The Harbour Entrance to SHARM EL-SHEIKHHere are some photos taken yesterday at the Great Pyramids of Giza by our Photography Team headed up by Katy.
No matter where you go we will capture the moment for you.....................
The Sphinx, I remember the first time I ever set eyes on the Sphinx and the Pyramids, it really is breathe taking.
The Wonder of it all - there's that word 'wonder' again!...........
A friendly Local......
Pearl and Mario from the Purser's Office get a break ashore!Good Day Everyone,
Another fine day here in Egypt! All is well and the sun is shining. Thank you for all your support for the blog and yes it does take a bit of time on top of my regular job but you know what - I do enjoy it! Never thought I would be a travel writer! We arrived here at Sharm El Sheikh at 0700 hours and got the Shore Excursions under way. Those not on tour enjoyed walking in the port and sightseeing locally.
Taxi Drivers waiting for business.
Tour Coaches lining up and getting ready to depart.
Jeeps getting loaded up on the dock. All the anticipation and excitement of a day our on tour....
Philipa Crump our Deputy Food and Beverage Manager makes sure all is in order for a good BBQ on deck for our team.
The prime reason for calling here is to visit the Monastery of St Catherine.The most sanctified building in the church is the Chapel of the Burning Bush from which God spoke to Moses, giving him the 10 Commandments. St Catherine the legendary martyr from Alexandria,who was tortured for her Christianity. Her body disappeared and according to legend, was transported by Angels to the highest mountain peak in the Sinai. Three centuries later some monks of the Monastery, following a dream, found her body and placed it in a gold-plated sarcophagus, which now stands in the Basilica Choir. Others went into the Sinai Desert to visit a Bedouin tent on a Camel and Jeep Safari tour.
Tour Coaches lining up and getting ready to depart. Jeeps getting loaded up on the dock. All the anticipation and excitement of a day our on tour....For the Ship's Company we held a BBQ up on the forward Crew Deck and this was great fun for all who attended. It was to celebrate ARCADIA receiving the CRUISE SHIP of the Quarter Award from our Directors! A great achievement for Arcadia. This award is based on our commitment and performance with our CRUISE programme - which is our customer service programme.
Bridge Command - always keeping an 'eye'.
Philipa Crump our Deputy Food and Beverage Manager makes sure all is in order for a good BBQ on deck for our team.We sailed at 1800 hours and we are now on our way to Mumbai with five sea days ahead - how lovely. Tomorrow I will be hosting the first of our Grand Voyage Lunches for those passengers going all the way. Obviously a lot of the information I know is commercially sensitive so I have to watch what I write. I can tell you that there is always a good mix of Grand Voyagers ( going from Southampton to Southampton), Line Voyagers ( Southampton to Sydney or Sydney to Southampton) and Route Sector Passengers ( hoping on and off at a port of their choice). The Voyage is sold in 'Legs' so take a look on http://www.pocruises.com/ for more details.
Congratulations to Bob Whitmore for his observation on the
P&O Cruises House Flag - we are indeed flying the Commodore's Burgee. Commodore Steve Burgoine says Hello Bob and he remembers you well!
Best wishes from all us Arcadians,
James
Best wishes from all us Arcadians,
James
'Thou hast left home to travel the world, therefore do not expect to find everything as it is at home!'
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9 comments:
We leaned over the rail in the morning sun, watching the tour jeeps line up under the bluff as an endless stream of dive boats rounded the point for a day's diving on the coral.
My wife and I were only planning a stroll ashore, so I struck up conversations with the expeditioneers.
"Where you off to today, mate?" I'd ask of someone in cargo pants and sensible hat.
"St Catherines? There it is up on the bluff there," I'd say, pointing at some ruined building - an old signal station perhaps, long defunct and manned only by lizards.
Their faces would fall - contemplating a long day in the desert just to get to a place they could see from the deck - and then disbelief would flicker over their features. I'd deliver the punchline at that point.
"Least, that's what the taxidriver said."
Give you joy of your passage through pirate waters. I fully expect pictures of you and your white-jacketed team keeping watch with fire axes hooked into your belts, ready to repel rascals.
Hi James
Many thanks for the quick reply re the Commodore's burgee.
Gives my age away when I spot these sort of things !
I retired from P & O after well over 30 years at sea with the company when ss Oriana was sold to the Japanese.
I now own a commercial decorating company in Luton, Bedfordshire, with an old friend.
Please pass my congratulations to the Commordore on his appointment to his position in the fleet.
He did sail with us on ss Oriana.
Regards,
Bob Whitmore ( Ex Maitre d'hotel ss Oriana )
Bob, your just up the road from me! We live between Harlington and Sharpenhoe. You never know I may look you up for some decorating in the near future!
James
This blog is as addictive as CC! I'm also following Oriana on her world voyage as it's my daughters first full world cruise contract as loyalty manager! Maybe you'll come across her (if you haven't already) one day!
Her first contract started in Sharm El Sheik, last March when she joined Aurora back on the last leg of the world cruise. She got chatting to the guest entertainer who was staying in the same hotel and couldn't wait to tell me she'd been having a good natter with Toyah Wilcox (80's punk singer)!
Anyway, keep up the good work with the photos and blog. The lady in the picture (Philip Crump) looks very familiar. Not sure if I've seen her on my visits to Oriana or whether I've seen her on one of our many cruises.
BTW, your weather looks much better than here at home. The wind is howling outside tonight :-(
Elaine Brady
As Arcadia is flying the Commodore's Burgee,does that means she's currently the flagship of P&O's fleet?
Ih it all sounds so wonderful, especially reading it here where it's miserable and windy.
Keep up the good work and enjoy those lovely sea days before Mumbai.
Hi
What port do you go into at Sharm el Sheik - Naama Bay or Old Sharm??
Hi
What port do you go into at Sharm el Sheik - Naama Bay or Old Sharm??
We go into Old Sharm.
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