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CRUISING THE
MEDITERRANEAN
A
Potpourri of Life's Rich Tapestries
BY
CHRISTINE FAGG
Many cruise ships ply the oceans
of the world, some providing luxury on a scale only the rich can afford.
Fortunately for us, there are other cruise ships, albeit slightly
more modest, offering considerably lower fares as well as everything any
normal person could possibly desire.
The Black Watch
Just such a ship is Fred Olsen's Black
Watch which I boarded in late July for a 14 night Mediterranean Cruise.
This ship is quite small by todayıs standards (28,613 tons and
205.47m in length) normally accommodating 807 guests and 350 crew.
Every member of staff from Captain to cabin crew treated
passengers with the utmost courtesy and also, an exceptionally friendly
atmosphere flourished throughout the entire ship.
The Ports of Call with their alluring
shore visits are a vital part of any cruise and the imaginative
programme on this one proved no exception. We sped from
Dover
across the
Bay of Biscay
to
Lisbon
and next day, enjoyed our first taste of
Spain
in
Cadiz
. We then glided into the
Mediterranean
visiting
Barcelona
,
Menorca
and
Corsica
. On our return journey we explored
famous
Gibraltar
and, finally,
La Coruna
before returning to
Dover
.
First though, what is The Black
Watch really like? Does it compare well with those super 100,000 -
plus ton liners now being turned out by the world's remaining shipyards?
I think it does, but obviously some items on the Black Watch are
not so lavish. The fresh flower arrangements are not quite so
exotic and the service in the dining room, though impeccable, is not as
formal as on QE2, for instance.
Believe me, though, one would be hard put
to find anything to complain about. In fact - the Black Watch has
something most other cruise ships lack - that is a slightly homely touch!
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is a family orientated firm and this
happy, relaxed atmosphere is the result of a great deal of pre-planning
by people who really care about their guests' welfare.
Filling
your time
Sometimes, holidaymakers (particularly
mature single people) worry how they will fill their time. This is
unneccesary because a newsletter (The Daily Times At Sea) arrives in
your cabin each evening listing details of the next dayıs programme.
For example, the day might start with a game of
bridge followed by a knowledgeable expert lecturing on the next port of
call. Sometimes there's a water colour art class or a handicraft
lesson on creating your own bracelet or artificial flower.
Guests with energy to spare join in deck
games that include quoits, shuffleboard, short tennis, carpet boules and
darts while others practice their golf swing golf under special nets on
deck. Others prefer to exercise in the gymnasium, swim in one of
two pools or "chill out" in the hot tubs! Film lovers
can watch recently released films in the
Marina
Theatre
while brainy people join in the daily quiz.
But to be honest, most people indulged in that favourite holiday
pastime - lying on a sun bed basking in the Mediterranean sunshine -
doing absolutely nothing!
Each day, the Newsletter
pin-points special Highlights. These may take the form of a
classical piano recital or a performance of popular music played on
deck. Every night is a magical experience beginning with cocktails
and dancing to the ship's orchestra, followed by a sumptuous 5 course
dinner. Afterwards thereıs a first class Revue Show in the
Neptune Lounge consisting of performances by top-class entertainers and,
frequently, performances by the glamorous Black Watch International
Singers and Dancers. Then, thereıs more music for dancing, the
Casino is in full swing and the Star Night Club opens 'til the small
hours.
If this heady lifestyle get's a bit too
much, donıt worry, for soon the ship docks at
Lisbon
for the first shore visit. This
capital city is approached sailing along the beautiful River Tagus
where, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portuguese sailors set off to
explore the world. Later, on Lisbonıs splendid City Coach
Tour, we stopped at the Monument to the Discoveries dedicated to their
memory before taking a stroll through the Alfama (Lisbon's oldest
quarter). The tour continues with a visit to the exquisite
cloisters of the Hieronymus Monastery and the
Maritime
Museum
containing details of early navigation.
At each port of call there will be usually
be a choice of top-notch shore excursions escorted by English speaking
guides. On-the-spot advice is available when booking but you may
prefer to explore on your own as I did in
Cadiz
. A red line painted along the
roadsides guides visitors through the maze of claustrophobic narrow
streets streets to the major places of interest.
From
left to right: west facade of Santiago Cathedral; the Tower of Belem,
Lisbon; the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
In
Barcelona
we marvelled at Gaudi's architectural
buildings notably the amazing
Sagrada
Familia
Church
. He began this in 1884 but it's still
not finished! Then followed shore visits to the islands of
Menorca
and
Corsica
, both offering tours passing through old
villages and beyond to admire glorious vistas of mountains, forests and
seascapes.
Gibraltar
was great fun with its British policemen,
pillar boxes and pubs but, without doubt, the highlight of this cruise
for me was our shore visit to
La Coruna
and the unforgettable Santiago de Compostela.
This is one of Spain's magnificent old cities crowned by a
stunning Cathedral dating from 1211. It overflows with rich
carvings and statuary and is said to contain the bones of St James.
No article on cruising would be complete
without mention of those never-ending, mouthwatering meals. At
formal dinners in the Glentanar Restaurant, I shall long remember the
Lobster Thermidor, the tender Veal served with Tiger Prawns, the Beef
Wellington and other tasty dishes. There were also special
Oriental and Indian Food Nights and always, of course, a selection of
irresistible desserts and cheeses. From a traditional cooked
breakfast right through to the
midnight
buffet with its delectable menu of soup,
sandwiches, salads, Quiches and desserts, feasting was a non-stop
affair.
If you asked me what I enjoyed most on
this cruise it was probably the little things. Sipping a martini
before dinner in the Observatory Lounge as the sun sank towards the
horizon, making new friends or spotting dolphins frolicking in the sea.
But, most memorable of all, was falling asleep as the ship
ploughed gently on through the waves, engendering those long serene
nights of sweet dreams.
FACT FILE
Fred
Olsen Cruise Lines, Fred.Olsen House, White House Road, Ipswich, Suffolk
IPI 5LL (01473-742424) or visit the website at: http://www.fredolsencruises.co.uk
offers 13 Mediterranean cruises in 2006. One on Braemar, five on
Black Watch, two on Black Prince, and five on the companyıs new ship
Boudicca. Cruise lengths range from 13 - 24 nights.
Prices range from £1,014 (14 nights on Black Prince including 40 %
Cruiseaway discount) to £2,574 (24 nights on Boudicca including
35% Cruiseaway discount). A cruise similar to the one in this
feature in July 2006 is priced from £1,388 (including a 35% Cruiseaway
discount).
All Mediterranean cruises start from Dover, Southampton or Liverpool.
(Reproduced by kind permission of The Lady)
(6/1/06)
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