OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24889 posts, RR: 60 Posted (5 years 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 13747 times:
I was lucky to get an invite to the launch of the new ''Independence of the Seas'' Royal Caribbeans newest ship and the largest cruise liner in the world along side its sister ships ''Freedom'' and ''Liberty''.
I decided to fly to LHR with BMI in J class and then finally take a trip on the BE E195 that I have been wanting to try for ages. FlyBe use the E195 on certain flights SOU-DUB so I decided to fly home from Southampton.
DATE : 27TH APRIL 2007
AIRLINE: BMI
ROUTE : DUB-LHR
FLIGHT : BD 120
CLASS: BUSINESS
SEAT : 2A
A/C : A319
REG : G-DBCC
I and a collegue caught the airport bus at 4am and we arrived into Dublin Airport at 530am. We had printed out boarding card off online so proceeded to Fast Track line . We then went to the BMI Diamond Club lounge for some much needed coffee.
Time to go to the boarding gate .
The pilot announced a short delay and at this time drinks were offered in the Business class cabin.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4652 posts, RR: 27 Reply 2, posted (5 years 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 13537 times:
BMI aside, I never knew much about FlyBe, coming from this part of the world. Thanks for sharing! What amazing picures of the cruise although going onto a ship like that is not my thing. I have nightmares of Poseidon...
Am I the only one here or does LHR T5 look like a cross between HKIA and BKK??
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4015 posts, RR: 52 Reply 6, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 12798 times:
Hi Philip!
You're on the winning side: so many tripreports by you lately
Nice pics, it gives a perfect impression on such a large cruiseship. I really enjoyed the pics, and also that video of the surfguy on that wave-machine
Nice ending on the Emb195. It's on my 'to fly' list as well, but first I'll try to score a few other new types to my log the upcoming period.
Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): Sorry its very long but I guess there was so much to see.
My PC was having some difficulties with it in the beginning, but it went ok in the end
Cheers,
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
StefanPAD From Germany, joined Dec 2005, 282 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 12326 times:
Hi Philip!
Great story. It's not the first TR to a cruise liner, right? I think I remember a TR to Netherlands with a fellow A.netter.
Nice pics. The food looks delicious on the ship!
Shamrock350 From Ireland, joined Mar 2005, 6099 posts, RR: 15 Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 12165 times:
Great report once again!
Loved the pics, especially of that amazing cruise ship! I saw it on The One Show last week, that wave simulator looks like great fun. The photos over London are good as well.
VScaptain From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2005, 107 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (5 years 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 11619 times:
Fantastic TR.
Im due out on Idipendance at XMAS , is it better than the Voyager class of ships? Im looking forward to fresh water pools, unlike the icky salt water n Voyager and Radiance class ships!!
Buck3y3nut From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 864 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 years 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 11267 times:
an excellent trip report... and awesome pictures too...
thanks a bunch for writing this report and sharing it with us...
Andaman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (5 years 2 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 11234 times:
Great TR, thanks for posting!
The cruiser looks amazing, its HUGE. A friend of mine lives close to the shipyard in Finland were The Independence and her sisters were built, he says the huge ships really dominate the view there.
Quoting Jrfspa320 (Reply 3): Hows the new terminal coming along at DUB?
Its really coming on they are well on the way . The last few weeks I have passed though DUB airport and each week its amazing to see the progress.
Quoting Phileet92 (Reply 4): now r u like an elite member with flybe?
No but I had a un used lounge voucher which they let me use.
Quoting LHRBFSTrident (Reply 5): do you know the rego of the EI A330 with the standard size doors at 3L/3R shown in your apron pic at DUB on departure? Is that -DUZ?
Sorry not sure. Maybe some of the Irish guys might know.
I know its just happened by coincidence. Everything seems to be happening at once.
Quoting StefanPAD (Reply 7): It's not the first TR to a cruise liner, right?
No I think its the 4th LOL....Aviation and cruise vacations =
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 9): Have you ever been to the Meyer Shipyard, Papenburg, the birthplace of some of these cruisers?.
On my schedule for next month!.
Hi Markus,
Looking forward to your report and I presume a E195 one???
Quoting VScaptain (Reply 10): is it better than the Voyager class of ships?
Oh yes !! I was on the Voyager transatlantic and I love it but once you have been on the Independence you will find it hard to go back. Its about 30% bigger than the Voyager and alot more facilities. Also a longer Promenade. What kind of stateroom do you have booked??? You have to try the Pizza in the Promenade cafe...its bliss !!!
Thanks, yes the Finns seem to be good at ship building. I met some of the guys who sailed on it from Finland to Southampton. They were there to make sure everything went ok and smooth out any glitches. I tell you something they work hard and play hard...they certainly like their drink LOL....
Thanks for all the replies , keep them coming.....
OA260
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10241 posts, RR: 40 Reply 14, posted (5 years 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 11056 times:
Thank you for posting the picture of my white lady friend Concorde G-BOAD! The picture is slightly blurred but she is still her majestic self, she will always be Queen of the Skies. All will be much better for her after they have her moved to her definite location at T5. I am sure she will be properly taken care of by BA.
You posted some very nice pictures of T5 by the way!
Also it is nice to see Big Girl A380 (I have no idea which reg) from Singapore Airlines at the gate. I did not get to see her this way when we landed at Heathrow as I was inside her!!
Althoguh I prefer the grand old fashioned ocean liners, I am sure this new ship will have a successful career. She probably belongs to a category that's a lot more affordable than Cunard's QM2 and QV.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
Hantsflyer27 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2005, 65 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (5 years 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 10917 times:
Great trip report.
I got really into the cruise liner photos and actually forgot i was on a airline trip report. Nice to see inside of her, my workplace overlooks the docks and i have seen her everyday now for the last week. She is one massive beauty. I liked the look of the on-board carvery mmmmm.
Glad you got to try the E195, again i see her fly over regulary, but only ever seem to get the Q400's when i fly from Southampton. You must tell me how you got into that lounge. Does it have the runway views that the main upper lounge at Southampton has.
EIRules From Ireland, joined Aug 2007, 641 posts, RR: 10 Reply 17, posted (5 years 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 10688 times:
How the hell can you take so many pics on a plane, I'm def not doing a TR for my trip to Oz now!!!
Excellent TR though as always Philip.
That E195 looks lovely and even that cruise ship looks tempting, but I guess a cruise will have to wait til next year for me now!
Well done again mate, they just get better every time
Next Flights: EI DUB-LHR A320, BA LHR-SFO B744, UA SFO-LAS A320, BA LAS-LHR B744, EI LHR-DUB A320
Andaman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (5 years 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 10646 times:
The BlyBe E195 looks cool, like the rest of the Embraer family, I love their business jet look.
Quoting OA260 (Reply 13): I met some of the guys who sailed on it from Finland to Southampton. They were there to make sure everything went ok and smooth out any glitches. I tell you something they work hard and play hard...they certainly like their drink LOL....
I hope they are sober on duty... the cruiser on the rocks would be bad PR
I had an old un used lounge voucher so used that. I see they have a FF program , awards for all and 20 points get you a 1 year lounge pass. Not bad IMHO.
Quoting EISHN (Reply 16): Looking forward to the next one man.
VScaptain From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2005, 107 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (5 years 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 10115 times:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 13): Oh yes !! I was on the Voyager transatlantic and I love it but once you have been on the Independence you will find it hard to go back. Its about 30% bigger than the Voyager and alot more facilities. Also a longer Promenade. What kind of stateroom do you have booked??? You have to try the Pizza in the Promenade cafe...its bliss !!!
My sister and I have Prominade views, and my parents have a bigger balcony, not sure which code thing it is. I live on there Pizza!! And most of the windjammer. lol. So im gonna find it hard to go back to the Explorea post Indipendance? I want to try the Genisis, but bit of a wait yet I think.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24889 posts, RR: 60 Reply 22, posted (5 years 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 10097 times:
Quoting VScaptain (Reply 21): So im gonna find it hard to go back to the Explorea post Indipendance? I want to try the Genisis, but bit of a wait yet I think.
The PR staterooms are excellent. I have stayed in them . Great to people watch in the Royal Promenade. Just remember to keep the curtains closed when you are getting out of the shower LOL....
Genesis looks amazing and Central Park also looks cool.....
[Edited 2008-05-03 02:41:27]
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Edina From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 713 posts, RR: 10 Reply 23, posted (5 years 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 10043 times:
I sailed on Independence as part of the inaugural 28th to 30th - I'm normally a small ship cruiser (max 400 pax) but snobbery aside evne I was wowed by this giant. The crew were very enthusiastic, the product consistent & some great facilities - the ice rink, Johnny Rockets & the cantilevered whirlpools suspended 12 decks above the sea being my favourites. My only complaint.......being used to smaller ships it was wierd having to spend so long getting from A to B on board!!
Worked on - Caravelle Mercure A300 A320 F27 SD3-60 BAe146 747-100/200/400 DC10-30 767 777 737-400 757 A319 A321
Flyboy_se From Switzerland, joined Feb 2000, 745 posts, RR: 6 Reply 24, posted (5 years 2 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 9721 times:
Excellent TR as always.
Independence looks amazing. Such a huge ship.
Great to see T5 aswell.
Looking forward to the next TR
Let´s fly away
25 Kiramakora: Excellent TR - and special thanks for featuring BD.
26 AznMadSci: Hey Philip! Awesome pictures! I guess I should consider trying out a cruise one of these days! Just the internal architecture is amazing! How was the
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