CRUISE LOG - Black Watch

As you are all aware I have just been on cruise number three!!! Fred Olsen - Black Watch - Arriving home shortly after 1pm today - Yes I know I'm keen but I feel I've got so much to share with you all that I better get cracking! Even if I am sat here swaying like I'm still on the ship! (Quite funny feeling)


Lets start with Itinerary as this has been a bit of a magical mystery tour this week and what was meant to happen:
Friday 10th Dec - Embarkation at Southampton
Saturday 11th Dec - Ijmuiden for Amsterdam -Netherlands
Sunday 12th Dec - Cruise Kiel Canal
Monday 13th Dec - Copenhagen - Denmark
Tuesday 14th Dec - Travemunde - Germany
Wednesday 15th Dec - Cruise Kiel Canal
Thursday 16th Dec - Ostende - Belgium
Friday 17th Dec - Disembarkation in Southampton.



Now as a 'Force Majure' we can never really know what's going to happen, so due to high winds, storms and powers beyond that of the cruise line - There was a change!


Friday 10th Dec - Embarkation cancelled as previous cruise was delayed due to high storms and seas coming through the Azores!
Saturday 11th Dec - Embarkation in Southampton
Sunday 12th Dec- (Formal night) Day at sea! Lots of reading took place and the stormy ocean was fairly kind to us!
Monday 13th Dec - (British night) Hamburg Germany! Arrived into Hamburg around 10.30am. spent the whole day in the markets which were absolutely gorgeous, so festive and really put me in the mood for the holiday - Hot mulled wine went down a treat whilst standing in the fresh snow!
Tuesday 14th Dec - Travemunde - Germany - This is were it all went a bit weird - The delays were MENTAL!! We were meant to be in port for 12.30 which got extended to 2.30 and eventually by the time we had all queued in eager anticipation we all spilled in to the streets of Travemeunde to find a beautifully quaint town but unfortunately not much to do and at nearly 4pm by the time we got off the ship we had a quick coffee and got back on the ship!!!
Wednesday 15th Dec - Transit Kiel Canal.
Thursday 16th Dec - Ostend - Belgium (Formal night) We arrived at Ostend due at 9am, again with delays - we were waiting to get into Ostend port bobbing around in the ocean and eventually we were informed that due to the high seas Ostend port was closed and were were bound for Zeebrugge where they would be laying on extra transfers buses (complimentary) back to Ostend. Paul and I in our infinite wisdom decided that we would go into Bruges given that I had missed it during the Cruise.co.uk Christmas party cruise when I was so awfully poorly! 12 min train journey from Ostende so not bad!! 
Friday 17th Dec - Disembarkation in Southampton - We were an hour late into dock as we apparently had problems getting the 'pilot' off the ship!


So all in all - despite the disruptions, I've had a fantastic week and Paul really enjoyed his first cruise too!