Bit of a blog - Spirit of Adventure - Treasures of the Adriatic - Oct 2023

[Bloodaxe]

19 hours ago, Windsurfboy said:

Very interesting  speciality restaurants  opening for lunch

 

On our September cruise the speciality restaurants opened for walk ins on sea days. It was a lunch menu.

[Kohima]

The speciality restaurants have been used on occasional sea days since 

January, offering a small menu different from the evening offering. This is an excellent improvement, making use of otherwise empty spaces and easing the numbers elsewhere when the weather isn’t suitable for outdoor eating.

[JMMKUK]

19 hours ago, FannyLiz said:

Do Saga offer any “ behind the scenes”  tours ( bridge, kitchens etc) ? 

They did Bridge tours in April but I kept forgetting to book.

[NorbertsNiece]

In town with us......

 

Dubrovnik : Resilient Lady

Venice : MSC Armonia

Cagliari : Star Flyer

Lisbon : AIDAstella & Ambassador Ambition

 

We won the morning trivia!!

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Met a friend for lunch. We didn't opt for curry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[Lofty77]

Loving the level of detail in these posts and photos, thanks very much! Very enlightening for someone like me who hasn't been on a cruise before but is seriously considering it, it's like being there too.

 

Also making me hungry every time you post a menu.😀

[NorbertsNiece]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments which are so encouraging. Really very appreciated. 

 

Had a nap.

Played scrabble. GF biscuits.

Piano music from 4pm. Then my mind was blown!! Totally blown. I didn't know they had a percussionist.... they don't.... to 'Sunny side of the street' a guest has joined the keyboard player and is playing the spoons..... brilliantly!!!

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Tomorrow we're at our first port of call, GIBRALTAR  

 

Courtesy of Britannica:

 

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, on the Mediterranean coast of southern Spain. Area: 2.25 sq mi (5.8 sq km). Population (2007 est.): 29,257. It occupies a narrow peninsula 3 mi (5 km) long and 0.75 mi (1.2 km) wide that is known as the Rock. It appears from the east as a series of sheer, inaccessible cliffs, which makes it strategically important. The territory is the site of a British air and naval base that guards the Strait of Gibraltar. The Moors held Gibraltar from 711 to 1462, and in 1501 it was annexed by Spain. Captured by the British in 1704, it became a British crown colony in 1830. Gibraltar was an important port in World Wars I and II. The sovereignty of the territory has remained a source of constant friction between the United Kingdom and Spain, though residents voted in 1967 to remain part of Britain. Spain lifted its border blockade in the mid-1980s. Formal talks that began between the governments of Britain, Spain, and Gibraltar in 2004 helped to further ease tensions. Gibraltar is known for Barbary macaques, which occupy many of Gibraltar’s caves and are Europe’s only free-living monkeys.

 

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Geoff is booked on the following excursion (details from the excursions brochure). I'm going walkabout, I was last here in 2008 with my Uncle Norbert :

 

DOLPHIN WATCH

Go in search of dolphins and other fascinating

marine life on this interesting boat trip.

Gibraltar’s bay boasts three species of

dolphin and seven species of whale, as well as

sunfish, flying fish and turtles. After departing

from your ship, take the short drive to the

‘Dolphin World’ pleasure cruiser. Then, after

setting off into the bay, learn about the history

of this tiny colony, and you will be given an

insight into the marine life of the bay with a

fascinating commentary from your guide.

Refreshments can be purchased on board

if you wish. After landing, return transport

will be available back to the ship, or if time

permits, you can choose to walk into town for

shopping and a little independent exploration.

Please note: We recommend that you take

some warm clothing for the boat ride. This

excursion involves up to 280 yards of walking

to reach the vessel and a couple of steps to

board the vessel unassisted. Wildlife sightings

cannot be guaranteed

[NorbertsNiece]

We've changed course. The blue dot on the bottom shows our projected location at midnight.

 

 

[Banjo an]

Thank you Norbert’s Niece for your blog. We are finding it really interesting and helpful. Please keep it going.

[NorbertsNiece]

Another lovely dinner. Hadn't realised they had Port Salut cheese & GF crackers so I had some of that too! 😋

 

Came back to the room and we each have a Spa promotion voucher!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

On the TV they have maps of every port of call plus a QR code to download it to your phone. I understand that paper maps are no longer being distributed by Saga.

 

All you have to do is aim your camera at the QR code and a link to that map appears! ❤️

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Good morning and thanks for following.

 

We are berthed in Gibraltar. First screenshot from silly o'clock when we were still en route.

 

The bunker barge is already alongside. The MSC container ship is the 'Michel Cappellini'; built 2023 in China, named in Bremerhaven on July 16th, this is her 2nd voyage eastbound heading to Suez next stop. She can carry up to 24,346 containers, 400 metres long 😯, and at this moment she is one of the three biggest container ships in the world! (the other two are sister ships!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Link to morning video here 

 

 

 

Headed ashore after breakfast. There was a crew drill in action. The Duty Free Shop in the terminal is not necessarily cheaper than in town. Checked my perfume of choice before heading off. When shopping in town mention you're a cruise ship passenger for extra discount!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FannyLiz]

 Hope you had a good day and your feet are not aching too much!  We never found duty free in Gib was a bargain and much was cheaper in UK. 
 

I notice a bin of walking poles on the exit to the gangway. I’ve been wondering whether to take mine on SoD in 3 weeks time. Are these something that both ships supply or just SoA ? 

 

I’m so enjoying your blog, thank you once again.

[NorbertsNiece]

@FannyLiz they were new to me.... I've brought my stick with me in case! May be someone else can answer if they're on SoD but I would imagine they would be too.

[NorbertsNiece]

What an enigma is Gibraltar! English shops but do say 'Hola' as you enter. Popped into a supermarket to purchase a couple of forgotten items, turned out to be Waitrose! I missed the Morrisons but saw people with the bags lol. They drive on the right here. Prices are in Sterling and Euros. Went to an ATM which dispensed very attractive Gibraltar notes. They are not legal tender in the UK but can be exchanged at a bank for equal value. I was given some change in UK notes/ coins which was appreciated! No bank in the village where I live!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Walk about pics pretty self explanatory really!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

I head up Main Street. I look for, and find one of less than a handful of synagogues. I am allowed through the door but no further. Understandable under the circumstances. Had a lovely conversation with the secretary. We hugged when I departed.

 

I enter the Cathedral, such a calm space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Finish my walkabout. There's an indoor market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

My walking route.

 

Sailaway is delayed for some final checks. And then a guest requires medical attention ashore and the port have neglected to hire lines people to help us cast off!

 

There's a video here ,volume up.

 

 

 

A couple Geoff took from his excursion, saw dolphins, didn't quite capture any.

 

 

 

Lunch with a view of the rock.

 

Gibraltar coins have the monarch's head on one side but a totally different 'tail' side to ours. Their notes are colourful, bright even. Apologies for no pic.

 

Living room offerings. I win at scrabble this time! Sailaway..... Orca are taking pics and sight dolphins in the bay. Do hope they post pics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's Africa in the distance 

Edited October 13, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Dinner. Many dolphin fins sighted from the Grill.

 

 

 

 

GF choux buns!

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 6 Sea day

 

Good morning and thanks for following. 

 

Am laid up with mild hip pain this morning. Guess my walk yesterday was a bit strenuous in the time. I have one prosthetic hip and one heading in that direction!

 

Thought you'd like to see what a dining room breakfast menu looks like.

 

Am waving at my friends in Valencia!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JMMKUK]

Thank you for all the hard work.

We went on the tunnels trip. Our guide told us that Morrisons was the only British supermarket on the Rock! 
We stopped to meet the monkeys, the baby one really knew how to pose and entertain us.

[Banjo an]

This info is really helpful. Thank you. 
Before covid we called at Gibraltar on a cruise and had a private excursion booked but after several of us waited in the designated waiting area for over an hour the guide never turned up. 
However, we have another opportunity as we call there next May on another cruise. We have our Caribbean cruise in three weeks to look forward to and as we are Saga virgins the info in your blog has really helped.