Route of the Vikings Live on Board

Have a great cruuse! Looking forward to reading your reports.

Sorry for the delayed posting. First day was a sea day and not much to report. Weather was quite nice. The speed in the English Channel was exceptionally slow and it felt like we could have accommodated a half day call somewhere.

The first port of call was meant to be Newlyn, near Penzance in Cornwall. However, the day before, I became aware that the schedule was now reading Falmouth, Cornwall. Discussions with the Guest Services Manager revealed that the port was changed 5 days previously on failure to obtain the necessary safety certificate. No communication was received via travel agents prior to boarding and no letter was left in guest suites. We found this disappointing, as, whilst the change of port was probably actually to guests’ benefit (Falmouth is a larger, more attractive town, with more immediate sightseeing possibilities), we had to rearrange, at very short notice, private sightseeing arrangements. Whilst the Guest Services Manager did say that passengers had been informed prior to boarding, we have yet to meet any.

Our private tour in Cornwall was very good. It was a full day. The morning dawned overcast but during the day the sky cleared somewhat.

First stop was Portlethen, a tiny seaside place.

Then we visited marazion for st michael’s mount, which is run by the National Trust of England. It is possible to walk across a causeway at low tide but he tide was in and we caught a regular boat for a quick transfer across.

St michaels mount was very busy but we seemed to beat most of the rush.

Then we went on to an area where the region’s historic tin mining past has been preserved; again by the national trust. Some of the mines have featured in Poldark, the popular Cornish drama.

We had a quick stop at mousehole (pronounced mouzal). It’s a little fishing village/resort.

Then came a lovely cream tea in the countryside. The Cornish put jam first then cream.

The final stop was St Ives. In the middle of a British heatwave, at the start of the school holidays, it was jam packed.

Falmouth was brighter than when we left. We had a walk back in to town before back on board at 7pm.

Food in the restaurant in the evening has been good so far. Here is my 30th anniversary dessert

Lobster tail. Unadorned as a fish course

Chocolate lollipops

Lovely pictures Galeforce, you capture Cornwall beautifully.

I think it's quite easy to see what a dry summer we've had so far, this 'green and pleasant land' isn't quite so green as it normally would be! Very clear to see on the Poldark cliffs.

Skomer Island Pembrokeshire this morning for early Ventures tours. Puffins flying past ship at a distance. Skomer is an RSPB reserve

After ventures finished we sailed up to Milford haven. This has many tankers coming in

Galeforce, Thank you for your report and the fabulous photos! We are considering a voyage next year which includes this port. May I ask--how did you arrange your private tour so quickly after the change of port?

Pembrokeshire is gorgeous and warrants a visit on a land holiday.

Skomer has been in the news lately as the puffin colony there is very successful.

And again, can see from the pics that Wales isn't as green as one would expect either. Much of the UK needs rain! But hopefully not during the daytime to spoil this cruise or summer for the rest of us.