Thread: Cruise Ship Interest

Hey everyone! Today has to have been the best day of my life!
It was fantastic, we were all treated like VIP's. Such a wonderful day. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Gotta have dinner now, charge the camera ect ect. Then I'll be back a little later to tell you all about it!

Looks like you have been having a fantastic time Harry, looking forward to hearing more about it and to seeing more pictures, nice to "see" your Mum again

Originally Posted by G33

Hey everyone! Today has to have been the best day of my life!
It was fantastic, we were all treated like VIP's. Such a wonderful day. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Gotta have dinner now, charge the camera ect ect. Then I'll be back a little later to tell you all about it!

So happy it was a WONDERFUL Day! Looking forward to "the rest"!

Anxiously awaiting the rest of the story!

Glad you had a wonderful time Mr. VIP

Looking forward to hearing more about your day and seeing pics.

We left home around 8:15am this morning. The journey was fine, no traffic, just perfect. Although when we arrive at the port it was a different matter, very busy indeed. Once we parked up the car (Had a big problem with the security personnel), we made our way into the cruise terminal were we got our passes. We were told to board on the crew gangway and the front of the vessel, we made are own way there too! The other security guys were fine, we had no problem at all. We then made our way back along the dock, back towards the gangway. As soon as we boarded we got our passes and one of the gentlemen radioed through to the bridge. You could tell they had done a good job arranging everything, they knew who we were and were expecting us. VIP guests! Terrific! We were treated like royalty as soon as we stepped aboard!


A guy then came to meet us and took us up to the bridge straight away. Within a matter of a few minutes after boarding. We met a few gentlemen, including the Second Officer and Staff Captain. All so pleased to meet us, very welcoming. Offered us all a drinks, sat down, had a lovely chat. Then they mentioned my drawing, which they said was just incredible. Little did I know until they said a few moments later it has been framed! So we got up and had a look, I have to say in a frame, my drawings look so much better. It brought it to life! We stood talking for sometime about my drawings and designs. Then I was asked by the Staff Captain if I would like to tour the ship.


We were then introduced to a young guy called George, who was working on board a an apprentice. Now, the tour he gave us was just out of this world! Really incredible! He took us to places you'd never dream on seeing, the galleys, crew areas, the mooring stations, almost everywhere! He was a very knowledgeable gent, really nice too. In fact everyone was so friendly and treated us with the up most respect. During the tour we stopped for a coffee. Afterwards we continued down into the crew areas, but then George had a radio call saying the Captain was ready to see us now. Obviously, as you can imagine he had been asleep as they docked at 4:30am this morning.

Once we got back up on the bridge we sat down and waited. We also took another walk around, the view was amazing, you could see for miles! And we all braved standing on the glass floor at the bridge wings. I then went to look along the side of the ship and then the Captain came along, so had to rush back for him to introduce himself. He was most overwhelmed to see me, very very welcoming. He then took me over to see the framed drawing on one of the side tables. He said they are thinking about putting it up in the Fun Factory Kids area on display. I couldn't believe it when I saw it framed, lots of Officers were looking as they walked in to the bridge. The Captain's wife, two daughters and his son then came to meet us. His youngest daughter, who was 8 I think, was very happy to see me. She was one of the people up on the bridge wings when the Captain shouted out last time. Her mum said she just had to come and met you, Harry! All such nice and friendly people.
Mum then sat talking with my dad and the Captain's wife, while I and the Captain, the second officer and the Captain's son all stood talking about my work and looking through my various drawings. Had a great chat, good laugh too. The Captain had a good scene of humour! Cunardia really impressed them! Really!


Afterwards the Captain said we must go and have some lunch, so his wife and children took us to the main buffet towards the aft. Very nice food indeed. Two of the Captain children were getting off the ship so she had to go attend to them, but she made sure a waiter looked after us and was there to escort us back to the bridge. Had a lovely lunch, nice a relaxing too. Then the waiter took us back to the bridge. Not many people were around, very quiet. We then saw the Captain walk along the dockside with his family to say bye to his kids. We gave the little girl and his wife a wave. When they came back aboard they said it seemed funny seeing you up there waving at us this time, last time it was the other way around! The Captain then took a quiet nap before they sailed, so we sat talking to his wife all afternoon on the bridge! So nice to just be able to walk up and down and to feel so comfortable too. The way they treated us I just can't believe, it was as if we were family.


The cruise director them came over to say hello, he'd only just joined so hadn't seem the drawing. Very impressed with it and gave me his best wishes. A little while later the muster announcement was made so we had to disembark, around 4pm. We were on board a good 7 hours then! The best ship yet, fantastic the, just the whole ship and friendliness, I'm lost for words!


We then sat just outside of the cruise terminal as always to watch the ship sail away. We saw a few people looking out from the bridge but no one waved back. Until the Captain came along and blow the horn just to attract our attention! Fantastic! Now this was what really made us all laugh. He then got a megaphone and shouted “Bye bye Harry! Nice meeting you!” And blow the horn once again, three times! It was such a special moment.


Overall today, it must have been the best day of my life! Wonderful!

I am in awe Harry! What a wonderful day you have had.

Please tell us the Captain's name and the name of the cruise director.

Before boarding, from the dockside!

Originally Posted by Char

I am in awe Harry! What a wonderful day you have had.

Please tell us the Captain's name and the name of the cruise director.

Char, the Captain's name was Nikolas Pagonis and the Staff Captain's name is Costas Nestoroudis. Can't remember the Cruise Director's name. He only spoke for a second, he was in a rush to get the muster drill under way.