Seabourn Odyssey 2013
The Odyssey Cruise--notes 1
Wed 27 March 2013
Just had a great day visiting islands north of Phuket, in speedboats.
Visited 'James Bond Island' from Man with the Golden Gun. Had a swim and now back on the ship.
All going well, nice cabin and good food, as expected.
Relaxing at sea for the next few days, heading to India. First port is Cochin.
We are now having a couple of days at sea, having left Mumbai on Friday evening.
We are happy to be moving on after sampling life and the environment in Cochin, Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai........all interesting to visit (particularly from an historical viewpoint) but quite a struggle for those who live there, unless you are one of the local millionaires....or a family member of one.
Mumbai is large, crowded, and dirty.......as might be expected in an Indian city of about 20 million. Buildings are not well-maintained. Roads are congested and trains are very crowded at peak times, as we saw.
We had a short city-based train journey as part of a tour.......first class of course but that is a matter of interpretation! At least that carriage was not crowded.
On the tour, we saw many parks (about lunch time) crowded with young guys playing cricket, on all sorts of surfaces. Amazing......that's how they produce all these talented young players.
Of course the money incentive is very important......a young player can break out of relative poverty and become a millionaire very quickly if he has the talent.
Visited the Gandhi museum and library in Mumbai......quite an interesting insight into his life and times.
Hundreds of photos taken in India but the Internet connection is not good enough for extensive transmission so that will have to wait. Connection for normal emails is adequate.
We are now moving WNW across the Arabian Sea towards the UAE, and are currently south (but well south) of Karachi, Pakistan. Over the next week we visit Oman, UAE and Dubai, which will bring part 1 of the cruise to an end. Part 2 is the Dubai to Rome leg.
All going well on the ship, lots of Aussies (including quite a few Q'lders), good restaurants and food (too much), and entertainment (shows etc) . Good guest services and library/coffee area known as Seabourn Square. They produce reduced-size copies of some major newspapers, including The Australian often hogged or nicked by a few selfish Australians. They are now producing extra copies. Printed brief news summaries delivered to the cabins about 7.30am every morning.
Also if we want a break from the crowd, there is a good in-cabin entertainment system via interactive TV.........hundreds of movies and music albums 'on demand' (similar to in-air entertainment systems, but many more options). No DVD/CD player or connectivity but there is an iPod connection so you can play your own music thru the TV sound system if you want to. Interestingly it appeared that no one had used the iPod system before in this cabin as it didn't work and needed an internal program change.
Hope you are all well. We have had no health problems, even with a few onshore meals in India!
The Odyssey Cruise--notes Part 2. Following on from the previous notes--
First port of call in the Middle East was in the UAE. Stopped over for a day in Khor al Fakkan, a major container port in UAE (near Sharjah) and did a desert 4WD tour. Rather exciting. roaring up and down sand dunes, with photo stops (of course).
Next, on to Khasab in Oman, that part of Oman in the far north-east enclosed by surrounding UAE. Often described as the 'Norway of the Middle East'. Dhow cruise through these unusual looking fiords. Also saw smugglers in fast motor boats going across the Straits of Hormuz to Iran, with cargos of electronic goods, cigarettes etc. Police apparently turn a blind eye!
In Dubai we went up the Al Khalifa Tower (124th floor); followed by lunch and shopping at the Dubai Mall. Development in Dubai is amazing but now stalled to some extent. New passengers joined us....only 78 out of about 450 continued.
Sea days out of Dubai through the Straits of Hormuz and then along the south coast of Oman to Salalah, a port closer to the border with Yemen. Enjoyed a bus trip thru the region inland from the port, including Job's Tomb (maybe!)
More sea days into the Gulf of Aden past Yemen, and the area of pirate risk. Security increased in various ways but no signs of any problems.
Four sea days in a row so used our Hydro Pool Cruise Pass to relax. Very nice secluded part of the ship.
Then into Safaga in Egypt and land trip to the west, to Luxor (on the Nile) with overnight stay, and the Valley of the Kings (on the western side of the Nile). Stayed in Luxor at Sonesta St George. Saw Temples of Karnak and Luxor on the first day, with sound and light show at Temple of Karnak in the evening. Then next day across the Nile by small cruise boat to visit the VOK, where the Ramses tombs and Tutankamon tomb are located. Visited three tombs and Queen Hatshepsut temple.
Long bus trip back to ship which now feels like home.
Next call at Sharm el Sheikh, on the Red Sea to the east, on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Quite a tourist/resort development and attractive beaches. Very popular with Europeans.
Next day (Sunday) a full day land trip to Cairo, and the Pyramids at Giza, entered the 2nd largest pyramid descending thru a low, narrow tunnel. Glad to get back out! Lunch on a Nile boat trip, seeing some of the better parts of Cairo. Then bus trip back, thru traffic jams and the worst parts of Cairo.
All of the above accompanied by calm seas and mild temperatures over the last couple of weeks......very pleasant, as this region is very hot later in summer (best to avoid).
Monday 22 April: Into the Suez Canal early in the morning. We are first in a line of cruise ships. Quite a sight.
On to Ashdod and then Jerusalem.
Heading for Rome and disembarkation.
Had a great final tour day today, except for the weather, which was rainy and a bit cold. Our first rainy day in five weeks and definitely on the wrong day.
Visited Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi, and had lunch at the famous Hotel St Pietro, near Positano overlooking the cliffs towards Amalfi....a great experience!
Out of port we sailed past Mt Vesuvius in the Bay of Naples. Farewell to this part of Italy.
Earlier tonight we had a Wedding Anniversary dinner in the Main Restaurant with our Aussie friends, starting with caviar and champagne, then soft-shell crabs and a nice chocolate cake. Usual range of wines, of course. Great service and we all enjoyed the occasion. Gave a pleasant conclusion to our cruise as we have spent a lot of time together, in our trivia team, which missed out this time. Group included a majority of Brisbane people.
Now on to Rome and getting organised to come home.
Sitting in Rome, waiting to fly home, after 6 weeks away. A wonderful cruise with great weather and calm seas on the Seabourn Odyssey, from Singapore via Indian and Middle East ports, to Egypt, Israel (Jerusalem), Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, and finally disembarking in Rome. A few days R&R, which in this case means Rome and Retail! All good fun and now looking forward to getting home to Brisbane and catching up with family and friends.
