Bit of a blog - Ambience - Grand Canada Sept 2022

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 12 / 34 St John's, Newfoundland 

 

Bonjour!!

Good morning and thanks for following 😀 

 

We've arrived!! Beautiful day. Plans so far is dentist 1030 appointment, take the HOHO. Lunch ashore. Find a music shop to buy a table top music stand (told you I was serious)

 

Amera approaching.

 

Sadly there's an ambulance at the pier. Sadly think it might be for the partner of our table companion (he came to dinner last night really battered and bruised). She may have appendicitis 😢

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[paulatsea]

Glad you made it - and the weather looks ok !

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Watching Canadians go by. Tour buses pulling up. We'll not have too far to walk to the dentist. Ambulance has pulled away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Outdoor ship walk about. Beautiful day. Amera is parked up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Am back on board. Pic of sign on port gate.

 

The City of St. John's is Canada's most easterly city and the capital city of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This 500-year-old city is one of the oldest in the “New World.”

St. John's local residents enjoy a mix of big-city luxury and small-town charm.

Regardless of the season, the City of St. John’s is a hub of activity, innovation and culture. The town is quite walkable with lots of great shopping, restaurants, and historical sites.

On Signal Hill, small wooden homes cling to the cliff-sides. At the top is the iconic Cabot Tower, where military men guarded the shores throughout the 1700s and Guglielmo Marconi received his first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901.

St John’s is known for its vibrant coloured houses that give the city a distinctive flavour, brightly coloured Jellybean Row Houses are a great photo opportunity. Not specifically on any one street, around every corner you’ll come across vividly painted terraced homes. Some of the more heritage homes with “gingerbread” wooden trims are also painted in contrasting shades.  

 

JUST HEARD WE'RE STAYING OVERNIGHT

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

We head ashore. There's a small band playing. Sadly when we pass them there is a massive tanker spewing goodness knows what on or off the ship so we can barely hear ourselves think let alone any music. We're given directions to the HOHO by tourist guides at the gate. You'd have thought they would know it wasn't running! 🤦‍♀️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's a letter box (I hope)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Anglican Cathedral of St John The Baptist.

 

The Anglican parish in the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador was founded in 1699 in response to a petition drafted by the Anglican townsfolk of St. John's and sent to Henry Compton, Bishop of London. In this petition, the people also requested help in the rebuilding of their church, which had been destroyed, along with the rest of the city, in 1696 by the French under the command of Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville.

 

During the centuries, at least six wooden churches stood on or near this site; each was destroyed by military operations during the various wars between the French and the British. The British finally won control of eastern North America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Captain just announced. Halifax and Sydney cancelled. We are staying in St John's until 2pm Sunday.

[NorbertsNiece]

A couple of videos from Borough Market tonight. 2 because my finger slipped during the first and I was talking to myself. And I don't know how to splice them together 🤦‍♀️

 

The Captain, officers and staff eat here too.

 

#1

#2

[NorbertsNiece]

Walkabout continued. Climbing steadily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

The Rooms.

 

A modern center with a gallery of local art & a museum dedicated to natural & cultural history.

 

They were closing early as they were preparing for Circusfest. By the time we'd made the climb the much hyped restaurant and view were really all we could manage. We did witness Circus preparations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Geoff heads back down in a cab. I continue my walkabout. First stop the Basilica Cathedral of St John the Baptist.

 

Construction lasted from the excavation of the ground in May 1839, through the laying of the cornerstone in May 1841, until the completion and consecration on September 9, 1855. At this time, it was the largest church building in North America and remains the second largest church in Canada after Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal and the largest cathedral church in Canada. The Basilica-Cathedral is one of the few buildings in St. John's to survive the Great Fire of 1892.

 

There was a wedding rehearsal underway. In a previous post you can see Portuguese sailors exiting after a service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

I head on down passing "Jellybean Houses"

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I pass a wedding party exiting the Anglican Cathedral and head along Water Street, the heart of downtown in search of O'Brien's music shop to buy a music stand. They didn't have anything suitable 😢 Fabulous shop though. 

 

I pass the Portuguese naval vessel berthed near us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

A lovely surprise from Ronald, the Guest Services Manager awaited us on our return.

❤️

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Friday night. You can see the lights from The Rooms at the top of the hill.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 13 / 34 St John's, Newfoundland

 

Good morning and thanks for following 😀 

 

Same location as yesterday. Strong wind and rain falling sideways.

 

Tropical storm info, Halifax and Sydney are in Nova Scotia here

 

Not sure what we'll do today. We need a pharmacy.... Geoff needs Lemsip or equivalent, his preferred cold remedy and ship doesn't sell simple meds 🤦‍♀️

 

Currently sat in the laundrette!

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Have taken a hit for the team and come to the Buckingham Restaurant for breakfast. I typically don't eat breakfast. The menu isn't posted on line. I'll try Borough Market another day. They serve some identical and some different dishes at lunch and dinner.

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

From Christian Verhounig, CEO at Ambassador Cruise Line.

 

'Have seen a number of “comment requests” just now in various groups supporting Ambassador Cruise Line and please accept my apology for my late reply(ies)- I unfortunatley have been down with covid19 for 3 days but recovering well and nearly back to full energy!

 

a) Hurricane Fiona - the safety of our guests, crew and good ships (in the particular case Ambience effected by the storm) is of utmost importance to us. The Captain, his Officers and capable Crew, together with a big, professional and very versatile team ashore have been monitoring the developments over the last couple of days and continue to do so by the hour. Please be rest assured, that we take itinerary decisions, even if unpleasant for some, very seriously and always with the best interest of safety of our guests in mind and that the Captain onboard will keep you fully update on all developments and decisions!

 

b) Gratuities/Tips - since I joined the cruise industry and embarked my first ship as Barwaiter (at the age of 18y) a topic of discussion… first of all, I personally confirm that 100% of all tips and gratuities collected from guests onboard Ambassador Cruise Line vessels are being paid out to the crew with absolutely no exception!

 

Having been a crewmember by myself I strongly believe that the system we have in place is the most fair system. It remunerates not only the ”closest to the guest” crew members but it remunerates all those amazing crew members that make our guests experience so special!

 

Feedback from guests confirms that Ambassador has the “friendliest welcome at sea” and I truly believe that this confirms our approach and transparency and is because we have an accessible team from the top down that has very high respect for each employee and values each employee equally!'

[NorbertsNiece]

To give you an idea of our original route. Halifax, Nova Scotia was to be our next port of call followed by Sydney, NS.

 

Awaiting an update on planned itinerary.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Dear fellow guest. When standing at reception with a (really minor) grievance please don't raise your voice so even a person with reduced hearing and socially distanced can hear you. You make yourself look and sound a) like a snob and b) like a child.

 

Telling a receptionist you don't believe her, i.e calling her a liar, is abusive imo.

 

/rant over

[paulatsea]

2 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Dear fellow guest. When standing at reception with a (really minor) grievance please don't raise your voice so even a person with reduced hearing and socially distanced can hear you. You make yourself look and sound a) like a snob and b) like a child.

 

Telling a receptionist you don't believe her, i.e calling her a liar, is abusive imo.

 

/rant over

 

2 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Day 13 / 34 St John's, Newfoundland

 

Good morning and thanks for following 😀 

 

Same location as yesterday. Strong wind and rain falling sideways.

 

Tropical storm info, Halifax and Sydney are in Nova Scotia here

 

Not sure what we'll do today. We need a pharmacy.... Geoff needs Lemsip or equivalent, his preferred cold remedy and ship doesn't sell simple meds 🤦‍♀️

 

Currently sat in the laundrette!

 

On Fred Olsen in St Petersburg I could not get any indigestion tablets as similarly no simple meds available in the shop onboard . In a lot of pain.

Ships Doctor would not sell me a small bottle of Gaviscon from the surgery unless I made a £100 appointment as it was “not on his list” as available off shelf.

Could not get off ship to a chemist as no independent visa for Russia.

Eventually customer service manager gave me some of his own and saved my day.

Now my Holiday list has Lemsip, Asprin, and indigestion tablets in caps and bold.

 

 

Thanks for updates.

 

[Martha1974]

3 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Dear fellow guest. When standing at reception with a (really minor) grievance please don't raise your voice so even a person with reduced hearing and socially distanced can hear you. You make yourself look and sound a) like a snob and b) like a child.

 

Telling a receptionist you don't believe her, i.e calling her a liar, is abusive imo.

 

/rant over

Sorry to continue the rant… likewise please don’t yell at a very hard-working buffet server who is covering 3stations because you had to wait 90 seconds for them to come and serve you (and then continue complaining very loudly to your spouse when you get back to your table with your food that it’s “not acceptable”)… not an Ambassador experience but witnessed on A.N.Other cruise line this week - I thought I was going to have to physically restrain DH from going to tell them that they were out of order!

[NorbertsNiece]

Just now, Martha1974 said:

Sorry to continue the rant… likewise please don’t yell at a very hard-working buffet server who is covering 3stations because you had to wait 90 seconds for them to come and serve you (and then continue complaining very loudly to your spouse when you get back to your table with your food that it’s “not acceptable”)… not an Ambassador experience but witnessed on A.N.Other cruise line this week - I thought I was going to have to physically restrain DH from going to tell them that they were out of order!

 

😳😲👍👍

[NorbertsNiece]

Here is the revised itinerary for Ambience. We are NOT in St John's until Monday as previously rumoured on social media. I so wish people would fact check!