Cruising the Canaries hoping to find some sun, but with only mixed results …
Day 1 (Friday 21 January)
Departed Manchester on time at 10:45 after only just allowing enough time to get to the airport: 65 minutes from home to the Shuttle Park, which was longer than I expected, and just missing the bus, meant we were at check-in for 9:00.
Arrived Tenerife South on time at shortly after 3pm, and were on the transfer coach by about 4.15, and at the boat around 5pm. Efficiently booked in and escorted to out cabin. Spent quite a lot of time during the rest of the first day going up and down staircases and back an forth trying to get our bearings.
Reasonable evening meal, but I don’t think the catering is going to be a highlight of the holiday really. Very late to bed after sampling the entertainment in the show lounge and the rather nice top-deck bar, followed by a visit to the 24-hour buffet restaurant for late snack.
Day 2 (Saturday)
Gran Canaria
Walked into town (Las Palmas) hoping for coffee in some atmospheric local cafe, but everything seemed to be in the shade. Strolled along the beach then back to the harbour. Found a bar on the way and had a couple of beers in the sunshine.
Excursion in the afternoon with very chatty lady guide; around Las Palmas old town etc, including guided visit to “The Columbus House” museum.
Decided to invest in a “wine package” of five bottles for £73 – think it works out cheaper than buying separate bottle every night.
Again, acceptable evening meal, despite grumpy maitre-de type who wasn’t keen on me asking for a table-for-two.
Day 3 (Sunday)
La Palma
Not a good day! – up early for 9.00 start to our excursion. Weather not too bad at first, at least at sea level, but mountain tops ominously clouded.
Started out OK with visit to the Virgin-of-the-Snows church. But as soon as we began the climb to higher places we were in cloud and by the time we had crossed to the west side of the island we were in solid rain. Rest of the trip basically a washout; no view of the fabled Caldera or anything else! Informative video in the visitors’ centre replaced the planned walk and just served to underline what we had missed! Got pretty wet, having failed to take our wet-weather gear.
On return to boat, after lunch had a sleep in the cabin and woke to boat going up and down significantly; I felt light-headed and rather queasy, though not actually sick. Recovered after a meal and some alcohol!
Day 4 (Monday)
Madeira
Wet again first thing. Walked into town, and it had cleared up by the time we got to the centre. Coffee in pavement café; mooched round a small shopping centre hoping but failing to find a shop to buy a jumper (this wasn’t supposed to be a jumper holiday!); short stroll round the market – what a lot of fruit-and-veg, not to mention the fish!
Cable car up mountain for splendid views across the town; decided to walk back down – BIG MISTAKE! Lesley having trouble with her knee before we got half way and both pretty much knackered by the time we got back into town. Beer in a café then taxi back to the boat!
Evening meal in Sirroco a-la-carte restaurant: very nice. Tried to book again for Thursday, but already full up – shame.
Day 5 (Tuesday)
At sea all day.
Woke to grey sky and grey sea with white horses – another disappointing day in prospect!
By 11:30 the fog had descended reducing visibility to about 50 yards – not that there was much to see anyway. Somehow passed the day hanging around various parts of the boat – seats tended to be at a premium because no access to “outdoors”.
Captain’s Cocktail Reception at 7.30pm was pretty much of a non-event – queued for 10 or 15 minutes to shake hands with captain’s substitute (the master being fully engaged on the bridge coping with the weather) followed by a glass of warm bucks fizz and twiddling our thumbs while everybody else was processed; the actual captain appeared for five minutes to address us briefly and present his heads of department; finally allowed in for dinner.
Evening meal was good – the splitting into two sittings meant plenty of room, so we had a table to ourselves with no problem. Food nice.
Day 6 (Wednesday)
Agadir – cancelled!
Woke to sound of the bow thruster and expected to be tying up in Agadir port, but the captain came on the PA to say that sea conditions were such that “we are unable to come alongside in Agadir port” and so we must continue direct to Lanzarote.
So another day at sea. This was however moderately pleasant, since it was dry with sunshine; unfortunately, high winds and rough sea, but at least bearable.
Contrary to my expectations, we did not dock in Arrecife late that evening, however, but continued to toss around in the Atlantic – presumably because docking early would cost Thomson additional fees!
Day 7 (Thursday)
Lanzarote
Tied up in Arrecife 7.00-ish. Weather looks promising. Sea calm – hooray!
Shuttle bus into town and strolled around taking a few snaps. Coffee and beers in cafés by way of refreshment and back to boat for lunch.
Pleasant afternoon sunning ourselves on promenade deck
Final evening meal we were unable to have a table-for-two, but had nice company.
Day 8 (Friday)
Tenerife and home
Being chucked out of cabin am 8:00am was not really problematic, as it was a hot sunny morning. Lounged on prom deck until it was time to set off for home.
Airport chaotic! – just as well they shipped us there in good time.
Good flight home, landing MIA just before 9.00pm. Temperature -2 degrees!!! Car windscreen frozen inside and out!!
Home just after 11.00; electric blankets on and more-or-less straight to bed
General Impression …
Worth doing it once, certainly; but would I cruise again? – probably not.
Not being of a gregarious / highly sociable nature, I guess it was always a bit doubtful that cruising would suit, but I always fancied trying it. Many things were enjoyable, and it was a good way to get a flavour of Las Islas Canarias. The rough weather was just bad luck (people on board had done the cruise or something close lots of times before without any such problem); never-the-less it did seem like a poor investment of so much cash, at times.