Queen Victoria Cruise

  Rotterdam is the Netherlands, second largest city of vibrant, energetic unique Dutch metropolis. Settled in 1270 when the river Rotte was first dammed the city has served as a historical pivotal thriving port for the low countries and still occupies a central role as the Dutch financial and logistical centre. Devastated during the Second World War Rotterdam’s subsequent regeneration has been transformative. The focus of the rebuilding works was innovation and contemporaneity and Rotterdam is now defined by the stunning, modern architecture, light, open canals, and a metropolitan vibe, unlike anywhere else in the Netherlands. Exclusive trendy bars to leading our institutions that spearhead to cities, rich, cultural life. Despite all it has to offer we hardly any of it. We wandered around the market looking at the beautiful produce on sale, particularly the cheese. We the went inside the Market Hall where Val and I had arranged a dear friend Jaap Visser, a former policeman from Lei...

As stated the ship, didn’t leave the dock until late so while we were in bed the Queen Victoria let go of all her lines and departed from Le Harve at 23:00 hours. disembarking the pilot and exiting the bouyage channel. It then set a north-easterly course, entering the English Channel and the Dover straits. The English Channel is the world’s busiest shipping route serving over 500 ships daily, it accounts for up to 20% of the global Maritime trade. It is about 300 nautical miles long and various in width from 130 nautical miles at its widest to 18 nautical miles at its narrowest. The Dover Straits is the strait at the narrowest part of the English channel, marking the boundary between the channel and the North Sea and separating Great Britain from Continental Europe. We woke after a lovely nights sleep and had breakfast in the restaurant. We then walked to the theatre and caught the tail end of a customs officer talk on smuggling the heard fascinating talk on flying Concorde. Once over ...

We sat sail so we had  tea and tiffins (sic) then went to our cabin (state room) and changed for dinner. We went the restaurant and had a lovely three course meal. After we’d eaten we went to the theatre to see song and dance routine based loosely on The Greatest Showman. The performers were brilliant, worthy of the West End or Broadway. We left the theatre and wandered about visiting the retail outlets. We then found a spot where we sat with a hot chocolate. We then we to bed waking up in Le Harve. To arrive at Le Harve we travelled 26 nautical miles sailing past the Isle of Wight then early this morning we made out approaches to Le Harve south, heading entering the bouyage channel And picking up the local pilot passing 1.3 nautical miles off Phare de La Have on the port side. The Heve lighthouse is located in the town of Sainte-Adresse. It is 32 metro high but dominates the sea by 102 metres. We awoke to an alarm as we were having a run ashore. We had breakfast then left the ship...

 Just making sure I remember what to do.

Day one 6 December 2023 The day has finally arrived when we travel to Southampton to board Cunard’s The Queen Victoria. We had a steady journey down. We deposited the car and checked in. Within the hour we’d found our cabin and was eating lunch. We then complied with the emergency procedures by attending our muster station. With the formalities done we returned to our cabin and unpacked. We wandered about took some photographs of the Christmas themed atrium and listened to the Winchester cathedral. Then it was time for tea. Tomorrow we arrive in Le Harve. If successful I’ll post this evening’s activities them assuming I can get on t’internet.