SKY PRINCESS Aug 12 - 19 Norway (Live from)

[TenneSea]

22 minutes ago, dides said:

Found your views on the Virgin neo Upper Class experience interesting. What specifically did you find uncomfortable about it?  We managed to upgrade to the Retreat Suite for our Virgin neo flight to Boston a couple of months back and loved the extra space that gave us - have flown upper in their older fleet a few times and were concerned about roominess on these newer planes. 

I sat right behind the retreat suite - they did look a little roomier.  I think the bed area is just too narrow.  For some reason, it felt like the bed was tilting.  One thing they ask you to do is wear your seatbelt when in bed.  HA !  That might have been why I couldn't sleep.  They keep lights on (although dimmed) during the night, so that didn't help.  Plus the noise.  I think it was still worth the extra for Upper Class, I will just have lower expectations next time. The seat area really is narrow.  And the aisles were only about 12' wide.

Edited August 12, 2023 by TenneSea

[dides]

9 minutes ago, TenneSea said:

I sat right behind the retreat suite - they did look a little roomier.  I think the bed area is just too narrow.  For some reason, it felt like the bed was tilting.  One thing they ask you to do is wear your seatbelt when in bed.  HA !  That might have been why I couldn't sleep.  They keep lights on (although dimmed) during the night, so that didn't help.  Plus the noise.  I think it was still worth the extra for Upper Class, I will just have lower expectations next time. The seat area really is narrow.  And the aisles were only about 12' wide.

Oh yes, the aisles were amazingly narrow. Thanks for the extra info - I tend not to lie flat and can snooze at any angle lol. My other half does lie flat (on the overnights) but normally wears a good quality eye mask and earplugs.

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by dides

[TenneSea]

Meant to give a few impressions.

 

Impressions of Southampton: Absolutely enjoyed this city filled with history.  Later I'll talk about the Mayflower memorial (I'm a Mayflower descendant) so that was exciting for me.  It's beautiful and easy to get around in.

 

Impressions of Red Funnel Ferries: Nothing fancy but efficient and clean.  The food even look pretty good.  It gets you where you want to go in comfort.

 

Impressions of Duke of Wellington Pub:  If you're in town - Do It !

 

Impressions of Osborne House: Do it !  It's so beautiful.

 

Impression of Isle of Wight: I wish I could have spent a week there !

[minniegidget]

Thanks for taking us along. Your photos are amazing. Loving your live thread.

[TenneSea]

Did I forget the food pics from Duke of Wellington?

 

 

 

[TenneSea]

Continuing on the 3/4 walk to the beach from Osborne House.

 

Statue of one of their dogs in the back garden.

 

 

Beautiful planters

 

 

 

 

Beautiful alcove (one of several) where Victoria liked to sit in the shade.

 

 

Lily Pads in a little pond.

 

 

 

Lucky bird.  Gets to hang out at Osborne House.

 

 

 

[TenneSea]

Prince Albert was an avid horticulturist.  He planted trees from all over the world, many on this walk to the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost there.

[TenneSea]

Enjoy the beach !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria's private beach hut.  She would change in here, then the hut was rolled into the water on a rail system.  It's good to be Queen.

 

 

 

 

[TenneSea]

Must have: Isle of Wight Ice Cream.  Made from IOW contented cows !

 

 

 

 

 

[TenneSea]

Some images from/of the Red Funnel Ferry.

 

 

 

Nice outdoor patio while waiting for the ferry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting building we passed.  Does anyone know what it is?  (military?)

 

This must be their transport for large vehicles.

 

 

[TenneSea]

Heavenly day we had on the Isle of Wight.  I wish I'd of had a week to spend there.

I'll be back !

 

 

 

 

My fav !

 

 

 

 

[TenneSea]

We're back in Southampton for the evening.  On our walk back to Holiday Inn to get ready for dinner, we stopped by the Mayflower memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was very touching.  To think that the birth of my home country started right here with just a handful of brave, courageous people.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by TenneSea

[TenneSea]

Then we had the pleasure of eating tapas at LaRagata.  Be sure to reserve ahead, especially on a weekend when 4 or 5 ships are in the port.  We just walked in.  The waitress's jaw dropped when we did not have reservations.  She walked over to the manager (owner?) and we heard him say to her, "they just WALKED IN ???"  He was quite offended.  But they were very nice and found us a little table, I think he might have been trying to humiliate us, but we loved it and the food was amazing !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ribs !

 

 

One of the best beers I've ever had !

 

 

 

LaRagata

 

 

 

[gah_cruise]

8 minutes ago, TenneSea said:

 

 

 

It was very touching.  To think that the birth of my home country started right here with just a handful of brave, courageous people.

 

 

I thought that the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, not Southampton ?

[TenneSea]

Beautiful day.  A few from Southampton.

LOVE this building.

 

 

 

Dancing Man Brewery next door.  DMB was PACKED - so, we might have to catch it another time.

 

 

 

An artist at work on top of the wall.

 

 

 

All caught up on day 2.  Next will be boarding Sky Princess and off to Norway !

 

 

[TenneSea]

7 minutes ago, gah_cruise said:

I thought that the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, not Southampton ?

You might have that backwards.  It sailed from Southampton to the new land which turned out to be named Plymouth, MA.  I believe the Titanic also left from the port of Southampton. 

[Gettingwarmer]

 

Martello Tower

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martello_tower

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by Gettingwarmer

[gah_cruise]

5 minutes ago, TenneSea said:

You might have that backwards.  It sailed from Southampton to the new land which turned out to be named Plymouth, MA.  I believe the Titanic also left from the port of Southampton. 

Did the Mayflower sail from Southampton ?
The Mayflower attempted to depart England on three
occasions, once from Southampton on 5 August 1620; once
from Dartmouth on 21 August 1620; and finally from
Plymouth, England, on 6 September 1620.

so says Google 🙂

 

[Gettingwarmer]

8 minutes ago, TenneSea said:

You might have that backwards.  It sailed from Southampton to the new land which turned out to be named Plymouth, MA.  I believe the Titanic also left from the port of Southampton. 

 

1 minute ago, gah_cruise said:

Did the Mayflower sail from Southampton ?
The Mayflower attempted to depart England on three
occasions, once from Southampton on 5 August 1620; once
from Dartmouth on 21 August 1620; and finally from
Plymouth, England, on 6 September 1620.

so says Google 🙂

 

http://mayflowerhistory.com/voyage

 

[dides]

deleted

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by dides

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

 

This is Calshot Castle. Built by King Henry VIII originally. With repairs & additions made since 

what you see on top of it is a gun from WWI

 

Well, why build new when this tower works just fine for 100’s of years over many battles 😃 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calshot_Castle

[JG&Lcruisingnewbies]

Deleted

Edited August 13, 2023 by JG&Lcruisingnewbies
Deleted repeat post

[Gettingwarmer]

25 minutes ago, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

 

This is Calshot Castle. Built by King Henry VIII originally. With repairs & additions made since 

what you see on top of it is a gun from WWI

 

Well, why build new when this tower works just fine for 100’s of years over many battles 😃 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calshot_Castle

Thanks for this. I stand corrected. From the description I can see that it is a lot bigger than a Martello Tower. 
 

Loving your report @TenneSea

Edited August 13, 2023 by Gettingwarmer

[jodi58]

We are doing the 8 day Sky Norwegian Fjords next May so looking forward to this review, it’s great so far!🙂

[TenneSea]

Thank you @JG&Lcruisingnewbies for the info.  SO MUCH history here !

Edited August 13, 2023 by TenneSea