Norwegian Dawn London to Lisbon

Pleased it's going well.

You just wouldn't expect a Cathedral to be closed one day a week, but yes the website says it is.

Yes there is a named storm. I know the P & O Arvia who left Southampton with you has cancelled Lisbon today due to the storm, and added Gibraltar instead in a day or two's time.

But the storm is sweeping North across the UK in the next few days

So glad you're enjoying your trip.

If you want to put a name to the storm you are sailing into, its name is Babet. I expected Babet to be spelled Babette but they are spelling it Babet.

Enjoy your trip!

The name Babet was selected by the Dutch weather agency, KMNI after a woman who visited an open day at their headquarters. She was born in a storm and put her own name forward for selection.
The stress is on the second syllable- ET

I’m glad you are enjoying your cruise. Don’t let complainers on the cruise take away any of your fun! I find these are often the “professional cruisers”, those who cruise just to be waited on vs. to go someplace interesting. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does seem to heighten their expectations and their complaints.

Glad to hear you are having a great time and liking your ship!
Thanks for keeping us posted. We feel as though we are all traveling right along with you.
Best wishes.

thanks for keeping up posted. It is very pleasant to have the flow of information - and as it happens. Appreciated.

You've been lucky in going to Bordeaux today.
News from the Arvia is of 85mph winds and 6 metre swells in the Bay of Biscay overnight.
I'm currently on a bus running an hour late due to the seafront at Torquay being closed owing to the high winds.

I guess that we have been lucky with the weather. had no idea there was even a storm in the area. But Yesterday the winds were so strong that we could not go outside the ship. In the evening Doors to the outside were locked with a warning about the strong winds

Today I went to Bordeaux and we had some showers until the afternoon. Temps were in the 60’s and it was pleasant

Tomorrow is Bilbao and it is expected to be in the 70’s and cloudy

Tonight we had Mexican food in the Garden Cafe. It was mediocre. They do not do Mexican right in the Buffett on Norwegian Ships

Found Bordeaux very pretty. Some of it reminded me of Commonwealth Avenue in Boston.

Hate to report that I ate in a local restaurant and did not enjoy thr plate of the day. Later I ate a donut at an amusement park and it was too heavy and sweet. I expected more from the food

Maybe better luck tomorrow. I am going to the Guggenheim Museum and maybe I will eat there.

Have upgraded to unlimited wi fi for the next four days the free wi fi that I was given as an amenity was not enough so I should be able to get on Forum every day

Phil, maybe change things up a bit and eat in the main dining room instead of the buffet?

Today was Balbao. of all the ports, thus far, I find this the most beautiful.

I went to the Guggenheim and loved it but major disappointment. Jeff Koonz’s Dog was not on exhibit. Every 6 months, the flowers on the dog are changed and Dog is out of commission for a few days and would you believe this is the few days. The Dog will be back on exhibit by Saturday.

What are the chances?

It was such a major disappointment but life moves on,

We went to Old Town and then up the hill to whatever the highest point is called.

Now I am headed to La Coruna

Seas are calm this evening.

I have gone way over budget but no regrets

I am learning from this cruise to be applied to the next one

You probably mean Artxanda, up it's funicular railway.

Yes isn31c

I mean funicular. Thank you

We have been having rough seas for a few hours. Seems to be calming a bit as we get closer to La Corunna

I have gone way over budget but no regrets

Good for you 😊

La Coruna has been cancelled Extreme weather.

Captain assures us we have nothing to fear. Things shoul improve by the afternoon but for now, we are asked to stay in our cabins.

I am glad that I already had breakfast and purchased unlimited wi fi

I was thinking about movies where water begins to pour into the ship

We have been having this weather for over nine hours now.

That is unfortunate, but not hugely unusual for the time of year.

It tends not to help to see disaster movies in that kind of situation!!

I've had exactly the same sort of situation several times. Last time dinner was served on paper plates and with plastic cups/glasses to minimise breakage, and on a very simplified menu.

@Phil. I’m glad you are able to flex and go with the changes with such a positive attitude. I’ve heard of closing outside decks, but not having people stay in their staterooms. You must be experiencing really severe weather. Take care!

I've been cabined up several times, including on Hurtigruten in a force 12.

EDIT- Yesterday Madrid had it's wettest day since at least 1920.

Well, I just came from a movie in the theater.

It is preferred that we try to stay put so that we do not lose our balance. I do not think even a shower is a good idea

The weather is still turbulent although we were led to believe that it was going to clear up in the afternoon

I missed the captain’s update because I was in the movie

I hope that we can still port tomorrow in Vigo because I have my excursion to Santiago

BostonPhil may like this new video- an Englishman flying LHR to Austin on Virgin Atlantic- a very positive flight report- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfZlQRXuVn8

Things are far more peaceful on the ship now. I think that we were probably dealing with Storm Babette. Now we are all laughing about the storm but we were not laughing yesterday.

Interestingly enough, during the storm, when I was trying to balance myself, I had little pain with my leg, knee or foot but now that the storm has passed, I am experiencing pain again.

isn31c

Video has to wait until I get home. Was not able to access on my iPad. Safari issue

during the storm, when I was trying to balance myself, I had little pain with my leg, knee or foot but now that the storm has passed, I am experiencing pain again.

when involved in things like yesterday you get adrenalin. Adrenalin is a wonderful pain killer. Now that the seas are calm the adrenalin wears off and the pain returns.

I hope the rest of your trip goes really well.

How does this compare with your previous cruises?

Well I can see that you berthed in Vigo at 0459 this morning. I am very pleased for you because I know how much thought and research you put into your shore time here- Santiago and the Caminos.

Storm Babet has been quite some storm- both for it's persistency and for it's reach- stretching from the North of Scotland to Spain at the same time. It is certainly a travel story for the future.

Hopefully you have got the painkillers you need- I am often the same with my legs- they will get me through situations but then afterwards give me problems, and remind me of my age.

Thanks for the info Nigel

You asked how this cruise compares with other cruises that I have taken

I do not have an answer. I have to think about it for now and get back with you

I am a more experienced cruiser but I have gotten older and with obvious health issues. Persons come up to take my arm and help me get up or down some stairs. That is so kind but I am sad that my health issues and age are so obvious. I have become very aware of how old I am. But I am very touched by the kindness of others.

This is only the second time that I have been on a small ship and I am really liking the smaller ship. It seems to have everything the bigger ships have but less so. Of course we do not have the water slides and the go go cars. I am so glad.

This cruise is port heavy so when I come back to the ship, I do not need or want entertainment , I eat and mostly watch TV. I crash very early so as to get ready for the next port. I am someone who watches a lot of news and keeps up with current events but I do not need to tell you what the news is about.

I have never been on a cruise where we had a storm like we did the other night and day. It was actually interesting but w were all worn down from the storm and La Coruna had to be cancelled

There have been major disappointments but that has been true of every cruise. I learn from my disappointments. , I have made a lot of mistakes on this cruise but that is true of all my cruises

I had very high expectations before the cruise but the realities do not live up to what I expected and that has been true of every cruise

So I think there are a lot of similarities between all of my cruises. This one is different that I am dealing with language differences which is proving a real barrier for me. I have had a lot of problems buying food or shopping or asking for information or directions.

Isn31c

I was not in Vigo ver long but found it amazingly beautiful, I was not expecting Vigo to be so beautiful just from what I had read or heard.

I had a major disappointment yesterday, I w as not able to get into St James Cathedral . I was in line but the line was cut off when a mass began.

However other persons on my excursion were able to get in by going to side streets and getting in side entrances

I do not take pain killers I try other ways of dealing with the pain like icing my knees. I use exercise and stretching and massage but I fear that my age and health issues are very obvious now. Any number of persons come up to me and give me their arm or take mine as I walk up or down stairs. I am touched by the kindness of others but embarrassed that my health issues and age are so obvious.

Today we arrive in Oporto and I am taking an excursion to The Minho Province.

Yes, Babette has been quite a storm and it is part of this journey. I hear very little of the effects of Bab because most of the news is about the Middle East or the Speaker of The House.

But is was interesting to be in such a storm on a cruise ship.

If it is any comfort, regarding the cathedral in Santiago, I find that the best experience there is the square in front of the cathedral. Huge square, with looming cathedral and palaces on all sides, and with the palpable emotion of the pilgrims having reached their destination.
Inside the cathedral is invariably crowded and not as "unique".

Hi Balso

Your words do comfort me. You made me feel better

I love public squares and spent some time in the square and walking around the square.

I discovered a very nice museum close to the church. Maybe you know the name. It was about Santiago, Caminos, and St James.

It was large, modern, attractive and free

Arriving Lisbon soon.

It has been a good trip but with a few disappointments. But that is life

I loved Oporto and Braga. I especially loved Braga.

Will be spending a few days in Lisbon before the flight home

And in good time, I plan to write some trip reviews.

Enjoy Lisbon! It is truly a beautiful city. And use taxis and ubers, they are cheap and they will save your legs from the steep hills!

the story continues at https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/riding-out-a-storm