Eclipse British Isles and French Open June 2017 review (long with photos)

[texasgirl29]

Friday, June 2

Today has two big bucket list items for Paul.

 

First was a visit to Abbey Road and the Abbey Road studio. Yes, we walked across the famous zebra crosswalk although the photo bore no resemblance to the famous Beatle photo.

 

 

 

 

We went inside the tiny studio gift shop and bought a magnet.

 

 

 

Then to Greenwich to see the Prime Meridian at the Royal Naval Observatory. It was a 15 minute walk, uphill. In order to actually see the meridian you have to pay (about £12.5 I think). The meridian is a brass line about 6 inches wide and only 15-20 feet, and EVERYONE wanted their photo straddling the two hemispheres.

 

 

So, it's not as exciting as you might think. The rest of the museum was the house where the royal astronomer and his family lived with displays of clocks, cameras and telescopes. The view from the top of the hill was amazing.

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

We walked down and took a quick look at the Cutty Sark from the outside and asked a security guard for directions to the underground. He told us to take the 188 bus to North Greenwich. While we were on the bus it began to pour but we got off under the eaves of the transportation center and got on the Jubilee line.

 

 

 

Greenwich is very pretty and like everywhere else I wish we had more time to explore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

Saturday, June 3

Thanks to a member of our roll call, I found out about the Trouping of the Colour Major General's Review. This was the first of two dress rehearsals for the Queen's birthday. Everything except the actual queen and royal family, and best of all, free!

 

It's all quite old fashioned, one must write an actual letter in order to get tickets -- no online ordering or anything. So I requested tickets in January and they arrived a few months later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trooping, however, queen or no queen, was glorious. Companies (or regiments?) marched in just a few feet from us to the accompaniment of drums, brass or bagpipes. The Irish hound mascot was brought in with the Irish troops. The horse guards came in, most on matched black horses, lead by two Clysdales mounted with drums in front of the rider.

 

Three small carriages came in and went to the covered area. The lady in front of us said they were for lesser royals. Then a covered plain black carriage came in, a place keeper for the queen's actual carriage, also three accompanied riders that would be for Charles and his siblings. The carriage paraded around in front of the soldiers who were lined up on three sides.

 

The horses who had been so patient were finally allowed to parade along with some horse drawn artillery. There was a lot of jingling of bridles and harnesses. After a few laps they left the field, more music and more marching until it was all over.

 

It was a fabulous display of pageantry although very hot in the stands. If you ever go, I highly recommend sunscreen and a hat. The tickets state "smart casual no denim" and I was surprised to see the very casual attire of a few people.

 

 

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[bessinfl]

Texas Girl, I am so enjoying your commentary and your photos -- and you haven't even boarded a ship! I think you and I have the same interests (and I'm glad you hade it to Abbey Road). I'm looking forward to the rest of the trip. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

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[shipshape sam]

We got to see a part of Trouping the Guard many years ago and it was neat, but not the great view you had! We were lucky on our day at Abby Road, got to walk across by ourselves, just a couple of small groups also there during our time. I had researched it to know which way to walk.

 

Yes, really enjoying the review of London and area. Really look forward to your perspective of life onboard ship!

[texasgirl29]

Thanks for the responses, I'm glad to know y'all are reading and enjoying. It encourages to keep on writing.

 

Now for our last night in London....

 

I was really pleased with the location of our flat because we were in walking distance of many city landmarks. Paul and I decided to walk to Westminster on the last evening.

 

We passed by this lovely old church on our way.

 

 

The plaque commemorates the rebuilding of the school after it was bombed in 1944.

 

 

This was on the gate of a girls school.

 

As we walked along we saw a man in a wheelchair who appeared to be homeless. He asked Paul if he would mind giving him a push to the corner. He was a very friendly man, originally from Ireland, and asked if we were in town for the Trooping. He told us it was a great thing to see and with a cheery wave he went on his way. Sometimes we see angels unaware....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

Westminster Abbey and the bridge were pretty quiet this evening. We recalled the terrorist attack there a few months ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a selfie....

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

Sunday, June 4

 

At last, it was time to leave for Southampton. We repacked our suitcases and tidied up the flat.

 

During the five days we had stayed at the flat, my brother in law had been unwell, with extreme lethargy and difficulty in walking, particularly when it involved steps. He had gone for short walks with one or more family members but we had been able to leave through the patio gate, and out through a larger gate at the top of the driveway that served a private courtyard. The residents were kind enough to keep the gate open most of the time but they didn't plan to leave the gate open early Sunday morning. We would have to get him up the interior stairs to the street level. With much cajoling and some pulling, we made it to the top and out into the street.

 

Paul, Rachel and I planned to walk with our suitcases to Victoria Coach Station, only about 15 or 20 minutes on foot. David and Norene decided to walk it too, so we made quite a parade: Brian in a wheelchair with a carry on on his lap and pushed by Paul who was also maneuvering a large wheeled suitcase. Rachel followed with two suitcases and a backpack, then Dave with two suitcases and a backpack. Next was Norene with a walker and a backpack, and I brought up the rear with my suitcase and large canvas bag.

 

I guess where there's a will, there's a way. We got to the station in plenty of time to catch our 8 am bus. The ride was uneventful, and we pulled into the bus station in Southampton about 10:30, grabbed a couple of taxis and we were at the cruise terminal well before 11 a.m.

 

 

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[abbydancer2003]

I've got my first cruises booked on Celebrity on S class ships over the next few months, so I'm enjoying reading reviews of all S class trips. This is a very fun review. I've also spent some time in London, and I seem to remember being in the Hampton court maze wondering if I'd ever find the exit.

[trosebery]

I am enjoying your review and your photos! We're taking a Brit Islands Princess cruise this summer, and your review has me eagerly looking forward to it!

[texasgirl29]

We had lunch at the Oceanview Cafe as we waited for our room to be ready.

 

We had a balcony room on Deck 6, Cabin 6150. It was just around the corner from the elevators and one flight above the Eclipse Theater balcony so it was easy to slip in and out. There was no noise at all from either the elevator landing or the theater. Great location.

 

 

 

Our balcony was over a big white box and there were lifeboats to the right. Our view straight ahead was unobstructed.

 

Our room steward is Connie. She must have eyes in the back of her head, the way she seemed to magically slip into our room when we left for the day and later in the evening.

 

 

The first night she took my pj's I had stashed under my pillow and arranged them on the bed. Just a little too weird for me; thereafter I left them on the hook in the bathroom.

 

At dinner we had a nice table by the window. Our waiter is Melwyn from India, the assistant is Rodrigo from Brazil, and the somolier is Benny from India.

 

Melwyn and Rachel had a running joke. She asked if they had any chicken feet and he would say they'd have them the next day. (FYI, she's thoroughly Americanized and has never had chicken feet in her life.) Rachel was also impressed that Rodrigo remembered every night she preferred water without ice. Benny brought Paul a glass of wine, a cocktail called a Mexican firing squad and a pomegranate mojito every night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

Monday, June 5

 

Originally, our itinerary called for our first port to be St Peter Port in Guernsey but the sea was going to be very rough and the plan changed to go to Cherbourg, France on Monday, sea day on Tuesday and move Guernsey to our last day. I had booked a walking tour on Guernsey but I was able to email the tour leader, as did others, and she rescheduled our tour.

 

So, we docked in Cherbourg on Monday. I had planned to go to the Cite de la Mer museum, sort of a low key day after the intensity of our five days in London. Fortunately, we didn't have to rearrange a tour in Cherbourg.

 

 

The terminal was the last stop for the Titanic before her doomed voyage.

 

 

 

The museum has a wonderful Titanic exhibit. You experience the communication between the Titanic and the other ships in the area as the time slips away. You see representations of cabins and public areas for different classes. You can hear about the different people on the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

After the Titanic experience, we went to the Redoubtable, the world's largest tourable ballistic missile submarine. It's included in your admission price, just grab a radio thing to hear the tour descriptions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[LauraAnneC]

Great review - love the pics!

[texasgirl29]

The third (of four) attractions at the museum was the aquarium. The fish tanks are only part of the story--exhibits showcase the history of man's attempts to dive and explore the sea. But to me the real star of this particular show are the tanks with really beautiful fish (and a shark or two).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

There is a fourth component of your trip to Cite de la Mer that involves learning about deep sea exploration. It's a little bewildering at first and there is a surprise at the end, so that's all I'm going to say about it.

 

One of the nice things about this port is the ship docks right next to the museum and 15 minute walk from the city center, so you can do the museum in the morning then go back to the ship for lunch, then explore the town.

 

As I said, the ship originally was not scheduled to go to Cherbourg until Tuesday the 6th, D-Day anniversary. I know a lot of people had to scramble to rearrange Tours or skip them. The town itself was not expecting the ship in on a Monday and so most of the shops were closed. Someone on my roll call said if the shopkeepers had known, they would have opened their stores.

 

So it was a very quiet walk for us through town but we managed to take some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

After dinner, I went to the show in the Eclipse Theater -- the Queens of Rhythm -- three women who sang Motown and other songs from the sixties. I enjoyed their show very much.

 

 

 

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[HelenREMfan]

Ah you got a photo of the patisserie :) WE called there and bought French pain au chocolat. There was a cafe just across the road from there so I practised my rusty French there. People had been getting off the ship saying the town was shut.....well yes many of the shops were closed but some were open and I found a lovely speciality grocers after leaving the cafe and bought some presents for people back home.

Your photos are really good!! Bringing back lots of good memories too.

[texasgirl29]

Ah you got a photo of the patisserie :) WE called there and bought French pain au chocolat. There was a cafe just across the road from there so I practised my rusty French there. People had been getting off the ship saying the town was shut.....well yes many of the shops were closed but some were open and I found a lovely speciality grocers after leaving the cafe and bought some presents for people back home.

Your photos are really good!! Bringing back lots of good memories too.

 

Thanks, Helen. The photos looks a lot better on my computer screen than on my iPad. I decided on this trip just to use my iPhone for photos even though I lugged my Nikon to Europe. We bought some macarons at the bakery.

 

It started to rain as we were leaving and my 17-year-old was quite worried about her hair frizzing up so we had to hurry back.

 

JoAnn

[Kealy]

Enjoying your review -- looking forward to reading more about your trip!

[texasgirl29]

Tuesday, June 6

Sea Day

 

The sea has been rough all night and day but the stabilizers are working well. I tried to capture the waves outside the MDR window.

 

 

It was a leisurely day -- I read most of A Man Called Ove (my book club selection for this month although I will miss the meeting) in the morning in the Sky Lounge and the library. After lunch, a nap then more reading in the lounge near Guest Services.

 

Rachel was disappointed to find out there were no teens on the ship to hang out with. She's always met new friends on board but not this time. She spent time in the gym and watching movies on her iPad curled up in the solarium.

 

After dinner, Paul, Norene and I went to see "Topper."

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited July 7, 2017 by texasgirl29

[texasgirl29]

Wednesday, June 7

Brugge, Belgium

 

We had previously been to Brugge in 2015 on the Baltic cruise. That time, we took the shuttle + the train + the bus to get to the city center. This time I reserved a taxi from Rony's Taxis which has good reviews from other Cruisers. With 7 of us planning on being on this trip, it made more sense to pay €50 each way so I reserved the last taxi several months ago. Our older daughter was not able to go on this cruise, so we were down to six. My brother-in-law continued to feel unwell and was having a lot of trouble walking, so his father stayed behind and only Paul, Norene Rachel and I went.

 

We took the free port shuttle to the gate and we were met by our driver. He left us off at the market square and gave us his card. We agreed to be back at 4:00.

 

It was a beautiful, sunny day and there was a flower market in the square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

For two years I have been savoring the very memory of the wonderful Belgium waffle in Brugge.

 

We returned to the very same waffle shop, Chez Albert, for waffles. So so good.

 

 

 

Not only were the waffles scrumptious but Rachel was kinda sweet on the guy who worked there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

Next we hit the chocolate shops. So pretty! Too pretty to eat!

 

 

 

 

And these rusty old tools? Cinnamon dusted chocolate!

 

 

This box of chocolates was only about €8.

 

 

 

 

 

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[texasgirl29]

We wandered around the shops and streets. It's amazing, as an American and a Texan, to see buildings with dates in the 1600s and 1700s, that are not historic sites or museums but living, useful and occupied buildings. I gawked shamelessly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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