Capnpugwash almost live from Celebrity Eclipse

[bailey59]

Hi Family Ginger, why don't you join us on the roll call. We've been getting together online and have all signed up for the Meet & Mingle. You can join as much or as little as you like but there are lots of good hints on there.

 

See you soon.

Joy

[BMT]

Well, we really didn't enjoy the Cunard experience, unlike this gentleman who appears to be 'big' on Cunard.:p

 

He seems to do these types of blogs during each cruise - perhaps that's why he doesn't have time to get off in the ports?:D:D:D

 

Can't say I blame him though - we rarely get off anymore - the ship is our destination.

 

As far as we are concerned, a cruise is a very upscale Butlins - we wouldn't complain if it anchored 4 miles offshore for a fortnight!! Just as long as we have the shops, bars and Casino at our disposal we are happy bunnies.

 

Whatever turns you on, I say!!

 

We enjoy Celebrity - but also enjoy Royal Caribbean, Princess and, dare I say it, NCL:eek:

[capnpugwash]

The café that I found was called Café Holbar and is at Vagallmenningen 1,it is very good but a coffee still costs at least 30 NOKs and a large beer will need 100 NOKs. We didn’t eat there as I didn’t want to take out another mortgage. I had to have that last beer and so left the café/bar just before 1pm and arrived at the shuttle bus with throngs of others. We all boarded and got back safely and I am back in the cabin and can relax. Bergen is a very pretty city and the buildings always seem quite Lowryesque as most of the houses are tall and look narrow with sharp angles. It is probably just my over-active imagination. Bergen was very crowded with tourists today as a Thompson and an Azamara ship arrived so there were 6 ships in total. It is 1.21 and the clouds are beginning to build so we may get a little rain later. The temperature is a pleasant 17/64 degrees and there is a light breeze.

 

We departed at exactly 2pm and pushed back turning 180 degrees and then a Hurtigruten ship bade us farewell with 3 whistles but again there was no response from our bridge which was quite surprising as it is a standard practice and a common courtesy that is extended between ships.

 

The time is now 4.30 and we are heading slightly west of south at 20 knots into a 29 knot force 6 strong wind, the sea is moderate to rough and there is a little movement on board. Despite the clear blue sunny weather it feels cold at 13/56 degrees.

 

Tonight is the final formal night of this cruise, the vast majority of people that I have seen on the previous two were suitably attired in Tuxedoes or dark suits and the ladies were all dressed very elegantly. I know that some people dislike the formality of dressing for dinner but in my opinion it really adds to the atmosphere on board and I believe that once people have made that effort they seem to enjoy themselves.

[u2cruiser]

Good job the beers were £10 or you may have missed all aboard time :eek:

Makes Celebrity drinks prices seem cheap.

[sharpasice]

Yes I do, but not on a public noticeboard and in a way which could make it obvious to whom someone was referring.

 

And you may not give a damn but some people do - as the daughter of a lovely lady who was extremely small (due to a medical condition) I can assure you that she would have found his description "She would have been too short to join a troupe of midgets so no-one could see, let alone follow her" cruel and upsetting :mad:

 

Some people are just too touchy..that's what's making all this "politically correct" nonsense just that NONSENSE! We all have to walk on eggshells for fear of "offending" someone. And EVERYONE is offended by something! Relax people, I am absolutely convinced that no offense was meant, just a little color to brighten up the blog...I have many aliments that people make fun of all the time..I never let it upset me..life is really too short! Now back to my reading!!!! Capn LOVE your reports! :D

[capnpugwash]

It is just after 6pm and I am heading down for a pre-dinner drink, as I have used my wine credit I will probably go to the Martini Bar. I did indeed have a couple of Martinis and while I was sitting at the bar the barman did a trick with 9 Boston Cups which are the metal bottoms of the cocktail shaker. He mixes 9 different drinks, 1 in each cup and then sacks them one in another. He arranges 9 martini glasses on the bar and then whilst standing on the lower area of the bar proceeds to curve the cups and pour the drinks from one end to the other. It is quite a feat and pretty impressive. Speaking to the other barman he told me that the maximum that he has seen was 24 which does seem incredible.

 

Dinner was very nice and was only marred by the interruption of the Cruise Director with the traditional parade of chefs. On this ship he chats on interminably introducing various senior staff members rather than the actual people who do the work. I am a great fan of the parade and always applaud enthusiastically but tonight was rubbish compared to other ships. I had Oysters Rockefeller, a Caesar salad and Beef Wellington and all the dishes were excellent. After the meal I was tempted to return to the Martini Bar where I met up with Marlene and Adrian and sank a few cocktails.

 

It is 11pm but we gain 1 hour tonight so we are back on UK time of 10pm and are due east of the very top of Scotland, just south of Stavanger. The sea finally looks like the sea, it has small waves and the wind is making some white horses. There are not enough to get excited about but it is an improvement over the calm seas. The current temperature is 11/52 degrees, there is a 28 knot force 6 northerly wind and 3 metre seas. I should be rocked to sleep tonight.

[capnpugwash]

I slept very well with the gentle rocking and now at 6am on Friday July 20th the sea state has reduced somewhat although there is some residual shimmying on board, it is not at all unpleasant and serves as a reminder that we are actually at sea on a ship. The weather looks likely to be sunny for most of the day although at this moment there is a lot of light coloured cloud up in the sky that should clear away to let the sun shine through.

 

The temperature is 11/53 degrees and the wind is gusting between 22 and 29 knots from the same direction. The ship sails well and seems quite stable although it is difficult to judge accurately because we have only encountered light seas. We are making 19 knots and are due east of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the middle of the North Sea steering south south west.

 

It is nice to be back on UK time but it does remind me that I get off tomorrow and that today is that dreaded packing day. It shouldn’t take too long to be fair and I will delay it until this afternoon. Luggage needs to be out in the corridor by 11pm on here apparently and our arrival time at Southampton is estimated to be 6am, I think that it could well be earlier than that as some passengers that I have spoken to have told me that they are disembarking at 6.30! The Captain has just made an announcement and whilst I didn’t totally grasp what he was saying he did say that our arrival would be 5.30am.

 

It is 11.35am and the weather is much better, most of the clouds have gone and a weak sun is shining down. The temperature is a chilly 13/56 degrees and the 19 knot north westerly wind isn’t helping much, it is still pretty nice though. The sea is moderate and we are passing through a field of gas platforms. There are a number of other ships around us as well but it is a fairly busy sea so it is no real surprise. We are now due east of Leeds and are heading south.

 

This will be my last post on this trip, unless something noteworthy happens later on. I have enjoyed the cruise, Celebrity have met and in some areas exceeded my expectations. Having said that, there are things that I don’t particularly like but their presence wouldn’t necessarily deter me from travelling with them again.

 

I hope that you have enjoyed travelling along with me and I thank you for your supportive comments, we must do this again soon!

 

FIN.

[heidik]

Thank you Capn - I have enjoyed reading your blog! Thank you again for taking the time to include all of us in your journey......:)

[u2cruiser]

Cap'n, thank you for taking us along on your very relaxing cruise. I have enjoyed it far more than my current novel, for the humour, your atmospheric descriptions of your surroundings and your turn of phrase.

 

Enjoy your next cruise and don't forget your wellies.

[jaz33]

Many thanks for entertaining us for the last 2 weeks and we are really looking forward to our turn on 04 August.

[Somerset Cruiser]

Enjoyed it as always Capn, safe journey home.

[kitkat1]

Thank You Capn. Have a safe journey home...and if I see anyone who resembles you at Southampton tomorrow I shall wave in a lively fashion. Thank you for your most entertaining blog. Look for ward to your next one.

[Aarrmuch]

My thanks also Capn I am also on the Eclipse tomorrow. So tracking the ship now I see you are 25 mile off Gt Yarmouth making 20 knots

[ginger007]

Cap'n, thank you for taking us along on your very relaxing cruise. I have enjoyed it far more than my current novel, for the humour, your atmospheric descriptions of your surroundings and your turn of phrase.

 

Enjoy your next cruise and don't forget your wellies.

 

We'd like to echo the above comments... and a big thank you from us too Capn, we have loved your posts (and typos)... Is that wellies or "willies"?:D:D

[sharpasice]

Thank you Capn for a wonderful report!

[Lyn Mc]

Thank you Cap'n for taking so much time from your cruise to keep us entertained. I too have thoroughly enjoyed your log. Didn't quite get the info on the ports of call that I thought I might but your cruise has taught me that I really can go on a cruise for the ship alone and not let the ports get in the way of my enjoyment.

 

Perhaps when I retire and are as well travelled as yourself, I may just do a cruise for the cruise alone and never get off the ship.

 

I thought the same of Cunard as you did of Celebrity (although we did have a major problem with a cancellation of a tour) I would not be averse to trying them again.

 

Happy Sailings

Lyn

[h20cruzer]

Like the posters before me. I enjoyed all your posts. I enjoy your sense of humor and little stories. I look foward to following you on your next journey, hope you are going to do the same while you are on the ship.

Norma

[Houchen9]

Thanks, loved it all. Sailing the Med on the Eclipse in September.