Get the Ricochet app
Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.
I was a speaker on a 20-night cruise from Liverpool to the Adriatic on the Fred.Olsen ship Bolette. It’s a mid-size cruise ship with a capacity of about 1,350 passengers. I’ve been on cruises down the Nile and the Mississippi but have never been on an ocean trip. I was one of four speakers from Past Preservers, which matches up academics with (mostly) people making documentaries. Recently, they have added opportunities to be speakers on cruises. Fred.Olsen caters to a mature audience, and its three ships each have a capacity of about 1,300 passengers. The crew was friendly and there were plenty of activities.
We sailed from Liverpool to the Adriatic. I gave six talks about the history of navigation, including GPS. They went well. This was a significant expansion on my normal (single) talk about GPS.
Our first stop was in Gibraltar. I made a new friend.
My favorite stop was in Split, Croatia. That’s where Diocletian built his retirement palace. We climbed many steps and took pictures of the town.
If you're ever in the U.K. and want to go on a cruise, Fred.Olsen is an excellent choice.
Discussion (12)
CONTRIBUTOR • CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Looks like a great cruise, Richard. It's a privilege to know that people pay good money to hear you talk about the sorts of things that R> members get to hear about from you for free! ;-)
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
As @GaryMcVey said it's great to read your words without paying for the cruise...
If you love walking upwards for views then maybe Kotor is the place
CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
My wife and I spent a week in Dubrovnik in September. Fabulous place, especially the Old Town. It is also extremely popular and busy- the numbers of tourists varying in direct proportion to the number of cruise ships in the harbour. There were three on our last full day! Anyway, now that we are empty nesters, a cruise is on our own agenda.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
I've never heard of Fred Olsen. I do like the idea of smaller ships. My wife and I prefer mid-sized to small over huge, mainly because getting from point A to point B takes forever . . .
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Agreed! Dubrovnik is a great town.
You're seeing five of twelve comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.