OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 22465 posts, RR: 60 Posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 14460 times:
So It was time to check out the new cruise ship launched by Celebrity Cruises. I decided to book direct flights from DUB-SOU and got a good fare. Im not a fan of the Q400 but was pleased that the return was to be on a E195 which is my fav of the smaller Jets.
I checked in online 24 hours before the flight and the next morning I took the bus to Dublin Airport.
DATE : 25JULY2009
AIRLINE: FLYBE
FLIGHT: BE 383
ROUTE : DUB-SOU
A/C : Q400
REG: G - JECI
SEAT : 21A
CLASS : ECONOMY
I couldnt believe the ques to get through security , it was terrible. It took over half an hour to get through and thats really not good enough IMHO.
Once I finally got through I decided to head to Starbucks for a Coffee. Some nice views of the ground movements.
Soon it was time to head to the A gates for my flight.
This flight was to be 100% full. Celebrity Cruises had invited press/radio and industry staff to this event and I regognised a good few people and one radio presenter also.
Soon it was time to board. A friendly gate agent took the half of my BP.
Doors were closed and we made our way to the runway.
Take off was quick and we got some nice views over Dublin .
Soon after the buy onboard service commenced.
I decided I wanted to sleep so did not get anything. Soon after I woke up it was time to land.
I was staying one night in Southampton and meeting up with a friend who was coming on the ship the next day with me. So we spent the day in Southampton shopping and generally looking around. That night we went to a really nice Indian restaurant before having an early night.
The next morning we got up had breakfast and headed to the port.
We passed through security and were on the ship in no time. I made my way to my stateroom which was a nice Balcony grade.
Then I dropped my bags and went to explore the ship. An Anetter had asked me to take a photo of his stateroom but all I managed to get was the outside as it was shut !! Sorry ...
Time for a glass of Champagne
I have to say all the staff we met were so friendly and happy. It really was a nice feeling.
So far I was really impressed with the interior. Every attention to detail had been made.
Time for another drink ::
Time to check out the restaurants
And my favourite of all the restaurants
The staff were from all over the world but lots from Bulgaria/Croatia/Serbia and Turkey . The Captains and senior crew were 90% Greek. This is a throw back to the days when Celebrity was Greek and called Xandris .
The nightclub which was quite impressive.
After that it was time for some light snack. So I went for the Grand Mariner Crepe! Was lovely.
At 5pm we sailed out of port and they had a live band.
Flybe Q400 taking off from SOU
Some people were dancing .... In the rain LOL...
So after a long tour of the ship we visited some bars then it was back to the stateroom to shower and dress up for dinner . We dined with some people we knew from Belfast and it was a nice group.
I have to say the dinner and the service was 10/10. Then it was time to go to the show. It was a Cirque Du Soliel type of show. It was good but I wouldnt call in my favourite.
Then after some time at the bar it was time to hit the nightclub. It was jammed packed and great music. Drink was flowing and I even got up and danced away the night myself.
At 2am it was time to hit the sack so I made my way back to the stateroom and slept like a baby. The next morning I woke at 8am and went for breakfast .
After that I got off the ship and went to kill some time at the shopping Mall. I then took the train to Southampton Airport for my flight back.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 22465 posts, RR: 60 Reply 1, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 14443 times:
DATE : 27JULY2009
AIRLINE: FLYBE
FLIGHT: BE 384
ROUTE : SOU-DUB
A/C : E195
REG: G - FBEG
SEAT : 29A
CLASS : ECONOMY
I checked in at the SSK and got my BP.
Soon it was time to board.
I love these jets. Lots of legroom and very comfortable seats. The crew were really friendly also.
Doors were closed and it was time to pushback .
As we did a huge rain shower started.
Take off was quick and smooth...
Aerial view of SOU
Buy on board commenced and I decided I was hungry so went for the £6 meal deal. The sandwich was very dry and bland though and I wouldnt recommend it .
The flight was quick and very pleasant. Soon it was time to land in DUB. The approach was very bumpy.
We pulled up to the A gates and waited for the steps to arrive. Whilst waiting I got chatting to the crew. I commented on how much I liked the Ejets and they agreed they loved them also and were nice to work on . Soon then the steps arrived and it was time to disembark. I said goodbye to the crew and thanked them for a nice flight.
So thats the end of my report. I really enjoyed the cruise ship and will probably look at going on it for a longer period sometime. Flybe were great and on time. I wish they used Ejets on all their flights. Its such a lovely aircraft to fly on.
Thanks for reading and I appreciate all your comments as usual.
OA260 aka Philip
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
EICVD From Ireland, joined Mar 2008, 1891 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 14269 times:
Hi Philip
Excellant TR from you as usual. Great pics aswell, really liked the few after departure from DUB. Them cruise liners sure are something else.
Thanks for posting.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 22465 posts, RR: 60 Reply 5, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 13936 times:
Quoting EICVD (Reply 2): Great pics aswell, really liked the few after departure from DUB. Them cruise liners sure are something else.
Hi Mark thanks, Im glad you enjoyed it. Maybe one day you will be convinced to take a daytrip somewhere lol...
Quoting JasYHZ (Reply 3): Thanks! I'll let you know what 1170 looks like on the inside after 05FEB!!
Good , Im sure you will have an amazing time . Keep us posted.
Quoting Rogerbcn (Reply 4): That ship looks impressive, do you know if it is headed for the Mediterranean/BCN or is it going to sail on the Caribbean? I'd like to see it here.
Hi Roger, Yes its very impressive. The ship will be going to BCN on a regular basis so you will see her Im sure.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
BW424 From Trinidad and Tobago, joined Sep 2008, 1186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 13804 times:
Great TR 0A260!!
Lots of photos to make me feel like I was there myself. I'm sure this report would also be generously accepted on a cruise ship enthusiast forum.LOL. They would go ballistic!!
Nice to see you got the Ejet on the way back. I so want to fly on one in the near future.
It is what we think we know already that prevents us from learning.......
Hi Duane,
Thanks very much Im glad you enjoyed it . Good luck in your competition I really hope you win it. For anyone that wants to help Duane out and support him the link is here ::
Quoting BMIFlyer (Reply 8): The liner looks simply AMAZING!!
Thanks yes i was really impressed with it , had the WOW factor IMHO.
Quoting Mk777 (Reply 9): When is new terminal at DUB scheduled to open??
Hi thanks for the thumbs up. I believe its November 2010 , so fingers crossed. It will be a fantastic Terminal to have a DUB. You can be sure I will do a TR when its opened . lol...
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Nibog From Ireland, joined Apr 2009, 273 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 13363 times:
Hi Philip,
Wow and wow again,and again!!!!.
I enjoyed your trip report to SOU,however the photos of the ship are awesome dude!!!!.I have to say for someone who was not that struck on the idea of a cruise,well let me say that the seed has been sown!!!.You had the best of both worlds,a spin on a E jet and a quick spin around the bay,way to go!!!!
Hi Jordan, thanks , Im glad you liked it. Working onboard is hard but great fun so the crew tell me.
Quoting Pawsleykat (Reply 12): you can see my usual accomodation when there - Trent's house.
Nice to have free accom in DUB lol...
Quoting Nibog (Reply 13): I enjoyed your trip report to SOU,however the photos of the ship are awesome dude!!!!.I have to say for someone who was not that struck on the idea of a cruise,well let me say that the seed has been sown!!
Hi thanks , You should get yourself on one . Its alot of fun . A nice flight to say BUE then jump on a cruise down the South American coast would be a great experience. Id love that one myself one day.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1316 posts, RR: 36 Reply 15, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 13321 times:
Those are some pretty impressive pictures of the ship.
I've always regarded cruises to being a waste of time and money and not up to my alley, but I think I should try a real one some day - my opinions are based on plying the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden/Estonia on the ferries from which the word "Luxury" is very far. It's kinda like comparing FR to BA First .
How does it work with these cruises, you seem to imply that when you buy a cruise package it's an all-inclusive deal, so all meals, drinks, snacks etc. onboard are included in your cruise price?
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 3551 posts, RR: 51 Reply 16, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 13281 times:
Another ship on your log Philip. For sure a nice one! I think I liked your previous ships a bit more though.
BE seems very well ok. Never flew them till now. That E195 is a beautiful machine, and I really want to fly on one soon... I think I'll just book a few flights again in the coming days.
Cheers,
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
JetBlueGuy2006 From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1466 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 13264 times:
Awesome TR man....the E190 looks like such a great a/c
The cruise ship was something else, I wish I could get on a cruise ship sometime and one that was that new would be great
Aweosme job on the Report
Home Airport: Capital Region International Airport (KLAN)
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 15): How does it work with these cruises, you seem to imply that when you buy a cruise package it's an all-inclusive deal, so all meals, drinks, snacks etc. onboard are included in your cruise price?
You pay for your cruise fare and you get all meals and some drinks like Tea and Coffee self service in the Cafe . Also breakfast and lunch they have free still lemonade and fruit punch in the Cafe. You pay for all other drinks and they are in $$ so not too bad value. If you dont drink alchohol you can get a ''Soda Package'' for around $7 per day and that gives you unlimited Coke/7UP etc... at all bars and restaurants.
Also 24 hour room service is included! So if its 3am and you want New York Cheesecake delivered to your stateroom then you can and its free. And NO I have not tried it LOL...
Quoting Airbuseric (Reply 16): I think I liked your previous ships a bit more though.
BE seems very well ok. Never flew them till now. That E195 is a beautiful machine,
Hi Eric, I think you like NCL more and I liked it also . Ships are all different styles and grades but I really did like this one. I love the Celebrity brand more so than the sister company Royal Caribbean but I always have a good time on all. You must get on the E jet.
Quoting JetBlueGuy2006 (Reply 17): Awesome TR man....the E190 looks like such a great a/c
Thanks Im glad you liked it . The E Jet is lovely and the windows are so large you get to see so much more.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 7749 posts, RR: 57 Reply 19, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 13124 times:
Hi Philip,
Another great report, I'm sure you provide more information about these ships than the companies themselves!
SXDFC From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 1722 posts, RR: 21 Reply 20, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 12815 times:
Phil:
As always you never cease to amaze me with your TR's! Glad to also see you had a wonderful time on the cruise ship as well!
Now too bad you don't remember your last WN trip! That would have been a cool TR!
Quoting OA260 (Thread starter): I decided to head to Starbucks for a Coffee.
What kinda coffee did you get?
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 22465 posts, RR: 60 Reply 21, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 12627 times:
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 19): Another great report, I'm sure you provide more information about these ships than the companies themselves!
Hi Mark, Yes its quite true lol... The brochures only tell you so much and the websites too. Its good to get personal photos which show everything. Normally the brochures show you what the company want you to see, same as Airlines i guess, but I can assure you there was nothing to hide. All was 10/10
Quoting SXDFC (Reply 20): Now too bad you don't remember your last WN trip! That would have been a cool TR
Those would have made good TR's. BUR-OAK was a regular route for me .
Quoting SXDFC (Reply 20): What kinda coffee did you get?
Tall Cappuchino that day but sometimes a Tall Mocha with fresh cream
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
PlunaCRJ From Uruguay, joined Nov 2007, 539 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 12492 times:
Very nice TR and pictures.
The cabin of the Q400 looked great, but the seats are somewhat worned out. Are there any plans to replace them?
Never being on a cruise ship myself, I found the pictures of it very interesting, it is just like a totally different world. Not sure if I´d like to sail in one someday though.
Regards,
"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom"- Isaac Asimo
EIRules From Ireland, joined Aug 2007, 542 posts, RR: 11 Reply 24, posted (2 years 6 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 12301 times:
Well done Phil
Excellent as always even if the context is not exactly to my liking!! Was it not a bit like a ghost ship with so few people on board? Maybe thats the best way to do a cruise!
Anyway, well done again
Andy
Next Flights: UA DUB-EWR (752), UA EWR-SEA (738), AC YVR-YEG (E90), AC YEG-LHR (763), BD LHR-DUB (A319)
25 OA260: Yes they have had those for a while now. Not sure if they will be replaced. Thanks glad you enjoyed it. No I actually went round taking all my pics w
26 Akhmad: Hi Philip, Great trip report! I love the way you cover the cruise. It is like I was there with you! The ship is HUGE! Thank you for bringing in the E-
27 OA260: Hi glad you liked it . You will enjoy the E Jet , hope to see a TR from you on it.
28 Baguy: Great TR, thanks. The Equinox looks amazing - my next cruise is on Costa Fortuna, any idea what that'll be like? BAguy
29 OA260: Hi I was on Costa last year on a mini trip. I enjoyed it. Now the decor gets some getting used to but the food was good and the Fortuna according to
30 Edina: I boarded Equinox just as you disembarked & loved my trip, although she looked a little quieter on yours. I'm looking forward to Eclipse next year....
31 OA260: All being well Love yours pics. I missed the Glass blowing , shame it looked fun. Also loved your QM2 pics. The Fred Olsen ones have only reinforced
32 Abrelosojos: Phil, Thanks for a very comprehensive report. I think I need a vacation! BTW, you in Dublin end October ... I seem to have picked up a rather interest
33 RichM: Brilliant trip report, I enjoyed reading it. The E195 looks very impressive and modern inside. (not surprisingly ofc :P) I also liked the shots of the
34 OA260: Hi let me know when you are arriving, if im in town we can go for a beer. Yes you should go , its fun.
35 Cruiseshipcrew: Thats a great looking ship! Thanks for the TR
36 Gpbcroppers63: Another top notch TR Philip. That cruise ship looks simply stunning. I'll have to get myself back on a cruise ship soon. Ferries are OK but they're no
37 OA260: Welcome LOL.. But you promised me Stena Plus
38 Edina: Fred. have a fantastic product that appeals to it's niche. It has one of the highest repeat rates in the industry - yes, the average age is dead, but
40 Flyboy_se: Great report as usual Phil. Seems like a nice ship, and nice to know many crew were from my area Must give it a go
41 OA260: Yes I agree, I have an Aunt in England who wont fly and loves them. I guess there is a product for everyone. Hi Petar, thanks glad you liked it. Stil
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