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Cunard Line

MV Caronia

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Reviewed by: Jochen Gielen
# previous cruises: 5
Date of Trip: April 30, 2004
Itinerary: Europe

Cunard service is absolutely fantastic. The Caronia is a great ship and it's a shame she's leaving the Cunard fleet. I vote 5 stars for Cunard Caronia.

I left home at 07.00 to drive to Brussels Airport (where I work), once there I experienced the great SN Brussels Airlines service at the airport and on the flight from Brussels to Southampton of course the great service of British Airways. On arrival in Southampton it was raining like never before but I managed to meet up with SS Lewis and we had few hours to talk about ships, airplanes, ships, travel, ships and Cunard ships of course.

The speed of the ship between Southampton and Guernsey was most of the time just above 15 knots.

Once inside the QE2 Terminal Cunard service became visible, excellent of course, and onboard Caronia everything went from good to better.

Dinner was very nice of course and after that and an evening deck walk I had good night sleep. Breakfast in the dining room was of course stylish and rich.

Dinner was even more stylish on Day 2 with the informal dress code and I had a great evening with my tablemates , after that just a calm drink at the White Star Bar and then to my cabin for a night at sea with a slow speed of only 7 knots.

On Day 3, had lunch in the Dining room and a long chat with the tablemates. Because the sun was shining in the right direction I spent almost 3 hours just relaxing on the Sun Deck when I realised it was only 45 minutes until the Captain's reception in the Ballroom so I went back to the cabin and got changed (formal night) to meet Captain Nick Bates and enjoy a nice dinner after the reception. When dinner was over I really needed something nice and relaxing, like the show in the Ballroom of course which was really great. And after some late night comedy (also in the Ballroom) I went to bed.

After dropping anchor on Day 2 the tender service was delayed for half an hour because of the fog , after the fog lifted the tenders sailed out and I went ashore at St. Peter Port to see the harbour and another classic visitor , the Black Watch from Fred. Olsen Cruise Line. I spent most of my time ashore at the Lighthouse and Castle Cornet with the 5 museums and of course I took a lot of photographs. After I returned to the ship I took a long walk on deck to see the great views on the islands around us and the Black Watch.

Day 3 no port , just a full day at a calm sea with a slow 8 knots speed. Skipped breakfast for some sleeping, then a short deck walk and a photo tour of the ship.

Grey morning on Day 4 when we arrived in Le Havre (France) , but breakfast was very good again and after that I went off the ship to see Le Havre City Centre and I also searched for the 2 lightships and the Titanic tender Nomadic, I found them of course, before getting back onboard I looked around the little cruise terminal where they have 3 improvised shops when there's a Cruise ship in port and I bought some Cunard memorabilia.

When back onboard I had a little deck walk when I saw the P&O ferry Pride of Portsmouth come in and turn in front of Caronia's bow and of course also some freighters. When we left Le Havre it was raining again with a strong wind so I didn't stay on deck very long but every time I hear the whistle of a Cruise ship I get the shivers , that's the real voice of a ship and it sounds fantastic.

Back inside I took a shower and got dressed up for dinner (Casual), my tablemates and I promised to be at breakfast table at 07.30 in the morning to meet one last time. After dinner I went for a deck walk again and soon realised it was already 23.30 so I went back to my cabin for a little TV and then fell asleep.

On Day 5 I took some last photos onboard, met my tablemates at breakfast and then took one last deck walk in the cold Southampton rain before going back to my cabin to pack the last things and go to the Ballroom to wait for disembarkation along with my tablemates, after reclaiming my luggage I met 2 of my tablemates for the last time when waiting for a taxi to the airport. Once at the airport I had to wait for a few hours so took something to eat and looked around in the shops , when finally on the airplane we had a little delay because one of the stewardesses got sick and they had to wait for a replacement. We arrived almost on time at Brussels airport where it was raining again of course , after reclaiming my luggage on familiar grounds I took my car and drove home again , hoping to do another Cunard cruise in the near future , maybe even Caronia again. Back home at 21.30 I realised my holiday was over. All good things come to an end.

The passengers are about 60 % over 50 , 30 % between 30 and 50 , and 10 % under 30. I have 5 great tablemates including some younger people.