ConnieTact

We were on the Spirit in November 2016. in Feb 2020 we wee enjoying the brand new MSC Grandiosa! The Spirit was a friendly ship & I remember there were awful fires in Haifa at the time and we saw some from the ship! I was surprised we were allowed off for our excursion but we were!

Thanks Bluesea! We have actually booked Spirit 3 times but only sailed her once! Two sailings were cancelled due to covid and a family bereavement.n We went to Haifa on her and enjoyed that cruise a lot. I agree a big ship for sea days and transatlantic crossings and smaller for the port intensive. Smaller older ships are often offer bargains too! Enjoy your cruises too and thanks for following along!

I hope you enjoy a few more sunny days in London. Safe journeys. 🌸

As I draw this thread to an end, I guess I’d better answer my question. Was this sailing my last time on a smaller ship? while I think I prefer larger ships, I have to say I have enjoyed the size of the Star. It is easier to navigate around but the quality of entertainment meant we didn’t need lots of choice. I have been on large ships that cannot accommodate us sitting in a music venue at night (Norwegian Prima) but we found seats every time we wanted them in Gatsbys and The Bliss Lounge. It was easy to bump into our friends and the ship had a friendly feel and maybe that is because it was smaller. The majority of people onboard were from U.K. or USA. Sometimes we have been on sailings with lots of German or Italians and I wonder if the lack of a shared language made those sailings feel less friendly. This itinerary was a special one and ‘for sure’ a ‘grand’ one we won’t forget. I think it could only do a lot of these ports because of the smaller sized ship so that is a consideration too. In conclusion, I would and actually probably will, book a cruise on a smaller ship but we have another couple of cruises coming up soon. Both on larger, newer, MSC ships. Having said that, the stellar light of this Star is well worth following!

….and we’re back home. MrCT taking all the burden of the luggage to save me any discomfort. We’ve been on the Star for 10 wonderful days but I’ve taken the real star home! 😍⭐️

Got as far as Bath station. Sat with three American women from South Carolina who were schoolgirl friends and now travelling together some 60 years later! They just got off fir a day in Bath.

Look away if you dont like cats! 😅 I had a lovely message from morning cat carer today! Had a cute photo from the evening carer too! We are blessed with fabulous cat living neighbours and close by family too.

Got off ship with ease, having dropped off my ‘Vacation Hero’ cards at Customer Service desk. I always like to highlight great service from team members, and hope it’s rewarded and recognised accordingly. We got taxi easily outside the exit and taxi drive helped us with our luggage too. Grabbed a takeaway coffee from the cafe at the station for MrCT and got my refillable mug of hot water. I always carry a Lady Grey T bag with me! we’re now on the train and I was happy we have a five coach one so we are not too congested onboard! Sometimes it’s a three coach train and as there was a strike yesterday, perhaps GWR had the foresight to know there would be a huge demand today as a result. There’s a luggage rack so we have used that and are sitting close by.

This morning announcements started at 6.45 (I think!) We finished our last packing and are now on Garden Cafe for last light breakfast. It’s a clear and sunny day here in Southampton and I just had the pleasure of meeting Susan and her husband, who sadly missed our Galway trip.

There is a piano in The main dining room but we didn’t hear it played when we dined there. There was music in O’Sheehan’s though.

Excel band were great for last time. People cheered for one more and they obliged! I hid another a couple more ducks! Then bed!

We went back to pack some bags ready for today’s departure. Then went to a Gatsby’s for a drink before dinner. The band were great. Then it was on to a Cagney’s for a final dinner. food was delicious, apart from something was up with the crème brûlée. The crème was an idd texture and tasted wrong so two of us left it. Had ice cream instead. The service was good.

Next we hid 15 more ducks. Can you spot them?!

Yesterday was a sea day and we lazed in our room watching films in bed in the morning. Had lunch at O’Sheehan’s. Then we met friends for quiz and a few games of a Left Right Centre.

We met our friends in the Bliss lounge and enjoyed the Glow party. We had a laugh and danced a lot. It was well done and an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

Our 8pm, our second Le bistro dine started badly as it was cold. The air con was above our table and we asked if anything could be done but we’re told it couldn’t. So Mr CT kindly went and got us jackets from our room. While we were there it started at 50% full and by the end only about 10% and service was slow. After 15 minutes with no drinks service, nor anyone asking for our orders, I got someone’s attention. Immediately, assistant Maitre’D Nelson, took our drinks orders dnd served us. Just before our mains, we were sat with empty glasses and I indicated we needed drinks service and again he met our request. All the food was delicious but service fell down when I was asked on leaving the restaurant “What do you want done with ‘this cake’?!?!” I resisted saying “I want it served with the meal we just finished!”🤪 This was a result of handing the maitre ‘d the little card left in my room that asked me to ‘et us know you are celebrating your birthday!’ I replied, “Please bring to room, we’re meeting friends now!” It was delivered by the time we got ‘home’. It made for a delicious breakfast in bed!

I was just about to post our view from the ship of Spike Islabd! I’ll give you a wave! 😜 Our guide told us if you stole a rabbit you would be sent to Spike Island and await your sailing to Tasmania. Then you had three years hard labour!

We had the Blarney and cork so I’m not sure. Hopefully someone may come along and post about it here. if I bump into anyone who did that tour I will ask them- to be sure!

Just enjoying a coach ‘orientation’ tour of Cork. Lyn our guide is excellent.

It was large inside the shop. I was very tempted by a hat but it seems Irish sizes are small and the ‘one size’ was tight on me. So, I resisted! The one that got away…it was beautiful!

We could have done with a little extra time on the trip as there are extensive gardens. Some people said by the time they queued to kiss the stone nearly an hour passed. I have ten minutes to look around the shop - probably kinder to my bank balance anyway! 😂

Great trip to Blarney castle & gardens. just finishing with Irish coffee. I don’t drink coffee so MrCT lucked out!

I had to shoot sideways to get all ship in! 😅 See how close we are docked to the train station! Coach just left. Good clear guide commentary.

On coach. All very easy. Off the ship in two minutes and coaches only a few steps away. Looks like quite a few new staff arriving today.

Now, off to get the coach for our excursion with NCL this time! Train station is just across the way for those going it alone.