TravelStream™ news feed for member queenvictoria on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/queenvictoria en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:20:16 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208607060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208607060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208607060/tpod.html Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:20:16 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon - Queen Victoria Maiden World Cruise Party - Campo Pequeno. We were invited to the World Cruise Party held this year in the Bull Ring in the center of Lisbon. We were picked up by coach at 5:30 (all 700 of us) and taken to the venue for cocktails and canapes before dinner. The entertainment began with lute players, guitarist and local folk dancing. Followed by a Portuguese singer and Flamenco dancers. Throughout and after the meal we had a big band sound playing into the night. Fabulous setting, lovely meal and the drinks were flowing. Speeches etc from the Cunard CEO and others to go over what we had achieved during the world cruise and advertising other trips to come in the future. We managed a few dances during the evening. We returned to the ship just in time for sailing at midnight.

Well the journey is all but over and the packing has just started. What a wonderful and unbelievable time we have had during the last 3.1/2 months and even better is that we have shared this Maiden World Voyage with our family and friends. We hope you have enjoyed this experience as much as we have. Bon Voyage until we see you again in the UK.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208606760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208606760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208606760/tpod.html Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:11:22 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon - 19th April 2008. We arrived in the port of Lisbon at 7:30 to a wet and windy day. We disembarked at about 9:30 to pick up the shuttle bus into the city centre. What a lovely surprise to see such a beautiful city not what we had envisaged. We only had the morning to look around as I had booked various appointments for the afternoon. However we walked around the various squares, pedestrian streets, visited an old church which had been badly damaged duirng an earthquake several centuries ago and had not been fully restored. We also took the lift upto the top of the chess piece tower so we had a birds's eye view of the city. There was so much to see and do, possibly a return visit when we next go to Spain.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208353320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208353320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208353320/tpod.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:51:45 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Barcelona, Spain and Canary Islands

Barcelona (Spain) - 16th April 2008. Cool and grey skies when we arrived at the port in Barcelona. We caught the shuttle bus to the international trade center at the port side entry of the La Rambla. We decided to take a city tour bus as Dennis had never been to Barcelona and the last time I was here was 10 years ago. We hopped onto the bus and went upstairs to the open top for a better view of the city. However, pretty cool and windy to say the least, although the sun did come out later on in the day. We had our first stop off at the Sagrada Familia (Gaudi's Cathedral), which was started in the late 19th century but there is still lots of scaffolding and cranes around the site hoped to be finished in 2010? Lots of visitors and long queues to get into the Cathedral, very interesting and unusual design. Then back onto the bus to complete the red tour around more of the city sites and we finally got off at the top of La Rambla. Strolled along until we found a Spanish Restaurant where we had a lovely Menu del Dia accompanied by a large carafe of Vino Tinto. We were running out of time, as we had to get back to the shuttle bus no later that 3:45 such a sham, as there was so much more to see of this lovely city. Next and penultimate stop Lisbon.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208165820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208165820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208165820/tpod.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:42:36 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Civitavecchia, Italy

Civitavecchia (for Rome) - 14th April 2008. Another day in Italy this being the port for Rome. We had both visited Rome before so we decided to have a nice lazy day in the local town. We had a leisurely walk in the sunshine, Dennis in his shorts the rest of the world in overcoats and boots. A very interesting general, fruit, veg, meat and fish market in the town, however prices more expensive than Spain. We had a nice lunch on the sea front and of course wine to wash down a huge pizza. Back on board the ship ready to sail onto Barcelona.

Tuesday 15th April - blowing a full gale bouncing around on dramatic seas no breakfast as yet! Days to do are getting few.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208078940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208078940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1208078940/tpod.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:37:18 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Naples, Italy

Naples - 13th April 2008. We had a late start in Naples, as our trip did not leave until 9:30, the day was bright and sunny. We travelled to Sorrento for the first part of the tour , we had never been there before. Pleasantly surprised at the countryside and the fantastic coastal views. Spent a couple of hours free time shopping and looking around the old town. Next we had our Italian lunch a bit disappointing, we have had better. We picked up the coach for our next adventure, which was a trip to Pompeii. I had already been there some 10 years ago but this was Dennis's first time. He was amazed at the size of the archaeological site, well worth a visit. On our way back to the ship there was a fatal road crash on the motorway, which blocked the flow of traffic. Our bus driver managed to exit the motorway and took us through all the little villages, however on the way back we also got stuck at a level crossing for 20 minutes until someone pressed the button to raise the barriers. Luckily no trains were coming when we crossed over the railway line. We were an hour late getting back, other coaches were still stuck in the traffic so we were further delayed on our departure. If we had gone on our own the ship would have departed without us.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207912200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207912200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207912200/tpod.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:22:10 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Piraeus, Greece

Piraeus (Athens) - 11th April 2008. Arrived in Piraeus Port at 6am to a cool and misty morning. Our trip to Athens started at 9:30, which was a journey to the city centre with a quick guided tour of the ancient sites. We had 6 hours of free time and the information available helped us to select where we wanted to visit on our own. Our quick tour included the original Olypium Stadium built for the 1896 games, temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch. Our first port of call was to climb up to the Parthernon on top of the Acropolis, thank goodness the weather was warm and not blazing hot. Lovely views of the city and the site was very busy and interesting. We then had a Greek lunch, fresh salad and Calamari most enjoyable. We then had a wander around and ended up outside the Parliament building in time for the changing of the guard, which was something out of the ordinary (see pics). We carried onto the Zappion park, the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch for a closer view of the monuments. Before we knew, it was time to go back to the bus. We had arranged to go out in the evening with a group of friends to a geniune Greek restaurant for a Greek Mezi. 14 off us had a fabulous meal with lots of wine some ouzo lots of meats and fish made a nice change from on board meals. Back to the ship for the Midnight sail away. Next stop Naples
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207734600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207734600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207734600/tpod.html Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:55:41 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Suez, Egypt

Suez Canal - 9th April 2008. We entered the Suez Canal around about 6 am Wednesday morning. The big difference between the Suez and the Panama Canal is there are no locks. We sailed through at a steady 8 knots in convoy with another 36 ships we were number 2. There were armed guards stationed on both sides at intervals all along the canal. We were surprised at the amount of greenery on the left bank especially near the new bridge. We took 10 hours approx to pass through the canal into the Mediterraniean. (The canal is Egypt's 3rd biggest earner latest published figures $3.246 billion in revenue). Temperatures have dropped considerably as we entered the Med. Next stop Piraeus for Athens.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207647960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207647960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207647960/tpod.html Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:50:15 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Luxor, Egypt

Luxor - 8th April 2008. We were up early again at 5:30 for breakfast and then onto the coach for 6:45 offf to the Temple of Luxor another huge historic site with more images of ancient pharaohs and their gods. Then it was tiame to get into our convoy to travel back to the ship. On the way we passed a convoy going to Luxor and Dennis counted 96 coaches interspaced with many other cars and mini buses. No wonder tourism is Egypt's number 1 earner. Having said that we saw poor families queuing for government subsidised bread their daily staple.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207560780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207560780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207560780/tpod.html Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:46:28 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Safaga, Egypt

Safaga (Egypt) - 7th April 2008. We were up at 5:20 ready to travel 3.1/2 hours to Luxor. The first 2 hours we travelled through mountains and desert and the remainder through lush countryside, strip farming, main crops were sugarcane and wheat. Most of the work was done by hand with lots of donkey power. The mud houses along the route underlined the abject poverty of the day to day subsistence farming. We were shocked to say the least at how the Egyptians outside the city lived, however they were cheerful, smiling and waving to us all on the way. We had to travel in a convoy escorted by armed policemen at all times. We also had to go through several police checkpoints and villages were all the traffic was stopped to allow us to speed through on our way to Luxor, we felt like Royalty. On arriving our first destination was the Temple at Karnak a huge site of walls, pillars, obelisks and statues with most of them covered in hieroglyphics in excellent condition, considering the age of the artefacts. Next was lunch at a 5 star hotel and then off to the Valley of the Kings. We entered 2 tombs incredible drawings, hieroglyphics and fantastic colours so vibrant after 3000 years. We then had 2 more photo stops at 2 other ancient sites. Onto the hotel where we stayed for our overnight stop. A huge room with separate lounge and balcony with a view from the rear window overlooking the Nile. (So much space after living in a small stateroom) We had a BBQ on the terrace by the side of the Nile, we then returned to Karnak for a Light and Narration show. Then to bed.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207224240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207224240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/queenvictoria/world-2008/1207224240/tpod.html Sat, 05 Apr 2008 08:10:22 -0400 Maiden World Cruise - Queen Victoria - 106 Days

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Salalah, Oman

Salalah (Oman) - 3rd April 2008. We arrived in Salalah at 8 am to a very hot day. We did not book a trip here as we had decided to explore on our own. However we discovered from the ships morning programme that the shuttle buses were only going as far as the port gate. We were left to our own devices to try and negotiate a price with the taxi drivers to take us into town. The passengers were surrounded by them and the going rate was $60 (30 pounds) with no guarantee they would bring you back for the same rate. (later reports confirmed that the trip into town was not worth it). We returned to the ship and spent the rest of the day around the pool. The previous day we had a fantastic WHALE Show (too far away to take good photos). At least two kinds, one type doing "Save Willy" impressions and another doing a tail show. Next stop Safaga for the Valley of the Kings an overnight stop.
]]>