship where passengers are not normally allowed, all while sailing down the Suez Canal.
It was a great meal with some fab wine and the whole experience added to the memorability of this the last cruise of this wonderful old ship. At least it's last cruise as Legend of the seas, as when she transfers to Thomson, she will be refitted and renamed Discovery 2.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Piraeus, Greece
March 22, 2017 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Land ho! Would have been the cry, as we sighted our first port after 8 straight sea days.
We had arrived in the Greek sea port of Piraeus, which is about 20/30 minutes drive from the capital Athens.
I have been here a few times and done the Athens tour, so I decided to have a walk around Piraeus itself.
To be honest, there is not a lot to see in the town, and since the financial collapse of the country it is even more rundown than ever, with homeless people all over the place, and these are not all "immigrants" there are a fair number of Greeks among them, which in my mind makes the situation even sadder.
On a lighter note, I came across this small building not far from the port which I have seen before, but only from a distance.
So as the church I was about to visit had a mass in progress, I decided to have a walk over to have a look at it.
I'm very pleased that I did as it turned out to be a church, but the smallest church I have ever seen.
It is the size of two large garden sheds, and inside it is stunning and complete with beautiful wall and ceiling frescos.
I have said many times before that you quite often don't need to travel very far from any port, to find some interesting things.
In fact most of the time when you arrive in these ports, you tend to ignore the things right outside the gate, and take a bus tour or walk deep in to the town.
And this little church proved that point to me once again.Read more
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2017 Legend Dubai-Barcelona Rulocal
Valletta Malta
March 24, 2017 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Our second and final port of call was Valletta, the Maltese capital.
This beautiful historic harbour is one of the few really iconic European harbours to sail into and out of, I think it's right up there with Venice.
Everyone I spoke to who was getting off was going to use the new elevator which has been built to save you having to make the very steep climb from the harbour to the town.
But me being made of sterner stuff was going to walk up to the town via the one million steps up passed the hospital and the King George V Park.
And this by the way had nothing to do with me being to mean to pay the €2 charge for the elevator, no matter what stories you hear!
Anyway the stroll was actually very pleasant as the weather was perfect for walking, ie, not to hot.
The wander through the town, is wonderful, with every turn giving you sight of beautiful old buildings, and great views of the steep and narrow streets.
I walked down passed St George's Cathedral to the other side of town which had fantastic views of Manoel Island and over to the right the area of Sliema.
On my way back, I passed through Strait St and the area called the Gut, which is where the soldiers and sailors who where stationed in Valletta during and after the second world war, went for their entertainment, if you get my meaning.
I spent about 2.5 hours wandering and only scratched the surface of this wonderful old city.
But I've been many times before, so I didn't mind.Read more
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Trip end
March 24, 2017