ANOTHER DAY - ANOTHER ADVENTURE
7 July - 21 August
The day has come for Julie and I to come out of hibernation and head out into the world once again.
This time we are headed to the Mediterranean for a cruise on the Seabourn Encore from Athens to Venice via the Greek Islands, Turkey, Croatia and Italy. This part of the trip is for 23 days followed by a river cruise, an 8 day cruise from Budapest to Rennesburg on the Scenic Opal 😊.
Prior to joining our cruise we needed to thaw from the cold Sydney weather so we headed to Phuket, Thailand to get conditioned for the very hot Med.
Arrived at Sydney International mid afternoon. We whipped through Immigration and went to the lounge for a bite to eat (just in case they underfeed us on the trip 😱).
At check in we bumped into the pilot (Brook) who we knew through Keryn and Michael whilst they lived in Phuket. He was our pilot for the flight (small world), onto the plane into our very comfortable Business class seats.
So the first day was successfully navigated.
First night was at Phuket Airport hotel, following morning we headed to Khao Lak up north 1.5 hours north by car.
The weather was warm and humid. We stayed at 2 different resorts, both very nice .
The first for only 1 night to check it out for future holidays
and then to the La Flora where we have stayed before.
Once settled, straight to our favourite restaurant and the mandatory cocktail.
Frozen Margarita and Mai Tai
Luv Thai food
Our timing wasn't the best as we discovered the following 2 days were special days commemorating Buddha so no alcohol was being served. Had to satisfy ourselves with a couple of mango shakes. Then back to the room for a beer or 2.
The stay in Khao Lak was the perfect lead in to the trip. Very relaxing, warm and good food.
There was not a great deal of sun but luckily very little rain during the day.
Our 8 days went quickly and we headed back to Phuket International for a quick flight to Bangkok.
We flew Bangkok Airways for the 90 min flight. Nothing flash.
Overnight in Bangkok and the next day flew KLM to Amsterdam. The flight was very good.
Extremely comfortable with excellent service.
Overnight in Amsterdam with a very early flight the next morning to Athens. Sunny and very hot, an indication of what was to come.
Again a very comfortable hotel in Piraeus. Dropped of the luggage and headed out to a local Greek restaurant.
Very tasty and a very cold beer
And that brings us to Day 1 of the cruise 😀
Day 1 - Piraeus
Piraeus is the historic port of Athens and one of the largest in Europe. It's located about 12 kilometres south west of central Athens.
Our boarding was from 12.00 at the port. The day was extremely hot and we found ourselves in a queue, in the sun, waiting for the boarding procedure. A bit of a strain for some of the older guests.
Not Seabourn's fault, more to do with the Greek port staff. Anyway it took about 30 minutes and we were onboard and dropping our carryon in the suite.
Milliseconds after that we had our first drink in hand. All was as it should be 😄.
Our bags arrived, unpacked and then settled for a pre-dinner drink in the room. Julie had a sleep while I was drinking a Guinness and listening to Neil Diamond.
How good is that 🍺🤗
The Encore
Seabourn Encore represents an evolution of Seabourn Cruise Line's popular Odyssey-class ships, at 40,340 tonnes and carrying 600 passengers in 300 suites.
All cabins forward and restaurants, entertainment and gym etc aft.
The first leg of the cruise was fully booked.
The Ship
The Aft Pool
Main Pool
The Retreat
The Clubs/Bars (there are more)
Restaurants (there are more)
And so we sailed away late afternoon into calm waters and warm weather. Much food, drinks, sunshine and meeting new friends await. 😎
Day 2 - Gythion
Gythion is a seaside town steeped in mythology and history. It was the ancient port of Sparta and is said to be where Paris of Troy and Helen first set sail - and the reason for the Trojan War.
We didn't book any excursions from here, instead elected to take a stroll through the town.
There could have been better things to do as the town was just a fishing village with many taverns, small restaurants and souvenir shops. Nothing exciting.
The day was hot (32 deg) and both of us struggled a bit with head and leg problems - but we pushed through the pain knowing that there were a couple of cold drinks waiting for us back onboard.
We did see a prospective opportunity for our next cruise.
Back onboard we relaxed by the pool with a couple of cocktails awaiting lunch. In the afternoon I joined a trivia team while Julie headed for the bed. Trivia was not good (but our team didn't come last).
That night we were invited to dinner with the Ship's Doctor and a couple of other guests. Food was very good (lobster) and good wine. A fun night was had.
Off to the show and then to bed ready for the next day.
Calm seas.
Day 3 - Crete
Sailed into Chania, Crete early in the morning. Ahead was another sunny day (33 Deg).
Again no excursion took our fancy, and unlike the previous day, we stayed onboard to chill out.
With many of the guests ashore we had our choice of sunbeds in the shade around the pool.
One problem with the ships design is the limited amount of sunbeds in the shade or under the 3 large umbrellas scattered around the pool deck.
With the temperatures we are experiencing, they are in high demand.
And so we spent the day being spoilt by the bar staff, enjoying the whirlpools and pool. Extremely relaxing.🌞🍹🥃.
The late afternoon was trivia time. The team from the previous day had disbanded so I joined another group consisting of British, American and Aussies (there are quite a few Aussies this trip). A good mix and we did well.
That night we dined with the Ship Services Manager and an American woman who is sailing around on cruise ships (mainly Seabourn) for the next 18 months (younger than us). An interesting way to see the world.
Another show and then off to bed.
Day 4 - Santorini
Awoke to another calm and very hot day, this time in Santorini.
Santorini has it's iconic, white washed houses, blue domed churches and dramatic volcanic cliff rising from the Aegean Sea.
It was an early start as we tendered in Santorini and took a boat to shore to get the excursion bus up the mountain to a charming town of Thira. Wanted the early start before the day became too hot. From there we wandered the streets and checked out the magnificent views, the small and multiple shops and cafes.
We were not the only ship in. There were another 4 cruise ships, much larger than us. So the place was becoming very crowded.
Instead of waiting several hours for the return bus trip we decided to be brave and walk back down to the port. Big mistake!
It was a very long descent. There was the option of a return by donkey but we pressed on with our folly.
We passed many who were trekking up the mountain, in the heat and looking very exhausted. At least we were going down.
To understand the length and challenge of the foolish walk, the following picture shows the actual path.
Finally back on board and we just collapsed.
That night we had Japanese for dinner. Very nice. After that was the show (the onboard team performing songs from Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Adele (😊) and more).
A late cocktail and then crashed into bed.
So the first days of the cruise were very full. Perfect weather (albeit on the warmer side).The ship is very good, as was the food and drinks. Staff are excellent. A lot of friendly people on board.
Day 5 - Milos
Next port of call was Milos.
Milos is in the Cyclades archipelago and is shaped by volcanic activity and steeped in ancient history. It is here where the famous Venus de Milo was discovered. Today it is renowned for its dramatic coastline and boasts over 70 beaches.
Julie hadn't quite recovered from the day (and night) in Santorini and saved a couple of lounges around the pool. So I took the tender ashore and hobbled around the small town.
Once again a very hot day. 🌞
Not that much to see. Shops and cafes. There were quite a few backpackers around (probably drawn to the island for the beached and fun lifestyle).
Headed back after about an hour for pool time and lunch. This was followed by the gym and whirlpool.
Entertainment that night was with a very talented lady who was a comedian, played the trumpet and sang.
Day 6 - Mykonos
At anchor in Mykonos. It is the party island where, apart from the shops and cafes, it buzzes at night with it's night life, bars and clubs. But we had the day and it's hot and sunny weather. So our excursion today was to Elia beach for a few hours which was about a 30 min bus trip from the port.
The water was clear and cool, perfect on a hot day. The excursion included a lounge and umbrella plus a drink 😎.
The beach was a bit crowded as the were several cruise ships in at the same time. But it was a very nice day considering it was around 36 Deg.
The weather certainly was not conducive to sightseeing so the beach was an excellent choice.
Day 7 - Kusadasi and Ephesus
Kusadasi is a lively resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and has beaches, night life and a rich cultural heritage. It's location is a hub for exploring nearby ancient ruins (Ephesus).
It was an early start for us to explore the town before it got too hot. There were 3 other large cruise ships alongside so the place was very crowded.
It was a shopper's paradise with the shopping starting at the pier. We (Julie) couldn't get past the first jewellery shop and left almost 2 hours later 😡. Luckily empty handed. More walking/hobbling, more shops. This time for handbags. Again walked away empty handed. Well almost. I finally bought myself a new wedding band to replace my original that was broken and now too small.
The day was too hot to continue the shopping so back onboard too cool off before going out again for the night's entertainment at Ephesus
After an early dinner we headed out to the ancient ruins of Ephesus for a concert. The site was closed to visitors and then Seabourn guests were treated to an extraordinary experience of classical at the Odean Amphitheatre.
It was a very special night, enjoyed by all.
After the concert we boarded the buses and headed back to the Ship. On arrival we were greeted by the Captain and crew, welcoming us back onboard. A very typical Seabourn gesture.
Then up to the pool deck for more booze, food, booze, singing, booze and dancing. Finally a nightcap and to bed. 😊
Day 8 - Cesme
Once again, a fine very warm day (35 Deg) as we docked in the Turkish coastal town of Cesme located on the Turkish Aegean Sea. It's about an hour from Izmir and is a favourite destination for locals and international travellers alike. It's renown for it's windsurfing and other water sports, stone houses and night life. There are thermal baths, local market and the clear turquoise waters.
There are many touristy shopping along the waterfront which means about a kilometre walk on an extremely hot day. With the problem with my calk and Julie just wanting to chill we elected to stay onboard and soaked up the sun and cooled in the pool.
That night, dinner, the show, perusal of the jewellery onboard (expensive) and into bed.
Day 9 - At Sea
Our 1st sea day of the voyage. An early start as another warm day was predicted so I was up early to grab the sun lounges for the day.
The final trivia day of the 1st leg and our team emerged winners 😁. A power bank and backpack for prizes. That night was a celebratory dinner and farewell to half as they disembark in Istanbul the next day.
And so we have got through the 1st leg in good shape. Although the waistlines have expanded a little.
The trip is going well:
- Far too much food
- A lot of watering holes to quench the first and counter the very hot days,
- Suite is very comfortable (as is the ship)
- Staff are excellent.
- Good entertainment, and
- Only down side worth noting is the lack of shade around the pool
Stay tuned for more as we sail further into Turkey, the Greek islands and then on to Athens, Croatia and finally Italy.
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