QUASI-LIVE Rotterdam VII: 14-Day Atlantic Sunsets & Exotic Isles

[0106]

1 hour ago, *Miss G* said:

think this will probably be my last live-from because it doesn’t look like there’s much interest

I love the LIVE threads and hope you continue to post.

[sunviking90]

There is definitely interest from me. I think a lot of us who are usually interested in these threads may be on our own repositioning cruises (‘tis the season!) and not reading the boards regularly. I know I only have internet in port via eSIM right now so am not reading daily like I usually do. 
Glad that you were able to get into Ponta Delgada. We stopped there in fall of 2022 and loved it. We had the best one euro cappuccinos from a kiosk in a little park at the top of the hill. 

Edited April 30 by sunviking90

[SDARCH]

Please continue!  We are on the voyage following yours and would love to hear about the on-board experience.

[SongsInMyHead]

I lurk all the lives and don’t post anything because I am so inexperienced. I never actually went on a cruise! I live vicariously through the good and bad that people experience!

[Mopree]

Please continue!! I really enjoy reading your "live from" So entertaining and so well written. 

[*Miss G*]

Oh great, thanks all!  To continue…

 

In Brest, France, we took the free shuttle over to the castle.

 

 

Looking back towards the port and one of the free shuttles (coach) which brings you here.  Each coach is clearly marked with the ship name for your trip back to the port.

 

 

From there, we took an Uber to the botanical gardens.  What an amazing spot!  The gardens are free to the public but there is a small cost to enter the conservatories, if you like.  The ferns in the botanical gardens were so huge that you could stand under them and use them as gigantic umbrellas!  We expected a velociraptor to jump out at us at any minute. 😅 

 

The ponds, waterfalls, and streams were beautiful, and so soothing to the soul.  Then we went for buckwheat crêpes at the crêperie within the grounds, which were amazing!  We highly recommend a visit to the gardens if you don’t have a tour at this port.

 

 

Edited May 1 by *Miss G*

[*Miss G*]

13 hours ago, SDARCH said:

Please continue!  We are on the voyage following yours and would love to hear about the on-board experience.

 

Oh, how lovely!  I will definitely finish with a post of the onboard experience.  I think you will love this beautiful ship and all its fabulous activities.  The entertainment and hosts are fantastic.

[*Miss G*]

In Portland, England, we took the free shuttle to Weymouth where we had… you guessed it… fish and chips at The George Inn.

 

 

From there we picked up fresh cockles with malt vinegar at the fish monger’s next door.  Haven’t had cockles in ages so that was a real treat.

 

 

Edited May 1 by *Miss G*

[*Miss G*]

Here is how I knew I was on the right deck.

 

 

Then it was the Orange Party and, boy, what a party it was.  So much fun!

 

The sun sets as we head back across the English Channel to France.

 

[*Miss G*]

In Le Havre we were going to join my daughter and son-in-law on a trip to Honfleurs et Deauville but we got tied up with some business at home and missed the bus so, instead, we walked Le Havre and visited the cathedral with the time we had left.  The Honfleurs and Deauville tour is highly recommended by daughter and son-in-law.  They said we would have loved it.  The cost was $40 per person, round trip and was purchased independently (it was not a ship’s tour).

 

 

 

Most everything was leveled, here, during WWII, so they quickly rebuilt with lots and lots of cement.

 

 

 

We found Le Marché (the market) and had croissants, of course.  My sister purchased spices and french milled soaps… as you do.

 

 

Les pâtisseries were a bit picked over by the time we passed by.  We should have taken this route first.

 

 

A teddy bear picnic.

 

 

The war memorial.

 

 

Taxis are €10 each way and they will drop you off and pick you up by the above memorial.  In comparison, the ship’s shuttle will cost $20 per person, round trip, and they will drop you off and pick you up by the same square.

 

Edited May 1 by *Miss G*

[*Miss G*]

The white cliffs as we approach the port of Dover, England.

 

 

The tour busses are in the foreground at the port.  The two double-deckers on the far right are the shuttles which will make two stops:  one to the city centre and the other at Dover Castle.

 

 

The cost was £7, €8, or $10usd, all payable at the bus.  You will need to keep your ticket stub to get back on for the return trip.  The drop-off and pick-up point for the city centre is at this church.  If you find yourself on the other side where the shops are, just look for the church and you can walk around it to the bus.

 

 

[*Miss G*]

This misty walk-through was interesting.  I bet the kids enjoy this in the summer.

 

 

Across the street from the mist is a place where you can get a full British breakfast with black pudding.  That is where daughter and son-in-law headed while the rest of us walked up the street to do some shopping. 

 

Shopping done, father and sister headed back to the ship while we went for a walk along the waterfront.  There were people swimming while we were bundled up against the cold wind!

 

 

Looking back at the castle and the ferry port.

 

 

 

Back in town, I had the fish and chips (surprise!) and my son-in-law had the fish finger sandwich.  Yum.  I left them to wander the shops as I went on to the castle.

 

 

A view of the castle down a side street as we headed to that pick-up point.

 

 

Arriving at the castle I could see an uphill climb and lots of people trying to board the shuttle.  Unfortunately, it was full and those waiting would have to wait for the next bus, so I decided I didn’t want to deal with either of those issues and stayed onboard to return to the ship.

 

[puppycanducruise]

Love your pictures and comments.

Thank you.

[lstrong]

Your photos are terrific!! Thank you

[george layla]

Miss G,

 

Your journey is very interesting, since we are leaving on a transatlantic from Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, also stopping in the Azores and proceeding to (different)  ports in the UK, France and elsewhere.

 

To help us pack, I would appreciate your reactions on how warm the temperature was outside on sea days, both from FLL to the Azores and from the Azores to France.  How about the temperatures inside in the public areas?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

[SUESEABE]

• Author

• #35  

Posted Wednesday at 04:00 AM (edited) The Honfleurs and Deauville tour is highly recommended by daughter and son-in-law.  They said we would have loved it.  The cost was $40 per person, round trip and was purchased independently (it was not a ship’s tour.

 

We will have a stop at Le Havre on our Rotterdam cruise in October. We are very interested in taking the tour that your daughter took. Could you share the independent tour operator please?

[*Miss G*]

On 5/5/2024 at 7:49 PM, george layla said:

 

To help us pack, I would appreciate your reactions on how warm the temperature was outside on sea days, both from FLL to the Azores and from the Azores to France.  How about the temperatures inside in the public areas?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

 

Sorry for the delayed response!  I hope I have caught you in time.

 

We had to divert north to Bermuda due to a medical emergency so it was cooler than it normally would be than if we’d gone straight to the Azores.  From past experience, the weather will be warm for a few days out of FLL.  We dressed in light layers and shed them as required. 

 

The Lido Pool area was kept pretty warm with the top only partially open.  One day we happened to see an engineer at the controls so we all started yelling “More! More!”  Then we all cheered when he opened one side all the way instead of just a crack.  😂

 

I usually found myself needing a sweater or long-sleeved top indoors and out.  It depends how your body feels temperature, though.  Ponta Delgado was unseasonably warm so we were quite hot there.  From there to France, it got quite cool. 

 

Hope this helps!

[*Miss G*]

On 5/5/2024 at 9:18 PM, SUESEABE said:

We will have a stop at Le Havre on our Rotterdam cruise in October. We are very interested in taking the tour that your daughter took. Could you share the independent tour operator please?

 

It was called Bee Le Havre.  You’ll need to click on the “EN” button (top left) for the English version.

 

They pick you up right at the cruise terminal and drop you back off at the same place.  As you exit the terminal, turn right and they will be at the side of the building.

[*Miss G*]

SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

 

After departing Dover, we were now on our way to disembarkation at Rotterdam, Netherlands.  (For those of us not continuing on to Norway.) Around midnight or so, I could see all these red lights along our route:

 

 

At dawn they were much closer and I was able to make out that they were wind turbines. Tons and tons of them.

 

Here we are docked next to the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam:

 

 

Following breakfast, we headed to the Pinnacle Grill to pick up the wheelchair service for my mother.  The crew member whisked us off the ship, through immigration, then over to the baggage claim in record time.  Then it was out the door into the cold, wind, and rain.  🥶

 

We hadn’t accounted for being processed so quickly so we were about an hour earlier than the pre-arranged time for our car service.  (Thank you, @VMax1700.) My sister gave the company a quick call and someone was able to collect us not long after.  There is a taxi line readily available as soon as you step outside if you haven’t made alternate arrangements.  It was moving steadily, although there was quite a line of people waiting.

 

The car service dropped us off at the Rotterdam train station.  This is where we would jump on the P&O shuttle to the Europoort ferry terminal.  We are taking  the overnight ferry to Hull, England.

[luvflorida]

Thank you for doing this. enjoying following along