Spirit of Discovery blog

After a high speed overnight run from St Petersburg we gave our guests a lie in with an 0900 arrival instead of the usual 0800.The port pilot was arranged for 0730 as it was a 10 mile run in to the berth. Alastair our Chief Officer kept the con, embarked the pilot and then lined the ship up ready for me to conduct the final manoeuvre. By going straight in we were alongside by 0830.

Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tallinn offers a truly magical experience and has one of the most beautifully preserved medieval centres in Europe. The Upper Town is characterised by watchtowers, graceful spires and winding cobbled streets, while the Lower Town offers red gabled roofs and soaring spires, the golden era in Tallinn’s history came in the period between the early 15th and mid-16th centuries when the city attained fame and a powerful role in the Baltic Sea area through its membership of the Hanseatic League.

After a busy morning of meetings, I took to the streets of Tallinn and after heading through the narrow cobbled streets I discovered a delightful coastal cycle path that also weaved its way through a charming area of woodland. With 15M completed I returned to the ship by 1600 and after a good stretch, headed to the Grand Dining Room to chat with a few guests over afternoon tea.

With everyone on board by 1700 we sailed shortly afterwards and this time for our Staff Captain to “drive out”. There was a moderate breeze onto the dock from the stb’d 1/4, and with minimal guidance Simon lifted the ship clear of the berth and then guided her away from the dock. After 45 mins the pilot was away and we set W’ly course for our run to Kalundborg.

Captain Julian Burgess