The approximate 2-hour trip to the port of embarkation was without significance and we were soon inline to check in for the cruise. Sylvia & I have a lot of history of cruises (15+) with Princess and that status allows us to special check-in lines that usually are not crowded, so we were soon on the ship. Once in our stateroom we deposited our valuables in the room safe and then made our way to ship’s buffet. After lunch we returned to our stateroom and finding that some of our luggage had arrived we began the unpacking process. Because our friends, The Thompsons from Las Vegas, were not traveling with us on this trip we had decided to choose “any-time dining” rather than the traditional dining for the evening with an assigned dinner table, table companions, and waiter. This allowed us much more flexibility in time and place of dining. Actually, with the many days of ports and tours where we were later arriving back at the ship, we only dined two nights (both of them the “formal nights”) in the dining room. The other evenings we chose to eat in the buffet area.
On Monday, Aug. 23 our first port was the tiny city of St. Peter Port, Guernsey Island, England. The Guernsey Islands are located in the English Channel between France and England. They actually are nearer the coast of France than England, but are a part of the United Kingdom. For months a book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was mailed between members of our Cruise Critic board. This book was written during World War II when these islands were occupied by the Nazi army. Reading it became almost a requirement prior to traveling here on this cruise. Sylvia and I located the book in our local library and did not find it necessary to participate in the mailing exercise. I think Sylvia read the entire book; I could never get through more than a few pages before I lost interest. So with great anticipation for many we sailed toward this most interesting port.
The ship’s log from the bridge states, “…around 2 o’clock we crossed the channel passing down the west coast of Guernsey and started our approach to St. Peter Port, but at 05:25 we had to abort due to strong wind and swell. Decision was made to hold position to see if conditions improved. Unfortunately, they did not and 08:16 we proceeded to our next port of call.”
So, with an announcement at about that time from Captain Nick Nash, we began an unanticipated “day at sea”.
Tuesday, Aug. 24 – Cohb, Ireland, the port for Cork, Ireland. This was one of our first glimpses of the beautiful, green country of Ireland. The ship docked at Cohb where we were met by our bus from the Butler Bus Company. Our guide was actually named “James Butler”. When I had began my correspondence with this company I had immediately signed all letters with my full name “James Butler Cline”, thinking it might give us an advantage. (The result of that is still not known!) One of the first stops of this tour was at Blarney Castle for the kissing of the famous Blarney Stone…
Inside the metal rails are the actual location of the Blarney Stone. To kiss it you sit with your back towards the stone and then someone sits upon your legs or firmly holds your feet. Next, leaning far back and downward into the abyss while grasping the iron rails, you lower yourself until your head is even with the stone to be kissed.
Inside the grounds of Blarney Castle was also a Poison Garden.
But along with the poison was the beauty.
And the historical markers…
We stopped in the medieval village of Kinsale where we had wonderful lentil soup for lunch in an Irish Pub. After lunch there was time for walking and shopping (I searched for a second battery for my camera, but did not find one).
Later, on the bus, we continued into the beautiful countryside of County Cork, Ireland before returning the city of Cork, Ireland’s 3rd largest city.
We arrived back at the ship at about 4 p.m. and sailed for Dublin, Ireland around 4:30.
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