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Spirit of Adventure: riding out the storm ?

FannyLiz

By FannyLiz,
in Saga Cruises

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FannyLiz

FannyLiz

Posted
Posted (edited)

I don’t know if I am mis-interpreting this but both the VesselFinder and Marine Traffic apps are showing Sof A making for Falmouth, due to arrive at 7.30 am tomorrow. I have a friend on board who did not mention this stop when she texted from the ship at lunchtime and I am fairly sure the first scheduled port is Lisbon.

 

I assume they are going to sit out the storm there ? The Windy app shows horrible conditions in the Bay of Biscay on Thursday.

Edited by FannyLiz
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FatBoy20

FatBoy20

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Posted
4 minutes ago, Kohima said:

Just looked at the Falmouth harbour webcam to see that SoA has arrived there safely. Listed as leaving at 18.30 tomorrow.

First Port of Call was Funchal so obviously at least one Port will go possibly the overnight in Tenerife?.

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FannyLiz

FannyLiz

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14 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

A couple of days in Falmouth then - where it’s not too bad a forecast. Apart from the wind!  I’m assuming they’ll be allowed ashore. Infinitely better than the alternative! Really nice place, Falmouth, with a nice bolt hole to return to when you feel like it.

Any port in a storm…. Wise decision by the powers-that- be.

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skiiergirl

skiiergirl

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6 hours ago, FatBoy20 said:

First Port of Call was Funchal so obviously at least one Port will go possibly the overnight in Tenerife?.

We are on Odyssey OTS and just had a change in itinerary.  We are skipping the Azores and instead adding a stop in Funchal tomorrow.  But only there from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  Anything to see close by?  Any outstanding restaurants close by? 

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FatBoy20

FatBoy20

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4 minutes ago, skiiergirl said:

We are on Odyssey OTS and just had a change in itinerary.  We are skipping the Azores and instead adding a stop in Funchal tomorrow.  But only there from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  Anything to see close by?  Any outstanding restaurants close by? 

It is about a 20min walk into Funchal itself but usually Shuttle Bus into Town & plenty of place to eat.

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LondonLad60

LondonLad60

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33 minutes ago, skiiergirl said:

We are on Odyssey OTS and just had a change in itinerary.  We are skipping the Azores and instead adding a stop in Funchal tomorrow.  But only there from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  Anything to see close by?  Any outstanding restaurants close by? 

I can recommend the FX Restaurant and Sports Bar. It's on the Av Do Mar, opposite the Marina do Funchal, and it is easily walkable from the ship's berth. They do a very good steak on the hot stone, while my wife prefers the fried scabbard fish - a local speciality.  

https://www.fxrestaurantandsportsbar.com/pt/

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skiiergirl

skiiergirl

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5 hours ago, LondonLad60 said:

I can recommend the FX Restaurant and Sports Bar. It's on the Av Do Mar, opposite the Marina do Funchal, and it is easily walkable from the ship's berth. They do a very good steak on the hot stone, while my wife prefers the fried scabbard fish - a local speciality.  

https://www.fxrestaurantandsportsbar.com/pt/

Thanks for the info and the quick reply.

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FannyLiz

FannyLiz

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I notice that S of A has made it into the Daily Mail ( online app edition) this evening:

 

 

A huge 60,000 tonne cruise ship en route from Portsmouth to Madeira was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Falmouth in Cornwall today to seek shelter from the incoming destruction.

The Spirit of Adventure, which is the equivalent of 22 London buses long, had been due to make the trip as part of its ‘Sunshine in the Canaries’ cruise. It was built in 2020, promises comfort and private balconies as standard. 

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twotravellersLondon Excellent Advice! Rare

twotravellersLondon

Posted
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38 minutes ago, FannyLiz said:

I notice that S of A has made it into the Daily Mail ( online app edition) this evening:

 

 

A huge 60,000 tonne cruise ship en route from Portsmouth to Madeira was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Falmouth in Cornwall today to seek shelter from the incoming destruction.

The Spirit of Adventure, which is the equivalent of 22 London buses long, had been due to make the trip as part of its ‘Sunshine in the Canaries’ cruise. It was built in 2020, promises comfort and private balconies as standard. 

 

Had the Spirit of Discovery not diverted to Falmouth, the ship and the passengers would be experiencing winds of 29-32 ms in the Bay of Biscay with Hurricane force gusts. Even in harbour the ship is currently reporting wind speeds of 12,2 ms and seas of 4.7 m this evening. We've experience that level a wind once... and would prefer not to do so again!

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FannyLiz

FannyLiz

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26 minutes ago, twotravellersLondon said:

 

Had the Spirit of Discovery not diverted to Falmouth, the ship and the passengers would be experiencing winds of 29-32 ms in the Bay of Biscay with Hurricane force gusts. Even in harbour the ship is currently reporting wind speeds of 12,2 ms and seas of 4.7 m this evening. We've experience that level a wind once... and would prefer not to do so again!

Quite ! I notice the Spirit of Discovery left Gran Canaria an hour or so ago en route to A Corúna. She’s going to have an exciting trip back to UK where I am due to join her on Tuesday next. I was beginning to worry that she would not be back for then but would rather she was late than sailing in unsafe conditions.

 

My worst, out of some grim sailings, was a Brittany Ferries trip when we were in the Western Approaches with what was reported as 90 mph winds at the Needles.  We were all confined to our cabins and told not to move at all. For the first few hours I was petrified we were going to sink but after a bit wished it would happen quickly as I felt so awful.  The dining room was a complete wreck next morning.

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JMMKUK

JMMKUK

Posted
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1 hour ago, FannyLiz said:

I notice that S of A has made it into the Daily Mail ( online app edition) this evening:

 

 

A huge 60,000 tonne cruise ship en route from Portsmouth to Madeira was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Falmouth in Cornwall today to seek shelter from the incoming destruction.

The Spirit of Adventure, which is the equivalent of 22 London buses long, had been due to make the trip as part of its ‘Sunshine in the Canaries’ cruise. It was built in 2020, promises comfort and private balconies as standard. 

She isn't huge by modern standards.It wasn't unscheduled as it was posted as the destination before they left Portsmouth. In 2021 at the start of the Christmas cruise we overnighted in Southampton & then sheltered in Portland for the next night. No Funchal for us that time either. A Fred Olsen ship that didn't shelter spent a few days in Bordeaux.

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JMMKUK

JMMKUK

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2 hours ago, FannyLiz said:

They are being looked after very well on board and expect to leave Falmouth at 5 pm this evening. They have not been told what impact the stopover will have on the rest of the itinerary.

Saga are probably still putting a new itinary together. The new CD is having a rough initiation.

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