Monday May 18th and Tuesday May 19th

Monday May 18^th At Sea

After leaving Zeebrugge we have some 770 Nautical miles to steam to our next port of Warnemunde. Effectively we have to sail all around Denmark because we are too big to cut off Denmark using the Kiel Canal! This means doing 20 Knots for most of the trip which is pretty fast stuff for a cruise. On this trip we pass under the Storebaeit Bridge which is 6.79 Kilometres long and 65 metres high. I am sorry Nic Gash but we could not fit it in our luggage to bring it home to link the island to the mainland. We amuse ourselves at sea with a mixture of swimming, eating, and learning about some of the ports we are due to visit later in the cruise.

Tuesday May 19^th Warnemunde Germany

This cruise is all new ports for us and each port is in a different country. Today we are in Northern German ( former East Germany) at the seaside resort of Warnemunde. Time for a swim as we arrive at 11am, so as usual off the ship as soon as we dock for a stroll around the town a and beach.

After walking along the harbourside

 

 

 

we pass a lighthouse and decide we must ascend the 135 steps to see the view which was worth the effort and the reasonable 2 Euro charge each.

Then onto the the huge beach of soft sandcastle building sand but too cold to dip a toe in the Baltic Sea!

Then back to the ship which is moored just behind the cross harbour floating bridge which has to avoid the many car ferry movements in and out of Rostock. Rostock is eight miles inland of Warnemunde up the navigable river Warnow. We decided not to take the train to Rostock and just see Warnemunde.

We also admire the huge sand sculptures just outside the cruise terminal: all seem to be of naked bodies! This is one of the less in your face ones!

Looking forward to our first Headliners show tonight. We saw a comedic piano player last night which we enjoyed but have given the singer's two shows a miss.

Another day at sea tomorrow and then on Thursday we start a run four ports without a break and we spend two days in St Petersburg so that is five days full on! Thursday we are looking forward to seeing Helsinki: could be a tiring day!