Quest for Adventure Captain's blog

Another day, another early start as we dropped the anchor in the bay that protects the town of Hudiksvall here in Hälsingland, Gävleborg County. The town may only have around 15,000 inhabitants but it is commonly known as “Glada Huik” (English: “Happy Hudik”) and the locals were indeed being very friendly and hospitable as they welcomed us ashore at their dedicated tender pier.

Three different shore excursions were on offer today, including a Tour of Hälsingland, the Hudiksvall Town Walk, and History and Nature. The latter included the opportunity to see the magnificent Dellen Lakes that were created by a meteorite strike approximately 90 million years ago, and had been described in Professor David Munro’s lecture yesterday. The tenders ran back and forth throughout the day, with the last tender leaving the quayside at 3pm. With the tenders hoisted back into position we were ready to heave the anchor and head down to Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm. Graham Archer CMG presented the pre-dinner lecture today, titled, ‘A Reflection on Swedish Contradictions: From Neutrality to the EU’. After dinner the show in the Discovery Lounge was given by virtuoso flautist Suzanne Godfrey with the Quest Quartet.

The early starts keep coming as we arrived into Umeå at 8am. Three different shore excursions were on offer today, City Tour and Gammlia, Swedish Elks, and Art & Sculptures Tour. The most intriguing of the tours was arguably the trip to visit the elks. Passengers were taken to the Älgens Hus (Elk House) to learn about the elks and their habitat before strolling through the elk farm to view these magnificent creatures. This is also the only place in the world that produces elk’s cheese!

Umeå itself is a charming place, and acts as the unofficial capital of Sweden’s wild and largely undeveloped northern half. In recent times the town has become known as a university town and witnessed a huge influx of students, adding to its vibrant and creative air. The town will proudly be a European Capital of Culture in 2014.

Most of the shore excursions took place in the morning, which led to the opportunity for an increased number of afternoon activities on board. Mike Purcell continued his watercolour workshops and then Professor David Munro presented the afternoon lecture with, ‘Shooting Stars – Meteorite Impacts in the Baltic Landscape’. The cinema was also proving popular with the film War Horse being shown. All aboard was set for 4.30pm and we were then on our way towards Hudiksvall.

The after dinner entertainment started with the soon-to-be legendary Quest for Adventure fashion show featuring an array of stunning models including, somewhat alarmingly, my Chief Officer and Second Engineer! This was followed by a superb performance from the “Rolls-Royce Voice” of Anthony Stuart Lloyd with the Quest Quartet.

We arrived early into Luleå, Sweden this morning. This is the most northerly point of our cruise, just 65 miles south of the Arctic Circle. We were docked ahead of the huge icebreakers which keep this sea open to traffic throughout the long winter. In fact, I was surprised to learn that it was only a week ago that the last of the sea ice melted. Just under 50,000 people live here in Luleå and yet the town houses Sweden’s fifth largest port. Two different shore excursions were on offer today, with the Luleå and Gammelstad tour proving so popular that four different departures had to run. Gammelstad is an historic town of over 400 cottages situated around a late medieval stone church. The other shore excursion was the Luleå City Walking Tour which included the impressive House of Culture, to where our shuttlebus service was running back and forth.

Tina and I took the shuttlebus into the town and had a little wander before heading back to the ship for lunch. All aboard was set for 4.30pm and soon afterwards we were heading on our way south again, towards Umeå. Tonight was our formal night and we invited members of the Free Spirited and Britannia Club for drinks in the Discovery Lounge. After dinner the passengers could enjoy ‘A Romantic Evening’ with the Maestro Trio, or Neil’s fun music quiz in Shackleton’s Bar.

We arrived this morning into the port of Oulu with partly cloudy skies and a chill wind blowing straight onto the aft decks. We docked by three windmills, which might sound like I am invoking memories of Rhodes, but these windmills were of the new electricity generation type. Almost as soon as we had arrived the tours began to head off the ship. Tar Boat Cruise, Oulu Panorama, and Koiteli Rapids and City Walk took passengers further afield in our northernmost Finnish port of call. The ‘Tar Boat Cruise’ shore excursion came from the fact that Oulu was the leading tar exporting port in the world in the 19th century. Wooden sailing ships from all over the world had their hulls weatherproofed by tar from Finland. In 1865 alone, some 80,000 barrels of tar were exported from Oulu. Fortunately we don’t have to coat Quest for Adventure in tar to ensure she is weatherproof!

The city of Oulu, like many in this region, has been rebuilt several times following devastating fires. The most recent, in 1822, led to Carl Ludvig Engel creating many neoclassical buildings around the main square which is still the basis for the city’s layout. A complimentary shuttlebus operated throughout the day to the town centre to allow those going ashore independently the chance to explore at their leisure. A late afternoon lecture was delivered by Professor David Munro and titled, ‘The Baltic Bounces Back – The Changing Coastal Landscape of the Baltic and Gulf of Bothnia’.

Tonight we are due to cross the northern Gulf of Bothnia to Luleå, Sweden. The distance is only 41½ miles so I took the opportunity to stay later and depart at 11pm. This in turn led to us being able to secure the services of a local show to come onboard and perform. The show was excellent and featured the dance group ‘Polokkarit’ and the music group ‘Polovisuojain’ in full costume and with traditional instruments. With the show complete the passengers headed up to the Sundowner Bar to enjoy a 'Sailaway Deck Party' with DJ Neil and the cruise staff. Once I had turned the ship around the cold wind was behind us and made for much more pleasant conditions.

The sunset tonight is not until 11.26pm, but it looks like it will be too cloudy to see it. Tonight we put the clocks back an hour as we change to Central European Daylight Saving Time, and after the deck party I’m sure everyone will appreciate the extra hour in bed!

Similarly to yesterday it was another early start this morning as we had been asked to be berthed in Vaasa before the ferry traffic departed. Being the obliging ship that we are we arrived promptly, only to find that we were then asked to wait as our berth was not yet available. The passengers therefore enjoyed a slightly more leisurely breakfast and then once we were alongside they set out on their shore excursions. Options today included a sightseeing trip round the nearby archipelago, a visit to both the past and present of Vaasa, and a walking tour around Vaasa itself. The sun was shining and it was a pleasant if somewhat chilly day as the passengers headed out and about.

Vaasa acts as the boundary between northern and southern Finland. Established in the 14th century it has thrived into a city of some 56,000 people today. All the shore excursions operated in the morning, which gave us the opportunity for an afternoon lecture. Dr Kevin Elsby presented, ‘Birds of Scandinavia’ and then all aboard was set for 4.30pm. I manoeuvred the ship off the berth shortly afterwards and then my Staff Captain took over the wheel so that I could conduct the Sunday Service with assistance from Neil and the Filipino Choir.

The show tonight saw virtuoso violinist Craig Owen and the Quest Quartet entertain the passengers with his show, ‘The Popular Touch’, including hits by Cole Porter and Jerome Kern. A splendid way to end the day.

A delightful day at sea yesterday had brought us to the Finnish port of Turku this morning. The pilotage into Turku is some 56½ miles so it was a very early start on the Bridge as we weaved our way through the myriad of islands and into the sheltered port. Turku itself is a mixture of river and sea, with the River Aura dividing the modern city in two. Shortly after arrival the ship was cleared and passengers could begin heading ashore. The local tourist officials were on the quayside with maps and information, and there were also representatives of the Mission to Seafarers. A two-piece band, consisting of saxophone and electric guitar, added to the eclectic mix!

The shore excursions on offer to our passengers included Nature Walk in Ruissalo, Highlights of Turku, and Turku and the Jean Sibelius Museum. The tourist infrastructure here is very good and, as expected, all the tours were enjoyed by the passengers. All aboard was set for 1.30pm as we have a high speed run tonight to reach Vaasa, further north up the Finnish coast in the Gulf of Bothnia. With everyone aboard in good time the pilot came up to the Bridge to guide us back through the numerous islands. Cruise Director Neil also joined us on the Bridge to deliver a commentary for the passengers on the outside decks as we passed points of interest.

During the afternoon we enjoyed the scenic cruising and passengers had the opportunity to join Mike Purcell for another watercolour workshop. Former British High Commissioner Graham Archer delivered the afternoon lecture with, ‘Understanding the Finns and the Winter War in Finland’. After dinner the passengers could choose between a lively Scattergories Quiz with Neil, or a rather more sedate Classical Concert titled, ‘My 18th Century’ with the Maestro Trio, featuring works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and others

Having mentioned yesterday that “we get you closer” – we arguably did one better today! We were docking in Copenhagen and we normally berth by the row of shops not too far from the Little Mermaid statue. On this occasion we sailed beyond the Little Mermaid statue and into the heart of this glorious city.

We ended up berthed opposite Her Danish Majesty’s Yacht Dannebrog. She looked rather resplendent on her anchorage and in very good condition considering she is 80 years old. I swung the ship on arrival and from the Bridge we could see the tourists taking their numerous photos of the Little Mermaid. The statue will celebrate her 100th birthday next year, so it will surely become even more of a popular attraction.

With us safely berthed the shore excursions were soon on their way. The morning tours included Copenhagen by Foot, and City Tour and Harbour Cruise. The afternoon excursion took passengers to the Seaside Town of Dragoer. It was a gloriously sunny day with many passengers wrapping up warm and then coming back looking rather pink! The shuttlebus was dropping passengers off outside the entrance to Tivoli Gardens and the centre of Copenhagen was bustling.

All aboard was set for 4.30pm and as soon as the pilot was on board we were ready to head off into the Baltic Sea. Cruise Director Neil came up to the Bridge to offer a deck commentary as we passed the Little Mermaid and the two large German cruise ships docked further out. Neil then reappeared just before dinner to point out the Øresund Bridge, which I am told is featured in a BBC drama series currently broadcasting. It was a busy evening for Neil as he then hosted his Bumper Quiz in the Discovery Lounge, with passengers answering questions related to this cruise and previous destinations. It is flat calm tonight as we head into the Baltic Sea, and we hope for more of the same tomorrow.

Well, a very Good Day to everybody. Captain Spekman here. I handed over Spirit of Adventure to her new owners in Genoa and after a short break at home I am delighted to be here on Quest for Adventure. I joined a week ago in Bergen and had a good handover with Captain Dunlop and we’ve made a pleasing start to this cruise to the Gulf of Bothnia. We left Dover on Monday behind Saga Sapphire and whilst she turned north to head to the Norwegian fjords, we headed northeast towards Denmark, and here we are in Skagen.

Skagen is almost the northernmost point of the Jutland peninsula. The area is extremely picturesque, and distinguished by its low, yellow houses and red tile roofs nestled into the beach areas. We were scheduled to tender our passengers ashore here, but with the motto of the Adventure Cruising brand being “we get you closer”, we did just that and I managed to squeeze the ship alongside the narrow berth. The pilot informed me that we broke a record by being the largest ship ever to be berthed in this port. Not bad for my first parking effort. This meant the passengers could wander ashore at their leisure, with many taking advantage of the complimentary shuttlebus. The shore excursions included Nature of the North, Skagen Highlights, and A Walk Through Skagen. In case you are wondering, one of our passengers is Danish and informs me that the “g” is not pronounced in “Skagen”.

We did not arrive into Skagen until lunchtime, which meant there was a morning at sea to enjoy the luxurious surroundings that this ship has to offer. Graham Archer presented the first lecture, ‘Denmark in the 20th Century and Today’ before Dr Robin Moss delved into Viking territory with ‘What is a Woman, that you forsake her?’ You’ll have to come on another cruise to find out the answer!

With the ship safely alongside I greeted the Harbour Master who kindly presented me with a plaque for our wall of fame, and then I saw the passengers off on their tours. It was good to see a group of eight passengers, led by Clive Carrington, head out on the new ship’s bikes. All aboard was set for 6.30pm and shortly afterwards we prepared to sail for Copenhagen. The entertainment tonight saw a virtuoso performance from violinist Craig Owen with the Quest Quartet.

Our last port of call this cruise was today in Stavanger. We were welcomed into port by light drizzle and overcast skies. As always, Dawn, Neil and I were at the gangway to see the passengers off on their morning tours. The excursions included a Pulpit Rock Hike into Lysefjord, a boat trip to the same area, and a city tour of Stavanger and its impressive cathedral.

If proof were needed of how our smaller ships get you closer to the ports we visit, it was demonstrated today when the local authorities informed me that announcements on the outside decks were prohibited so as not to disturb the locals in the nearby houses! Many of the passengers had a wander ashore in the morning or afternoon when they weren’t on a shore excursion and enjoyed the laid back lifestyle of this oil-rich town. All aboard was set for 5.30pm and shortly afterwards we headed back out to sea and on towards Dover. The pre-dinner lecture was delivered by Dr Gareth Williams and titled, ‘Viking Gods and Mythology’. The Maestro Trio played a light and easy set of music in Shackleton’s Bar to set the tone for our formal night tonight. After a grand dinner it was time for an excellent show, and the passengers were not disappointed as Welsh Bass/Baritone Anthony Stuart Lloyd took to the stage. He was joined for a humorous medley of Welsh songs by Neil on the piano and a great evening was had by all. The big-screen outside the Sundowners Bar was showing the European Cup Final and a big cheer went up as Chelsea prevailed over Bayern Munich.

We are now heading south back down the North Sea and are scheduled to arrive in Dover on Monday morning. I will be disembarking then and heading home to my wife and son. Captain Kees Spekman will be taking over from me and I wish him well for his first stint in command of this ship. Thank you to all those who are reading this blog and have sailed with us, and I look forward to seeing you again on a future cruise.

During the early hours of the morning we had sailed to the most extreme end of Sognefjord, 126 miles from the open sea. A couple of years ago a small cruise ship berth was constructed here and each year the number of ships that visit increases. It is a delightful spot and the locals are very friendly and welcoming to cruise ship passengers. We were only staying until 2pm, so the passengers were soon off on their respective shore excursions. Three different tours operated this morning. ‘Urnes Stave Church’ took passengers along picturesque Lustrafjord to Urnes Stave Church, the oldest of the 28 stave churches still in existence (built almost 900 years ago) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ‘Sengjaberget Hike’ led passengers to the foot of Mount Jotunheimen and to a viewpoint where they could enjoy endless panoramic views over Eidsvatnet Lake, Skjolden and Eide Farm. ‘Scenic Sognefjell’ was a coach trip along the highest mountain road in Norway, offering unrivalled views across Jotunheimen National Park, home to 27 of Norway’s highest peaks. As the passengers came ashore a local brass band, consisting of men, women and children, were playing on the rather chilly quayside. Once all the coaches had departed I asked Neil to take them on board and we offered them breakfast in the Verandah. I don’t think they’d been fed that morning as there was nothing left by the time they’d finished!

With the passengers ashore I put the crew through their paces with the weekly emergency drill, and then we welcomed the passengers back on board ahead of our scheduled sailing time of 2pm. The ORCA team were up on deck as we sailed away from Skjolden and reported sightings of Harbour Porpoise as we sailed back down Sognefjord. Dr Gareth Williams, who had joined us yesterday in Flåm, presented his first lecture ‘Viking Norway’, and then the passengers had the opportunity to visit the galley. After a sumptuous Chocolate Tea in the Discovery Lounge, Stuart Usher presented his talk, ‘From Sørøya to Salvation’.

Before dinner I welcomed all the Britannia, Free Spirited and Newcomer passengers to a cocktail party. The show tonight was a classical concert from the Maestro Trio including works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and others. Alternatively there was a raucous Scattergories Quiz with Neil and David in the Shackleton’s Bar. Tomorrow we will be in Norway’s oil capital – Stavanger. Meanwhile, as I write this we are weaving our way through the “inner lead” in order to avoid the somewhat ‘lumpy’ North Sea.

No Norwegian fjord cruise is complete without a visit to Flåm. It is one of the most visited places in Norway and lies at the heart of the famous ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ tourist route. One of the main reasons for coming here is that this is the only sea level place within the entire fjord network that is connected to the main railway system. An incredible 12 miles of railway line rises to a summit of 2,835ft and connects with the main line from Bergen to Oslo at Myrdal. Many of our passengers were taking a ride on this famous train, but not until the afternoon.

Today has been Norwegian Constitution Day. 198 years ago the Constitution of Norway was signed in Eidsvoll, declaring Norway to be an independent nation. To mark the occasion in Flåm there was a church service in the nearby village and then a parade by local children, complete with a marching band, from the church to the school. Fortunately the rain held off during the parade and many of our passengers either walked or caught one of the morning trains to Håreina (in the centre of Flåm) to have a look.

The morning excursions included an exhilarating ride on a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) through Aurlandsfjord and onwards to Mount Beitelen, where the fjord divides and there are beautiful views looking out towards the dramatic Nærøyfjord. The all day excursion, called ‘Iconic Norway’ followed much of the route of the aforementioned ‘Norway in a Nutshell’. Passengers took the train up to Myrdal and then connected with a mainline train to Voss, where they enjoyed a buffet lunch before visiting some dramatic waterfalls and then driving past the Stalheim Hotel and down the 13 hairpin bends to Gudvangen and then back to Flåm. The afternoon excursions all involved taking a ride up to Myrdal and back on the train. On each journey the train stopped at Kjosfossen Waterfall where it is said the ‘spirits’ try and lure tourists into the raging torrents. If you have not been to Flåm you’ll have to come and see if it’s really true.

All aboard was not until 2.30am as we are only sailing about 50 nautical miles to Skjolden, at the innermost part of Sognefjord. In order to take advantage of our late night in port, DJ Neil spun the Wheels of Steel and the Cruise Staff, Dance Hosts, Bar Staff and Dining Room Waiters came up to join the passengers on the dancefloor. It truly was a stunning setting for a party, and our way of joining in with the celebrations for Norway’s Constitutional Day. Whether the locals appreciated the ‘YMCA’ being performed at them is debatable, but it was a great night outside the Sundowner Bar for all. I have just checked with the gangway and it is now 1am and everyone is aboard. Therefore I am going to leave a little earlier so as not to disturb anyone, so I’ll sign off now after what has been a most enjoyable day here in Flåm.

The turnaround day in Dover went smoothly, with us being the only cruise ship in port. We utilised Cruise Terminal 1, which is the former South Eastern & Chatham Railway Station that closed in 1994 with the opening of the Channel Tunnel. Our sailing up the North Sea yesterday had started smoothly with the sea state increasingly slightly during the afternoon and evening. It was good to be able to pick up the pilot at 6.30 this morning and head into the sheltered waters that guard the entrance to Bergen.

The city of Bergen is a popular cruise ship destination at this time of year. It is the second largest city in Norway and is a hive of activity with fishing, shipping and manufacturing taking place all year round, and a steady influx of tourists in the summer months. We were berthed by 9am and the passengers were soon heading out on their tours. The Mount Fløyen Scenic Hike saw passengers take the funicular railway up Mount Fløyen and then be guided along one of the designated hiking routes that take in the spectacular views over Bergen and the surrounding districts. Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf and Museum was more of a walking tour along the historic waterfront with its famous narrow wooden buildings. Bergen Panoramic gave passengers the easy-going option of a coach trip round Bergen and a drive through Sandviken and onto the Nordnes Peninsula. The afternoon tour was titled, ‘A Taste of Hardanger’ and took passengers on an exciting trip into the heart of Hardangerfjord, including the chance to walk behind the Steinsdalsfossen waterfall without getting wet!

During the morning the harbour master came on board to present us with a plaque to mark the first call of the Quest for Adventure to Bergen. We were also presented with a couple of books for our ship’s library, which is always welcome. It was dry and only partly cloudy when we arrived this morning, but being Bergen you knew it wouldn’t be too long before the rains came, and sure enough a wet afternoon engulfed everyone. Spirits were still high though as the tours returned and the passengers reported back that they’d had an enjoyable day. The rain cleared just in time for a brass band to come onto the quayside to play for us as we prepared for our departure at 7pm. The pre-dinner lecture was delivered by Military Historian Stuart Usher and titled, ‘The Story of Jan Baalsrud’, who was a heroic resistance fighter during the German occupation of Norway in World War II. Stuart then came up to the Bridge as we departed Bergen to point out the former U-Boat pens and give a bit of commentary about what when on here some 70 years ago.

The after dinner entertainment saw Cruise Director Neil present a Bumper Quiz in the Discovery Lounge which turned out to be fun for all the family. I am spending the majority of the evening and night on the Bridge, but I was pleased to welcome on board my colleague, Captain Kees Spekman today. Kees will be taking over from me at the end of this cruise and has just come over from Genoa where he transferred the Spirit of Adventure to her new owners. I’ll bid you goodnight for now as we head north towards the picturesque port of Flam at the head of the Sognefjord.

We were not due to arrive into Guernsey until lunchtime, which gave me the perfect opportunity to conduct a Sunday Service during the morning. The Filipino Choir came out in force and a large congregation of passengers gathered in the Discovery Lounge to enjoy their enthusiastic singing. After the service, the morning lecture was delivered by Glynda Easterbrook and focused on ‘Mineral, Gems and Semi-Precious Stones’.

The sea was a flat calm today, the sun was shining and it was very warm outside, in stark contrast to much of the rest of this cruise. The tenders were promptly lowered into the water and we were ready to start, with the passengers having enjoyed an early lunch. Four different shore excursions operated today, with options including the Northern Beaches Cycle Route, Clifftops and Countryside Walk, Guernsey Birdwatching, and Island Panoramic & Little Chapel. All the tours were well received by our guests, particularly given that they didn’t have to wrap up warm for a change! The tenders continued to shuttle back and forth throughout the afternoon, with the last one leaving the quayside at 5pm. I was eager to set sail as we have quite a fast run tonight to reach Dover in good time tomorrow morning.

Once we had lifted the tenders and heaved the anchor we were underway in time for me to be able to greet the passengers as they entered the Discovery Lounge for the farewell cocktail party. It has been an enjoyable, if at times challenging, inaugural cruise for Quest for Adventure but there was a delightful atmosphere at the cocktail party this evening with many passengers saying they are already looking forward to their next cruise with us.

After dinner the entertainment choices included ‘Light Classics’ with the Maestro Trio or a fun Music Quiz with Neil in Shackleton’s Bar

Today we docked in the port of Ringaskiddy, directly opposite the famous port of Cobh. Cobh is experiencing a sharp boost in tourism at the moment as back in April 1912, when it was still known as Queenstown, the RMS Titanic made her last call here before setting off across the Atlantic. Tonight we will be heading to Guernsey so there should not be any icebergs in the English Channel!

We docked in Ringaskiddy at 8am and the shore excursions were soon heading off further inland. ‘Cork City and Blarney Castle’ gave passengers the chance to visit the second city of Eire and the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone. This involves leaning back perilously and, without the aid of a sanitiser, kissing the rather cold stone. A second tour, ‘The Titanic Trail’, took passengers over to Cobh and showed them the original White Star Line tender pier and where the passengers would have embarked for their fateful journey one hundred years ago. ‘Leisurely West Cork and Clonakilty’ involved a leisurely coach trip through the scenic areas that surround this delightful town.

Having seen the tours off I put the crew through their paces with the weekly lifeboat drill. After lunch we welcomed Ryan Morgan, a Welsh tenor who lives locally, on board and he performed a delightful set for our passengers in the Discovery Lounge. I also opened the doors to the Bridge this afternoon for any passengers who wanted to have a look at how we sail Quest for Adventure.

We sailed away from Ringaskiddy at 4pm and headed back out to sea, passing the Royal Cork Yacht Club which is reputedly the oldest in the world. The ORCA team were up on the Sun Deck looking out for basking sharks and the like as we sailed along the southern Irish coast. A couple of pre-dinner lectures took place in the Discovery Lounge. Geologist Glynda Easterbrook led the way with, ‘Geology and the Landscape’, this was followed by Professor John Morrill with, ‘What the Irish cannot forget and the English cannot remember’. I then hosted my table in the dining room on this formal night before having the chance to enjoy the final show by Flautist Suzanne Godfrey and the Quest Quartet.

Tonight we are heading in a south-easterly direction towards the English Channel and then it will be a morning at sea tomorrow as we head towards Guernsey.

Whilst the skies had cleared up from yesterday, the sea conditions were not quite so clever this morning. Douglas is renowned for being quite an exposed anchorage, and today proved to be no exception to that rule. However, this was the first time the ‘Adventure’ side of our fleet had been to the Isle of Man, and after our rescheduling earlier in the cruise I was determined to make the best effort to have our passengers go safely ashore and explore this famous island.

We were anchored nice and early, although the wind was already starting to pick up. By taking things slowly and carefully we managed to get all the passengers ashore so they could enjoy their shore excursions. ‘Cregneash and Steam Train’ visited the old village settlement of Cregneash before boarding the vintage Isle of Man Steam Railway at Castletown railway station for the trip back to Douglas. With such a large group booking the railway had provided an eight coach train with a steam locomotive at each end.

Cruise Director Neil, who was celebrating his birthday today, was seen on the footplate of one of the engines as he continues to live the dream! ‘Manx Electric Railway and Coastal Path’ saw passengers embark another of the fascinating modes of transport on the island for a ride up towards Ramsey, before getting off part way and hiking the coastal route back to Douglas. ‘Tynwald and Lady Isabella’ took our guests around Douglas and up to the famous Laxey Wheel, which is also known as 'Lady Isabella' after the wife of Lieutenant Governor Charles Hope, who was the island’s governor at the time of its construction in 1854.

The most exhilarating tour of the day was the ‘TT Course by Motor Trike’ which took the wilder of our passengers on a high speed ride on trike (three-seater and three-wheeler motorbike) around the course of the TT motorbike racing circuit.

With the tours completed the passengers patiently waited in the comfort of the Douglas Sea Terminal as we tendered them back to the ship as swiftly and safely as possible. I took the decision to hire a local excursion boat, the ‘M/V Karina’ to assist us as many of the tours returned at the same time. With a combination of the local boat and our tenders all the passengers were back in good time and we were able to set sail for Cobh as planned. A pre-dinner lecture was delivered by geologist Glynda Easterbrook and titled, ‘The North Atlantic – A Shut and Open Case’.

I had dinner tonight in the Verandah, for the first time since it became a buffet style restaurant, and enjoyed it immensely. The evening entertainment saw a second show from vocalist Jeff Hooper with the Quest Quartet and the Irish Sea is behaving herself tonight as we head round to Cobh.

The predicted persistent rain thankfully wasn’t in evidence this morning as we arrived at the anchorage in the bay that protects Tobermory. The port is a delightful village on the Isle of Mull, its layout based on the designs of Thomas Telford, and most recently made famous by having the BBC children’s television series ‘Balamory’ filmed here. The gaily painted houses on the waterfront make for a picture postcard setting.

We were tendering today, and so everyone in the deck department was up bright and early to have the gangway and shore station ready, and our two tenders lowered into the water. The shore excursions met, as usual, in the Discovery Lounge and when the tenders were ready the passengers were called down to the gangway. Four different shore excursions were in operation today, Western Mull Panoramic took passengers on a coach trip round the island Aros Coastal Walk saw the more intrepid head out with Clive to explore the scenery, Duart Castle took passengers to view the famous castle that once formed the heart of the island community and Sealife Boat Trip saw our ORCA team head out on a locally chartered boat to see porpoises and even some eagles.

The weather did turn slightly in the afternoon and the liquid sunshine that is almost custom in these parts fell from the sky. The last tender was scheduled to leave the marina at 3.30pm and, with the Galley Tour taking place just before that, everyone was back to dry out. We then raised the tenders and heaved the anchor before heading out between the islands and onwards to our next port of call, Douglas, on the Isle of Man.

This evening I had the pleasure of hosting the Free Spirited, Britannia and Newcomer’s Cocktail Party. The latter category, I guess, encompassed everyone, given this was the maiden voyage of  ‘Quest for Adventure’!

The evening entertainment saw the Maestro Trio perform works by Bizet, Offenbach, Brahms, Piazzolla and others, whilst the cinema was popular with the film, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Indeed it was an early start this morning. We picked up the pilot early and then headed into Lough Foyle. We passed Greencastle, in the Republic of Ireland, which is where many ships tender to in order to access Londonderry. However, we are not called ‘Quest for Adventure’ for no reason and so we headed on through the disputed territory that is Lough Foyle and I swung the ship round before docking at the coal terminal at Lisahally. Saying the 'coal terminal' doesn’t give the best impression, as a determined effort had been made to have the quayside clean and tidy. A quintet of Irish dancers appeared on the quay and the passengers looked down from the open decks as they performed energetically. It was another chilly morning so I’m not sure if they were dancing for the passengers or just to keep themselves warm!

The ship was swiftly cleared by the local customs and immigration officials, and a tourist information desk was set up in A deck foyer. The girls continued their dancing as the eight coach loads of passengers descended the gangway and headed out on their shore excursions. Trips on offer today included Scenic Derry and Inishowen Peninsula, Antrim Coast and Giant’s Causeway, Walled City of Londonderry, and Headland, House and Temple. All the tours were well received and the passengers commented that it was a most interesting place to visit. Not many had felt that they would ever visit Londonderry as a tourist, and they were pleased to see how the area has stabilised and embraced the chance to welcome tourists to its many attractions.

The local Mayor Alderman Maurice Devenney came to visit us at lunchtime, joined by Aoife Thomas the Business and Leisure Tourism Executive from Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau-both keen to promote the visit of cruise ships to their fine city. We shared a coffee and Mayor Devenney was the first recipient of the new ‘Quest for Adventure’ plaque. We were also visited by a group of students who are studying Travel & Tourism and they had numerous insightful questions about the cruise industry.

Two shuttlebuses ran throughout the day taking passengers back and forth into the centre of Londonderry. We were not leaving until 7pm so everyone had the chance to go ashore after their excursions. It was another overcast day, but thankfully dry. We departed on time and headed back down the river and through the lake and into the Atlantic Ocean. Just as the sun was setting it dipped below the clouds and shined on the ship. Hopefully that is a good omen for the weather tomorrow!

The evening entertainment tonight saw virtuoso flautist Suzanne Godfrey perform her solo show ‘Mancini, Movies and More...’. To my surprise the show was not a tribute to potential title-winning Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, but instead featured the music of songwriter Henry Mancini. It was a superb performance and the audience are undoubtedly keen for Suzanne’s second show later in the cruise.

Those of you out there who are following this blog will probably be thinking I’ve made a mistake in saying that we were in Dublin today, as the brochure has us down for Douglas on the Isle of Man. Indeed, when we left Southampton on Sunday, my intention was to visit Douglas today, but the weather forecast proved to be against us and I took the decision to reschedule our visit. Therefore I have swopped the days for Dublin and Douglas, so we will now visit the latter on Friday instead. I made the passengers aware of this change in my 1.30pm announcement whilst we were at sea yesterday and they were pleased that we had taken the conditions into account to ensure they have the best possible experience.

Hence, this morning, I welcomed our passengers ashore in the bustling port of Dublin. Dawn, Neil and I stood at the foot of the gangway as the passengers headed off on their shore excursions, or to explore Dublin independently via the complimentary shuttlebus. The first excursion was a walking tour through 'Dublin’s Fair City', taking in many of the sights, whilst the second excursion was a more leisurely version using a coach. The third excursion saw Clive leading passengers out on a Dublin city cycle ride. It was amusing to see some of the passengers quite excitedly getting on board the double-decker shuttlebus. Some were mentioning that they hadn’t ridden a double-decker since their school days!

In spite of the overcast and rather chilly conditions the tours all went well and the passengers enjoyed their day in Dublin. All aboard was set for the slightly unusual time of 5.15pm, as we had been given a precise departure time of 5.45pm so as to avoid the intense ferry traffic that operates to both the UK and the Isle of Man. As we were departing, Professor John Morrill presented his second lecture, 'Man, Mull, Derry, Guernsey: Why, When and What?'

The evening entertainment saw the welcome arrival of the Maestro Trio. We now have them as a resident classical trio and I know they will be familiar to many of our Free Spirited passengers. They performed An Evening of Baroque Music featuring works by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and others. Alternatively, Neil hosted his Improvised Quiz in Shackleton’s Bar which kept everyone entertained. Tonight we are sailing round the Irish coast and on to our next port of call, Londonderry. It’ll be an early start for me as we have a long pilotage through Lough Foyle before we dock at Lisahally, so I’ll bid you all a good night.

Hello everybody and welcome to the ‘Quest for Adventure’ blog. My name is Captain Wesley Dunlop and I have the pleasure of taking this beautiful ship on her inaugural cruise called 'Castles and Legends'. We will be staying within the British Isles, with calls to the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Guernsey. I am sure many of you reading this blog will be aware that the ship itself is not new, as we arrived into Southampton this morning as ‘Saga Pearl II’.

When this ship was originally purchased by Saga Shipping in August 2009 the intention was to launch her as ‘Quest for Adventure’ and be a sister ship to our popular ‘Spirit of Adventure’. However, with no replacement then being available for the retiring ‘Saga Rose’ it was felt that it would be more practical to have the ship sail under the Saga flag, until a permanent replacement could be found. The recent launch of the ‘Saga Sapphire’ meant that the ‘Saga Pearl II’ could therefore return to where she was originally intended, and become the ‘Quest for Adventure’. This all tied in rather nicely with the fact that our much-loved ‘Spirit of Adventure’ finished her Farewell Cruise two days ago in Civitavecchia, and therefore the baton for the Adventure Cruising has been handed over to us.

Changing the name of a ship is no easy task. It is amazing to realise in how many places the ship’s name is painted. Three times on the hull, every lifeboat, lifering, liferaft, etc. However, we were blessed with dry, albeit overcast, skies and as soon as we had arrived this morning the deck boys and local contractors set to work. By the time we came to sail we were resplendent in our new name. The new passengers started to come onboard from 2pm and there were familiar faces from our other ships, as well as an encouraging amount of complete newcomers to cruising. Our departure time was put back slightly to 6.30pm as there were five cruise ships in Southampton today and we have quite a slow run to our next port of call, Douglas on the Isle of Man.

We gave a salute to ‘Saga Sapphire’ as my colleague, Captain Alistair McLundie, took her out on a Baltic cruise. After completing our mandatory lifeboat drill for the passengers we were ready to sail. Everyone was out on deck as we left the berth and headed out into the Solent, turning to starboard to pass the west coast of the Isle of Wight. The ferry connecting Lymington and Yarmouth crossed our path ahead of us and we then had a clear run down to the Needles.

Dinner was served in the main Dining Room and Verandah, which have both reverted to being fully open seating in line with the ‘adventure cruising’ ethos. After a long day travelling down or across to Southampton many passengers had an early night, with the alternative being the 'Welcome Aboard Introductions' given by our Cruise Director. I know many of the passengers on ‘Spirit of Adventure’ were hopeful that the crew from that ship would be able to come across to ‘Quest for Adventure’. Where possible this is being done, and the most graphic example of this is that I am delighted to welcome Neil Horrocks on board as Cruise Director for this inaugural cruise. Not only Neil, but he has brought with him Assistant Cruise Director Angela Cherry, cruise staff Nicky and David, and cocktail pianist Clive Carrington. Neil was very much one of the key officers on ‘Spirit of Adventure’, having sailed on her from her inaugural cruise (in March 2006) to her farewell cruise (which ended two days ago). I last worked with Neil seven years ago on ‘Saga Rose’ before I became Captain and he became Cruise Director, so it is great for us to have the opportunity to work together again.

During his welcome talk Neil introduced many of the cruise team and ship’s staff who are here to ensure everyone has an enjoyable cruise, and afterwards the passengers could enjoy the Quest Quartet or listen to Clive in Shackleton’s Bar. It promises to be an interesting cruise and I must pass on my thanks to all those involved in the successful name change today!

Our last port of call for this cruise and passengers on our Spirit of Adventure. The weather gods were smiling on us with blue skies and bright sunshine. We arrived at the pilot station at the civilized time of 0800. As a last surprise I had ordered a tug boat with water canons. This tug boat gave us a tug boat salute with two canons working on full pressure giving an impressive semi circle curtain of water spray as we entered the port. There were lots of photos and applause for this spectacle.

Before long we were safely moored at our berth close to the port gate. Only a handful of our passengers had a morning departure from the ship. All others were scheduled to leave in the afternoon. This gave us the opportunity to offer them Mimosas, a very refreshing bubbly and orange juice drink, followed by a very nice lunch. The town was only a very short walk away and many passengers took the opportunity to stretch their legs and go for a walk enjoying the many shops, restaurants and cafes dotted along the walk following the seafront. The staff were very busy looking after the passengers and saying farewell.

At 4pm the last group of passengers left the ship and at 4.30pm we left our berth. Soon we were on our way to Genoa, where the ship will be delivered to FTI, the new owners. From departure it was not a case of sitting back and relaxing. The staff had to make the ship spick and span for the hand over. Dutch clean. In the meantime it was all hands on deck to assist the incoming crew and officers in familiarizing themselves with the operation of the ship. Some of the key personnel of the deck, engine and hotel department were already with us for a while, but could only be trained behind the scenes where it did not effect the passengers. We did have time though to have a nice BBQ on the Veranda Deck aft, which we shared with all on board, which was followed by a raffle with a prize for each crew member and a bit of dancing. A pleasant evening was had by all. We arrived at Genoa pilot station at 0800 and were moored at 0900. A bit strange being the captain to do the first un-berthing and the last berthing seven years later. From now on we will be working with the crew and management of the new owners till noon on 08 May 2012 when we will be handing over the keys.

Before that date however we have lots of work to do. The crew will leave for home and other ships in stages. It is with sadness that we say goodbye, but looking forward to new challenges ahead.

Thank you for following these blogs. Will soon write to you all again from Quest of Adventure.

The last full day of  ‘Spirit of Adventure’ was certainly full! It began with the navigational challenge of taking the ship through the Strait of Messina. This is the narrow stretch of water that separates Italy from Sicily and for some reason we always seem to head through this area during the night, so it was delightful to have the opportunity to view it in the daytime.

Executive Chef George began today’s lecture programme with ‘Behind the Scenes’ looking at the galley and provisions set-up on the ship. Meanwhile a scramble was taking place in the Sirocco Lounge foyer as the remaining ‘Spirit of Adventure’ prizes were offered to the passengers for a donation to the Joyville Children’s Home in Manila. Angela hosted the concluding part of her Greek lessons whilst Ernie & Gaynor Rea led the discussion of Louis de Bernières’s 'Captain Corelli’s Mandolin' at the Book Club. Many of the activities then came to a halt around the ship as Neil invited the former ‘Madam Speaker’, otherwise known as Baroness Betty Boothroyd OM to the stage. He conducted an hour long interview with her, delving into her fascinating life both inside and outside of the Palace of Westminster. The Sirocco Lounge was full to hear her in full flow as she tackled every subject from President Mandela to Ian Paisley via the Tiller Girls and being awarded the Order of Merit – the only award that is the personal choice of HM The Queen.

Halfway through lunchtime I interrupted the passengers’ dinner to announce that we were shortly to be passing the volcanic island of Stromboli. Neil came up to the Bridge and delivered a commentary to the open decks as we sailed in a clockwise manner round the ‘Lighthouse of the Mediterranean’. One could clearly see the steam rising from the top and a number of passengers spotted at least one moment of volcanic activity. It was yet another flat calm sunny day and the volcano stood proudly in all its grandeur. We have indeed been very lucky on this Farewell Cruise. Apart from the first day at sea it has been a flat calm and sunny skies for almost the entire cruise. Someone up there is clearly shining down on our little ship.

The afternoon offered the last watercolour class and exhibition with Jackie Devereux, a merengue class with Nicky & David, and the final proper lecture with Martin Sixsmith titled, ‘The Putin Era all over again: Where does Russia go from here?’ To find out the answer you’ll have to come on another cruise that heads in that direction! Neil then presented the concluding part of his ‘Tales from Spirit of Adventure’ which featured messages from Captain David Warden-Owen and Captain Frank Allica, as well as a greeting from Captain Wesley Dunlop who will command the inaugural cruise on ‘Ques for Adventure’.

With it being the last ever night with passengers on the ship I hosted my table in the dining room with Tina, Neil and Angela. We were then in the Sirocco Lounge for the Farewell show with a superb performance by soprano Rachael Russell. At one point she was joined on stage by Phillip Browne, and her last song was 'Time to Say Goodbye'. The audience demanded an encore and so she came back for a stirring rendition of 'We’ll Meet Again'. With that it was time to say goodnight as we head towards Civitavecchia for our final turnaround day. It’s certainly been emotional!

Today was our last port of call during the cruise for Spirit of Adventure. We arrived into Katakolo, Greece for the first time in many years. It’s always amusing to come in to this port as the pilot seems to own the tug boat and also owns a restaurant on the waterfront. He has certainly done rather well out of all this! The village that serves the port is rather quaint, but the principle reason for coming here is that the port provides access to the site of Ancient Olympia. From talking to the pilot it was interesting to discover that every four years, when the summer Olympics are taking place, the number of ship visits increases. Today was no exception as we were joined by quite a few other cruise ships. Fortunately we were only staying for the morning so we had the chance to enjoy an afternoon at sea. Before that could happen though, the passengers all headed out on the shore excursions to 'Ancient Olympia & Archaeological Museum', the 'Birthplace of the Olympics', or the nearby Winery.

At 1pm we let go the lines for the last time and headed back out to sea and on towards the Strait of Messina. During the afternoon Jackie Devereux continued with the watercolour workshops before Neil presented the first part of his ‘Tales from Spirit of Adventure’. Dr Dan Jones hosted the afternoon lecture with ‘The Extraordinary Battle of Matapan 1941’.

Before dinner I welcomed passengers to the Farewell Cocktail Party in the Sirocco Lounge and had the pleasure of presenting the Employee of the Month awards to the hard-working crew. Tina and I then hosted my table in the main dining room before heading up to the Sirocco Lounge to enjoy the fantastic music and song of West End star Phillip Browne and the Spirit Quartet. The night was still young, especially with an hour back, so Neil and Clive held a final Late Night Cabaret up in the Yacht Club with guest appearances from cocktail waiter Jimoel, Cruise Staff, Nicky, and guest artistes Phillip Browne and Rachael Russell. A wonderful way to enjoy our last formal night on board.

After a relative stroll down the Greek coast we anchored off the delightful town of Monemvasia this morning. The town itself is a medieval fortress located on a small peninsula off the east coast of the Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia. Remains include the defensive structures and the Byzantine churches.

We were tendering today, for the only time on this cruise, so we lowered the boats promptly in readiness for our shore excursion to Gytheion. On arrival in Monemvasia, many passengers saw what an idyllic location it is and chose to do their own thing and wander around the picturesque town. Cocktail pianist Clive led a hike up to the top of Castle Hill, with an intrepid band of followers behind him.

The last tender left the shore at 5.30pm, and soon afterwards we lifted the boats and the gangway and prepared to heave the anchor. The pre-dinner lecture was delivered by Ernie Rea and titled, ‘Divisions with Islam and the Arab Spring’. With the anchor raised we set our course as southbound round the peninsula and then towards Katakolo. The show tonight saw a final performance of the Filipino Cultural Show, led by our nurse Mitzi and Technical Secretary Clarence. It was then a case of everyone heading upstairs for a sensational 'Jazz Night' with the Spirit Quartet. Soprano Rachael Russell made a guest appearance and the band enjoyed letting go as they played their kind of music. A great night for all!