Cruising

[jhopgood]

A sort of Educational Cruise - lectures - interesting people -

"Antiquities of the Mediterranean". That sort of thing.

They certainly do those, with quite famous people lecturing.

http://www.cruiseclever.com/SwanHellenicCruises.htm

this looks like your sort of thing Angela, the words 'elegant but relaxed' jumped out at me.

I enjoyed looking at this, Mary! Very interesting! As Jo points out - expensive -

However, my mind began to buzz a bit. We all became excited at the thought of pirates... why shouldn't the educational cruise embrace the piratical theme?

Possible lectures?


"Walking The Plank". Mr David Eastburn.

Is that by or with DE?

[icomefromalanddownunder]

should we form an orderly queue?

Yep I think so!! I'm after you Mary!!! LOL!!!!

Oh a pirates life is one for me!

You are far too polite Jude.

Stuff the queue: it's elbows out and shoulder barges at the ready.

Co-incidentally, daughter and son-in-law will be cruising The Virgin Islands in December with her Daddy and prospective Step-Mummy. So far I have only requested that a bottle of rum be bought back for Natural Mummy (who will be holding the fort down on't farm), but there's still time to add to the list.

Off for a cold shower.

xxxxxx

Forgot to explain that they will be cruising on a real boat - one with sails .

[Jude]

i have an idea!


Why don't a band of us get together and hire a 70ft Narrow boat and cruise on the canals? I have much experience in this (as does DD & DS) the reason for 70' is that it gives space for up to 12 people... we could do the walking the plank, food fights (outside the cabin) G&T's start at 10.30am, and carry on all day... we can rosta the cooking, and we can have a party with the pirate theme - what thinkest though? one week would feel like 2 as the max speed is 4mph, and most of the time we would be doing less - it makes getting into the car at the end feel like you are driving a F1!!! I always feel that the wheels have been removed! LOL

So we need at least 10 people, that would make it about £100 for the week including food...(although some of us will have to share beds as there are 2 doubles on board - and Munch you being the smallest will have to sleep on the top bunk!!! hee hee :lol;

[Angela Woodford]

"Is that by or with DE?

It could be "with"!

I expect that DBTS is the ultimate expert on advising those who wish to compel others to walk the plank for disciplinary reasons/ ultimate revenge but - well - thinking of those skydiving instructors to whom one can be strapped before plummeting from the plane - perhaps the same technique would be useful for the novice plankwalker?

Shark-infested waters! Avast, me hearties!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

We have done a lot of cruising, I have read all the previous posts and there isn't much else to add.
We believe that P&O are the best, but not the cheapest. Tipping is "Left to your discretion" but the suggessted amount is about £10 per day for your Cabin Steward, Who does Everything to make you happy, Waiters etc. I only Tip if they have given good service.
All the P&O Stewards are from Goa, and like the Gurkhas it runs in Familys. We once had one, who's ancestor has been on the P&O SAILING ships -- honest !
The CARNIVAL Line is also owned by P&O but is far more "Laid Back" --- No black tie for Dinner (P&O 3 nights a Week)
If in the Carribean, any Line will be full of Americans, "Laid Back" to the point of being Supine ---Not my scene !
Regrettably you will not qualify for SAGA, Tough Luck !--- Brilliant service, care, and cleanliness, all passengers over 50
this might seem off-putting, but there are Ravers aboard in the Bars after Midnight !
You will love your Cruise, but beware ---- it can become an expensive habit !
Let us all know in April, how it went ??

I have just read the Idea about a Narrow Boat Holiday,-- great Idea, I had a boat on the Thames when I lived at Benson,
Should we join such a crew, I will claim Old Age , and Infirmity at every Lock !

[ben ashton]

I work for Saga as of 4 weeks ago ! They've just bought a 4th boat and have perks such as door to port car service.
Can probably answer any specific questions in a matter of days... go Saga!

[Jo]

An ex-colleague of mine had previously worked for Saga, and she swears the following is true. An elderly gent had died suddenly on a holiday abroad (not an uncommon occurrence with Saga, I imagine), and after offering condolences, the Saga rep assured the grieving widow that she would be flown home as soon as it could be arranged. "I beg your pardon", retorted the GW, "but I am not going anywhere. I have another week of my holiday left, and while we're at it, there is his other week too. Since he won't be using it, I propose to add it on to my holiday. Then, and only then, will I return home."

[englishangel]

I have heard SAGA cruises dexcribed as Club 50 - 100 and there is the incontrovertible truth that after 16-24 year olds, the group with the highest rise in the rate sexually transmitted infections is in over 50s.

[DavebytheSea]

Cruising has indeed a number of meanings for me ..... indeed I love its many different forms and spend a lot of my time doing it.

Mermaids rather than pirates are my thing though - never miss the chance to turn over the odd pebble or sail the Saragossa.

I am told that Easyjet do a no-frills version - take your own baguettes and a sleeping bag ........... still 7 days for £160.

http://www.easycruise.com/

I did the Caribbean thing on a Costa cruise once.

http://www.costacruises.co.uk/b2c/gb/Default.htm

Had a great time, but scarcely aware we were afloat - even in a force 8 the thing barely moved. And canal boats too .... yes Jude - enormous fun! Spent last easter racing along the Trent and Mersey from Nottingham to Stone. Woke up in the mornings to see Jonathan or Adam Lindley (ex Gr W) at the helm with an early morning mist hanging over the sea. It seems to be de riguer to stop near a pub every night.

.... and then there is taking your own boat through the French canals. My favourite up the Rance to Rennes and then down to Biscay at Redon par La Vilaine. .... or the succulent peaches and wonderful sunshine of the Midi - gin and tonic at the wheel, wonderful vistas of distant mountains, girls sensibly undressed on the deck as they work on their tan ......

Oh yes! I do cruises! .... and at no cost other than the food we eat and the wine we drink. Read how Old Blues have sailed with the Old Man of the Sea to far-off lands - to France, Spain and the Isles of Scilly - and, having read, you are welcome to arrive with eye patch and parrot, ready to sail the Western Seas.

[sejintenej]

Cruising has indeed a number of meanings for me ..... indeed I love its many different forms and spend a lot of my time doing it.

Mermaids rather than pirates are my thing though - never miss the chance to turn over the odd pebble or sail the Saragossa.

try the Sargasso Sea and see what appears!

[DavebytheSea]

... ah! yes! my spelling! but I have always mis-called it too.

[englishangel]

It sounds as though it is in Narnia whatever it is called, but although narnia had fauns and centaurs and stuff, I don't think it had mermaids, I will have to read Voyage of the Dawn Treader again.

[Jo]

Cruising has indeed a number of meanings for me ..... indeed I love its many different forms and spend a lot of my time doing it.

Mermaids rather than pirates are my thing though - never miss the chance to turn over the odd pebble or sail the Saragossa.

I am told that Easyjet do a no-frills version - take your own baguettes and a sleeping bag ........... still 7 days for £160.

http://www.easycruise.com/

I did the Caribbean thing on a Costa cruise once.

http://www.costacruises.co.uk/b2c/gb/Default.htm

Had a great time, but scarcely aware we were afloat - even in a force 8 the thing barely moved. And canal boats too .... yes Jude - enormous fun! Spent last easter racing along the Trent and Mersey from Nottingham to Stone. Woke up in the mornings to see Jonathan or Adam Lindley (ex Gr W) at the helm with an early morning mist hanging over the sea. It seems to be de riguer to stop near a pub every night.

.... and then there is taking your own boat through the French canals. My favourite up the Rance to Rennes and then down to Biscay at Redon par La Vilaine. .... or the succulent peaches and wonderful sunshine of the Midi - gin and tonic at the wheel, wonderful vistas of distant mountains, girls sensibly undressed on the deck as they work on their tan ......
Oh yes! I do cruises! .... and at no cost other than the food we eat and the wine we drink. Read how Old Blues have sailed with the Old Man of the Sea to far-off lands - to France, Spain and the Isles of Scilly - and, having read, you are welcome to arrive with eye patch and parrot, ready to sail the Western Seas.

You might enjoy Narrow Dog to Carcassone, by Terry Darlington. He actually sailed his narrowboat across the Channel, and then down through France.

My partner has done a lot of narrowboat trips, and keeps saying "we must do a narrowboat trip". To which I respond "yes, definitely - I'm up for it - go ahead and arrange it". I'm still waiting...........

[Angela Woodford]

And canal boats too .... yes Jude - enormous fun....

My partner has done a lot of narrowboat trips, and keeps saying "we must do a narrowboat trip". To which I respond "yes, definitely - I'm up for it - go ahead and arrange it". I'm still waiting...........

Is a narrowboat the same as a canal boat? Jude's idea of a girls' trip is a super one. I don't know about my occupation of a top bunk though. The smallest? 5'3" is quite tall really.

[Ajarn Philip]

The smallest? 5'3" is quite tall really.

Yes, dear, yes. Repeat after me: I am tall; I am tall; I am tall; I am definitely not short..."