In May 2018, David and I went on a seven-day Scandinavian cruise on the Sapphire Princess. We sailed round trip from Southampton, England, with port stops in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Click HERE to read a short introduction about this awesome cruise.
This story is the first in a series about the sights we saw and experiences we had on land and at sea.
This story is the first in a series about the sights we saw and experiences we had on land and at sea.
Southampton, England (Saturday, May 26, 2018) I woke early this morning, maybe six. As I opened my eyes, I saw that the room was dimly lit by sunlight that filtered through the drapes. Why, I thought, was it so hard for hotels to install room-darkening drapes and shades? I glanced at David. He was still asleep. Let him sleep another half-hour and then I’ll wake if he’s not up.
As I laid in bed, I thought about our experiences the past few days. Iconic landmarks in London. Hever Castle, the Cutty Sark, and more in the County of Kent. Historic colleges in Oxford. Many a pub…and even more pints. The wonder and joy on David’s face. Spending time with friends from England.
These days were priceless!
As I laid in bed, I thought about our experiences the past few days. Iconic landmarks in London. Hever Castle, the Cutty Sark, and more in the County of Kent. Historic colleges in Oxford. Many a pub…and even more pints. The wonder and joy on David’s face. Spending time with friends from England.
These days were priceless!
“You’re up already,” David said when he woke.
“Not long,” I replied. “I was thinking about everything we saw and did in London, Kent, and Oxford. We had a great time, didn’t we?”
“The best,” David answered. “And I really enjoyed meeting your friends. Nice people, and great hosts.”
Debra and I met Trish and Peter, who lived in Oxford, on a cruise through Canada and New England in 2016. And we met Tanya and Dave, who lived in Kent, on a cruise to Hawaii in 2014. We’ve stayed in touch through Facebook, and yes, it was great to see them again.
“Not long,” I replied. “I was thinking about everything we saw and did in London, Kent, and Oxford. We had a great time, didn’t we?”
“The best,” David answered. “And I really enjoyed meeting your friends. Nice people, and great hosts.”
Debra and I met Trish and Peter, who lived in Oxford, on a cruise through Canada and New England in 2016. And we met Tanya and Dave, who lived in Kent, on a cruise to Hawaii in 2014. We’ve stayed in touch through Facebook, and yes, it was great to see them again.
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“Well, David, it’s time for us to get ready and go. The Sapphire Princess beckons, and we don’t want to be late!”
We dressed, showered, and checked out…but lingered in the lobby long enough to have coffee, croissants, and fruit. Now we were ready to go. |
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At the Waterloo Station – about a quarter mile walk from the hotel – we caught the 9:20 train to Southampton.
“Dad, according to the train schedule, we will reach Southampton in 90 minutes. What time are we meeting Andrew and John?” |
Andrew and John were two more friends from England, who Debra and I met on the Celebrity Equinox when we cruised the Mediterranean in 2016. They lived in Oxfordshire, and I had hoped to see them in London, but…they were on a cruise. As fate would have it, their ship docked in Southampton this morning.
“When I talked with John a few weeks ago,” I replied, “he said that they were in no rush to get home and would meet us at the train station when we arrived.”
And when we arrived, there they were.
“When I talked with John a few weeks ago,” I replied, “he said that they were in no rush to get home and would meet us at the train station when we arrived.”
And when we arrived, there they were.
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Over the next hour, we chatted about their cruise, our days in and around London, and life in general. Just like the old friends we now were! And when we were done, they walked David and me to the Sapphire Princess.
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One of the great things about travel was the opportunity to meet nice people from other places. Debra and I had the good fortune to meet Trish and Peter, Tanya and Dave, and Andrew and John, and felt blessed that we were friends.
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me now
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me now
~ Styx
Come sail away with me now
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me now
~ Styx
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This was the easiest onboarding experience I’ve had. In no time, we checked in, boarded the ship, and wheeled our luggage to our stateroom, A.K.A., a cabin. If you haven’t cruised, know this: Most cabins, unless they were a true stateroom, were small and spartan: 190 square feet (or smaller!), two twin beds, two nightstands, a desk with two drawers, and a compact bathroom with a stall shower just big enough to turn around in. Without a doubt, our cabin was small and spartan.
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But the cabin wasn’t the draw. Rather, we sailed for the experiences we would have in the ports we would visit. David and I were psyched!
Our first day on the Sapphire Princess – technically a ‘sea day’, although we were not yet at sea – was low key.
Who am I kidding? All sea days were low key! Eat, relax, read, see a show, eat some more, listen to music, relax some more, have a drink…well, you get the idea. A hard knock life, right? Wrong!
Our first day on the Sapphire Princess – technically a ‘sea day’, although we were not yet at sea – was low key.
Who am I kidding? All sea days were low key! Eat, relax, read, see a show, eat some more, listen to music, relax some more, have a drink…well, you get the idea. A hard knock life, right? Wrong!
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David and I soon found our sea day rhythm. We had lunch poolside, explored the ship from stem to stern, lazed on chaises, listened to a jazz ensemble, and savored a couple of ice cream cones. Oh…we also did laundry – five days’ worth from London.
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Late afternoon, we heard two long blasts from the ship’s horn.
“Well,” crowed David, “it’s time to put the wind in our sails! We are on our way to Belgium.”
“Are you excited?” I asked. “I know I am.”
“We’ll visit four ports in four countries that I’ve never been too,” he replied. “Hell yes, I’m excited!”
“And all are new to me as well,” I reminded him. “We’ll be like explorers stepping into the unknown…well, at least unknown to us.”
“Yeah, but with modern day conveniences like the internet and travel apps to help guide us,” David noted with a wry smile.
The Port of Zeebrugge, located on the northern coast of Belgium, was about 260 nautical miles due east. We were scheduled to dock at six tomorrow morning – about 14 hours from the time we set sail. One knot – the standard measurement of a ship’s speed – is equal to one nautical mile, which meant we would travel at 18 to 19 knots per hour (20 to 21 miles per hour). This was a good pace, although somewhat less than the ship’s top speed of 22 knots.
Nerdy stuff, huh?! Well, here’s one more piece of nerdy information: A nautical mile is slightly longer than a mile on land, which meant the distance in land miles would be greater: 299.2 land miles, to be exact.
From experience, I learned to mark time on board a cruise ship by the three squares – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All other activities – fitness, learning, snacking, games, music, rest, etc., etc. – fit neatly around mealtimes.
“David, my stomach tells me it’s time for dinner. Horizon Court or the Santa Fe Dining Room?” I asked.
“Well, I’d rather not change clothes,” he answered, “so let’s eat at Horizon Court.”
“Suits me,” I said. “After dinner, we can watch Do You Wanna Dance in the Princess Theater.”
“Sounds good,” he replied.
If you’re not familiar with Princess cruise ships, Horizon Court is buffet dining with an almost endless selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Take as much or as little as you’d like…and if you don’t like something you’ve taken, set it aside and get something else.
While the fare wasn’t memorable, both David and I found appetizers, entrees, and desserts that satisfied our palates.
“Well,” crowed David, “it’s time to put the wind in our sails! We are on our way to Belgium.”
“Are you excited?” I asked. “I know I am.”
“We’ll visit four ports in four countries that I’ve never been too,” he replied. “Hell yes, I’m excited!”
“And all are new to me as well,” I reminded him. “We’ll be like explorers stepping into the unknown…well, at least unknown to us.”
“Yeah, but with modern day conveniences like the internet and travel apps to help guide us,” David noted with a wry smile.
The Port of Zeebrugge, located on the northern coast of Belgium, was about 260 nautical miles due east. We were scheduled to dock at six tomorrow morning – about 14 hours from the time we set sail. One knot – the standard measurement of a ship’s speed – is equal to one nautical mile, which meant we would travel at 18 to 19 knots per hour (20 to 21 miles per hour). This was a good pace, although somewhat less than the ship’s top speed of 22 knots.
Nerdy stuff, huh?! Well, here’s one more piece of nerdy information: A nautical mile is slightly longer than a mile on land, which meant the distance in land miles would be greater: 299.2 land miles, to be exact.
From experience, I learned to mark time on board a cruise ship by the three squares – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All other activities – fitness, learning, snacking, games, music, rest, etc., etc. – fit neatly around mealtimes.
“David, my stomach tells me it’s time for dinner. Horizon Court or the Santa Fe Dining Room?” I asked.
“Well, I’d rather not change clothes,” he answered, “so let’s eat at Horizon Court.”
“Suits me,” I said. “After dinner, we can watch Do You Wanna Dance in the Princess Theater.”
“Sounds good,” he replied.
If you’re not familiar with Princess cruise ships, Horizon Court is buffet dining with an almost endless selection of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Take as much or as little as you’d like…and if you don’t like something you’ve taken, set it aside and get something else.
While the fare wasn’t memorable, both David and I found appetizers, entrees, and desserts that satisfied our palates.
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Debra and I were cruise nuts, and Princess was our favorite cruise line. So, it was no surprise that I had seen Do You Wanna Dance before. David hadn’t, though, and when the curtain fell, I wondered what he thought of the show.
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“I loved the energy of the dancers,” he answered. “The singers were great, too! And I was surprised because I was familiar with most of the music.”
Off to a great start, I thought.
After the show, we wandered from Crooners Bar to the Piazza to the Wheelhouse. The latter, with dark paneled walls, comfy armchairs, and a nautical theme, was my favorite lounge.
“Let’s have a drink here and listen to music,” I said.
“Now you’re playing my song,” he replied with a laugh.
My mind wandered as I sipped my drink, the music playing in the background. It’s great to be back on board the Sapphire Princess, the ship that Debra and I liked the most. And it's great to be on another cruise. David and I are going to have an awesome time!
And guess what? We did!
I look forward to sharing our experiences, on and off the ship, with you.
Off to a great start, I thought.
After the show, we wandered from Crooners Bar to the Piazza to the Wheelhouse. The latter, with dark paneled walls, comfy armchairs, and a nautical theme, was my favorite lounge.
“Let’s have a drink here and listen to music,” I said.
“Now you’re playing my song,” he replied with a laugh.
My mind wandered as I sipped my drink, the music playing in the background. It’s great to be back on board the Sapphire Princess, the ship that Debra and I liked the most. And it's great to be on another cruise. David and I are going to have an awesome time!
And guess what? We did!
I look forward to sharing our experiences, on and off the ship, with you.