2026 Gibraltar Cruise

 Photos are at:- https://photos.app.goo.gl/MnTReQAvB6nA4s3EA

Saturday 15th August Depart Tilbury

Up at 0515, Train to Cardiff @0610, quick McD and 0710 bus to London which got in 30min early @10.30. Tube from Victoria was packed but soon thinned out Change at West Ham and Tilbury Town by 12.30. Half hour walk to cruise port. Google did not show the footpath and, since there was a river I ended up walking on the road. Tried to report it.

  Line for security was long and they were trying to get people to wait until their allotted time but I got on early. Cabin was ready but the itinerary has been changed, so I need to get the map and walks in almeria downloaded. (Then realised that I don't tis Europe).

    Sailing down the Thames was great. Lots to see including Container Port, Southend Pier, Explosive Works and the Anti Aircraft towers plus wind farms. Pork belly for tea and problems getting it out of my teeth!. Picture editing all evening. Bloody lightswitches at head of the bed are a pain - lights keep going on or off as I lean against them. The cabin is designed to take four with fold down bunks on either side which makes getting into bed difficult - well inconvenient. Plus I am beneath the stage, so lots of thumping on the roof as the evening show performs.

Sunday 16th August - At Sea

It's a British boat! Ready for breakfast before 7am - finally got someone to serve me museli. No baked beans, and when they did arrive I was told 7.30. Only on a UK boat would the food be out and ready but the staff not serve it, preferring that it sit for 15 minutes and dry out. Skipped the cooked food. Enrichment chats were good and I made do with a burger for luch. Slept through a lot of the afternoon lecture - jet lag? Scones and light tea. Read in Observatory, during the ukeleley lesson and then in cabin. Finished the James Patterson book - should find out how many and in what order the Alex Cross novels are. Still leaning on the bloody light switches at the head of the bed!

    Went up to the buffet for dinner. Very dissapointing - decided on pasta but the portions doled out were tiny - a couldn't be hassled to keep on asking for more - then it came to adding salmon - the fillets were TINY! I gave up - wasn't going to ask for more - the attendant offered more saying words to the effect that I had got the two I asked for. That's why I don't like these british buffets. Just coming off an Alaskan cruise where the salmon portions were massive did not help.

Monday 17th August - At Sea

Overslept!  Woke at 08.50 and the first talk was at 9am. Luckily, I had decided that as I had done nothing yesterday I could wear the same clothes, so just lept into them and got out without a shower. On getting up to The Observatory the lecture was going on and not particularly interesting, so I just sat by a window and sort of listened.

    Lectures on Wildcats and Corruption and completed a John Mortimer Rumpole book. Nothing eaten and I'm wondering if I can be bothered to go and eat. At least the lifts seem to work on this ship - probably because of it's small size and my choosing the times when I use them.

    I went up to the buffet but there was nothing appealing, not that you could see much, as most of it was in iron pots and covered up - had a coffee instead - at least the insulated mug is paying its way, it takes two cup of the unajustable coffee machines. The evening entertainment a singer was pretty good songs from the movies - big contrast between an american audience and the brits - yanks will clap at anything and want to take part, for the brits it's like getting blood from a stone!

Tuesday 18th August - Vigo

Up before the dawn and managed to get a full three course breakfast, and a bit of reading as we docked.

Out before 9am and turned right to the dockyard and shipbuilding yards, on to the beaches and then followed a good path up the River Llagares. The fish is the river were nothing compared to the salmon at Ketchekan. Unfortunately, the path was closed in a number of places, which was a pain. After a couple of Medeavil bridges I began to return to the ship via the main drag, taking in the famous statues and even stumbled across some good ones at sea level. Including Jules Verne again (got him last time I was here - this must be my third visit. Pretty sure I did it with mother and then when I took the train to Santiago. Duty free at Virgo had gin for 14 Euro so I suspect I paid more on the ship, annoying! Back on the ship at 15.15, hot and sweaty, so sat in The Observatory until we departed. Dinner was baked crepe with spinnach. Plan is to do photos while I wait for theatre. The later start (20.30) is a pain. Queen songs around a womens football theme - it was OK, this time the audience clapped after every song.

Wednesday 19th August - At Sea

Skipped the third course at breakfast, had a cheeseburger for lunch and nothing tempted for dinner, so just a coffee. I continue to be dissapointed by the buffet. Have also gone off the orka chats, as they seem to be so simple. My Grisham book is also not too good either, but there is a library when I get through my books.

    Went up to the Observatory Lounge and fell asleep listening to sounds and woke up having missed the afternoon theatre chat also began to overheat in the sun, so retreated to cabin and continued listening to The 39 Steps and editing Virgo photos. Evening theatre was classical, so not tempting. Expect to be up most of the night as I have been sleeping most of the day. Should be ready for an early start tomorrow.

Thursday 20th August - Cadiz

Once again up before the dawn, and a full breakfast - sausages are always cool.

Ashore at 9am, the terminal had wifi so I was there for an hour sorting emails. Out of there at about 10am and wandered around the coast. The temperature seemed to be hotter than yesterday, despite the forecast that it would be lower, perhaps it was the humidity. came back at the Cathedral - went on to the train station and discovered that my card had expired. Came back to the ship at around 1300 and discovered that I had lost my cruise card (probably in the station) It was surprisingly easy to get a replacement (we will see if I get charged). Next visit to Cadiz I must use the train to get somewhere else - would have cost 10 Euro. Investigated using the train in Malaga probably 8Euro.

Friday 21st August - Malaga

Breakfast at dawn - bowl is so small fruit was in a separate one - and I did manage to get bacon beans rather than bacon. Arrivl was around 9am and I think the first bus out was 09.30 and I was on it. Walked to the rail station - Maria Zambrano rather than Central (which does the C1 & C2 lines. C2 out to Alora was not until 11.43 bought a return ticket £7.00, set the alarm and wandered around Malaga failing to find one McD but managing an ice cream in the station McD. Nice wander. At Alora I hiked up to the castle which had some fantastic views and is set in a mountain village with steep narrow lanes. Came back on the next train, forgetting to stop the tracking. There is another hike in that village up to the cross on the top of the mountain, google also says there are some hikes at the village before - Pizarra - Raja Ancha & Cueva Oscura look promising on a cooler day. Got back at 2.30 and made the 1500 coach back to the ship. Cabin was made up - I thought I should let him do it at least once in the trip but it is annoying the way everything is the way he wants it rather than as I like it. They are rehearsing in the theatre so much thumping on the cabin ceiling. Annoyed that the port duty free here is also 14Euro for gin £12 says google.

Saturday 22nd August - Almeria

Once again a night of not a lot of sleep - well awake during the early hours 3am-5am probably - jet lag or just out of sorts?

The terminal had wifi but no connection to the internet, so data used flushing out emails then on to the Alcazaba or fortress. They let us in without charging, though due to Brexit we should have been paying 1.5 Euro. From there I went on to the Cathedral and railway station. Station was in the process of being redeveloped and only the busses could be seen. Then on to the Cable Ingles Cruce - a loading pier for ore. Back on the boat by 1pm

   Shower and change of clothes as it had been 30C during my wandering. Lot of eating and a little reading. Sat in Observatory as we departed and now back in the cabin - can't/won't be bothered with the theatre performance - maybe tomorrow when it is a comedian.

Sunday 23rd August - Gibraltar

Out at 9am and hiked towards the Nature reserve. A lot of stairs. Paid my 30Euro at the cave and paused the tracker while I went inside. Much emphasis on WW2, which seems to be when they built the majority of the caves. On to the next set of caves which was up a dead end. These had much more empgasis on "The Great Seige" of late 1700's. Didn't go all the way through to the east side. Walk towards the top despite a rather intimidating sign. It is impossible to get to the very top as they are MoD sites (it would appear). Came across the monkeys, which are very cute and amusing and the Skywalk which is intimidating. O'Hara battery did not have a clear view of Europa point, so took the Mediterranean Steps and regretted it. My fear of heights returning. A real trail this but without the view as promised. Almost left out St Michaels Cave - misread the map - there was a lot more climbing than I anticipated but they were stunning. Not sure that the light show added much but the cave themselves were amazing. Suspensin bridge and down to McD for a well deserved Ice Cream before return to ship. I really wanted a lemonade at McD but that appears to be an american speciality. 

    Set sail at same time as the german cruise liner and followed it out. I did attend the comic show - extremely British - and not sure that I enjoyed it.

Monday 24th August - At Sea

Clocks went back an hour and breakfast is 30mins later when we are at sea. Usual routine taking my coffee up into the observatory and watching the sea/reading. Not really getting into Len Deiton's Faith, so playing on computer. The swell is beginning to make the ship move a little. Usual chats in the theatre bit of salad for lunch - usual small portion doled out. Same problem with afternoon tea, you just don't get what you want. Smart night so retired to cabin at about 4pm and attempted to sort out the Almeria photos, having copied them twice the file numbering has gone crazy. Not helped by bing unable to read the file names as my eyes deteriorate.

Tuesday 25th August - Leixoes

Also known as Porto's port! I was up and having breakfast as the pilot got on board, but didn't rush to get off. 9am when I got out of the port. Got to the Metro and eventually decided that a 3 zone card would do, only discovered later that there is a tourist card available which covers all zones. Also worked out that it was impossible to do the Duro Valley in the time available, so purchased a ticket to Paramos on the Aveiro Line. Once that train had left I discovered that it did not stop there. It didn't matter as I saw the boardwalk and got off at Espinho. Last visit I had decided I wanted to do the boardwalk by the sea and I was going to get off at Espinho anyway as it was the closest to Paramos anyway. The promenade and boardwalk took me two miles back to Granja and was good. Watched the trains run past and the beach and Ocean. Back to Sao Bento and then Metro to Matosinhos Sul and McD for an ice cream. No cones so a 2 Euro Sundae. 

    Decided I had time to go to the lighthouse, a nice promenade, but there was no way to get into the lighthouse so treated myself to a Strawberry Sundae at the second McD. Nicely air conditioned but not up to the standard of the one in Porto. Back at the ship by 17.30 for a 20.00 departure. Photos copied to computer and two days at sea now to organise them. Went to the theatre and didn't really enjoy the comedian - started listening to music on the earbuds about half way through his act. Although the final bit with a big balloon was quite amusing.

Wednesday 26th August - At Sea

Usual routine - 45mins before breakfast opens I get up, half an hour later on a sea day. It was raining really heavily, in fact there was quite a bit of lightning. Breakfast and take my coffee to The Observatory and listen to the Orka group chat. Not sure that their figures are accurate 20,000 ship strikes per year seems a bit large for me. Chat on miscarrages of justice was not as good as I expected a re-hash of known cases. Didn't bother with the invite to a solo's lunch, but did put in the cut in gratuities down from £7/day to £2 so £24 in total, which I still think is excessive. Took computer upstairs to do some editing, finished the Len Deighton book. Pizza lunch - a stingy portion and scones with cream and jam for tea before retreating (it's another Formal evening). Finished photographs, and gave up on a railway accident book. Thumping from above as the show gets going.

Thursday 27th August - At Sea

Quite a nice day. Usual routine breakfast, The Observatory Lounge, Theatre for a talk (an expedition to the Congo trapping bats) Captains announcement at 12. Due to collect duty free at 1400. Cherbourge Peninsula visible to starboard. With time to pass I got back into the railway book and the meat feast Pizza - not that they will give you enough, went back for a second helping and again had to ask for an extra portion. They finally produced a true brownie but when I went back for extra the place had closed. 1800 and I have given up. Waiting for the paper which will tell me the times for getting off tomorrow.

Friday 28th August - Tilbury

Up at 6am, breakfast and packed and out of cabin by 0730. Off ship and on 08.06 train to Fenchurch St (Screaming at Google as directions were lousy), Surprisingly close to Tower of London (which is the tube station, Made Victoria McD at 09.30. Giving time for a coffee at McD and a bit of computing. Thinking I might be able to pick up the Sony camera (which I did £300 for repair). Bus it Cardiff is at 11.30.