The Spirit of Discovery is a ship and I got on it on the 8th July 2022
It’s owned by SAGA and contained about 900 people. Some were very posh and kept to their creed and some were just ladies and gentlemen having a good time. Overhearing, complaints about how the dinner was not up to standard or that the staff were slow in delivering their food.
Actually, hats off to the staff they really care about people and treat you like you are someone special. I and my wife occupied a cabin on eleven deck, or deck A, the number being A007. So for the eleven day cruise around Ireland, I was Mr Bond as every where you went to order a drink, food or ice cream you had to give your room number and accompanied by Ms Blanc, ('Sauvignon Blanc') we went round Cork, Cobh, a place called Killibegs, then Belfast and Dublin. These were the "Melodies of Ireland".
First Day was at sea and boy was it hot - just had to go for a dip, never got the wife in though. She spent the day sunning herself and of course enjoying the views.
Cobh pronounced "Cove"
Set beside one of the world’s largest natural harbours, Cobh is a seaside town renowned for its brightly coloured waterfront buildings. The busy port was the embarkation point for 2.5 million people who emigrated to America between 1848 and 1950. The Titanic Experience, which is in the town’s former White Star Line ticket office, retells the plight of the ill-fated ship which made her last stop here. Ashore, we visited the historic city, whose attractions include the Victorian Gothic Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral and the 18th-century English Market, a covered food market. However, it being Sunday, nothing was open until around 11am, we walked around the place having been given a coach view of the town, we managed to get a couple of drinks and ended up back on the ship for lunch and more drinks.
Shame really, but we did get our compulsory "fridge magnet" !
Cork
In Ireland’s south-west corner, 90 minutes from Killarney and a similar distance to Cork City, is Bantry Bay. Studded with islands and islets, it is exceptionally picturesque. It is also historically significant; in 1796 a fleet of ships from the French navy moored in the bay in an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Ireland. Tendering ashore, passing our "step test" to get onto the moored tender. Our coach trip here saw many "Martello Towers", built to defend the bay and long coach drive through very narrow roads.
Now then, it was not all about the ports of course. We sat through a lot of stuff not done for ages like shows and dance floor antics. Had some us some sun bathing as well as a swim, jacuzzi and spa experience. The wife got her nails done and wore a dress for the first time in ages whilst I got my suit and 'Dickie Bow' on two formal nights – I knew that I forgot something though – my medals apparently they are like a magnet but not this time Vince.
Not much here, ashore by tender again had a nice drink ashore but soon returned to the ship.
Next Day its Belfast. The city boasts a rich seafaring history and it was here that the ill-fated RMS Titanic was actually built. Today visitors can explore Titanic Belfast, which narrates the story of the White Star ocean liner. Didn't get to see the geometric columns of Giant’s Causeway, created as a result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Maybe next time....
Famous for this too,(below) - found out, that it does not mean "Hello and Welcome" or as Princess Diana thought when she visited, it does not mean "Harry and William".
Drove around the 'Falls Road' where "the troubles" are now memorialized with a wall where you can ascribe onto. Teresa got off and made her mark!
Yet another coach tour over; but we managed to enjoy ourselves...
DUBLIN
Lots more twiddley dee and clog stomping going on in the next port of call. Guinness, done (Teresa not keen, had to to drink mostly both of them); saw a few sights as pictured below).
17/07/2022 : Brest, France
Disappointing, coach tour around the the naval port of Brest, actually, I thought it still looked under German occupation!
The port was a major U-boat base and whilst many of the city’s older buildings did not survive the war, I survived the coach trip.
Vince Fact: I was there 43 years ago and it was a fine area, although I was very young and got a little inebriated. The Day after someone said I was ill over a monkey - of course if you believe that you will believe anything!
Finally, another place that I have been before. Probably the best place on the tour, tender again; but worth a visit.
Cruises huh?
Very much a retiree treat and seemingly annual experience but of course, I still work and this one cost in the region of £6k. I looked at the 2023 brochure with 35% off future cruises and there was one for 78 nights - (that’s three months!!) – cost, £16k each. Now, I thought, who has £32k to spend on a cruise, then a horrible thought came to me "maybe I just don’t have enough to retire right now!"
One of things about cruises is you don’t have to be super fit - on Saga at least that is doubly true. You can go over age 50 now and being 63, I did feel quite young but, the people we met were just lovely and I wish I could be like them when I grow up.
There’s a kind of freedom to Saga cruising which doesn’t make sense. How do people keep going at the age they are with a freedom to do what they bloody well like. Post a step test, I saw one chap with his trolley push thing, get up, like Lazarus and make the step ashore.
As Braveheart previously announced to his troops; this guy was an example to his disability control
“Run and you'll live – at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!”
Sometimes, you just laughed with those people who had experienced so much more than me and yet I think.
I enjoyed recalling life events during our conversations as well. It also allowed me to remember some stories of when I was young and on the sea as a RN serving sailor. Here is one, I remember which always makes me chuckle. Inspired by someone almost missing the ship because they were taken to hospital during a tour ashore.
The Knicker Excuse
I recall a chap missing the ship departure when I was a young sailor. He was a bit of a character and we called him lucky. So the rule was that, if you were late by five minutes, then you might as well take the hour, but Lucky took the whole day. Of course, he had to lay his own way to the next port and was up for defaulters when he got on board.
He Master of Arms was waiting for him we he ambled on board and charged him on his arrival. At the Captain’s Table, where the legal wrangling took place. The Skipper asked him "why were you late Able seaman Luck?"
He looked at his brief, a young sub lieutenant who said "he was engaged in events which took the evening and he fell asleep Sir".
Lucky said "actually Sir, I met this smashing bit of stuff in town and she took a liking to me and invited me back to her gaff." The Captain was a bit naïve and said to the Master of Arms, “Gaff” Master of Arms”, to which he said “the ladies abode Sir”. The Captain wrote something down on his notepad and said “Carry on”.
Lucky, went on, “Well you see Sir, it was like a dream and I thought “all nighters” was on the cards”.
“All nighters Master of Arms”, Said the Captain.
"Spending the evening and night with the young lady Sir”
“That’s it” said Lucky “and in the height of passion we got down to events and man, I had never experienced such passion, I think she may have been waiting for someone like me for quite some time, as she said she was a bit dry”
“dry” Master",
“thirsty Sir”
“Ok, move on, what made you late for the ship able seaman Luck”, he said with a stern look on his face.
“Well Sir, you would not believe it, I don’t believe it, Master of Arms, you won’t F***ing believe it, but I distinctly remember winding up her alarm clock which was by her bedside table and then, when the lights went off it was really dark and, I had set the clock for 0430 hours, knowing Sir, knowing, that the ship was to sail at 0630.”
“So why on earth were you late man” says the Skipper”
At this time the table which was full of young officers, began to snigger and they had to hold their breath for fear of bursting and then Lucky told his brief and the court “ Sir, I don’t expect you to believe me, but, it’s true, the clock was in good working order when I put it down, but this girl was fit and was like a dog on heat, and I remember fearing for my life. But you know what it’s like Sir, when your endorphins are at their height?
The Captain looked at the sailor sternly and stayed silent as Lucky said, “Sir I missed the ship BECAUSE of the clock".
“The clock” the Captain said, the Master of Arms was about to explain what a clock was, but thought he probably wouldn’t go there. Then Lucky said, "well Sir, I awoke with a sore head and with a peace of mind that I haven't had in a long long time. She said she would love me a longtime too. But I never thought that on waking up at 0700, I had missed the ship and then I looked at the clock and as I said.... Sir, you won’t believe this”
He then paused, looked around at the officers, at his own defending officer and to the Master of Arms then to the Captain as if this was in slow motion and said “it was the clock Sir, the clock – her knickers were wrapped around the alarm clapper of the clock and that is why I was late”
The sniggers became grins and the grins became bursts of breath as the Captain said, "that is the best excuse I have ever heard able seaman Luck, case dismissed".
Poem
"Enjoy the holidays – enjoy the cruise!"
It started as a wish, to see the sea again,
But this time, it was full of women and men!
The 'melodies of a Ireland', around the waves,
Met Gill and Bob and – many Edie’s and Daves.
Sailed into Cobb, pronounced as Cove,
then to Cork, where we allowed to rove.
Killibegs, was very slight,
Belfast showed where we used to fight.
It was all about Titanic and that ship that sunk,
So we got onboard, danced and drunk.
Seen no leprechauns -but saw Irish clogs,
Saw smoke on the water, that we thought was fogs.
Then the clocks went forward, when we were all at sea ,
that emerald aisle’s been done by me!
Our first toe, in the water since way back when...
...remembering, that holidays were a thing back then?
Now, one goes dancing and people detach,
From the hosts in masks, to prevent the catch.
Out on tenders, step ashore once more,
Three more days, Brest, in France, for sure.
Then before the departure, we all hope, we’re not caught,
on our last run ashore in St Peter Port.
Oh no, we’re Back to the heat, of Blighty this week
As the U.K. basks in extreme red heat
So to Gill keep cool and to Bob take care
Enjoy your Battle in Hastings there...
Hope you enjoyed our company too,
Keep in touch, it’s what we do.