My last writing I had just completed a 3 day mini-getaway on the newest Princess ship, the Regal. And today I am sharing my transatlantic crossing on the sister ship, the Royal Princess. What a wonderful experience!
My husband and I boarded in Ft.Lauderdale on the 25th of April and never expected the ship to be “full”…. my mistake! I never realized how popular the crossings were for so many reasons;
some don’t/can’t/won’t fly, others prefer to gently ease into the 5 or 6 hour time change while a few we met explained that the 8 day crossing was the perfect way to wind down a busy work schedule with the following 7 days of visiting some of Europe’s ports a more enjoyable vacation.
And just as diverse as the reasons for taking this journey were the passengers. We encountered plenty who were enjoying their well deserved retirement, a young honeymoon couple, working age empty nesters, families and friends sharing great quality time together.
Each day the journey could be as quiet and non-eventful as we wanted or filled with as many of the endless actives offered throughout the day and into evening. On any given day, as we strolled through the multilevel atrium, there would ballroom and line dancing lessons being given, or perhaps a string quartet provided classical music to while away the afternoon or
pre-dinner dancing to some old and new favorites. Every evening there was a choice of venues for a variety of shows. The many lounges and cocktail bars offered just the atmosphere to suit our mood that evening. We availed ourselves to as much or as little as we wanted each day; each day we created the mood we wanted to enjoy.
Day 8 at sea we arrived to the Portuguese Azore Islands; located midway between North America and Europe - middle of the ocean! We did not book a tour and opted to stretch our legs and do some walking. We arrived to Ponta Delgado early in the day and after a late breakfast we headed into town. Charming, lush and full of history! We walked and walked and walked - and after a few hours sat harbourside to enjoy a refreshing beer and wine. The sun felt wonderful! (The crossing thus far was smooth but under cloudy misty skies.)
Another 2 days at sea and we arrived to Cobh and Cork, Ireland. Our last visit to Cork was in 1999 with our niece who had just graduated high school….and in all that time, not much changed. The towns still had the same warm welcoming feeling; it felt familiar with pub fronts and names just like in our old neighborhood in the Bronx.
Next stop was Rotterdam, Netherlands. We were the first to disembark the ship and our friends were waiting and waving upon seeing our faces! It was such a happy meeting - and we meet up often, in many places - but that is a story all its own. After kisses and hugs we were off and strolling. First stop, water taxi. Onto a small boat with a “taxi” sign on it and across the waterway we went. It was a really fast, slightly unnerving ride but what a great way to start the day! We disembarked and walked along a main thoroughfare while friends pointed out highlights of the area before settling down for a relaxing cup of coffee and sweet treat. Another taxi ride (on land) and headed to our lunch destination. The meal served over several courses that went on and on, was exceptional - but then again, it was made all the more special because we shared it with friends that traveled from their home in a nearby town to meet us for the day. That was a sweet treat in itself. After filling ourselves up, it was time for another taxi ride on the water. A short ride and back on land. We strolled, we talked. Rotterdam was almost completely destroyed during WW2, so most of the buildings are post war. One of the more recent buildings to be get a make over is the train station. A modern design that seems to blend rather nicely with the surrounding area. Across the tram tracks and thriving honey-bee hives (the hives are controlled) we came upon the food market. As you know by now, I love food markets! This was a new build; it looked like a quonset hut/round roofed barn. As we got closer it had balconies on the side - there apartments built into the food market building! I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not - ingenious design, yes…living above a food market, not sure. We entered the market and it was delightful - the aromas, the scents, the feast for the eyes! Breads, sausages, jams, beers, produce and so much more. From the inside you could see the “inside” windows of the apartments. A little strange… As we finished our walk-thru, we stepped outside; the streets were busy with pedestrians, bike riders and strollers being pushed by moms laden with fresh goods for an evening dinner. We headed back towards the water taxi station for the ride back towards the ship. If I thought the first water taxi ride was unnerving, this one really got my pulse going! Fast can’t describe how quickly we arrived! The drop off was at the New York Hotel located in the old Holland America Lines building (back in the day when transatlantic was the only way to go). It was cool, funky sort of place that would have been right at home in NYC’s SoHo. Nothing like feeling at home! We had plenty of time before we had to be on board, a couple of hours before our friends needed to get their train back home. One bottle of wine, lots of great conversation, another bottle of wine and talks about our next meeting in August and then sad goodbyes began…. With warm hugs and plenty of kisses, we parted, we waved and boarded the ship.
Next stop, ZeeBrugge, Brussels. The port is a working port and fair distance to town. We opted for bus ride to the Blankenberge train station so we could catch the train to Bruges. With 10 minutes to spare we purchased our ticket and boarded the train. One stop to Bruges and we let the day begin! The walk into the old part of Bruges was about 10 minutes along a park the yielded to rows of tiny houses with lovely flower boxes full of color. Cobblestone streets ambled on and on, old archways gave a glimpse into life beyond them and quaint shops showcased their goods. We walked for hours, over little bridges, along pretty canals lined with homes that leaned to and fro. It was storybook. The town square was filled with people milling about, horse and carriages passing with tourists snapping up photos, plenty of selfies being taken and, of course, endless flow of beers being served! Soon it was time to make the walk back to the station for the ride back - but not before we stopped for a beer at a quiet little spot not too far from the station. The sun was warm, the beer refreshing and gave us moment to talk about the sights we’d seen.
It was perfect way to end the day; it was a perfect last stop on the cruise before disembarkation the next day.
That evening it was quiet as we packed our bags to ready ourselves for a very early wake up at 5am! Disembarkation day was to be a long day before arriving to our final destination, Spain.
And so ended an incredible first transatlantic cruise….Princess Cruises did an amazing job of providing excellent service throughout (we especially appreciated our cabin stewart). The chefs’ prepared an excellent array of meals that were offered throughout the many, many dining venues.
There quiet areas, lounges, music for all tastes, an international coffee shop, a delightful pizzeria, shopping boutiques, art gallery and spa services that rivaled any on land. Entertainment was constant, varied and most enjoyable. All in all, it was just the relaxing time needed finished with a few ports of call to walk off all those sweets from the spectacular pastry shop on board!
