HeinBloed

The 2nd day in Thessaloniki. We continue at 14:00 hrs, but we still have the morning to explore the city: Bruno's Coffee - the hotel where we will be back in ten days - the beautiful St. Theodora Church - the White Tower and the waterfront - a lovely walk. On board, we continue with the first Evening Chic evening, which includes a great show in the theater. Then, I get to know the Captain. Another perfect day comes to an end. https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-03-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

Since we can't get to Israel, I'm pleased about the replacement program in Thessaloniki. It's a great city — especially for foodies — and very special when you are guided so professionally by the head of the tour guide herself, Anastasia. We like it more and more on board: what doesn't fit is made to fit. That is precisely how I would like it best. We get to know great crew members. https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-02-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

Since we can't get to Israel, I'm pleased about the replacement program in Thessaloniki. It's a great city — especially for foodies — and very special when you are guided so professionally by the head of the tour guide herself, Anastasia. We like it more and more on board: what doesn't fit is made to fit. That is precisely how I would like it best. We get to know great crew members. https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-02-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

It's finally starting. Embarkation: we are on board at 11:00 hrs. We are positively surprised. She's fresh out of the dry dock but already older. In 2014, we were on CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM. I remember the hardware: a damp cabin, non-working air conditioning, and coughing. This time, we are well prepared. We like it. For the first evening, we took advantage of the offer: We ate at the Tuscan Grille, and I even went to bed with my rib-eye steak. https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-01-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

It's finally starting. Embarkation: we are on board at 11:00 hrs. We are positively surprised. She's fresh out of the dry dock but already older. In 2014, we were on CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM. I remember the hardware: a damp cabin, non-working air conditioning, and coughing. This time, we are well prepared. We like it. For the first evening, we took advantage of the offer: We ate at the Tuscan Grille, and I even went to bed with my rib-eye steak. https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-01-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

What a bummer: CELEBRITY INFINITY is already in the port, and I can't get to her because the port is closed. Finally, the following day, we will have the brand new SUN PRINCESS and CELEBRITY INFINITY. We met two friends we have known since 2016 from our trip to Asia on the DIAMOND PRINCESS. Together, we go on a ferry to sail past the cruise ships up close and eat delicious food: everything fresh from the fish market. We do what is best in the evening in Greece: continue eating delicious food! One more night, and then it's finally embarkation! https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

What a bummer: CELEBRITY INFINITY is already in the port, and I can't get to her because the port is closed. Finally, the following day, we will have the brand new SUN PRINCESS and CELEBRITY INFINITY. We met two friends we have known since 2016 from our trip to Asia on the DIAMOND PRINCESS. Together, we go on a ferry to sail past the cruise ships up close and eat delicious food: everything fresh from the fish market. We do what is best in the evening in Greece: continue eating delicious food! One more night, and then it's finally embarkation! https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

I luckily took some pictures of SUN PRINCESS in Piraeus, Greece, on March 14, 2024. You can see the pictures in my blog: https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html You are invited to have a look at the pictures of SUN PRINCESS.

Let me start with the blog: It was one of the most beautiful trips I've been able to experience so far: CELEBRITY INFINITY: Piraeus - Thessaloniki - Kusadasi - Limmassol - Rhodes - Heraklion - Piraeus With the post-program to Trikala - Meteora and Thessaloniki. Except for a few little things, everything was fine. The price-performance ratio was perfect. Celebrity is love at second sight. But it starts in Frankfurt two days before embarkation: https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

Let me start with the blog: It was one of the most beautiful trips I've been able to experience so far: CELEBRITY INFINITY: Piraeus - Thessaloniki - Kusadasi - Limmassol - Rhodes - Heraklion - Piraeus With the post-program to Trikala - Meteora and Thessaloniki. Except for a few little things, everything was fine. The price-performance ratio was perfect. Celebrity is love at second sight. But it starts in Frankfurt two days before embarkation: https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

The first HeinBloed blog of this year takes us to QUEEN VICTORIA. It's hard to believe that it's been 16 years since we sailed with her for the first time. It was a love-hate relationship, and now we love it, but that's also because we have a lot of friends at Cunard who make sure we don't lack anything. We, therefore, fly back to London City and spend the night in Stratford. From there, we get to Waterloo for the train to Southampton the next day. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html I had a crazy idea to take the subway across London during the day. Luckily, we're tough. With a lot of experience at Deutsche Bahn with train cancellations, the route closure to Southampton can't upset us any further. We had to go to another London station and change trains once, but we got to Southampton earlier than planned. Above all, we were lucky in misfortune: we could experience first-class service on the Cross Country Railway. Wow. We were even luckier in the evening: ARCADIA said goodbye to its world voyage, and we experienced the fireworks set off for her. This time, not for Indians but for Dim Sum in Southampton. Delicious. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html Of course, I must greet her early in the morning when she comes in. But Fred Olsen's BOREALIS also comes in — the former ROTTERDAM from Holland America. I am allowed to check in for the first time as a Cunard Club World Diamond member. But we have to wait because check-in starts unusually late. But we are home very quickly: The German Cunard magazine Queens featured an article by Chrystal. She is happy that we have already translated everything for her. Julieta ensures that Bruno can start our QUEEN MARY 2 Transatlantic as Diamond. We meet Jonathan, Dominic, and Cullum, whom we know from our last trips. But we meet you fellow passengers from VALIANT LADY: Lisa. We finally managed to eat in La Piazza in the evening. We experience excellent service from Olga and Anniefildah. My evening ends at a silent disco event. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/tagday-1-auf-deron-queen-victoria-in.html We enjoy the day at sea with a lot of peace. Just relax for a day. We met new friends from the forum Andreas and the Facebook group Wolfgang and Christiane. We are happy about Izat and Desiree, who we know from before. Alex and Erwin deliver exceptional service. The break from everyday life felt good. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/seetagday-at-sea-2-auf-deron-queen.html And the most beautiful short trip comes to an end quickly. In the end, I got my special breakfast again. We're lucky the railway workers' strike starts later so that we can return quickly with the high-speed train ICE. Cunard will continue on QUEEN MARY 2 from New York to Southampton at the beginning of January 2025. In March, we'll be going on CELEBRITY INFINITY. Unfortunately, Israel and Egypt are deleted. Instead, Thessaloniki and Limassol get to know each other as new ports. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/tagday-3-auf-deron-queen-victoria-in.html

The first HeinBloed blog of this year takes us to QUEEN VICTORIA. It's hard to believe that it's been 16 years since we sailed with her for the first time. It was a love-hate relationship, and now we love it, but that's also because we have a lot of friends at Cunard who make sure we don't lack anything. We, therefore, fly back to London City and spend the night in Stratford. From there, we get to Waterloo for the train to Southampton the next day. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html I had a crazy idea to take the subway across London during the day. Luckily, we're tough. With a lot of experience at Deutsche Bahn with train cancellations, the route closure to Southampton can't upset us any further. We had to go to another London station and change trains once, but we got to Southampton earlier than planned. Above all, we were lucky in misfortune: we could experience first-class service on the Cross Country Railway. Wow. We were even luckier in the evening: ARCADIA said goodbye to its world voyage, and we experienced the fireworks set off for her. This time, not for Indians but for Dim Sum in Southampton. Delicious. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html Of course, I must greet her early in the morning when she comes in. But Fred Olsen's BOREALIS also comes in — the former ROTTERDAM from Holland America. I am allowed to check in for the first time as a Cunard Club World Diamond member. But we have to wait because check-in starts unusually late. But we are home very quickly: The German Cunard magazine Queens featured an article by Chrystal. She is happy that we have already translated everything for her. Julieta ensures that Bruno can start our QUEEN MARY 2 Transatlantic as Diamond. We meet Jonathan, Dominic, and Cullum, whom we know from our last trips. But we meet you fellow passengers from VALIANT LADY: Lisa. We finally managed to eat in La Piazza in the evening. We experience excellent service from Olga and Anniefildah. My evening ends at a silent disco event. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/tagday-1-auf-deron-queen-victoria-in.html We enjoy the day at sea with a lot of peace. Just relax for a day. We met new friends from the forum Andreas and the Facebook group Wolfgang and Christiane. We are happy about Izat and Desiree, who we know from before. Alex and Erwin deliver exceptional service. The break from everyday life felt good. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/seetagday-at-sea-2-auf-deron-queen.html And the most beautiful short trip comes to an end quickly. In the end, I got my special breakfast again. We're lucky the railway workers' strike starts later so that we can return quickly with the high-speed train ICE. Cunard will continue on QUEEN MARY 2 from New York to Southampton at the beginning of January 2025. In March, we'll be going on CELEBRITY INFINITY. Unfortunately, Israel and Egypt are deleted. Instead, Thessaloniki and Limassol get to know each other as new ports. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2024/01/tagday-3-auf-deron-queen-victoria-in.html

Day 2 takes us to Marseille, France. So much happened that day that I had to divide the second day into two chapters. We already know Marseille, so we limit ourselves to a research walk to the bus stops and prefer to enjoy the options on board. We experience new offers: breakfast and tea time in the Raj Polo tea room with excellent service from Joseph John, Shennoy, and Anitek. Or Audrey and Akshay, who make your coffee the way you want. We are therefore very sorry that we prefer to go to the Coffee Emporium, even though we always received amiable service from Novi at Jean-Philippe's. The Speakeasy Bar is also very inspiring in its concept - I've never experienced anything like it on any other ship. I love the non-alcoholic cocktail. We are delighted with our cabin steward, Aggriawan. Specialties Restaurant Manager Alex knows how to serve friends of the house, even if something goes wrong... I would have gotten my steak if we had shipped with our shipping company instead of MSC! I was lucky to meet Hotel Manager Neven and Director of Hotel Services Aniello, and I could share my sincere enthusiasm with them. Then came the shows. Jugglers, rope artists, and can-can are part of MSC's DNA. They could do a presentation about the moon landing and still include a can-can in the plot. But if Sarah Brightman is singing Christine from The Phantom of the Opera, that speaks for MSC. Even better: at 4:00 a.m. I was at a rehearsal in the Panorama Lounge. Latin rock isn't my thing: "Let's get loud" - I'm thrilled and feel like I've been in a fountain of youth all day. That was two days of intensive medical care from MSC. https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-21-auf-der-msc-world-europa-in.html https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-22-auf-deron-msc-world-europa-in.html

Day 2 takes us to Marseille, France. So much happened that day that I had to divide the second day into two chapters. We already know Marseille, so we limit ourselves to a research walk to the bus stops and prefer to enjoy the options on board. We experience new offers: breakfast and tea time in the Raj Polo tea room with excellent service from Joseph John, Shennoy, and Anitek. Or Audrey and Akshay, who make your coffee the way you want. We are therefore very sorry that we prefer to go to the Coffee Emporium, even though we always received amiable service from Novi at Jean-Philippe's. The Speakeasy Bar is also very inspiring in its concept - I've never experienced anything like it on any other ship. I love the non-alcoholic cocktail. We are delighted with our cabin steward, Aggriawan. Specialties Restaurant Manager Alex knows how to serve friends of the house, even if something goes wrong... I would have gotten my steak if we had shipped with our shipping company instead of MSC! I was lucky to meet Hotel Manager Neven and Director of Hotel Services Aniello, and I could share my sincere enthusiasm with them. Then came the shows. Jugglers, rope artists, and can-can are part of MSC's DNA. They could do a presentation about the moon landing and still include a can-can in the plot. But if Sarah Brightman is singing Christine from The Phantom of the Opera, that speaks for MSC. Even better: at 4:00 a.m. I was at a rehearsal in the Panorama Lounge. Latin rock isn't my thing: "Let's get loud" - I'm thrilled and feel like I've been in a fountain of youth all day. That was two days of intensive medical care from MSC. https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-21-auf-der-msc-world-europa-in.html https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-22-auf-deron-msc-world-europa-in.html

We went back to the harbor early in the morning to take photos. Once again, I am allowed into the non-public part upon presentation of my shipping company ID card. Here it comes: so beautifully illuminated: MSC WORLD EUROPA. Also in the harbor are the former MEIN SCHIFF 2/HERZ: MARELLA VOYAGER and AIDAcosma. After breakfast, Eva picked us up and took us reliably back to the port. It only takes a few minutes for us to get on board. The ship is quite impressive. A little too big. But with lots of oases that we can make good use of because we don't have a drinks package. We are booking another trip on board the MSC ARMONIA for 2025; then, we will know all MSC ship classes. We are also curious about how things work in Venice-Marghera. In the evening, we have a great dinner at La Pescaderia. We enjoy fresh fish from the display and the excellent service from Ayoub and Tawiba. We are surprised by the modern shows in the Panorama Lounge. We always remember "one-size-fits-all" events. But that was great. https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-1-auf-der-msc-world-europa-in.html

In the morning, I want to go on the ferry to photograph the BRILLIANT LADY, but it's not running due to "bad" weather. This is how we see Genoa waking up. After breakfast, we park our car in the Ponte dei Mille garage - so positioned correctly to drive off immediately. We take a taxi to the airport. The flight to Barcelona is a lot cheaper than the train journey. There, we returned to the same beautiful hotel as a few days ago, and in the evening, we returned to the Casa de Tapas Canota. We don't want to eat tapas this time because they have so many other things on display that we want to try out. https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0b-auf-dem-wegon-way-to-msc.html

We went back to the harbor early in the morning to take photos. Once again, I am allowed into the non-public part upon presentation of my shipping company ID card. Here it comes: so beautifully illuminated: MSC WORLD EUROPA. Also in the harbor are the former MEIN SCHIFF 2/HERZ: MARELLA VOYAGER and AIDAcosma. After breakfast, Eva picked us up and took us reliably back to the port. It only takes a few minutes for us to get on board. The ship is quite impressive. A little too big. But with lots of oases that we can make good use of because we don't have a drinks package. We are booking another trip on board the MSC ARMONIA for 2025; then, we will know all MSC ship classes. We are also curious about how things work in Venice-Marghera. In the evening, we have a great dinner at La Pescaderia. We enjoy fresh fish from the display and the excellent service from Ayoub and Tawiba. We are surprised by the modern shows in the Panorama Lounge. We always remember "one-size-fits-all" events. But that was great. https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-1-auf-der-msc-world-europa-in.html

In the morning, I want to go on the ferry to photograph the BRILLIANT LADY, but it's not running due to "bad" weather. This is how we see Genoa waking up. After breakfast, we park our car in the Ponte dei Mille garage - so positioned correctly to drive off immediately. We take a taxi to the airport. The flight to Barcelona is a lot cheaper than the train journey. There, we returned to the same beautiful hotel as a few days ago, and in the evening, we returned to the Casa de Tapas Canota. We don't want to eat tapas this time because they have so many other things on display that we want to try out. https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0b-auf-dem-wegon-way-to-msc.html

The HeinBloed blog now starts here with the MSC part. The second part of the trip takes place on the MSC WORLD EUROPA. Our journey starts in Barcelona, Spain, the end of our trip on QUEEN ELIZABETH. But there is a logistical problem: the journey with the MSC WORLD EUROPA ends in Genoa, Italy. But we have enough time to reposition the car and finally have the opportunity to discover the coast's beauty between the ports. Our route takes us to Genoa via Antibes, France, and Nice, France. Because the SEADREAM II happens to be in Nice, we know where we will dock next September with the AZAMARA QUEST, which we will also see later in Monte Carlo. In the evening, we will have a great experience of Ligurian cuisine: the Rosmarino is fantastic — especially the pasta with pesto Genovese. ********************************** https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-wegon-way-to-msc.html

Our vacation consists of two cruise sections: The section with the QUEEN ELIZABETH ends in the Nice, France, area. Nice is part of the catchment area of Genoa, Italy; therefore, we delimit it now. After a classic French breakfast at Cinq et Sept, we continue to Aix-la-Chapelle. This brings back memories: Back then with Chantal and Selma... Coke in the shoe, and I saved it so it didn't get stuck, and I got hit for that! Otherwise, it's a lovely city. We drive to Toulon on the Côte d'Azur and continue via Heyères to Cagnes-sur-Mer. The QUEEN ELIZABETH part ends here. This is followed by the transition partly with the MSC WORLD EUROPA. But it's also worth reading on for Cunard fans. Even if you don't like giant ships, the ship surprises you because it sets new accents that we haven't encountered with any other company before. The blogger's next section continues here in the MSC blog: https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-wegon-way-to-msc.html The MSC section continues at Cruisecritic: ********************************** https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-9-nach-derafter-queen-elizabeth.html

Our vacation consists of two cruise sections: The section with the QUEEN ELIZABETH ends in the Nice, France, area. Nice is part of the catchment area of Genoa, Italy; therefore, we delimit it now. After a classic French breakfast at Cinq et Sept, we continue to Aix-la-Chapelle. This brings back memories: Back then with Chantal and Selma... Coke in the shoe, and I saved it so it didn't get stuck, and I got hit for that! Otherwise, it's a lovely city. We drive to Toulon on the Côte d'Azur and continue via Heyères to Cagnes-sur-Mer. The QUEEN ELIZABETH part ends here. This is followed by the transition partly with the MSC WORLD EUROPA. But it's also worth reading on for Cunard fans. Even if you don't like giant ships, the ship surprises you because it sets new accents that we haven't encountered with any other company before. ********************************** https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-9-nach-derafter-queen-elizabeth.html

The HeinBloed blog now starts here with the MSC part. The second part of the trip takes place on the MSC WORLD EUROPA. Our journey starts in Barcelona, Spain, the end of our trip on QUEEN ELIZABETH. But there is a logistical problem: the journey with the MSC WORLD EUROPA ends in Genoa, Italy. But we have enough time to reposition the car and finally have the opportunity to discover the coast's beauty between the ports. Our route takes us to Genoa via Antibes, France, and Nice, France. Because the SEADREAM II happens to be in Nice, we know where we will dock next September with the AZAMARA QUEST, which we will also see later in Monte Carlo. In the evening, we will have a great experience of Ligurian cuisine: the Rosmarino is fantastic — especially the pasta with pesto Genovese. If you would like to read the first part of the journey: In Blogger, it starts in the Cunard blog: https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html At Cruisecritic, it starts in the Cunard section: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2976327-heinbloed-blog-from-queen-elizabethmsc-world-europa-october-2023-western-mediterranean/ For Romeo, scroll up to the beginning of the posting. https://heinbloed-msc.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-wegon-way-to-msc.html

The sad day is here: we must leave our "home" at sea. But in January 2024, we will see a few "small" Cunard family members again. There is a big shipspotting parade for me in the harbor: ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS, MSC FANTASIA, COSTA SMERALDA and CARINTHIA. CARNIVAL FREEDOM is fresh out of dry dock - she doesn't look it. We have to continue towards Genoa, Italy. We have three days to do this. The first section takes us to Languedoc, France, to the gay resort Cinq & Sept. If we ever get permanently seasick, this could be an alternative for us or a few days before or after a cruise. However, I have to sleep here in the bedroom with Emmanuelle Macron. I've never had to sleep in the same room as a politician before. Since there is, unfortunately, no dinner for guests this evening, we are eating at the Maison de Conti with other resort guests. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-8-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html

The sad day is here: we must leave our "home" at sea. But in January 2024, we will see a few "small" Cunard family members again. There is a big shipspotting parade for me in the harbor: ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS, MSC FANTASIA, COSTA SMERALDA and CARINTHIA. CARNIVAL FREEDOM is fresh out of dry dock - she doesn't look it. We have to continue towards Genoa, Italy. We have three days to do this. The first section takes us to Languedoc, France, to the gay resort Cinq & Sept. If we ever get permanently seasick, this could be an alternative for us or a few days before or after a cruise. However, I have to sleep here in the bedroom with Emmanuelle Macron. I've never had to sleep in the same room as a politician before. Since there is, unfortunately, no dinner for guests this evening, we are eating at the Maison de Conti with other resort guests. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-8-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html

Day 7 takes us to Palma de Mallorca, Spain. I'm lucky: our ship for March 2024 is also here. CELEBRITY INFINITY: unfortunately, it's not going to Israel or Egypt, but the main thing is the ship: there are still two new ports for us: Thessaloniki, Greece (which I'm looking forward to) and Limassol, Cyprus. We're on the road again with Suzy and Blair. Together we go to the Soller railway. Nice, but not comparable to the Swiss or Canadian panoramic trains. It's time to slowly say goodbye to everyone who has grown dear to us in a week. ********************************** https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-7-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html