Live from…Z and TB’s Scandinavian Escapade

[Zqueeze1]

5 hours ago, lincslady said:Z and TB

Here are some more pics of Hamble Le Rice. 
We thoroughly enjoyed walking the streets although it is a small village, but so picturesque. Too bad that many places were closed on Mondays. 
 

 

RANT TIME:   it cost 17 pounds to get to the village via Uber.  On the return it ballooned to a whopping 34 pounds!  Of course I paid for it because I had to go potty!!!

 

Later we went to the Duke of Wellington for a late lunch/early dinner.  This is our second time eating there and it did not disappoint.  This pub is located in a building constructed in 1200s!

We met a nice couple there who said we should see the American wall where GIs on their way to Normandy etched out their names.  it was a moving experience. 

 

Tomorrow: the madness of my planning. 
 

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

Good Morning:  today is sail away day. Yaaaay!   We are excited to board the Splendor and see it’s fine lines for the first time.  

 

As you all know, it takes some planning to organize these cruises.  In my case, I use the following Excel spreadsheets to stay on track:

 

 

Also, in regards to our cruise, we are headed to various Northern European ports as per itinerary below.  

 

 

These are our planned excursions.  Of note, is the visit to a concentration camp while in Kiel, Germany. 

 

 

We are heading out to the Splendor ate 1100 and are excited to see the ship and any crew members we may know.  

 

Tomorrow: sea day and I sport my new mankini. 

 

Z and TB

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Thank you for sharing your holiday. Enjoy!

[pappy1022]

How does one arrange for a ship tour? Or is this just walking the ship on their own?

[Zqueeze1]

13 minutes ago, pappy1022 said:

How does one arrange for a ship tour? Or is this just walking the ship on their own?

We have always take. A tour of the various decks on our own. I’ve never heard of an official ship’s tour. 
 

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

WE MADE IT!  Thirty minutes from stepping off the cab to stepping onboard. We have a glass of champagne in our hands and are waiting for La Veranda to open at 1200. 
 

 

Z and TB 

[Ulsteinvik]

I see you will be in Kiel during the famous event "Kieler Woche -> Kiel week". A lot of ships and people will be there in the port. 

[Zqueeze1]

1 hour ago, Ulsteinvik said:

I see you will be in Kiel during the famous event "Kieler Woche -> Kiel week". A lot of ships and people will be there in the port. 

Ok. I will have to google it. Are they there to see me?

 

Z and TB

[hockeyken]

Dear Mr Zqueeze : We are having a pool here, and hope you can answer a question. How many bags did Inga bring ? My bet was three suitcases and a carry on. In Helsinki, near the harbour, there is a large statue of a person urinating, as part of a fountain. If you have time could you please take a photo of yourself next to it, similar to what people do in Pisa with the leaning tower ? I promise not to sell copies on the internet. 

 

Enjoy your day, amigo.

K

[Gpilon]

I'll also be following along. Think you will very much enjoy Splendor...we have sailed on her twice with the last one being a TA this past March. Crew were terrific when we were onboard so hope they are still there for you. Pool bar.....4th seat from left.....can you advise if my imprint is still on it?

 

[Ulsteinvik]

1 hour ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Ok. I will have to google it. Are they there to see me?

 

Z and TB

It is one of the biggest regattas in the world. Be aware that the city in Kiel could be full with visitors, the event always has around 3 million visitors every year. Mostly visitors are coming from the afternoon, so in the morning it should be not crowded. It looks like that:

https://admiral-scheer.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/hotel_admiral_scheer_laboe_kieler-woche.jpg

 

https://www.schausteller.de/media/cache/large/media/pag/2017-06/8255-1-kiwo-hoern-010-jpg.jpg?v205

[Zqueeze1]

2 hours ago, hockeyken said:

Dear Mr Zqueeze : We are having a pool here, and hope you can answer a question. How many bags did Inga bring ? My bet was three suitcases and a carry on. In Helsinki, near the harbour, there is a large statue of a person urinating, as part of a fountain. If you have time could you please take a photo of yourself next to it, similar to what people do in Pisa with the leaning tower ? I promise not to sell copies on the internet. 

 

Enjoy your day, amigo.

K

Under great duress and threat of severe flogging, Inga remained true to her promise and travelled with one LARGE suitcase and a carry on.  So who picked one suitcase in the pool? She has improved greatly over her former travel days.  In regards to the statue, I am sure it has more of a passing resemblance to you, my friend. 
 

Z and TB

Edited June 13, 2023 by Zqueeze1

[1982CruzStart]

Have a wonderful cruise. It will be fun following along with you.  Great pictures and stories so far. 

[hockeyken]

Bubba: Actually, no one took only 1 suitcase....never occurred to us. We didn't think a leopard could change its spots.

As to the statue - it doesn't have much hair, is kind of homely, and does not move. You know, you could be right: that does sound like me.

 

Noemi and Inga from our last visit to mooch off you.

 

K

[Zqueeze1]

Good Morning:  I am up nice and early to share yesterday with you. We had to set our clocks forward one hour so it is 0545 at this time.  Regardless, I slept like a baby and am now enjoying some great French press coffee. 

 

Yesterday was a blur due to the flurry of activity.  We were processed in less than thirty minutes, had lunch, and took a nap by the pool.  I proceeded to my favorite stool at the pool bar after unpacking and exercised vicariously as TB swam for an hour. 

We saw a bit of the sail away festivities. 

Just before dinner Pam says we were going to eat at 1930 instead of 1830. This is when things went south for me.  I went to the bar and had them make me a classic daiquiri followed by rum old fashioneds. I am in the dog house because I was a little bit off kilter.  

 

Dinner was excellent (I think).  I had the usual avocado and crab salad

Followed by a veal dish and lobster

And we shared a dessert

TB was smart and ordered lobster bisque and added a lobster tail into it for her dinner. 

There was a late evening lecture conducted by someone about something.  Again, I was still off kilter. 

 

Today is a sea day as we head towards Norway. 

 

Classic daiquiri:

One part rum

One part lime juice

3/4 part simple syrup

 

Z and TB 

[Zqueeze1]

16 hours ago, Gpilon said:

I'll also be following along. Think you will very much enjoy Splendor...we have sailed on her twice with the last one being a TA this past March. Crew were terrific when we were onboard so hope they are still there for you. Pool bar.....4th seat from left.....can you advise if my imprint is still on it?

 

Fourth seat from the left is also the third from the right, my seat!

 

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

Here is a pic from Passages listing the ship’s officers. Sorry for the poor quality. 

 

 

Also, our itinerary:

 

 

And our ship:

 

 

Z and TB

[Gpilon]

6 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Fourth seat from the left is also the third from the right, my seat!

 

Z and TB

Great seat. Max was the bartender on that TA. Our suite was on Deck 10....a short crawl back from pool bar.

 

[Gpilon]

10 hours ago, hockeyken said:

Bubba: Actually, no one took only 1 suitcase....never occurred to us. We didn't think a leopard could change its spots.

As to the statue - it doesn't have much hair, is kind of homely, and does not move. You know, you could be right: that does sound like me.

 

Noemi and Inga from our last visit to mooch off you.

 

K

Hockeyken. We're heading up top TO Friday for 4 nights. Originally from Montreal and lived in the Big Smoke for 18 years....lots of family and friends there still. With reference to "hockey"....bud of mine I grew up with in Verdun (Montreal) and have known since we were rugrats is Conor Bedard's agent....he will look good in a Hawks sweater. 

[forevertravel]

What a surprise Captain Felice is on Splendor. He had been on Voyager for a long time after leaving the Mariner. We love Captain Felice. We are boarding the Voyager in two weeks and were hoping he was on it. Enjoy your cruise and happy anniversary. We met on Explorer's first crossing from Barcelona to Miami.

[Zqueeze1]

7 minutes ago, forevertravel said:

What a surprise Captain Felice is on Splendor. He had been on Voyager for a long time after leaving the Mariner. We love Captain Felice. We are boarding the Voyager in two weeks and were hoping he was on it. Enjoy your cruise and happy anniversary. We met on Explorer's first crossing from Barcelona to Miami.

Wow.  We were also onboard when the Explorer crossed the Atlantic.  
 

Z and TB

 

 

[Zqueeze1]

We are at dinner ant Compass Rose  and are sad to say that due to Regent cutbacks, their hamburgers have been downsized. 
 

 

 

Z and TB

[Gpilon]

26 minutes ago, Zqueeze1 said:

We are at dinner ant Compass Rose  and are sad to say that due to Regent cutbacks, their hamburgers have been downsized. 
 

 

 

Z and TB

An improvement from our Splendor TA this past March/April

 

[Zqueeze1]

What’s wrong with this pic?

 

 

Z and TB

[hockeyken]

I sure hope that's not your foot.....because if it is, it's either broken, or swollen, and you are going to have a difficult time putting it in your mouth the usual four or five times a day.

K