| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
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16th Dec. 2024 |
Barcelona Catalonia Spain |
On board by 12:35 Xmas Market |
|
17th Dec. 2024 |
Barcelona Catalonia Spain |
a.m. Beach p.m. Montjuic |
 |
18th Dec. 2024 |
Sete France |
All day tour to Carcassonne |
|
19th Dec. 2024 |
Marseille France |
Avignon Papal Palace and Bridge |
|
20th Dec. 2024 |
Villefranche- sur-Mer France |
Antibes Picasso and Renoir Museums |
 |
21st Dec. 2024 |
Livorno Tuscany Italy |
Carrara Marble Quarry Mining Town |
|
22nd Dec. 2024 |
Civita- vecchia Italy |
Rome On My Own (OMO) |
|
23rd Dec. 2024 |
Civita- vecchia Italy |
Turn around day |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke just after seven o'clock. At ten o'clock I phoned for a Streamline taxi, but the operator misheard my NOW for NOON. Luckily I checked the confirmatory text and phoned back to change the pickup time.
The National Express coach (£34) left on time with me in the single front seat. A large number of people got on in SoToN, so we were ten minutes late getting to LHR T5. Here I had my Boots sarnies, before catching the tube train to Hounslow Central (not East or West this time).
I was able to check-in early to the Travelodge (£42.29), where I had the central penthouse suite again. I couldn't get the coffee pod machine to work, so I used the kettle to have an instant decaff coffee instead. I walked the few hundred yards into Hounslow High Road. In the Iceland store I bought two tubs of dips and some pitta sticks for supper and breakfast the next day. In ASDA I bought a pint of milk to use back in the Travelodge.
Back in my suite, I updated this blog and watched the end of Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday movie. I went to bed at 9:45 having done less than five thousand steps during the day.
I awoke to a police siren at 4:45, forty five minutes ahead of my alarms. I had BBQ mayonnaise chicken with my pitta sticks to eat, and finished up my pint of milk. After showering, I updated this blog and packed up the room.
I then caught the 5:30 tube train from Hounslow Central to LHR T5. At the airport, several of the check-in machines weren't working. Eventually I found one that did and the process was smooth.
I walked around outside the terminal in the cool dark air. On the north side you could see the landing runway, but on the south side new fences obscured the view of the takeoff runway.
Security took ten minutes and the departure hall was busy with seasonal travellers. Gate A21 was posted at 7:35, which was next to an Assistance lounge I had never seen before. Inside was a drinking water fountain and a display of free magazines and three day old copies of the Financial Times (FT) newspaper.
Boarding was straightfoward and we pulled back on time. We took off twenty minutes later, having queued on the southern taxiway. We were given three small gingerbread men with our complimentary bottle of water.
I spent half an hour reading the FT, before getting my laptop out to update this blog. The battery didn't last long, so I put it away and dozed for the last half hour. We landed ten minutes early and there were no queues at passport control. My bag took ten minutes to arrive and I was able to meet the Viking team in the foyer.
We then had a half hour run to the port and I was on board by 12:35 (11:35 GMT). Our safety briefing was given by the Portuguese vocalist (and medic) Martim, who I had met previously on the Silversea's Silver Dawn in 2023. I dropped my carry on case off outside my state room, but my stewardess Kichi let me in early.
I then lunched al fresco a la veranda in the bright sunshine. I had the corn chowder soup, the mixed grill from the buffet and a cone with one scoop of no sugar added blueberry sorbet to eat. I had two glasses of sparkling water to drink. Having had my key card replaced, I went back to my state room, where I slept for just twenty minutes.
At three o'clock I caught the shuttle bus to the usual World Trade Centre (WTC) drop off point. I recorded my piece to camera in front of the Columbus monument, before spending €2.55 on the metro to go half a dozen stops, via the Diagonal interchange, to get to La Sagrada Familia basilica. I photographed the west facade in the bright sunshine, before wandering around the extensive Christmas market opposite.
I then walked back to Catalonia Place to use the toilets at the top of El Corte Ingles department store. I spent one euro on the city map in the tourist information office under the square, to use up my euro coins. I then walked into the Gothic Quarter to photograph the Cathedral, the Royal Palace, the Catalan Parliament and the Royal Place (Placa Reial). I headed back down the famous Rambla to the Maritime Museum in the medieval Royal Shipyard.
I caught the 5:30 shuttle bus back to the ship, where I updated this blog. At seven o'clock I met CD Katy, ACD Sasha and VRH Tom in the Star Bar. I then went to the MDR where I sat with Steve & Sandy from Tucson, Arizona and Bill & Linda from Ontario, Canada. I had the white bean soup, the chicken Kiev and the no sugar added tango mango dessert to eat. I had one glass of Portuguese red wine and two of sparkling water to drink.
At 8:30 CD Katy introduced VRH Tom and myself, as we said a few words about our talks. This was followed by La Rumba Catalana folkloric group, which consisted of four male musicians and two female dancers. The leader used his guitar very effectively as a drum. They played upbeat Catalan songs, finishing with Bamboleo & Feliz Navidad. I went to sleep at 10:30, which was only 9:30 on GMT, having done twenty thousand steps, equal to eight miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:45 having slept for over eight hours, after my long day travelling the day before. At 7:35 I had my usual cooked breakfast of crispy bacon and baked beans on cheese slices on top of a toasted English muffin. I had just one glass of sparkling water to drink al fresco a la veranda as the dawn broke over the Med.
I caught the nine o'clock shuttle bus to the WTC, before walking over La Rambla de la Mar. I circulated around Port Vell to get to the beach, taking lots of photographs as I went. I then walked out to the southernmost point of the harbour to photograph the Viking Saturn on the other side. I returned the way I had come, catching the 11:30 shuttle bus back to the ship. During the morning I had done over fifteen thousand steps, equal to over six miles of walking.
At noon I lunched on the green soup and the escalope of chicken with chips and beans al fresco a la veranda. I had just one glass of sparkling water to drink. I then slept for 75 minutes.
At three o'clock I went back into the city on the shuttle bus. I walked to Parallel underground station where I bought a single ticket for €2.55 to ride one of my favourite funicular railways. Halfway up the Jewish Mountain (Montjuic), I discoverd the water gardens. I walked back down the flights of stairs, to catch the last shuttle back to the ship at 4:30.
At 5:15 I spent ten minutes in the spa pool, drying off on one of the warm benches. At six o'clock I attended the solo travellers get together with CD Katy and ACD Sasha, the latter playing the piano in the Wintergarden. I had just one glass of champagne to drink.
At 6:30 I led Arlene from New Jersey, Renee from Georgia, Ashley from Florida and Rob from California down to the MDR. I had the parsnip soup, the steak Diane and the no sugar added panna cotta to eat. I had just one glass of the French red wine to drink. Arlene gave me some of her chocolate ice cream and Renee gave me some of her cheese plate.
Afterwards, I went to the back office to find out if I was escorting a tour, but they hadn't finished allocating them. At nine o'clock I went to the excellent Duets production show starring Martim from Lisbon. At the end I had a long chat with CD Katy. In the back office I picked up my outfit for escorting the all day tour to Carcassone. I went to bed at 10:30 having done twenty four thousand steps, equal to nearly ten miles of walking during the day.
I got up at six o'clock having had a disturbed night, which I put down to the Norwegian chocolate bar in the afternoon and the chocolate ice cream at dinner. I have long been hypersensitive to caffeine, but in the last few years I have become hypersensitive to chocolate, which is a drug, as well. At 6:30 I had my usual cooked breakfast, minus any eggs in the World Cafe buffet. I had two glasses of sparkling water to drink.
Back in my state room, I updated this blog and worked on my upcoming presentations. At 8:15 I met guide Sally and driver Michael. She had got up at 4:35 that morning to drive from Carcassonne to Sete and would be driving back not getting home until 6:30 at night. We had just twenty guests to look after.
I slept for the first half hour of the journey. On the way out we had a fifteen minute comfort stop at a motorway service area, near where the autoroutes split: south for Perpignan and north west for Carcassonne. After an hour and a half we arrived at the famous fortified city. We began with a guided tour, but the cathedral was closed all day.
We had a typically French lunch of coddled egg, pork with mash and chocolate brownie to eat. I had one glass of red wine and one of plain water to drink. I was sat with a couple from Jacksonville in Florida and a large family from Michigan.
We then had a super hour and a half of free time. I shelled out €13 for the castle and ramparts, plus €3 for the audio tour. The latter was a mistake as it slowed my tour down. I listened to it in the castle, but didn't use it on the three kilometre / two miles circle of the ramparts. I whizzed around the complete circuit, taking lots of photographs in the bright sunshine.
At three o'clock we departed for the hour and half's travel along the autoroute. I again slept for the first half hour of the return journey. Back at the ship, I spent ten minutes in the spa pool, before dressing for my first enrichment lecture.
At 5:45 Samir set me up and I welcomed the guests at the door as my Vincent van Gogh GIFs played. At 6:15 I gave my forty minute talk on the famous Provencal painter. I showed SIX short videos at the end, but then skipped over another pair. I then adjourned to the MDR where I had the French onion soup, the daube Provencal and a single no sugar added lemon meringue tartlet. I had just one glass of German red wine and one of sparking water to drink.
Back in my state room, I updated this blog. At nine o'clock, I went to the excellent ABBA Songbook production show. I have seen this several times before and had trouble keeping awake. Back in my state room, I watched the start of my first lecture, but was too tired to see it through. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done ten thousand steps, equal to four miles of walking during the day.
My alarms woke me at six o'clock and just after 6:30 I had my usual cooked breakfast. I had one glass of orange juice and one of sparkling water to drink. Back in my state room, I worked on my laptop.
Just after eight o'clock I met guide Claire and driver Isabel in the coach park. We had just nineteen guests to take to Avignon. I slept for half an hour on the run along the autoroute.
We walked from the coach park through the narrow streets to the huge square. Here we went in the impressive Papal Palace (Palais du Papes). I had last been here forty two years ago on my first holiday with Stephen Morgan! I took lots of photographs of the huge rooms, mostly devoid of furniture and exhibits.
Having been led to her favourite small restaurant (main course €16), we were let loose. We were given another super hour and a half of free time. I walked back to the famous bridge (Sur Le Pont d'Avignon) and paid €4 to explore the incomplete bridge across the River Rhone. Whilst watching the short film, I ate my picnic of a small bag of peanuts and one apple from the ship. I then had to follow the city wall north to climb up the stairs to the city park on the rock (Rocher des Doms). This was mostly fenced off for repairs, but there were great views across the Rhone to Fort Saint-Andre in Chateauneuf du Pape.
I walked back into the city centre, going to both the west and east sides of the centre. I splashed out one euro on a sachet of dried lavender for my pillows back at home. I took a short ride on the free electric minibus to the Carmelite Church, but the famous cloister was locked. I looked into the Papal Garden, but didn't go in. Back in the main square, we regrouped for the walk back to the coach and the drive back to the city. Again I slept for half an hour on the run back along the autoroute.
We got back just before the 4:30 port talk. CD Katy began with her thirteen minute introduction, followed by Shorex Man Leon's eighteen minutes on the tours. Katy gave the concluding nine minutes of the session. Unfortunately they revealed that we would be tendering in to Villefranche-sur-Mer, which explains why I have never been there before.
Afterwards I spent ten minutes in the spa pool, which was teeming with eighteen, mainly oriental, guests. Just after six o'clock I went to the MDR, where I sat with Dave & Clara from Houston, Bill & Linda from Ontario (again) and Carmen, originally from Ecuador, but now in North Carolina. I had the butternut squash soup, the Wiener Schnitzel with potato salad and the no sugar added poached pear with vanilla ice cream to eat. I had two glasses of French pinot noir red wine and several of sparkling water to drink.
At nine o'clock I went to the barnstorming Rock n Roll production show starring Martim from Lisbon as usual, where I sat next to Carmen. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done nearly seventeen thousand steps, nearly equal to seven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarms at 6:30 ready for my cooked breakfast minus any eggs. I had one glass of orange juice and one of sparkling water to drink. Back in my stateroom, I worked on my laptop.
At 8:15 I moved up to the Star theatre, which was heaving as the tender operation had had to change sides owing to the wind & waves. My group number 23 was eventually called half an hour late just after nine o'clock. Ashore I met guide (Princess) Caroline and driver Valentin, with just twenty three guests.
We finally got away at 9:45 driving through Nice to Antibes. We began our guided tour, but one lady wanted the rest room, so Caroline headed straight for the public toilets at the covered market. She then led us past the Picasso Museum in the Grimaldi Castle, the church and the ramparts.
Here we parted company, with me walking with some of the guests back to the Picasso museum, as the rest descended to the shops & restaurants. I shelled out twelve euros to go in the small, but interesting museum. It had a limited selection of his paintings, pottery and sculptures, some of which I photographed. They were also holding an exhibition of a dozen paintings by the Catalan artist Joan Miro, all of which I photographed.
I ate my small bag of peanuts and two small bars of chocolate that I had brought from my minibar, on the terrace in the warm sunshine. I also had a large apple which I had nabbed on departing the ship's gangway. I then walked back to the bus stop, but four guests were ten minutes late getting back there.
At two o'clock we arrived as the Renoir museum opened in Cagnes-sur-Mer (pronounced Can-yer). This was his home for the last decade or so of his life. It held some suprisingly good and expensive impressionist paintings, pottery and sculptures, although they weren't being very well looked after. The fabric of the mansion was partly damaged and the central heating was on full, despite the sun pouring in. I didn't know that he was a sculptor. The gardens were a former olive tree orchard with enormous and very old specimens on the large cultivation terraces.
We then drove back through Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer where I jumped on the next tender away. Back at the ship at five o'clock, I spent five minutes in the spa pool with just three guests and five minutes in the hot tub on my own. At 5:45 Samir set me up and I left my Livorno photographs running.
At 6:15 I gave my forty minute lecture on Camille Saint-Saens to a tiny audience. Halfway through the Captain came on to the tannoy to say we were only having one day in Livorno, but two in Civitavecchia instead. Then CD Katy came on to the PA system to explain about the shore excursions, before I could continue. We were still in port, the afternoon tours hadn't come back, the sun was shining and the BBQ by the pool had already started, so I didn't stand a chance!
I then collected a mixed grill from the BBQ, but took it out on to the rear veranda to eat it al fresco, with the lights of Villefranche-sur-Mer all around me. Back in my state room, I updated this blog.
At 8:30 I went to the line dancing under the stars, where CD Katy taught the Cupid Shuffle to the Go Left song. This was followed by an Italian clapping song and Country Walkin' to Tell Me Ma, but with syncopated claps rather than heel swivels. At nine o'clock the three piece band and the two singers from the Torshavn nightclub took over. I did one Electric Slide with singer Martim from Lisbon, one jive with CD Katy and one smooch with guest Cathy. Dancing under the Stars finished just after ten o'clock, the trio having played non-stop for an hour and a half. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done nearly seventeen and a half thousand steps, equal to nearly seven miles of walking.
I got up just after six o'clock ready for my usual cooked breakfast without eggs. I had one glass of orange juice and one of sparkling water to drink. In the morning I picked up my escort's bag from the back office as it hadn't been prepared when I went to bed the previous evening. The Shorex staff had all been working late to deal with the sudden change in the itinerary.
Back in my state room, I worked on my laptop. I also watched my Saint-Saens lecture on the television. At nine o'clock I met guide Daniella and driver Riccardo at their minibus on the quayside. We had just a dozen guests on the Marble Quarry & Mining Town tour. We had over an hour's run past Pisa to the famous Carrara white marble quarries. We got into two Land Rovers for the drive up the steep tracks. Overlooking two quarries we had lecturettes on the mining techniques.
Back at the bottom, we had a pork lardons (larderia) fat salad to eat. These included large strips of white pork fat heavily salted with salami, cheese and tomatoes. I had one glass of (rosso) red wine sat with young ladies from Cape Canaveral and Kentucky. The former was an engineer at the Kennedy Space Centre. During the three quarters of an hour free time, I paid three euros to explore the outdoor marble museum, which displayed quarrying technology dating back to the Romans. On the way back to the ship, one of the young ladies, who hadn't eaten the pork, was travel sick.
Back at the ship, I slept for over an hour, before working on my laptop. At 5:15 I spent just five minutes in the spa pool and hot tub. At 5:45 Eko set me up in the Star theatre. At 6:15 I gave my thirty five minute talk on Michelangelo to a smallish audience. We were still in port, the tours hadn't come back from Florence and the Surf & Turf BBQ had already started, so I didn't stand a chance!
Afterwards I dined with Bill & Linda from Ontario for a third time. I had the split pea soup, the Caesar salad with anchovies, the rack of lamb and the no sugar added cherry tart to eat. I had two glasses of red wine to drink to celebrate completing my first week's contract on the Viking Saturn.
At nine o'clock CD Katy sang one song and ACD Sasha asked me to be in the crew parade. This was followed by an Operatic Duo who sang all the famous arias: O Sole Mio, Mi Babbino Caro, Volare, Funiculi, Habanera & Nessun Dorma. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done less than nine thousand steps, equal to only three and a half miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:30 to my alarm as the dawn broke. At 7:15 I had my usual cooked breakfast minus any eggs in the World Cafe buffet. In the back office, I signed up for tour escorting for the follow-on cruise. Back in my state room, I worked on my laptop.
Just after 8:30 I walked into Civitavecchia, using the loo in McDonalds en route. At the railway station the clerk took ages to produce my ticket, meaning I just missed the 9:30 train. I had to wait seventy five minutes for the next, as it was a Sunday morning, but the one after that was only thirty minutes later. I got to St Peter's station in Rome at 11:30 and walked to the famous Basilica. (It is not technically the Cathedral of Rome, that is St John's Lateran) Unfortunately there were long lines as the Pope was going to make an appearance, so I pressed on for the Castle. This was difficult to reach owing to building works, so I had to cross the Tiber river twice. Crossing it for a third time, I headed south to the elongated Piazza (not Pizza!) Navona, built on the site of a chariot race track. Here I recorded my piece to camera.
Next up I arrived at my favourite Ancient Roman building, the great dome of the Pantheon temple. As forecast, they have introduced charges, so I carried on instead. At the Vittorio Emanuele Re D'Italia (VERDI) monument I climbed up one side and down the other to get to the loo inside. Outside again, I had my picnic lunch of some peanuts and chocolate bars from my minibar on the ship.
I then climbed up Michelangelo's staircase (Cordonata) to the famous trapezium (Piazza del Campidoglio) on the top of the Capitoline Hill. I discovered the panoramic roadway around the west side of the hill for the first time, to reach the Capitoline Museum Garden. Here there was a brand new reconstruction of the colossal statue of Emperor Constantine.
I then descended from the Capitoline Hill to the rapids in the Tiber river. Crossing over to the island and then on to the Trastevere Bohemian district, I paid €5 to go in the Botanical Garden for the first time. This had large greenhouses, which were very photogenic. I exited by the top gate at the famous Paola Fountain, which was in full spate. (Apparently the even more famous Trevi Fountain was dry that day.)
I then followed the Aurelian Roman city wall (Viale delle Mura Aurelie) back to the station. Unfortunately I had to wait another seventy minutes for the next train back to Civitavecchia, but again the following one was only half an hour later.
Back in town, I walked through the centre to the shuttle bus parking lot, but there was only a bus for the brand new Viking Vela, not the nearly new Viking Saturn. Eventually our bus pulled in, drove past and left the lot without stopping, so I walked the two miles back to the ship in the commercial port.
Back at the ship at 6:30, I had missed Tom's lecture on the Romn Empire, so went straight into dinner. Here I sat with Chuck & Marjee from Tallahassee in Florida and the two J's from New Jersey. I had the minestrone soup, the Caesar salad, the Osso Bucco and the Cassata Siciliana, but the latter was more like Neapolitan ice cream. I had just one glass of Rioja red wine to drink.
At 8:25 I spoke to CD Katy to give her Clark Stewart the singer's, and Stephen Marsh the naturalist's, best regards. We then had the thirty five minute recital by the four Italian singers of Accademia Vocale. Their programme was very similar to the previous night's operatic show time, with lots of the world's favourite arias. They ended with a medley of Christmas songs. Back in my state room, I worked on my laptop. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done over thirty seven and a half thousand steps, equal to FIFTEEN miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at 6:30 ready for my usual cooked breakfast without eggs. I had one glass of orange juice and one glass of sparkling water to drink as the dawn broke over Civitavecchia. Back in my state room, I worked on my laptop.
I caught the 9:05 shuttle bus into Civitavecchia and walked to the railway station. There were FOUR trains going south to Rome, but none going north, so I abandoned the idea of going to Tarquinia. Instead I spent the morning wandering around Civitavecchia taking photographs. The large market, spilling out over several streets, was in full swing after the weekend. I used the free loo in McDonalds as usual. I walked back to the shuttle bus drop off point, but just missed the one going back to the Viking Saturn, so I walked back past the ferry terminals.
At the gangway, my key card had expired and the replacement one they produced wouldn't work either. Eventually the security officer over-rode the system and I was back on board. In my state room, Tom the Viking Resident Historian (VRH) had left a voice message asking me to swap tours in Ephesus, so he could accompany his wife. I have been to the Roman town houses before, so I crossed my name out on the form and wrote his in. Instead I put my name down for an Ancient Wonders tour, visiting the site of the famous Temple of Artemis / Diana.
I then lunched in the double height conservatory at the end of the World Cafe buffet. I had the minestrone soup with extra Frankfurter chunks to begin. I had the chicken cordon bleu and a pork sticky rib with chips and carrots to follow. I had a glass of pear cider and a glass of sparkling water to drink.
I then slept for two hours, recovering from my fifteen miles walked the day before and the five miles walked that morning. At 4:25 I spent just five minutes in the spa pool with five other guests. At five o'clock VRH Tom and myself met the new Cruise Director Damien from Reading.
At 5:45 Eko set me up ready for me to give my thirty five minute talk on the Eruptions of Vesuvius at 6:15 to a nearly full house. I was told to slip out the side door and run around to the bar at the back of the theatre to answer the guests' questions. I then dined in the MDR with guest singer Charlotte (Charley Blue) and her mother from Kent. I had the lentil soup, the Romana lamb chops and the no sugar added Bavarois dessert to eat. I had just one glass of the French red wine and two glasses of sparkling water to drink.
At nine o'clock Damien sang Mack the Knife, before introducing VRH Tom and myself, as we gave a short spiel on the stage. This was followed by the Beatles tribute production show with the three musicians and the four singers, including Martim from Lisbon. At 10:30 I started watching my Vesuvius lecture. I went to sleep just after eleven o'clock having done over sixteen thousand steps, equal to over six miles of walking during the day.
Cathy Shaw later wrote: "We've arrived safe and sound home in the USA, but we're not happy about it. We're crying in our beer! It was an absolute delight to meet you, Martin!"
1) "Vincent Van Gogh: Painter of Provence" Tune your ears and focus your eyes on the works of Vincent van Gogh in the South of France. 2) "Camille Saint-Saens: France's Greatest Classical Composer?" Come and listen to the life and works of this great musician. 3) "Michelangelo: Greatest Artist of the Italian Renaissance?" Marvel at his sculptures and paintings.
4) "Pablo Picasso: Greatest Artist of the Twentieth Century?" Discover the colorful life and colorful art of Pablo Picasso, who spent most of his life in the South of France. 5) "Leonardo da Vinci: Greatest Artist of the Italian Renaissance?" Look back on the works of this great polymath.
197 Cruises 51 Cruise ships (see below) 15 Cruise lines (see below) 7 Night cruise 5 Restaurants (MDR, CT, WC, PG, Manfredi's) 4 Tours escorted 4 New places (Carcassonne, Avignon, Cagnes & Carrara) 4 Singers (Martim, Zane, Lucy & Molli) 3 Band members (Keys, Guitar & Drums) 3 New museums (Picasso, Renoir & Marble) 3 Enrichment Lectures given 3 Storey atrium 3 Hot tubs 3 Picnics ashore 2 Nightclub singers 2 Panoramic elevators 2 Pork lunches ashore 2 Veal dinners 2 Cinemas 1 New lecture (Vincent van Gogh) 1 New port (Villefranche-sur-Mer) 1 Botanical garden (Rome) 1 Double state room with picture window 1 Theatre (Star) 1 Nightclub (Torshavn) 1 Viking heritage museum 1 Classical guitarist 1 Classical duo 1 Cocktail pianist
Captain Arild Jernaes Cruise Director Katy Syrett Ass. Cruise Director Sasha Shorex Manager Leon Stage Managers Eko, Samir and Sanjeev Resident Historian Tom Mazour Cultural Lecturer Martin P. Lee
* Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines * Saga Shipping Company * Voyages of Discovery * Seabourn (Carnival) * Princess (Carnival) * Cunard (Carnival) * P&O (Carnival) * Celebrity (RCCL) * Silversea (RCCL) * Regent SS (NCL) * Oceania (NCL) * Marella (TUI) * Ambassador * Crystal * Viking
Black Prince Black Watch Borealis Boudicca Balmoral Braemar Bolette Silver Whisper Silver Spirit Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure (Old SofA) Spirit of Adventure (New SofA) Spirit of Discovery Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) Queen Elizabeth (QE) Queen Victoria (QV) Queen Mary 2 (QM2) P&O Arcadia P&O Aurora P&O Oriana P&O Iona Oceania Sirena Oceania Marina Oceania Riviera Viking Sky Viking Saturn Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Ambassador Ambition Regent Seven Seas Mariner Regent Seven Seas Splendor Sapphire Princess Caribbean Princess Marella Explorer VoD Discovery