Its All Over, It is Now!

Well January is upon us and Christmas and New Year seems a distant memory. I had a lovely Christmas spent with my family and had everyone for Dinner on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and then it was ready to get ready for the New Year Cruise on Ventura on 29^th December.  We travelled down to Southampton the night before just to be on the safe side and looks like we made a good decision as there was freezing fog on the roads the following morning.

We had an embarkation time of 2.30pm but as we were in Southampton we decided to go to the terminal early. We arrived about 12.15 and were given the “coloured card with a letter on” (so old school) and told to wait. It wasn’t long before we were called and we were on the ship by 12.45 to find the cabins were already available. By the time we had arrived at the cabin and unpacked the bits and bobs we had in our hand luggage the cases arrived. This was great service but makes a mockery of the staggered embarkation times and the fact that they say people must adhere to them!

Our first port of call was Zeebrugge the following day and not to break with tradition we had to go for a “Beer on the Pier” in Blankenberge. This is something we always do when visiting this port and I have to say it was a very cold walk to the Pier!

The following day we were in Amsterdam for New Year’s Eve and the ship was in Port overnight and departing at 8am on New Year’s Day. I’m glad to say we did get into Amsterdam as last year we didn’t make it as the winds were too strong. After the walk around the cultural parts and the “Red Light District” we found a great little Bar with a brilliant barmaid who had us all singing and dancing. We were only supposed to be staying for 1 drinks as we thought we might head back to the ship and have a relax before the New Year Festivities. That I hasten to had went out the window and 5 hours later we thought it was about time to leave, somewhat more jovial than when we arrived!

New Year’s Eve on board was brilliant, as was last year. The food and service in the dining room was really good but I think the entertainment this year let it down a bit. The dancing in the Atrium was a no goer really, the gangway for getting on and off the ship was situated nearby and the Atrium area was really cold with the wind and of course, this was open all night, as people didn’t have to be back on-board until 7.00am.

We saw the New Year in at the Metropolis Bar at the top of the ship and could see the fireworks display in Amsterdam from there which was spectacular. After this we headed to Havana where the dancing was still going on but we admitted defeat at 4.45am and headed for bed!I have to say New Years Day for us all was rather more sedate!

This is the 3^rd Year we have spent cruising for New Year and New Year 2017 is already booked on Aurora going to Hamburg. Im sure as soon at the 2018 dates are available we will be booking that too.  It’s the best way to spend New Year everyone should try it at least once, I guarantee you would be hooked.

Heres to a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.