-
Day 11 Alicante From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(502 days old)
Now, I’ll let you into a little secret. When I first met my wife, over 15 years ago, the first real holiday we ever went on was to Benidorm. Now at the time I knew nothing about the place but very qui… more
-
Day 10 - Relaxing Day at Sea From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(502 days old)
Not really a lot to report today, other than we had a very lazy and relaxing day at sea.… more
-
Day 9 Civitavecchia – The Port For Rome From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(502 days old)
We arrived here nice and early in the morning, around 7.30am, this was so all the tours could get off and into the Italian Traffic. We have been to Rome a couple of times before, so we decided this ti… more
-
Day 8 Santa Margherita From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(512 days old)
Santa Margherita is a tender port, this is because the port itself it a tiny fishing village, however it does have a bay large enough for s hip the size of Ventura to anchor. So we took the tender boa… more
-
Sorry for my absence From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(513 days old)
Hi Everyone, As some of the more observant amongst you may have noticed, I have been away from my blog for quite a few weeks now. There are any number of reasons why I have not been posting, inclu… more
-
Thursday 24th April, Extract from Captains Log, Ventura Maiden Cruise From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(549 days old)
Ventura Maintained her easterly course throughout the night towards Livorno, passing to the north of the small island of Gorgona. Ventura embarked her two local pilots at 06.33. At 06.55 we entered th… more
-
Day 7 Livorno, Ventura Maiden Cruise From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(549 days old)
Today we are in Livorno, the Port for Pisa and Florence. As usual, Amanda and I just took the complimentary shuttle bus into the town. As first glance there did not seem much to do, then as if… more
-
Ventura Captains Log Wednesday 23rd April From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(551 days old)
As Ventura made her final approaches to the anchorage, the Captain rang "Standby Below" on the engines. Once in position, the order was given to let go the starboard anchor and commence lowering the b… more
-
Day 6 Villefrance, Ventura Mailden Cruise From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(551 days old)
Today we arrived in the pretty little fishing village of Villefrance, the ideal port for trips to Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo. Ventura anchored out into the bay and the mode of tra… more
-
22nd April extract from Captains Log - Ventura Maiden Cruise From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(553 days old)
At 6.30 "Standby BElow" was rung as Ventura approached the Catalonian Coast. At 7.02 the local BArcelona Pilot embarked as we entered Barcelona Harbour. All Bridge and engine room arrival checks were … more
-
Day 5 Barcelona - Ventura Maiden Cruise From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(553 days old)
Day 5 Barcelona After 3 days at sea, it was really nice to make landfall and where better than Barcelona. As most of you know, the cruise ships offer a huge range of tours that can take you fr… more
-
Monday 21 April, Day at Sea, Extract From Ventura Captains Log From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(554 days old)
At 04.30 Ventura altered onto an easterly course to enter the traffic separation scheme of the Gibralta straight. She then followed various easterly courses throught the busy waters of the straight, w… more
-
Day 4 Day at Sea, Ventura Maiden Crise From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(554 days old)
We were up early this morning (7.30) as it seems the clip clop spa girls upstairs had forgotten the barefoot rule after just a few days. We had to have a word with Sean the Spa manager who again assur… more
-
Day 3 Sunday – Day at Sea, Ventura Cruise Captains Log From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(554 days old)
Extract from Captains Log Shortly after 1 o'clock Ventura entered the Traffic Separation Scheme off Cape Finisterre marking our exit from the Bay of Biscay. Once clear, we set southerly courses as … more
-
Day 3 Sunday – Day at Sea, Ventura Cruise From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(554 days old)
Had a lay on this morning until 10am and then a very lazy breakfast after a brief visit to the gym. Later this morning we had a go at Bingo in the exchange pub, a little pricey at £15 for a strip of 6… more
-
Ventura Captains Log Saturday 19th April From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(556 days old)
0200 - Ships clocks were advanced 1 hour to GMT+2 (Central European Time) Throughout the night and into the morning, Ventura followed south westerly courses therough the busy English Channel. Shortly … more
-
Day 2, Saturday, At Sea From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(556 days old)
19th April – Day At Sea This was the first of 3 days at sea, a time when you can really explore your ship and get to know her. What I didn’t realise is that on this morning, my explorations were to… more
-
Ventura Captains Log Friday 18th April From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(557 days old)
The following is an extract from the Captiains Log: With all pre departure checks complete, clearance was granted and the Captain made his departure broadcast. Ventura let go all her lines and move… more
-
Embarkation - Day 1 From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(557 days old)
Friday 18th April – the big day. After a hearty breakfast at the Southampton Hilton and another swim, it was time to take out taxi to the ship. When we arrived at Southampton’s Mayflower Terminal, we … more
-
Ventura Maiden Voyage From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(557 days old)
The day has finally arrived, well almost, because I get a little anxious about possible traffic hold-ups on the day, we often travel to Southampton the day before and this was no exception. However, o… more
-
Just a Warm up From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(557 days old)
VENTURA Before we start in earnest tomorrow with a blow by blow account on our cruise on the Ventura Maiden Voyage, I thought that I would give you a little taster of what’s to come by giving y… more
-
Just Returned from Ventura Maiden Voyage From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(558 days old)
Hi Everyone, Amanda and I have just returned from The Maiden Voyage on Ventura, we have had a fab time and I have taken loads of pictures and made plenty of notes, over the next 2-3 weeks, I will b… more
-
Ventura Arrives in Britain From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(586 days old)
Ventura, will sail into Southampton tomorrow (6th April) at around 11am. I am so looking forward to this next cruise on such a new ship, during the 14 day cruise, we will have 7 sea days so there will… more
-
Working away for a few days From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(589 days old)
Well, this will be my last entry untill the weekend as I will be working away for a few days, but good news arrived with the postman this morning.... I now have my tickets in hand for the Maiden voyag… more
-
Home Again From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(590 days old)
After a great and short flight home to Cardiff from Palma, it was straight back to work, that very same day. Can't wait for the next cruise which is only in a couple of weeks time. Ventura will … more
-
Day 8, Day at sea From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(592 days old)
Well, what can I tell you. My old dad used to say, son you have to take the rough with the smooth. Boy was he right today. Our Captain came over the PA system and said that we were sailing right in… more
-
Day 7, Naples, Italy 8am - 6pm From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(592 days old)
Day 7, Naples, Italy – 8am – 6pm If there could be three words that describe Naples to me, it would be traffic, traffic and hmmm….. traffic. I really do love Italy, the people, the food, the… more
-
Day 6, Messina, Sicily From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(594 days old)
Day 6 Messina in Sicily. 1pm – 8pm This is one of the most beautiful arrivals of this year. We arrived in Messina around 1pm in the afternoon, which was really nice, because many cruises arrive … more
-
Day 5 a Day at Sea From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(595 days old)
The cruise lines like to call these, relaxing days at sea, which I suppose they can be, however the cruise director usually has other ideas with activities starting from as early as 8am. You ca… more
-
Day 4, Sunday, Alexandria Egypt From
ukcruiseguy
Pro
in Cruising is FUN
(596 days old)
Day 4, Sunday, Alexandria, Egypt. After a leisurely transit of the Suez Canal, we arrived at Alexandria around 6am and we will leave today at 1pm. Amanda and I were up early and after a quick break… more
