Some time in the warm Caribbean is now on the schedule for winter

Well, I've added one more trip to my schedule.  I've decided to spend a little time in the Caribbean this winter (2017).  It will be good to escape the cold and warm the soul in the tropics for 21 days.

Click to enlarge map.

“Hey, it's good to be back home again”

As the John Denver song goes, “Hey, it's good to be back home again.”  

My flight from Philadelphia was delayed yesterday due to a “mechanical issue,” but I got home safely.  They never tell you anything as you sit and wait for the plane, but the pilot said they had an issue with one of the seats on the plane once we were loaded.  Better that than an engine.

You get better deals for future cruises when you’re on a current one.  So, I currently have two voyages in the queue for 2017 and 2018.  Now I have to save my pennies for those payment dates.

The Voyage of the Vikings is a 38 day round trip from Boston in 2017, and the ship visits many of the areas explored/inhabited by the Vikings.  So, I'm visiting cold weather areas (but in the summer) of Greenland, Iceland, the UK, and Scandinavia.

This trip I postponed from 2017 to 2018.  It is a circumnavigation of South America and a visit to Antarctica that will be 68 days in length.  I want to see Machu Picchu as part of this visit.  The ship also travels down the Amazon River.

Final statistics on the voyage...

Final statistics regarding the voyage were delivered to my cabin this evening (click to enlarge).

A final sunset over the English Channel

With the day ending, I now need to get those suitcases out in the hallway for pickup.

Final Day: Ceremonies and Packing

On the final day, I’ve enjoyed the view from my cabin.  It’s a day of ceremonies and packing, too. 

At 10:15 there was a celebration of 4 and 5 star Mariners.  I’m a 4-star (free laundry and priority boarding/tender, and I am a “copper” medallion member.  So, I didn’t get any award on this voyage.  The highest award beyond the platinum level (over 300 days on a ship) is the President’s Club which is for those cruisers who have over 700 days of actual cruising (no bonus credits count here).  It’s amazing how many folks qualify for this award. 

After the awards we (the 4 and 5-star folks) had the brunch in which we received our “tiles” of the ship.  When I returned to my room about noon it had been set up for packing.  Well, I’m taking a little break and then I’m going to start packing.  At least with the free laundry perk, most of my clothes are clean.

It’s been a great trip, but I’m ready to get back home!

I've enjoyed the view out my sliding glass door this morning.

The ship will be passing the White Cliffs of Dover and the Chunnel area around 7:30pm.

At the Mariner brunch or lunch you get a ship's tile to commemorate the voyage.

After the recognition brunch, the rooms had been readied for packing.

All this stuff in my walk-in closet has to fit into my three bags.

I think I'll procrastinate a little longer!

Final Port of Call: A stroll though St. Peter Port, Guernsey

The last port of call before returning to Amsterdam is St. Peter Port on Guernsey.  It’s part of the Channel Islands off the coast of England and France in the English Channel. 

Many people may gave heard of the Guernsey cow.  The Guernsey is "a breed of cattle used in dairy farming. It is orange/red and white in color, and is particularly renowned for the rich flavor of its milk, as well as its hardiness and docile disposition."

I took a guided walk through the town.  The two main areas explored included the church downtown and the castle cornet.  The castle dates back to the 1300s, and it has been used by many groups.  The Germans took control of the island and the fort during World War II. 

We had coffee, tea, and something that was advertised as a “local fruit bread.”  The bread tasted like raisin bread, and, of course, it had a good helping of the deep orange/yellow butter from a Guernsey cow. 

I got to do a little shopping, and then I head back to the point where I took the tender back to the ship.  This was the voyage’s last port of call.  Tomorrow will be a sea day with several special activities. 

Well, I think it’s time for a nap.  The final “gala night” is tonight.

A view of the castle from the ship.

The local church is along the waterfront of St. Peter Port Guernsey.

The narrow streets are a little difficult to navigate.

These doors date back to the original church, and they are opened only during special events.

The church has many beautiful stained windows. 

The castle is on an island, but there is a causeway connecting it to the town.

At the castle they have flowers made to look like their flag.

A view of the harbor from the castle.

I took this shot of the ms Prisendam from the castle.

The area with plantings was once used for public executions.

Another view from inside the castle.

It was a beautiful day for sailing and boating in St. Peter Port.

I took this shot.  You can see the tender boat next to the ship, and another tender boat is on its way to drop off folks.

Another view of the largest city, St. Peter Port, in Guernsey.

Flowers are everywhere in the city.

Arriving in St. Peter Port, Guernsey

The last port of call before returning to Amsterdam is St. Peter Port on Guernsey.  It’s part of the Channel Islands off the coast of England and France in the English Channel.  The ship is anchored this morning because it is a tender port.  I will be taking a walking tour of the town in a couple of hours.  It’s a beautiful day in the English Channel.

The island of Guernsey is associated with the UK, but is independent with its own currency.

A view of St. Peter Port.

A view from my balcony as we put down anchor.

Local pilot welcoming us to the harbor.

The crew is getting the tender boats ready for the day.

Ready to tender, and the pilot boat is off.

The view from my balcony. 

St. Peter Port's castle dates back to the 13th century.

Portland, England (and “TO THE STONES”)

The ship arrived around 9AM in Portland, England.  Portland was the city who hosted the yachting events in the London Summer Olympics.  The city is also famous for its quarry.  Stone from Portland is used in buildings around the world. 

I left for the trip to Stonehenge, which is Britain’s most famous prehistoric ruins.  The stones sit in the middle of a field.  You reach the visitor’s center and then take a bus to the stones.  They no longer let you walk among the stones because of issues with the one million who visit each year.  You are able to walk around the stones to get photos.

I had a great day in Portland which is the last stop in the United Kingdom.  The ship departs this evening for St. Peter Port, Guernsey, which is in the English Channel close to France.

Ship officers docking in Portland, England.  The area was once a naval base, but now is now primarily for beach and boat lovers.

The local harbor is full of boats on Sunday morning.

The welcome and information for Stonehenge is unusual in design.  You take a bus ride to the stones.

Stonehenge  was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC.

Stonehenge is in a rural area outside of Salisbury, England.

You cannot wander into the area of the stones.  Those folks that appear to be in the stones are in the area a good distance from the stones.

Here I am at Stonehenge.  I didn't engage in any pagan rituals while at the site.   ;-)

You have a great view of the stones, but you are restricted to path that circles them.

I took this (forgive my shadow) to show how the stones look from above.

You can walk from the visitor center "to the stones," but it is better to take the bus.

Portland was the scene of the yachting events in the London Olympics.  These homes were originally constructed as housing for the event.

Stone is quarried from Portland (note the cliffs next to the sea (English Channel).  Portland is a central part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site on the Dorset and east Devon coast, important for its geology and landforms.

Ilfracombe, England, and the surrounding countryside

The ship arrived on time in Ilfracombe which is part of North Devon.  It was originally a fishing village, but is also a beach resort.  It’s perched up in the hills, and it’s a tender port. 

I traveled through the surroundings of Exmoor, which is a national park of 267 square miles.  The visit included a stop and tour of Dunster Castle and the village of Dunster.  I really got a workout climbing the hills to the castle and again to the top for viewing the surrounding countryside.

The tour back to the ship included more views of the hills and valleys of the moorland.  The forests areas have been undisturbed for centuries.  It was so beautiful, as well as the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

The controversial statue that welcomes you to Ilfracombe, England.

Outside in the gardens of Dunster Castle.

I climbed up the hill overlook the grounds of Dunster Castle.

Another view from Dunster Castle.

Dunster Castle dates back to 1100 AD.

The ocean once reached Dunster Castle.  It is now farming and grazing land.

I was sweating after climbing the hills and the many, many steps to get this view of the castle.

The gardens of Dunster Castle were beautiful.

The drawing room to the castle.

One of the bedrooms.

Beautiful tapestries cover the walls in many of the rooms.

Another of the tapestries.

Here's a photo of the library.

The solarium and a view of the outside grounds from inside the castle.

The village of Dunster dates back to 700 AD.

The harbor of Ilfracombe required tender service for larger ships.

A festival was going on during our time in Infracombe.

A photo of the harbor.

Getting on the tender took lots of time (the seas got a little rough).  This guy kept everyone laughing during the time.