Mickey22 #76 Posted September 12, 2019 Hi Norris, We are booked on the Azamara Norway Intensive cruise next year so I am really looking forward to your port reviews. Your pictures of London are beautiful, have been there several times but never did the river cruise so something to put on my to do list for next year. Can't wait to read the rest of your review! Jane 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jasperdo #77 Posted September 12, 2019 Enjoyed your Thames River cruise photos. We did a similar cruise out to the Thames Barrier on our first trip to London in 2000. The skyline sure has changed a lot since then. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #78 Posted September 12, 2019 Friday evening in London We didn't make plans for tonight as we knew we would be tired and had to be at the Churchill War Rooms at 10.00 a.m Saturday for the first tour of the day so we were happy enough to be going back to our hotel in close proximity to our bed if the fatigue suddenly hit us. We caught the 6 p.m boat (the last one of the day) back to Westminster Pier. We had Oyster cards so could have taken the Tube from Greenwich but we liked the boat so kept to schedule. People gather at pubs or restaurants along the river on a summery Friday evening 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parrothead33 #79 Posted September 12, 2019 Sorry I'm late Norris, but happy to tell you I'm now all caught up! Pictures and narration are great, as usual. Thank you for bringing us along with you and Carol. Cheers, Kym 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pd7277 #80 Posted September 12, 2019 I'm here too Norris, wouldn't miss it! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
need2cruisesoon #81 Posted September 12, 2019 Hello Mr N. Please allow me to intrude albeit very shortly to say hello and welcome back from the UK. I hope the Queen herself allowed you some afternoon tea on one of your days in London, she is charming and most gracious from what i hear. So now I retire to the library on the west wing of my mini mansion to follow along (with you) my brother on your epic journey aboard the Silly with a cold G in my hand. Cheers. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #82 Posted September 12, 2019 Seen along the Embankment I had to wait to shoot this as some young girls were doing a pose-a-thon Doing some business! Back to the Hotel and the Whitehall Gardens Back to the room for bathroom breaks Carol recording her Trip Notes 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mchell810 #83 Posted September 13, 2019 6 hours ago, Bimmer09 said: Sunset on the Thames, just lovely! What an image you've captured. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #84 Posted September 13, 2019 Night falls on the Royal Festival Hall We are down on the Embankment sitting on a bench as are many folks, enjoying the night air The Whitehall Gardens were locked at 8 pm to stop people spending the night in it hence our current position. We decided to call it a day at 9 p.m and headed for the hotel 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #85 Posted September 13, 2019 The hotel is welcoming A beer and a tonic water from the free mini bar and abed by 9.30 at the end of our long first day. Sleep came immediately and was deep. Norris 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
singinalot #86 Posted September 13, 2019 what a beautiful hotel! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
perfect match #87 Posted September 13, 2019 Beautiful photos, Norris! As always! Thank you. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrsgoggins #88 Posted September 13, 2019 Now you are making me miss London and I am but a three hour train journey away! We spent 18 years living in the south east with central London being an easy 30 minutes away, door-to-door, when I was a frequent visitor to our capital. Your photos are a delight Norris and I think at least one London short break is now in my future. Thank you for this latest detailed account of your journey. I was actually 'with you' in the Caribbean (on the ship at the same time) and with you in spirit in Cuba and it is lovely to have the next installment to look forward to. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
luvsun22 #89 Posted September 13, 2019 This is my first time to happen on one of your reports and am delighted by your writing and beautiful photos! I’m excited to follow along! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pretty princess #90 Posted September 13, 2019 Gorgeous photos as always! Enjoying this review as this is a bucket list item 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #91 Posted September 13, 2019 After a deep, deep sleep..... I was on the street and stopped for coffee at a Starbucks just across from our nearest Tube station which was a 1 minute walk away from the hotel It was 6.45 a.m and London was just waking up. I walked up Villiers street to a place I hadn't visited since 1965 The National Gallery which sits in Trafalgar Square across from Admiralty Arch and is bordered by magnificent buildings I am just carrying my camera with one lens, rather than lugging 16 pounds in a bag 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deladane #92 Posted September 13, 2019 Beautiful photos, as always! It's so fun to relive my time in London through your eyes.... err, I mean through your lens 📸 Keep it coming! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #93 Posted September 13, 2019 2 hours ago, luvsun22 said: This is my first time to happen on one of your reports and am delighted by your writing and beautiful photos! I’m excited to follow along! Hi and welcome! Looks like you missed this one... and also these..... From the Archives Here are the previous Gentleman's Seafaring Journals, going backwards in time. They are an aid to folks who have signatures turned off and save a ton of time searching. Obviously there is no need to list this GSJ as you are currently up to your neck in it.* * All reviews/GSJs come with photos and video, bread and butter and your choice of soup or salad. Crown Princess ABC Islands January 12 2018 E734 Photo/Video review https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2588776 8 days of eating (food porn). Also dining ashore which was not our norm. Aruba sunset cruise. Bonaire Glass boat. Regal Princess New England/Canada October 14 2017 C743 Photo/Video review https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2556992 Lots of New York Skyline/Central Park photos. Newport mansions. Boston Harbor tour. Bar Harbor. Canadian ports with Peggy's Cove and lobster. New camera. Celebrity ReflectionWestern Caribbean January 14 2017 Sky Suite 7258 Photo/Video review http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2447364 South Beach segway. Art Deco buildings. First time Miami sail away. Falmouth. Ocho Rios beach. Cayman turtles. Cozumel. Lovin' Labadee. Rented upgraded camera. Star Princess Sept 2016 Vancouver to Whittier D733 Photo/Video review http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2403532 Fine dining in the Pan Pacific, Vancouver. Misty Fjords by boat. Juneau aerial tramway. Luxury car White Pass railway.New Pro Canon lenses. Glacier Bay. College Fjord. Anchorage. Rented $2,000 lens for best glacier pics. Comparing Princess and Celebrity http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2317130 Comparison review using photographs, pie charts and even pie. Ruby Princess and Celebrity Silhouette duke it out for their brands. Written 2016 Celebrity Silhouette January 2016 Eastern Caribbean Sky Suite 7309 Photo/Video review http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=48880163#post48880163 First X cruise. Sky Suite. San Juan segway tour. St Maarten. St Kitts railway. Murano, Tuscan Grill, Lawn Club Grill, Alcoves, Luminae and Blu Emerald Princess Sept 2015 Rome to Barcelona C750 Photo/Video review http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=47937585#post47937585 Lots of Rome photos including fantastic food. Albergo del Senato. Forum. Rome at 5 a.m Palermo. Herculaneum ruins. Remains of Costa Concordia. Florence. Uffizi. Michelangelo David. Cinque Terre. First time in Barcelona. Gaudi tour. Tapas Ruby Princess Jan 2015 Eastern Caribbean D616 Photo/Video review http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2161859 Princess Cays. St Thomas boat tour to St John. St. Maarten. Grand Turk tour. Estonian singers and dancers on board (fantastic!) Ocean Princess Sept 2014 Venice to Rome Suite 6088 Photo/video review http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2110302 Small ship/huge suite. Falling in love with Venice. Venice at 5 a.m photo tour. Sail away. Malta excursion. Stunning Valletta harbor. Croatia- oysters in Mariston. Palermo trash porn. Pompeii and Positano. First visit to Rome. Colosseum. Caribbean PrincessJan 2014 Western Caribbean C749 Photo/video review www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1976282 Friends on board. Delayed sail away from Houston. Roatan and dolphins. Belize and mangroves air-boat. Cozumel. First of 4 visits to Houston opera. Good eats! Ruby Princess Jan 2013 Eastern Caribbean C749 Photo review www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1786957 Aft suite on beautiful ship. Butterfly gardens. Memory foggy. Diamond Princess Aug 2012 Vancouver to Whittier C757 Photo/video review www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1798138 Pan Pacific dinner. Favorite Princess ship. Harv n Marv whale watching. White Pass railway. Eagle watching river trip near Haines. Glacier Bay and College Fjord. Anchorage. Best waiters from Thailand. Ship tour. Crown Princess Jan 2012 Southern Caribbean C749 Photo/Video review www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1932543 First aft suite (Free upgrade!) Princess Cays, Aruba. Submarine. Curacao.Slave museum, crashing waves. First time Marriott Harbor Beach hotel, Ft Lauderdale. Carol sings in Princess Pop Choir. Ship tour. Coral Princess Aug 2011 Whittier to Vancouver C210 Photo/Video review www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1850609 First cruise with Princess.Carol's first cruise ever. Overnight in Anchorage. Hubbard Glacier. Glacier Bay.Harv n Marv whale watching. Helicopter landing on glacier. Misty Fjords floatplane tour with Island Wings. 5 days of drizzle then 2 days of 70s sun. Vancouver. Butchart Gardens. It's hard to remember now, 7 years into our cruising life, exactly what we did in each port so I am glad Carol took notes and I took photos and wrote it all down on Cruise Critic-otherwise the cruises would blend together into a mush. I hope you may want to read some or all of these. Every one of them was fun and interesting Norris 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #94 Posted September 13, 2019 Listen to the Lion.... Big Ben in the distance I was wondering where the homeless people sleep and as I crossed over to Northumberland Avenue on my way to the hotel I found an answer....in tents A widely seen coffee chain 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #95 Posted September 13, 2019 Back down to the Thames Old Scotland Yard which is opposite our hotel The flags of our hotel We have Churchill War Rooms at 10 a.m. Later a theater show followed immediately by tea on the hotel terrace with Carol's long-time-no-see cousin Heather and her husband and dinner at a Gordon Ramsay Gastropub on the river. Time for breakfast! 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TreacleScone #96 Posted September 13, 2019 Hi! Pleased to have caught your latest cruise report while it’s fresh. Looking forward to seeing what you thought of The Fjords as its nearing the top of our cruise bucket list now that Alaska and the Baltics have been ticked off. Sasha is enjoying the photos too. She’ll love seeing Silhoutte again. Her favourite ship so far. Even better than Disney Wonder apparently! Praise indeed! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CruiserRob #97 Posted September 13, 2019 Checking in to the GSJ Norris. Great so far as usual Robert 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #98 Posted September 14, 2019 9 hours ago, TreacleScone said: Hi! Pleased to have caught your latest cruise report while it’s fresh. Looking forward to seeing what you thought of The Fjords as its nearing the top of our cruise bucket list now that Alaska and the Baltics have been ticked off. Sasha is enjoying the photos too. She’ll love seeing Silhoutte again. Her favourite ship so far. Even better than Disney Wonder apparently! Praise indeed! Dear Ms Treacle, Sasha will get a real eyeful of the Silhouette as I photographed her relentlessly by day and by night and went overboard (via the gangway) on taking pictures of Norway. It is my favorite ship thus far too. My thoughts on the Fjords are barely containable. I haven't seen the photos I took there yet as I see them just before I write this. I do look at them for a second when I take them and take a second one if I screwed up the settings but I will say to the Right Honorable Lady, that the vast majority of the captures gave me a sense of satisfaction unmeasurable : if I had to quantify it I would liken it to that feeling when one takes the first sip of a well-poured pint of Guinness. Please read on as this unfolds . Norris, also from N. Ireland 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TreacleScone #99 Posted September 14, 2019 6 hours ago, Bimmer09 said: Dear Ms Treacle, Sasha will get a real eyeful of the Silhouette as I photographed her relentlessly by day and by night and went overboard (via the gangway) on taking pictures of Norway. It is my favorite ship thus far too. My thoughts on the Fjords are barely containable. I haven't seen the photos I took there yet as I see them just before I write this. I do look at them for a second when I take them and take a second one if I screwed up the settings but I will say to the Right Honorable Lady, that the vast majority of the captures gave me a sense of satisfaction unmeasurable : if I had to quantify it I would liken it to that feeling when one takes the first sip of a well-poured pint of Guinness. Please read on as this unfolds . Norris, also from N. Ireland I forgot to sign off my previous post with my real name (as I rarely post on CC even I don’t remember my screen name on here)... Julie (and Sasha), niece (and great niece) of Norris. Both along for the virtual Fjords ride while we plan our own next cruise adventure. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimmer09 #100 Posted September 14, 2019 Breakfast of Champions Carol and I (a) love to eat and (b) love the outdoors so we had to do both this morning A lovely location The buffet was 24 Pounds. Once our tea pots had done their job of extracting maximum flavor from the leaves and our fresh orange juice served I hit the buffet and brought back this plate Yes, I made ("curated", LOL) a Full English of Back bacon, mushroom, baked beans, hash browns (un-British but yummy) Cumberland sausages, grilled tomatoes and embellished it with some pate, cold cuts and a fine slice of pastrami. The plate was cleared in a blur of cutlery and washed down with strong tea. Afterwards we adjourned to the gardens which had just opened Carol, who usually downloads her newspapers to her iPad or Kindle wrestles with the Financial Times It is a lovely, perfect, last-day-of-August day Carol returns to the room to prepare for Sir Winston while I remain in the gardens We used Google Maps on my phone and were at Clive Steps at 10 a.m as the doors were opening.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
