|
|
|
Captain’s blog
Ringaskiddy, Republic of Ireland
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 13
 Following two days at sea we docked into Ringaskiddy, Ireland at 8.00am. Our luck appeared to have run out, the wet murky weather we arrived to was not the beautiful, clear skies we had become accustomed to in Iceland.
It was not inspiring weather to excite passengers to self explore but many passengers did take advantage of the shuttle bus to Patrick's Quay, City of Cork and the ferry service to Cobh that we operated. Fortunately, by midday when the tours dispatched the heavy rain had past and the sky was beginning to brighten, even if only slightly. The choice of excursions ranged from "Birdlife of East Cork", "Cork City and Blarney Castle", "Cork Countryside and Kinsale" and "Panoramic Cork and Jameson Distillery". Most of the passengers ventured off to Blarney Castle, some with the ambition to kiss the Blarney Stone. According to legend the stone imparts the gift of eloquence to all those who kiss it. My wife, Jenny, kissed the stone so I will report back on any lasting effects! Those not wanting to pucker up their lips explored other areas of the castle, enjoyed leisurely walks round the lake and grounds, tried their best not to over-spend in the souvenir shops and relaxed with a traditional Irish coffee. This morning Neil had gone over to be a solitary shore station on the quayside in Cobh. Ominously the pier in use was adjacent to the listed pier that the tender for 'Titanic' left from in the days when this place was Queenstown. Whilst he was stood there in the rain he felt the passengers would like cheering up, so made a few enquiries and arranged for a group of Irish dancers to come onboard before we sailed. It's a fast run over to Falmouth this evening but Neil assured me that a slight delay would be worthwhile. Sure enough, the dancers were a true delight and Jenny filmed them for her latest DVD. Everyone had a renewed spring in their step that was evident when I hosted the Farewell Cocktail Party before dinner and acknowledged the hard-working crew by announcing the employees of the month. The main event of the evening was Anthony Stuart Lloyds' second performance, accompanied by the Spirit Quartet, in which he amazed the audience with more wonderful singing. There were also a few additions to his show, including Neil on the piano for an amusing Two Ronnie's sketch and a closing tribute to Michael Jackson. Some of the Dining Room Waiters joining Anthony on stage for a rendition of "We Are The World", which is definitely an appropriate song for a cruise ship! As I write this we are in fairly heavy fog heading across Nymph Bank towards Land's End. Let's hope for better weather tomorrow on the last full day of the cruise.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Skirting the West Coast of Ireland
Monday, June 29, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 12
Another day at sea with lots of activities for passengers to participate in. For those early birds a sprightly stroll round the ship in the cool air refreshed them for the day ahead. Other activities included deck games, a watercolour workshop, a napkin folding demonstration by our headwaiters and line dancing. The slight movement from the ship caused great amusement during today's line dancing when passengers found themselves trying to grapevine one direction but ended up going the other. The lecture programme included "Strange Buildings", "Frozen Lands of the Arctic", "Fish of the Sea" and a talk from the ORCA Team reviewing their sightings during the cruise and about the organisation. A relatively quiet afternoon was brought to a halt with news from the doctor that we needed to urgently evacuate a passenger to hospital. We were off the coast of the Republic of Ireland at the time and having reviewed various options it was decided to helicopter the gentleman ashore. The Irish coastguard were soon in attendance and my officers, staff and crew performed splendidly to ensure a safe transfer. The galley tour with Executive Chef, Gavin Baxter and his team proved very popular. Demonstrations of plate decorating and fruit carving were appreciated by the passengers as they also enjoyed the chocolate tea being served. Around 7.00pm the ship was surrounded by the incredible sight of 200 dolphins, estimated by the ORCA team. No matter how many years you're at sea, it is always a pleasure to witness and a memorable moment for the passengers. Tomorrow we are scheduled to dock in Ringaskiddy and unfortunately will be saying a goodbye to most of our Irish passengers, so we decided to hold a Farewell Party for them tonight. They joined us in Dublin and have been great fun to have onboard. To complete the day in the Sirocco Lounge many of the crew showed off their theatrical talents performing traditional and well-known pieces in our "Filipino Cultural Show", which concluded at the same time as Andy Murray's epic five-setter at Wimbledon. A great result all round!
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Rockall, UK Territory
Sunday, June 28, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 11
Yes, you read that correctly, Rockall. Admittedly not your usual cruising destination, but we like to do things a little different onboard the Spirit of Adventure. More of that later. The day began, as all Sunday's at sea do, with "Morning Worship" conducted by myself with Neil on the piano. The congregation was in grand voice and it put everyone in a good frame of mind for the rest of the day. The day continued with a wide variety of activities. Passengers had the opportunity to have a navigational bridge visit, challenge the cruise staff to deck games, energise themselves in "Fun Fitness", or become more creative in Marjorie's watercolour workshop. Presentations and seminars included learning about Balinese scalp massage, a table dressing demonstration and a shore excursions briefing on our remaining ports. For those wishing to exercise the mind, our guest lecturers discussed "Life on the Wind", "Icecaps and Glaciers" and "The Taj Mahal". We had been following a roughly south-easterly course since leaving Heimaey and Neil had come to see me about our route. Surely, I thought, there's no ship sightseeing we can do in the open North Atlantic. However, nothing seems to escape Neil and sure enough he'd come up with something. The route from Heimaey to Cork meant we sailed almost straight past Rockall. This, of course, is a famous name to all mariners from the shipping forecast, but there is an interesting history to this isolated islet. Neil had done his research and delivered his first ever lecture during the afternoon, with his chosen subject "Rockall". Tales of Greenpeace occupation, Irish claims, SAS survival and shipwrecks made this unassuming rock come to life. Just before dinner, at 7.00pm, we approached within ½-mile of Rockall with all the passengers on deck with binoculars to view the birdlife. It's amazing to think that for every one person that's stepped onto Rockall, 42 have reached the summit of Everest! After dinner Clive's choice of song "Waltzing Matilda" seemed an appropriate introduction to the Australia quiz in the Yacht Club. We have a few Australian passengers onboard with us and, being a fellow Aussie, it's great to see the number of passengers from my home increasing every year. The evening concluded with the Maestro Trio performing their fourth recital.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Heimaey, Iceland
Saturday, June 27, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 10
 Our final port in Iceland, Heimaey is located on an active volcanic belt and is the only inhabited island of the fifteen Westman Islands. The 1973 eruption began without warning causing one-third of the houses to be swamped with lava and many others to be buried in ash.
Six months later most of the islanders returned to rebuild the town we see today. The volcanic activity led to changes in the harbour entrance, which now makes entering it something of a challenge, but we were swiftly alongside for a day of exploring this interesting little island.
Heimaey is home to dramatic displays of the power of nature and our excursions incorporated the unique scenery and local life. Tours included "The Island of Heimaey", "Heimaey By Boat" and "In Search of Puffins By Boat" exclusive to the RSPB group. Passengers were delighted at the magnificent sight of over a hundred puffins during "The Island of Heimaey" tour. The onboard afternoon activities started with those passengers wanting to burn off an extra calorie or two, maybe after being tempted by yesterday's desserts, attending Jenny's "Fun Fitness". The Book Club discussed "Daphne" and "The Suspicions of Mr Whicher" in the Yacht Club, later followed by the popular line dancing class where you could hear the sound of laughter more than the music! I delayed the departure by approximately 45 minutes for the local ferry to leave first, providing us with more room to manoeuvre out of the port. Our next destination is Cork, Republic of Ireland, just over two days sailing away. A pre-dinner lecture was delivered by Professor David Nichols and titled "Rocky Shores". Veteran's Day in the UK was marked by an ex-armed services personnel get-together in the Yacht Club. The evening quiz finished in time for all passengers to make their way to the Sirocco Lounge for Showtime. Tonight we enjoyed "An Enchanting Evening" with rolls-royce voice of West End and international music theatre, Anthony Stuart Lloyd. Songs performed included hits from Man of La Mancha, Porgy and Bess, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music and many more. As always an excellent show from Anthony, particularly the 'Fiddler on the Roof' encore. Tonight we are headed in a roughly south-easterly direction. It'll be Tuesday when we next dock, but there may be a few sights along the way!
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Reykjavik, Iceland
Friday, June 26, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 9
 Throughout last night we had transited down the west coast of Iceland and this morning we were coming alongside in Reykjavik. Reykjavik translated as 'Bay of Smoke', is the nation's capital and main centre of population. The city is alive with culture and boasts a wide variety of museums and galleries, a lake and many parks and sculpture gardens.
Numerous excursions offered passengers the opportunity to experience a range of extraordinary sights in and around this area of Iceland. These included "Birds of the Golden Circle", "The Golden Circle", "Spirit Experience at the Blue Lagoon", "Panoramic Reykjavik" and "Flightseeing Adventure". I accompanied "The Golden Circle" excursion, which proved the most popular choice with our passengers. Encompassing the 'Big Three', Gullfoss (a waterfall dropping 96ft in two falls), Geysir (hissing springs) and Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) it definitely exceeded expectations. A truly breathtaking spectacle of outstanding landscapes and wonders of nature. Other passengers commented on how memorable the Spirit Experience tour to the Blue Lagoon was. Located in the middle of a lava field these hot, mineral-rich waters are said to have healing powers, which certainly became a great place of relaxation for our passengers. Other indulgences included the chance of a complimentary in-water massage.  I agreed we could stay slightly later than advertised in Reykjavik to facilitate having a local show onboard. For our pre-dinner enjoyment Neil had arranged for a local Icelandic Folk Group 'Sporið' (The Step) to perform a programme of traditional Icelandic dance & song in formal costume.
After dinner Heidi presented the short film "Days of Destruction", detailing the Heimaey Eruption of 1973 followed by her port briefing. We sailed from Reykjavik at 7.30pm and into a flat calm sea. This created perfect conditions for whale watching. This was evident through the recorded figures I've just been shown: 53 minke whales, five humpback whales, 30 white-beaked dolphins and two harbour porpoises. Not bad for a night's work!
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Ísafjörður, Iceland
Thursday, June 25, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 8
We arrived this morning into the western tip of Iceland. Ísafjörður is part of the least populated region of Iceland with just 9,600 inhabitants in an area of over 3,500 square miles. We arrived in good time and are our shore excursions were soon under way with our passengers venturing out by coach and boat. Tours included "Life and Culture", "A Trip to Vigur Island", "Birds of Vigur Island", "Glacier Fjords" and "Hesteyri Boat Trip". Other adventurous passengers set off to explore the port by foot and bicycles from the ship. Once one of Iceland's main trading ports and still the largest settlement in the Westfjords region, Ísafjörður offers visitors a local museum, gardens and plenty of history captured in the town's buildings, as little has changed since the 18th century. Those travelling further afield were able to surround themselves in the dramatic environment, home to an array of wildlife, and breathe in the fresh air while listening to the sounds of pure nature. Back onboard, Marjorie's watercolour workshop, "your choice", revisited previous demonstrations for passengers to consider. The flowers painted in her first exhibit proved a popular choice. All aboard was at 4.30pm and soon we were sailing back down the fjord and out into the open sea. Before dinner, Icelandic guide Heidi provided another beneficial port briefing, discussing our next port Reykjavik in detail and further expanding her lecture into Icelandic life. The evening show tonight featured the Maestro Trio performing works by Telemann, Dvorak and Strauss. Many passengers chose to join the ORCA group on the compass deck to observe the sea. Their dedication paid off with several sightings of minke whales and other marine life.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Akureyri, Iceland
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 7
 It was an early start this morning as we entered Eyjafjörður, bordered on either side by a sloping wall of snow-capped mountains. We were alongside in Akureyri by 8.00am, and then joined later by a P&O ship.
Akureyri is rightly unofficially titled the "Capital of the North" by the Icelandics and the growing number of cruise ships visiting this port justifies the title. Passengers on the "Whale Watching" excursion departed first with much excitement to view the whales up close and personal. Similarly also hoping to further glimpse Iceland's wildlife was the RSPB group on their "Birds of the North" excursion.
Other tours included "Myvatn Nature Baths", "Polar Flight to Grimsey Island" and "Jewels of the North". The latter was a sightseeing tour that explored deeper into Iceland allowing passengers to appreciate the diverse landscape on offer.
A striking geothermal field full of mudpots, steam vents, sulphur deposits and fumaroles; lava labyrinth with strange formations, columns and arches; impressive waterfalls, clear blue lakes and snow covered mountains were a few of the scenic highlights.
The port agent kept her promise of ensuring blue skies and sun all day. Taking advantage of this beautiful weather passengers enjoyed several small walks during the excursion through the variable terrain.
The polar flight to Grimsey Island gave passengers the chance to walk across the Arctic Circle. This is the only location in Iceland where the Arctic Circle crosses the land. To reach Grimsey involved an exciting 20 minute flight from Akureyri in strong winds with stunning views.
They were late returning to the ship and I saw Neil chatting with the shore excursion agent on the quayside, so I blew the ship's horn to subtly imply he might like to get back onboard! Once everyone was onboard we set sail and our Icelandic Guide Heidi talked about Ísafjörður, where we will be docking early tomorrow morning.
Even after a very busy day in port passengers challenged each other in Lisa's general knowledge quiz before Craig Halliday's second and final performance in the Sirocco Lounge. Following his previous sparkling success (and that's not just referring to his swarovski outfit and violin) it was no surprise the lounge was full. Performing many ballads and his final piece from 'Gone with the Wind' passengers had the perfect end to a perfect day before retiring to bed with the Midnight Sun shining brightly just above the horizon.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 6
 Seyðisfjörður is a long, narrow fjord, flanked by high mountains. It acts as the perfect introduction to Iceland and is conveniently located on the eastern side, the closest point to the UK.
Excursions started bright and early with passengers eager to venture out into our first Icelandic port. Options included "Skalanes", "Lagarfljot" and "Hike to Hengifoss". Many of the passengers put on their walking shoes, collected hiking sticks from the gangway, and set off to witness Hengifoss Waterfalls. The third highest waterfall in the country at nearly 400ft high and this included excursion was the perfect introduction to the spectacular natural scenery Iceland has to offer. At the start of the tour the passengers crossed the impressive Fjardarheidi mountain pass, where numerous waterfalls could be seen high up in the mountains and cascading down adjacent to the road. Snow still covered the mountainside and the hike took the passengers to the top of the mountains overlooking the magnificent gorge and across Lake Lagarfljot. The determination of some of our passengers to see the waterfalls in their full glory meant taking off their shoes and socks to wade through one of the streams to reach the top. All aboard had been set for 12.30pm, but I allowed the tours to continue a bit longer so that the passengers could take their time enjoying the views. We finally set sail about 1.30pm and headed back out to sea. On the way in this morning the ORCA team had spotted ten humpback whales and were eager to see if they were still in the same area upon our departure. An afternoon at sea gave the opportunity for the continuation of our lecture series. Further exploration of the geology of Iceland was conducted by Dr Tony Waltham as he presented his lecture "Volcanoes of Iceland". Continuing from yesterday, Dr Adrian Cooper discussed the "History of Iceland (from World War II to present)". Despite the colder weather and slight trickle of rain, passengers enjoyed the ice cream parlour on the Verandah. Today we welcomed a local guide, Heiðdís Einarsdótti onboard, who will be accompanying us throughout our time in Iceland. Heidi (as she's known to those who cannot speak the Icelandic language) hosted a port briefing in the Sirocco Lounge talking about our next port of call, Akureyri, and other aspects of Iceland life. Before dinner I hosted a cocktail party for our Free Spirited passengers. After dinner the Yacht Club came alive with our pianist Clive Carrington and in the Sirocco Lounge 'Call My Bluff' was hosted by Assistant Cruise Director Angela. Special guests on the panel included Dr Adrian Cooper, Cruise Director Neil and Nurse "Sister" Wendy. The day came to an end with the Spirit Quartet playing into the night and some passengers out on deck admiring the Icelandic Midnight Sun.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
At Sea
Monday, June 22, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 5
Today we've been sailing on a north-northwesterly course, about 50 nautical miles off the Faroe Islands, towards our first Icelandic port, Seyðisfjörður. Although it's the fifth day of the cruise it was our first at sea, so there was plenty of catching up to do. The lectures kicked off with Dr Tony Waltham describing 'Geysers of Iceland'. Passengers were also invited up to the Bridge for a guided talk. The complimentary wine tasting in the Yacht Club proved understandably popular. Marjorie Bishop continued her watercolour workshops after lunch with 'Sea and Sky', before Dr Adrian Cooper presented 'History of Iceland – From Early Settlement to World War II'. With it being the first day of Wimbledon, Executive Chef Gavin offered a special strawberries and cream afternoon tea. The pre-dinner lecture was delivered by Sandra Millikin and titled 'The Architecture of Iceland'. The passengers had two options tonight for entertainment. They could choose between the Maestro Trio performing works by Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky and Massenet, or a fun Scattergories Quiz with Neil up in the Yacht Club. Jenny and I attended the latter and a great night it turned out to be. As I write this it's just turned midnight and the sky is very light with the sun just having dipped over the horizon. Maybe tomorrow we'll be into the land (or rather sea) of the Midnight Sun!
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Ullapool, Scotland
Sunday, June 21, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 4
Another maiden call for the Spirit of Adventure today as we arrived in Ullapool on the northwest coast of Scotland. It is only a small town of around 1,300 people but despite its size it is the largest settlement in the area and a major tourist destination. Again we had to tender today, with our tenders utilising the vacant ferry ramp, as there is no sailing between Ullapool and Stornoway on a Sunday. Once we had the gangway in place we were ready to send our passengers ashore. Options included a "Scenic Drive to Lochinver", "A Walk through Ullapool", "In Search of Eagles", "Inverewe Gardens", or "Knocken Crag". The search for eagles was particularly successful with Peter Holden enthused by what he'd seen. The town was quite busy with local folk enjoying a warm Sunday. Jenny and I joined Clive on a 25-mile ride through this beautiful undulating country and were blown away by its rugged beauty. Local church times were advertised to the passengers and some took advantage of experiencing the local traditions. All aboard was at 5.30pm and with both tenders raised we set about a northerly course towards Iceland. Shortly after sailing the ORCA team presented a talk about what they hope to see on our voyage and discussed the worthy aims of the organisation. It was an hour back on the clock this evening as we adjusted to Iceland time zone (BST-1) so Neil took advantage and hosted his Bumper Quiz in the Sirocco Lounge with Assistant Cruise Director Angela and Cruise Staff Jenny doing the scoring.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Tobermory, Scotland
Saturday, June 20, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 3
Tobermory is the capital of, and only burgh, on the Isle of Mull. It is located on the north-eastern part of the island, near the northern entrance of the Sound of Mull. Its population is approximately 700 people. The town was founded as a fishing port in 1788 on a layout designed by Dumfriesshire engineer Thomas Telford. We arrived at the anchorage as scheduled in mid-morning. A morning lecture by Dr David Nichols 'A Celebration of Shellfish', had settled everyone and with the lecture complete our tenders were ready and waiting. I wasn't too happy with our initial anchorage position, as there were rocks astern in uncomfortably close proximity. So we weighed anchor and moved astern further into the small bay and anchored again to lie better at ease with the wind and tide and further from the charted dangers. Shore excursions were soon on their way, including "Birds of Mull", "Sealife Adventure", "Duart Castle" and "Torosay Castle". I am told by the passengers that many of them recognised the waterfront in Tobermory as it has been used as the location for a popular children's television series, "Balamory". Jenny and I went for a hike to a nearby lighthouse and the scenery was wonderful. Apart from losing my hat in the mud we had a great time! All aboard was for 6.00pm and after weighing anchor we set off for Ullapool. However, we had a little time in hand, so at Neil's request I took the ship south for a circumnavigation of Staffa. Dr Tony Waltham came onto the Bridge and transmitted to the passengers gathered on the outside decks about the geology of this island and Fingal's Cave. Ornithologist Peter Holden discussed the birds we could see, and Neil told us about the history of the popularisation of Fingal's Cave before playing 'The Hebridean Overture' to the outside decks. With our circumnavigation complete we headed north again and onto Ullapool. The show tonight was certainly something special. International Violinist Craig Halliday wowed the audience with his Swarovski® Crystal Electric Violin. The Spirit Quartet wore matching outfits and it certainly made for quite a spectacle!
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Dublin, Ireland
Friday, June 19, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 2
After only a day away from Dublin it was familiar faces all around this morning as we arrived under slightly overcast skies. Fortunately the rain of Wednesday was well and truly cleared. The passengers wasted no time in heading ashore and were soon on their way to enjoy "Birds of Wicklow", "A Walk Through Dublin's Fair City", "Dublin and the Liffey", "Dublin City and the Book of Kells", or "Helen Dillon Garden". A shuttlebus took passengers to Kildare Street, which is just a couple of blocks away from Grafton Street. The "small world" that is often apparent in this life was discovered by Cruise Director Neil as he bumped into a former beauty therapist from the Saga Ruby, Lesley Adams, whilst browsing in the famous 'Brown Thomas' store. One of the advantages of a life at sea is that you end up with a large collection of friends from all over the world. All aboard was a bit earlier than last time as we had a fair distance to cover to our next port, Tobermory. We were away by 4.00pm and Dr David Nichols presented the afternoon lecture 'The Open Ocean'. We were well into the Irish Sea again, on a northerly course, by the time of my Welcome Cocktail Party in the Sirocco Lounge. It was good to see a few familiar faces and I had an enjoyable evening hosting my table in the Dining Room. The evening concluded with the Maestro Trio performing works by Mozart and Handel.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Liverpool, England
Thursday, June 18, 2009 To the Land of Fire and Ice - Day 1
We had sailed across the Irish Sea during the evening and around midnight the lights of Anglesey were on the horizon. It was too rough to embark the pilot off Liverpool so we called by Point Lynas and embarked the pilot at 2:00am, and then grabbed another couple of hours of sleep before we made our approach to Liverpool. There is a brand spanking new cruise ship terminal in the centre of Liverpool, which was opened last year during their Capital of Culture celebrations. However, I understand that due to EU funding limitations, the terminal is not permitted to be used for ship's doing a cruise turnaround as it might take business away from other ports. Instead we had to use the old cruise terminal at West Langston. This involved entering astern into Langston Lock on the east bank, directly opposite New Brighton with a couple of tugs in support. With this tricky manoeuvre complete we were alongside in good time to say farewell to our Gaelic Treasures passengers. One thing about cruise ships that never fails to impress is how quickly they manage to turnaround. Today was even more exceptional. Not only did we have the passengers disembarking and new passengers embarking, but we also had somewhere in the order of 150 guests come onboard for lunch. Our Director of Operations, Grant Laversuch, hosted the popular Free Spirited Luncheon. We also welcomed visitors from the World Ship Society who presented us with a plaque to mark the occasion. From 2.00pm we began embarkation and by 5.00pm we were ready to sail with all the necessary drills complete. Not surprisingly, the way out was just as awkward as the way in. The Liverpool Docks pilots guided us into Langston Lock and then, with a strong wind blowing along the river, we managed to find a gap in the traffic to swing out and turn to head out to sea. Tours and Travel Manager Lisa Gannon presented a talk on the first few ports as we made our way upstream and then after dinner Cruise Director Neil introduced his team and the lecturers who are here to enrich the cruise. On this voyage we are joined by Dr Tony Waltham (Geology), Dr Adrian Cooper (History & Geography), Sandra Millikin (Architecture), Dr David Nichols (Marine Biology), Marjorie Bishop (Watercolours), the ORCA Group (Marine Surveying) and later in the cruise Heiðdís Einarsdóttir (Icelandic Guide). We also have an exclusive RSPB group who will be having private talks and tours. This group is led by Peter Holden (Ornithologist). Tonight we are heading westwards back along the north coast of Wales. Tomorrow morning we are due into Dublin again at the start of what promises to be a great cruise to Iceland. Again, this is somewhere I haven't been before – but I don't think I'll mention that to the passengers until we've arrived there!
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Gaelic Treasures - Day 7
The ORCA team reported that yesterday evening they had seen numerous Basking Sharks just off the Irish coast, so we arrived this morning with the ORCA team already on deck observing the sea. Dublin is both the largest city and the capital city of Ireland. We were staying here until 7.30pm this evening as we have just a relatively short hop over to Liverpool tonight and then back to Dublin on Friday! The morning shore excursions gave two options; "Dublin City & the Book of Kells" or "A Walk through Dublin's Fair City". In the afternoon there was the option of visiting Helen Dillon Garden. A shuttlebus also operated to Kildare Street (just two blocks from Grafton Street) in the city centre. With no days at sea this cruise we hadn't been able to offer Bridge visits. However, we held an "Open Bridge" hour this afternoon for any passengers wanting to come up and have a look. My Second Officer, Martin Gowlett, was on hand to explain the various bits and bobs. Later in the afternoon the ORCA team gave a presentation on what they had seen this cruise and the list is quite stunning in its length. They have certainly done a thorough job and full credit to them for the effort they've put in. The reason we had stayed alongside during the early part of the evening was so that I could host my Farewell Cocktail Party before we sailed, otherwise I would have been busy with the pilot. The party was a very pleasant occasion. Although it's only been a week long cruise, a great atmosphere has already been generated and it has been an excellent way to explore Ireland. With the party over I went up to the Bridge and took her out of port and onwards across the Irish Sea. Tomorrow we'll be in Liverpool and it promises to be a busy turnaround day.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Cobh, Republic of Ireland
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Gaelic Treasures - Day 6
 I thought Foynes was rather picturesque, but Cobh was arguably even more charming. The first thing I learnt was that it is pronounced "Cove". My former colleague, and former Captain of Spirit of Adventure, Martin Breen, comes from round these parts but is now living in Gibraltar. The locals certainly had the same accent and humour as him!
We entered the huge natural harbour early in the morning and were alongside at the Cobh Heritage Centre berth by 9.00am. The tours were soon underway, which included "Lakes of Killarney and Muckross House", "Cork City", "Blarney Castle and The Bells of Shandon" and "Cork Countryside and Kinsale". With the passengers ashore I conducted the weekly emergency drill and then went exploring. With this ship, we are always seeking new and challenging destinations. After an early morning chat with the pilot it was felt that it might be possible for us to sail all the way up to Cork itself on future visits. Therefore I took a taxi to Cork to assess the berth there. The taxi driver was a singer and decided to demonstrate his vocal prowess for some of the journey. He presented me with his latest CD at the end of the journey and offered himself for employment on the ship. Now that's opportunism for you! The berth looked promising so we'll give it a go next cruise and see what happens. Today, June 16, is a date synonymous in Irish literary history. It was on this morning in 1904 that Leopold Bloom set out an odyssey that was to become one of the most wonderful tales of the 20th century. Of course I am referring to James Joyce's "Ulysses" which was being celebrated in Ireland today as "Bloomsday".  Quite a crowd had gathered on the quayside by 6.00pm to see us off. A colony of Beaver Scouts waved frantically and we blew the horn much to their delight. Manoeuvring off the berth was quite awkward as the wind had come round and was doing its best to push us in any direction other than the one we wanted to go.
With the skill of the two pilots and my chaps on the Bridge we managed to sail away and were soon heading back out into the open sea. The pre-dinner lecture was titled 'The Easter Rising 1916' by Canon Andrew Evans. The show tonight was the ever-popular Filipino Cultural Show, which rightly received a rousing standing ovation during the finale.
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
Foynes, Republic of Ireland
Monday, June 15, 2009 Gaelic Treasures - Day 5
Foynes is a small town and major port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland, located at the edge of hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. We had entered the estuary early this morning, passing power stations, ferries and castles as we made our way upstream. The ORCA team spotted nine dolphins close to the ship as we followed the meanders of the river. Having turned the ship 180° we were alongside by 8.00am. The name Foynes didn't mean much to me, but I was fascinated when I was told about the place's long association with flying boats. Sure enough, visible from the Bridge was what appeared to be an ordinary house, but with binoculars one could see that what at first appeared to be a loft conversion was actually a viewing tower. The now disused railway station stood between the ship and the viewing tower and after walking over there, Jenny and I had a look around the very impressive Foynes Flying Boat Museum. I'd strongly recommend it if you are ever in the area. They even have some flying boat flight simulators, which provided great entertainment. A full-size mock-up of a flying boat has been assembled adjacent to the museum and it was fascinating to step inside and see what air travel around WWII was like. So much is taken for granted now, which was revolutionary and pioneering just 70 years ago.
The vast majority of our passengers went on the full-day included "Spirit Experience" excursion to Bunratty Castle. I received great reports of Irish wining, dining and entertainment. Speaking of dining, I was interested to learn that Irish Coffee was invented in Foynes as a way of warming passengers after a long flying boat flight. A complimentary one was offered to me but I had to refuse as I was driving later! All aboard was at 4.30pm and shortly afterwards we eased off the quayside. Neil provided a deck commentary on such sights as Glin Castle and Money Point Power Station as we sailed back down the Shannon. The pre-dinner lecture was delivered by Jennifer Moore and titled 'Development of Dublin'. Canon Andrew Evans hosted the book club and the show tonight featured a second performance from the marvellous Elaine Delmar. A splendid day all round!
Captain Frank Allica, MV Spirit of Adventure
|
