12 night british isles rt from southampton (with dublin overnight) 9/10/17

[Bimmer09]

Trip, thanks for the great pictures from the Royal yacht Britannia. Very elegant and not over the top furnishings. Classy.

Norris

[MisterMet]

Trip, thanks for the great pictures from the Royal yacht Britannia. Very elegant and not over the top furnishings. Classy.

 

 

 

Norris

 

 

 

Norris,

 

Tastefully done would be the best way to describe it. Not over the top. Loved your pictures around the Regal in your recent posts. Being on the CB before, I didn’t take as many pictures as I usually do. Great hearing from you.

 

Trip

 

 

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[MisterMet]

SEA DAY #3 9/20/17

 

 

We used some points off our Princess Visa card to order a champagne balcony breakfast for ourselves. It was excellent, but alas, the weather wasn’t really cooperating as you can see from the picture. I’m fairly certain Mrs. Met wasn’t thrilled with my choice of dining venue for this visit from room service, but she toughed it out (at least for a bit).

 

We spent the day relaxing on the promenade deck and beginning to pack as we would be disembarking in two days. It was also to be our last night with Siti and Igor in the Coral dining room, as we had reservations in the Crown Grille the next night. We really enjoyed Italian night and it also provided the chance for another anniversary celebration with one of the other couples (I think we a had 4 celebrations between the two couples). Princess does a nice job of celebrating without going over the top and making it a spectacle.

 

 

The production show Broadway Ballroom in the Princess Theater was a wonderful mix of singing and dancing. It was a very nice show. All six of us stopped into the casino to see if we could change the luck we’d had there collectively. Sadly, it didn’t happen for any of us, but it wasn’t like we’d lost life changing money either!

 

 

Our progress on this day...

 

 

Mrs. Met "enjoying?" her champagne balcony breakfast. Doesn't she look happy?

 

 

The White Cliffs of Dover

Some banners in the Piazza reminding us of where we've been and what we've seen

 

 

 

 

Boun Anniversario Betty & Dave. Also Happy Annivesary Marilyn & Doug who you saw on night one in the beginning of the thread. It was great traveling with you and we'd definitely do it again!

[MisterMet]

Scrolling through the thread, I realize I omitted Day 2 in Dublin and all the pictures that go along with it. I will post the pictures and narrative after the upcoming posts for Guernsey, Embarkation, and our post cruise excursion to Windsor Castle.

Sorry folks,

Mr. Met

[JimAOk1945]

I'm glad to follow along with your review and I'm enjoying your pictures. Your itinerary is on my wife's bucket list. I am looking forward to seeing more pictures. Your descriptions are exceptionally good.

 

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[MisterMet]

I'm glad to follow along with your review and I'm enjoying your pictures. Your itinerary is on my wife's bucket list. I am looking forward to seeing more pictures. Your descriptions are exceptionally good.

 

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Thanks for following along. Still plenty left to talk about.

[Liz54]

The picture of Mrs. Met enjoying her balcony breakfast is the BEST. I think you will be laughing about it for years. The story will grow and in the end it will be BETTER than a nice breakfast!

[rocklinmom]

What a fabulous review! I am hoping to do this cruise in 2019 so enjoying reading it. Yes, hoping you will be able to post your Dublin photos as that is the port I am really interested in. And the one of your wife with her balcony breakfast is priceless!

[MisterMet]

What a fabulous review! I am hoping to do this cruise in 2019 so enjoying reading it. Yes, hoping you will be able to post your Dublin photos as that is the port I am really interested in. And the one of your wife with her balcony breakfast is priceless!

 

 

 

Thank you for following along. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I don’t think Mrs Met has visited the post recently, so she probably has no idea about it. She’s a good sport though and will laugh (hopefully).

 

 

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[JimAOk1945]

Thanks for following along. Still plenty left to talk about.

Looking forward to seeing more!!

 

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[MisterMet]

ST. PETER PORT, GUERNSEY

 

When we arrived off the coast of Guernsey, I noticed how rough the seas were and wondered if we’d even be tendering to shore. If it was this rough and we were still tendering, then the Captain’s decision to bypass Guernsey the first time was absolutely the correct one. All six of us headed down to the Island Dining room to be called for the tenders that were miraculously still running to shore. The wait was short, and the ride was rough. Some passengers on the tender got sick and one of my friends just stared at me the whole time because it kept her from becoming sick. Usually when women look at me they become sick, so this was a change for me!

 

 

We all made it to shore safe and sound and met the cab driver in port who was to escort us on a tour of this charming and quaint island in the middle of the English Channel. He took us all over the island for about 2 hours. It is a beautiful place and seemed to be very laid back. It reminded our New England friends of Martha’s Vineyard with much more dramatic landscapes and vistas. Tides on the island can vary as much as 30 feet which sometimes leaves boats laying on their sides at low tide. There are still reminders of the occupation of the island by German forces during WWII including bunkers,military posts, and an underground field hospital.

 

Our driver then dropped up at the Octopus Restaurant next to the port in St. Peter Port, which had been recommended to our friends as an excellent place for lunch with a view. This recommendation was spot on. The views of the harbor were fantastic and the fresh, local seafood was simply delectable. This is a French restaurant and their lobster and clam rolls were truly awesome.

 

After our filling lunch, the group wandered the streets of St. Peter Port. We sampled local Guernsey ice cream at Café Delices (oh, sooooo good), and strolled around town on High Street and Fountain Street taking in the sights. The tender line back to the Caribbean Princess was short at around 2 PM and the ride back to the ship was significantly less rough and uncomfortable.

 

 

Our group separated once we were onboard and the couples began the unenviable task of packing for disembarkation on Friday, 9/22/17 inSouthampton. Our reservation at the Crown Grille did not disappoint. It was a fantastic meal (as always) and the staff helped our friends celebrate their anniversaries with a double cake presentation. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful cruise, seeing wonderfulsights, experiencing wonderful cultures and people, on a wonderful cruise line and ship, with our truly wonderful friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Peter Port, Guernsey

 

 

 

 

Caribbean Princess anchored off the coast of Guernsey

 

 

Downtown St. Peter Port

[MisterMet]

German bunker left from the occupation of Guernsey by Germany during WWII. If you'd like to learn a little bit about the history of the German Occupation of Guernsey, we recommend reading the "Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It's a fictional book based on real accounts of the islanders about life under German occupation. It was a great, easy read.

 

 

Local B-n-B

 

 

A beautiful cottage

 

 

Our friends and traveling companions (l-r) Betty and Dave Edmunds and Marilyn and Doug Paul

[MisterMet]

The Little Chapel in Saint Andrew, Guernsey was built by Brother Deodat in 1914. It is considered the smallest chapel in the world. It was exquisitely decorated by hand.

 

 

 

 

[MisterMet]

[MisterMet]

More evidence of the German Occupation during WWII

 

 

 

Some local residents taking notice of a short man from Florida taking their picture

 

[MisterMet]

Here are some pictures of the southern coast near Icart and Jerbourg

 

 

 

 

This house is actually a rental

 

 

[MisterMet]

The Octopus has great seafood and fantastic views of St. Peter Port

 

Follow the sign to a wonderful time in downtown St. Peter Port

 

A stroll through the Old Quarter is a MUST!

 

A small square in the Old Quarter

 

Along the waterfront

 

The rugged coastline of Guernsey taken from The Caribbean Princess

[JimAOk1945]

Thanks so much for continuing your review. I am enjoying it very much. The maps are a great idea in helping to explain each port call.

[MisterMet]

DISEMBARKATION/WINDSOR 9/22/17

 

We said good bye to our friends the night before as they were going straight to Heathrow from Southampton. Mrs. Met and I were headed to our first post-cruise excursion in Windsor to tour the town and Windsor Castle. We gathered in the Princess Theatre and then were called to our motor coach to Windsor. It was about an hour ride through the beautiful countryside. The coach dropped us just outside the Castle at the visitor center and our guide brought us through the lovely town to the entrance to the Castle. Once inside we toured on our own and enjoyed the elegance and history of this magnificent residence.

 

One of Mrs. Met’s bucket list items was to see the changing of the Guards. We missed out on this at Buckingham Palace, but were lucky enough to witness it at Windsor. It was great for her to finally see it. We then made our way down to St. George’s Chapel and then out into the town for some nourishment at EAT Windsor. We made our way back out toward the Windsor-Eton train station and then finally out to the motor coach parking area. We were headed back toward Heathrow where the coach dropped us off at Terminal 4. We then walked with our luggage about 5 minutes to the Hilton Heathrow for our last night of this long, but magnificent journey. Oscar’s in the hotel lobby wasa perfect place for afternoon tea and snacks. After long naps, we enjoyed an excellent, relaxing dinner at Aromi, the hotel’s Italian restaurant. The Hilton Heathrow was a wonderful place to regroup for the night prior to our flight back to Miami and the reality of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

 

 

Windsor Castle/Windsor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MisterMet]

More Windsor Castle

 

 

 

 

 

I saw him walking toward me and wondered, "did I do something wrong?"

 

Then I realized what was happening. The Changing of the Guard we wanted to see!

 

[MisterMet]

They actually had to ask me to move away from the gate so they could get out. I was in a stupor and damn near froze in my tracks until Mrs. Met put her hand on my shoulder and moved me to the left!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Met's interest in the Queen and all things Royal Family was the catalyst behind this wonderful journey and we are truly grateful we were able to make the trip.

[MisterMet]

Here are some shots of the Hilton Heathrow Terminal 4. It was a first class hotel and both the restaurants and accommodations were top notch.

 

 

 

 

 

In the next post I will revisit Dublin Day 2 as I mistakenly left it out of the sequence of days.

[MisterMet]

Here is what I mistakenly omitted from the Dublin posts:

DUBLIN, IRELAND 9/14/17—DAY 2 OF 2

 

The shuttle dropped us back off at Merrion Square around 9 AM. The itinerary would be carried outon foot and the HOHO for the day. Aftersome phone GPS mapping discrepancies between Mr. & Mrs. Met (imagine husbands and wives arguing!) we found our way over to St. Patrick’s Cathedral thanks to Mrs. Met. This St. Patrick’s is the largest of the cathedrals bearing the same name and well worth a visit. A stunning park abuts this magnificent cathedral.

 

We then got the HOHO and made our way around the western part of the loop that included Kilmainham Gaol (jail) and the Guinness Storehouse. We popped off the bus at the Guinness plant, but hopped back on when we found out you can’t enter the store without taking the tour. We didn’t want to dedicate the time to the tour, so we continued toward the Ha’Penny Bridge area for some shopping and the last chance to take in a meal in Dublin as we wanted to get back to the ship in plenty of time. The lunch at the Arlington hotel was great and afforded us fantastic views of both sides of the River Liffey. We made our way over the O’Connell bridge to head back to Merrion Square to catch the shuttle stopping and shopping along the way.

 

We met our friends back on the ship for drinks at the Wheelhouse Bar prior to sail away from Dublin. We all agreed that it was a fantastic city and vowed that we’d return one day soon. Our 7:30 Coral Dining Room reservation found all three couples able and well enough health-wise to attend. This would prove to be quite difficult from this night forward as we played a man down at dinner for the next three nights due to various illnesses to some members of the group. As usual, the dinner was excellent and the show at the Princess Theatre, Bravo was quite lively. We stopped in to see Ronald the barista at the International Café for decaf espressos and an obligatory sweet prior to turning in.

 

 

The original St. Patrick's Cathedral. It is actually 2X larger than its namesake on 5th Avenue in NYC.

 

 

 

 

St. Patrick's Park

 

 

 

 

Mr. Met and Oscar Wilde

 

 

Pub at the Arlington Hotel near O'Connell Bridge

 

 

SIr Benjamin Guiness

[geoherb]

Thanks for all the photos and the review. It helped me relive our cruise from August some--and to make notes on things we need to see next time.

[bnickle]

Thank you so much for posting your report! We’re doing the British Isles itinerary next June (one day in Dublin and one day Liverpool.) I’ve gotten some great info to use in our planning, so thanks!