On 29th November Mum and I went on another cruise - this time sailing on Independence of the Seas, the biggest ship operating in Europe. As usual, Colin drove us to Southampton and we boarded the ship around 1 pm, well in advance of its sailing time at 4 pm. Photos of the cruise can be seen on my facebook link which I will add at the end of this account of our trip.
We were very pleased with our cabin, situated on deck 6, which had very comfortable roomy beds with memory foam mattresses and a lounge area with sofa and television, and an excellent bathroom with walk in shower. Getting luggage to passengers on such a large ship involved an inevitable delay so we decided to go and explore, have a snack in one of the restaurants, before being called to our muster stations for the safety drill which takes place on all cruise ships, so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency.
At dinner that evening we met two other couples with whom we would be sharing a table for the duration - Ken and Audrey from Yorkshire and John and Cecily from Torquay - with whom we had lots of fun throughout our cruise dinners. Afterwards Mum and I took in the evening show in the theatre and then retired for the night as it had been quite a long day. It was great getting into those comfy beds and relaxing with a good book.
Our next two days we were at sea and were soon into the routine of our new world for the next 18 days, which included going through the Bay of Biscay, although we were lucky that the seas were not too rough. For breakfast and lunch we could choose which restaurant to dine at and we mostly chose the same dining room as dinner because it had a mixture of waiter service and self service. We especially enjoyed lunch there on days when we were at sea because of the fantastic salad bar where one could enjoy as many king prawns, smoked chicken etc as one wished along with the vast array of salads and still order from the menu!!! On one of the evenings was a get-together with everyone filling the street on deck 6 and the captain being lowered on a bridge to greet everyone whilst glasses of sparkling wine were distributed.
On day four we arrived at our first port of call - Lisbon in Portugal and after breakfast Mum and I went ashore, taking the disability bus from port to town as Mum can no longer climb steps on ordinary buses or coaches. We went into quite a few shops and bought souvenirs but were not terribly impressed with Lisbon itself from the bit we saw. We were back on board in time for lunch - which at sea took place in an enormous self service area with 3 huge restaurants adjoined and seating areas around each side of the ship. By this time the climate had warmed up slightly so we were able to spend the afternoon up on deck 11 and enjoy a bit of sunshine. For the duration of our time in the Mediterranean temperatures hovered around 20 centigrade which was about 4 degrees warmer that what we had left back home. That evening we enjoyed the first of four fantastic shows involving the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers - this first one called Once Upon a Time - which was very enjoyable.
The following day we were at sea again, until our next port of call on day 6. On these days we interspersed meal times with time exploring the 15 decks, sun bathing on deck in the more sheltered areas, it being windier up there when at sea. The middle of the ship was one long shopping street on deck 6 with shops, cafes, pubs, and on days at sea we browsed the shops and bought items such as jewellry and watches, plus duty free cigarettes to take home for the smokers in the family. I also tried out the ice rink but didn't get on very well - the rink was very small and the boots were uncomfortable with no ankle flexibility which made it difficult to get round the square corners, the rink being so small.
On day 6 we arrived at Palma de Majorca and Mum and I went ashore again after breakfast, taking the disability shuttle bus again. We remembered Palma from a cruise in 2007 and knew we would enjoy the shops there. It was a fine sunny day and we enjoyed our time ashore. I was on a quest to find a sherry which I had tried at La Tasca Spanish restaurant in Bath - Pedro Ximinez Gonzales Byass Nectar, but had no luck finding it in Palma. After lunch we enjoyed the first of two ice spectacular shows in the afternoon, which were truly amazing, so many skaters in intricate costumes performing a show where it was a miracle they could avoid each other on such a small rink. Mum and I enjoyed these ice shows more than any other entertainment on board. Our show in the theatre that night was a Comedy Hypnotist which was something different and enjoyable.
Day 7 was another day at sea, followed by day 8 where our port of call was Barcelona in Spain. We took the disability bus after breakfast which was one of the most impressive we had ever seen, with Mum stepping onto a ramp which was raised electronically by the driver about a metre so that she could just walk onto the bus. This was good, but unfortunately the dropping off point was still a long way from La Rambla, the nearest destination advised, and by the time we reached the beginning of this walk through the town which is lined with lots of shops, Mum was flagging and I knew she could walk no further. Luckily I spotted an outdoor cafe and Mum was relieved to sit there and watch the crowds walking by. We ordered two half litre glasses of San Miguel - not cheap at 15 euros for the two - and I drank mine hurriedly in order to go walking and look for the sherry, with the waiter promising to look after Mum in my absence. It was an exceptionally warm day so Mum was quite happy to sit in the sunshine while I was gone. I was unsuccessful in my quest, the only two wine and spirits shops I found only selling the more well known sherries that one can find easily at home. By the time I got back Mum was ready to return to the ship and I was beginning to realise that going ashore was increasingly difficult for her. She was so relieved when we finally got back on board and could relax in the restaurant over a nice lunch.
Day 8 was another day at sea and on Day 9 we arrived at Livorno in Italy, which is the closest port to visit places like Pisa or Florence. We did our own thing as usual and got the disability shuttle bus into town. We had to wait ages for it and then when we got to town we were very disappointed because all the shops were designer types, very very expensive, with no bargains like one can find in our shops back home. Then when we went to the bus stop to get back we found we had a 2 hour wait for the next disability bus because the driver had gone off for lunch. We were so bored in that long wait, watching buses one after the other arrive for the able bodied. The worst was not knowing we would have to wait 2 hours, having been told another disability bus would be along soon. As you can imagine we got really annoyed at such a long wait, vowing not to even bother going ashore the rest of the cruise!
The only thing that enlightened a disillusioned day was the second show performed that night by the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers entitled 'Invitation to Dance.'
Day 10 we arrived at Civitavecchia which is the closest port to Rome and we decided not to bother going ashore, envisioning long walks even after taking the bus like in Barcelona, and not wanting to risk long waits for a bus to get back. Luckily it was a warm sunny day, much of which we spent up on deck.
Day 11 we arrived at Naples in Italy. From here it was possible to go across to the Island of Capri, which I would have loved to have done, but knew it was beyond capability for Mum and I did not want to leave her alone for the several hours it would have taken.
Day 12 we arrived at the island of Sardinia and although I didn't plan going ashore I changed my mind when we got up on deck 11 to sunbathe and saw how close it was. Shuttle buses were laid on to the port gates so I went ashore on my own for an hour and just browsed the Christmas market stalls on the sea front, buying a few items of jewellry that looked unusual and decorative. That evening was the best of the four shows laid on by the Caribbean Singers and Dancers called 'Under the Big Top' which was amazing with circus and trapeze.
On Day 13 we were at sea again and on Day 14 we arrived at Gibraltar which proved the most nightmarish of our trips ashore on that cruise. Whereas at other ports of call the ship arrived early morning and sailed again 7, 8 or even 9 pm, our time ashore in Gibraltar was much less, arriving around 11.30 am and sailing again at 5.30pm. This meant everyone going ashore at the same time which on a ship with well over 4000 passengers, proved a nightmare. The worst was that there were no disability shuttle buses. Even the ones classed as 'disability' had steep steps whcih Mum was unable to climb. So we decided to walk into town instead which proved awful for poor Mum. A walk which took others 15 brisk walking minutes took us over an hour as Mum had to rest every few hundred yards. Luckily there was plenty of seating although even this petered out as we got closer to the town. When we finally reached the big plaza lined with cafes from where the shopping street began Mum had had enough and we rested with cold beers for a while. Later we tackled the shops but not for long as the streets were horrendously crowded and when I found the sherry in a couple of the shops they were charging over £18 a bottle for it, so I didn't bother. We returned to the same cafe for more beers and I then had to search for a taxi which wasn't the same as the mini buses or shuttle buses and fortunately eventually found one which took us back to the ship.
On Day 15 we reached our last port of call, Cadiz in Spain which is the nearest port for Seville. I decided to go ashore on my own after breakfast and let Mum know whether I thought she could make it or not. There were no buses laid on and it involved walking out of the port gates and then about 15 minutes brisk walk to the shopping streets. I enjoyed my visit here more than anywhere else we had been and it wasn't long before I spent all the euros I had taken ashore with me. My best purchase being the sherry I had been searching for everywhere which only cost 9 euros there. (As opposed to the 6 bottles Colin was buying online for me for Christmas from an importer in London at a cost of over £90 including delivery!) I saw items that would interest Mum to buy so went back to the ship and after lunch went ashore again and bought several souvenirs for us both.
Days 16, 17 and 18 were spent at sea again and going back through the Bay of Biscay on the return was rougher than the outward crossing. At one point there was an almighty surge which made everything loose on tables crash to the floor, in cabins and also in the restaurants and bars. Anyone who bought alcohol ashore had it confiscated upon return to ship, until the end of the cruise, and several unlucky people had theirs lost when it crashed to the floor in the place where it was being stored. I was relieved that my sherry survived this after all the searching for it at the ports we had visited.
Finally on Day 19, 17th December we arrived back in Southampton and luckily got ashore at the same time as Colin arrived to collect us - lucky because with so many people disembarking it would have been a nightmare for him had he arrived too early with nowhere to park close enough. By the time we dropped Mum home and I got home too we were all home by lunchtime.
Overall, this was the most disappointing of our cruise holidays so far. Neither of us want to sail on such a big ship again, prefering medium size ships like the Balmoral which holds around 1800 passengers. Also, we didn't always like the food on the Independence and some of the evening shows were actually quite boring. Also, the fact that Mum finds it so difficult going ashore nowadays we have decided to give cruising a rest for a while. We are already booked onto another one, a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords with Celebrity cruises in June and that will be our last cruise for the foreseeable future unless Mum decides to have another knee operation making it easier for her to walk without it being such a painful process.
Since my return from Peru in February 2010 we have both been quite content with our six seaside holidays each year. In 2010 we had five holidays in Weymouth which is like our second home town plus one holiday in Minehead. Last year, 2011 we had another five holidays in Weymouth plus one in the Isle of Wight which Colin joined us on. And this year we have five more holidays in Weymouth booked and paid for as well as a week in Poole. With the cruise in June that makes 7 holidays in 2012 plus I am also contemplating a holiday in Algeria, most likely in September, staying with a family in Oran which is situated by the sea. To get there I may go by sea for a change, taking the ferry from Alicante to Oran. My friend in Algeria is coming here in the autumn, so I may coincide my visit with his, so that I can fly on the outward journey, London Heathrow to Algiers, and return along with him for company from Oran to Alicante and thence a flight to Bristol. I am looking forward to visiting Algeria as I would be staying with Khali's family, meeting his wife and three children for the first time, as well as meeting other family members all over Algeria, beginning with his Mum who lives in the mountains near Algiers. So with 8 holidays to look forward to in 2012 and a planned month living in France in 2013 it will probably be 2014 at the earliest before contemplating another cruise.
As you can imagine the cruise disaster of the Concordia came as a great shock to us both so soon after being on a similarly sized ship ourselves. It would have been incredibly difficult to get Mum up to deck level from our cabin on a listing ship and I can understand why some people didn't make it from the Concordia. Cruises are the ideal holiday for the elderly and the disabled and there are many such passengers on board all the ships I have ever sailed on. We were truly shocked and horrified at a disaster on such a major scale as the sinking of the Concordia.
