Black Watch - Family Cruising!

If your idea of a perfect holiday is lying on a remote beach, reading a book, exploring local villages and enjoying a variety of sights and cultures, you might not think that a cruise in Europe would fit the bill. However with one daughter wishing to visit more of the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, after a year at University in Sweden, and another daughter with an inquisitive and gregarious nature, both still happy to tag along with the parents 12 nights on Fred Olsen’s Black Watch turned out to be a very enjoyable and interesting experience for all the family.

Even with the weather in early August not that reliable visits to Oslo, Copenhagen, Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Warnemunde and the Kiel Canal, interspersed with 3 full days at sea – 6 different countries, 4 capital cities, pretty harbour front communities, euros, kroons, roubles, florints all from the base of a comfortable cruise shop that offers excellent service, first class cuisine, a wide variety of daytime and evening activities and entertainment.

Even more attractive was a gentle drive along the M25 to Dover, a relaxed check in with friendly porters to help with luggage, car parking next to a stylish and unflurried terminal and a gently walk on to the ship based on first arrivals embarking first.

Cruising obviously appeals most to retired and elderly holiday makers, but there were many families. Children are catered for in the school holidays with their own cruise staff to look after and entertain them – also special pool times! Single ladies were looked after in the evening with dance partners, and the friendly staff managed to learn first names and cabin numbers within the first couple of days.

Drinks are not included, but prices are very reasonable, with house wines starting at about £8.00 per bottle, and beers and spirits no more than in a pub back home. Gratuities are also not included, but although envelopes are provided to hand over to cabin staff, waiters and bar staff, these are shared out among their colleagues.

There are many ways to choose the right cruise boat for a holiday afloat; judging by the comments of many fellow passengers when we were berthed alongside another cruise ship of 84,000 tons with 2,200 passengers, size and capacity is definitely one, with itinerary, entertainment, ambience, price and food also important factors.

This holiday was definitely a big success, a real eye opener to the quality and value of cruising; but do take advice on choosing the right ship.

PS for separate reports on the cities visited on this cruise see updates on our main website www.haslemeretravel.co.uk

(Andrew & family – August 2005)

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