NAVIGATION-Cruising and Maritime Themes

                                                    Junior suite on Navigators Deck                                                        Porto Bar                                                              Internet Center                                                         Restaurant LISBOA                                                           COIMBRA Restaurant                                                                      GYM                                                             Beauty Center                                                  Ilha Verde Lounge and Library and card room below "FUNCHAL" has seven decks OBSERVATION/NAVIGATORS/PROMENADE/AZORES/MADEIRA/ALGARVE and ESTORIL. Restaurants LISBOA and COIMBRA are located on the AZORES deck as well as the Wellness and Beauty Center, the ship has also a medical Center on deck MADEIRA, the majority of the passenger facilities though are located on PROMENADE deck and incl

After following "FUNCHAL" for nearly a week it was my turn to step on board as a passenger for the short trip from Porto to Lisbon. This was an exciting moment for me, "FUNCHAL" has been for decades like a toy for me, one of the last original built Passenger Liners from the 60's, the last survivor of what was once a proud Portuguese Mercantile Fleet, she is today a unique ship, there are very few passenger ships like "FUNCHAL", she has rounded lines a streamlined profile with real wooden decks, two of them sheltered, the amount of outdoor space available for her passengers it's just amazing for a ship with barely just under 10.000 G.T., her interiors are full of charm and character. The last time I have sailed on her was back in 1987, she is today a completely different ship in terms of decor, hardly recognizable, what has not changed much throughout the years is her profile and the feeling of being at se

It's been twelve days since my last entry on this blog concerning "posts" connected with my ship stalking of "FUNCHAL", after Le-Verdon-sur-Mer and Bilbao, the next port of call for the ship would be La Coruna, I will never forget after the ship's departure from Bilbao I have followed her for over 30 miles on the road that leads to Santander, a delightful journey with the ship always in sight but unfortunately out of reach to my lenses, nevertheless quite an experience. "FUNCHAL" would stay at La Coruna in Northern Spain from 9 am to 3 pm, also in Port the DISCOVERY on a cruise with British passengers and HAMBURG, after some photography at the port, I've decided to wait for the ship's departure, shame about the weather, once again windy with some showers. Photos 18.9.2013

CUNARD and P & O have announced their 2015 "WORLD CRUISES" programs. "QUEEN VICTORIA" will depart Southampton on the 20.1.2015 on a 103 nights epic voyage, named "PACIFIC WORLD VOYAGE", the highlights will be the maiden calls at Puerto Limon at Costa Rica, Christchurch in New Zealand, Rarotonga at the Cook Islands, Bora Bora at the French Polynesia and San Juan del Sur at Nicaragua, the ship will return to Southampton, May the 3rd she will join the other two QUEENS to mark the 175th Anniversary of Cunard. P & O's "AURORA" will also depart Southampton on the 8.1.2015 on her "SOUTH AMERICA & SOUTH PACIFIC VOYAGE", the ship will transit the full extent of the Magellan Strait and call at Moorea at the French Polynesia, Rarotonga at the Cook Islands and Akaroa in New Zealand, the ship is back at Southampton on the 23.4.2015. Photos of the two ships in Southampton back on the 7.12.2007, "QUEEN VICTORIA's" maide

Lisbon is spoiled for choices in terms of cruise ships diversity, not as many visits as Barcelona or Southampton but more variety of passenger ships, here is the ASTOR arriving at the Portuguese Capital, 23.9.2013

After LE-VERDON-SUR-MER, "FUNCHAL's" next Port of call would be Bilbao in the Spanish Basque Country, I have visited the city many times arriving or departing from the nearby Santurtzi Port on cruise ferries, the PRIDE OF BILBAO and the CAP FINISTERE. After the opening of the fabulous GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM in 1997, the cruise ship calls rocketed creating the need for better passenger facilities with a designated Terminal, this is how the new GETXO CRUISE TERMINAL was born, for all the information on this new infra-structure please click  here . The surrounding area is beautiful with an excellent leisure marina, restaurants and bars and a very nice sandy beach. I arrived with plenty time to spare before the scheduled departure of the ship for 3 pm, unfortunately the weather was not on my side, decided to ask the Port Security officer for the best place in his opinion to photograph the ship underway, the person on duty was incredibly nice and co-