Greetings from the North Sea
That headline is not a misprint.
Thanks to the wonders of Wi-Fi, I’m able to post this conversation from somewhere off the northwestern coast of Denmark.
Our ship, RMS Queen Victoria, is making its way north-northeast from England. It’s roughly thirty minutes to go until sunset. Soon we’ll "come around" and cross into the Baltic, already having racked up more than 600 nautical miles on the North Sea (we departed from the U.K. on Wednesday afternoon, UK-time).
Tomorrow morning, we arrive in Copenhagen, the first stop on this voyage. The weather’s not promising: high only in the mid-50s and heavy rain. So much for hanging out in Tivoli. Maybe a beer by the canal . . . under a strong umbrella.
I’m been asked why I like to take sea cruises (this being my fourth Cunard voyage in the last four years, not counting several other winter Caribbean cruises with my extended family).
My answers:
1) It’s the easiest way to travel with my favorite cabin-mate. And that would be my father, who’s approaching his 77th birthday in a few weeks and doesn’t need the stress of packing and unpacking and jumping from one hotel to the next. He’s also retired Navy, so going to sea brings fond memories for him – this 90,000-ton cruise ship slightly different from his 2,200-ton destroyer that was tossed about the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
2) It’s an effective way to see a lot in a short period of time. On this cruise: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, St. Petersburg, Tallinn and Zeebrugge (Belgium) before returning to the UK. Granted, you get only a day in each port (two days in Russia), but that doesn’t stop one from making a return trip.
Some observations so far:
1) Unlike previous Cunard voyages, the passenger list seems overwhelmingly British (maybe 75%), with some French, Germans and Spaniards tossed in. Very few Americans. How odd to be in the decided minority. Granted, I am a Republican living in California . . .
2) And how nice they’ve been to we strangers with the odd accents. Questions about where to travel in the States. Some reminiscing about the war years. One gentleman was kind enough to narrate as we sailed down the Solent from Southampton, pointing out the Queen Victoria’s residence at Osborne, on the Isle of White (where she grieved for Albert). Friendliness, national gratitude. Love it.
3) Sailing through the North Sea, our ship was flanked on both sides by oil wells. Lots of lots of drilling. But this isn’t California – the Europeans on board are proud of this oil patch. They understand what it’s meant to the local economies. We get the flip side of energy production tomorrow morning, when we’re scheduled to sail past a gaggle of Danish wind farms on the way in to Copenhagen.
4) I prepared for this trip by familiarizing myself with the history and cultures of the various Baltic nations. I wish I’d brought along a book to translate “British” English to “American” English. Easy enough to figure out “take away” coffee. And our ship “brighting gently” tomorrow morning at the cruise terminal must mean that we’re basically parking ourselves at the pier without tug assistance. I guessed right on “streaky” bacon. Otherwise, menus are an adventure. Perhaps one of you can explain what all that goes into “black pudding” and “bop bread”.
Btw, Wi-Fi isn’t the only technological advancement this ship boasts. We also get Fox News, CNN and MSNBC. Having moved forward nine time zones from the West Coast, suffice to say that the debt ceiling “crisis” looks that much sillier.
Has anyone else out there spent quality time in the Baltic?
And my apologies to those of you riding out the heat wave. Wish I could send some of this chilled precipitation your way.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Greetings from the North Sea
Careful, mate. The Skagerrak is treacherous.
Looks like you'll be passing Elsinore in the dusk.
Edited on Jul 21, 2011 at 2:37pmRe: Greetings from the North Sea
The only thing I enjoy more than writing travel pieces is reading them. I've never been on a cruise, but I see I'm going to have to try it out some time. Bill, thanks for taking us along.
Dec '10
Re: Greetings from the North Sea
Per Steven Hayward's post on Powerline today, there may be just room enough for one more conservative-leaning member cruise, one that is more quixotic and organic than the more famous ones. Powerline may not quite have the leverage, but Powerline and Ricochet may.
Enjoy your trip with your favorite cabin mate, Bill, and please keep us posted.
Those of us at the Run Ranch will not be going on any cruises, anytime soon. We somehow get by each month on what commissioned work we get, what we grow, and what we raise. We add what we can imagine, plus what we can experience vicariously through other's tales. That will do, for now.
Apr '11
Re: Greetings from the North Sea
Looking forward to your posts. In answer to your question, this reader has spent lots of quality time in the Baltic, Sweden in particular. Enjoy your cruise!