Tag Archives: London

23-24 August 2019:
London to Iceland:
Crossing the Atlantic, Part 1

By Corey Sandler

We came into London Friday morning, passing through Tower Bridge with perfect time to (briefly) disrupt the morning rush hour.

This time the weather was glorious. We passed the London Flood Barrier at about 6:45am and through Tower Bridge an hour later:

We leave Saturday in the early evening, which should provide entertainment for Londoners and all aboard ship.

To guests leaving us here, we wish safe travels. And welcome aboard to new friends.

The London Flood Barrier
Tower Bridge from the navigational bridge of Silver Wind

Once we were through the bridge and tied up to HMS Belfast in the river, we went ashore to visit the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch in the City of London. Here are some of the spectacular views from the 35th floor:

Views of the Thames and London from the 35th floor

From here we head along the south coast of the United Kingdom to make a visit at St. Mary’s on the Isle of Scilly, one of the westernmost parts of England. From there we will continue to Ireland for visits to the great city of Dublin, then back to the UK for Belfast and Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

More island lay ahead: Tobermory on the Isle of Mull and Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, both offshore of Scotland.

We make a left turn and cross over to Seyðisfjörður on the mainland of the island nation of Iceland, and then to Heimaey, the home island of the
Vestmannaeyjar archipelago in the south part of Iceland, and from there on to the capital city of Reykjavik.

Here’s our plan:

All photos and text Copyright 2019 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved. See more photos on my website at http://www.coreysandler.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE ANY PHOTO OR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

10-11 August 2019:
London to London:
Circling Great Britain and Ireland

By Corey Sandler

Silver Wind arrived at London Tilbury port on the River Thames after a day at sea in a howling storm, in gale force winds and high seas.

Tilbury was not our original plan, but when the winds blow things change.

Our captain wrestled with the issue of getting our ship through the London Flood Barrier and through the Tower Bridge at London. Ultimately, it was the river pilots who made the call: Tilbury.

Silver Wind at the pier in Tilbury today
In case you were wondering its location, here is World’s End just downriver from the Tilbury dock. This pub has been in operation, in one form or another for about 300 years and was mentioned in the diaries of Samuel Pepys in the 17th century. All photos by Corey Sandler

Sorry, but safe, we thus completed a lovely cruise that began in Reykjavik, Iceland and visited several ports of that island nation and then continued to the Faroe, Shetland, and Orkney islands and on to the big island of the United Kingdom at Scotland.

Here are some photos from this cruise:

Edinburgh Castle. with the stands set up for the Military Tattoo extravaganza
A shop sing in the Shetland Islands
Godafoss Falls in Iceland

From here, we’re off on a circle route, stopping first in Fowey, Cornwall. From there we visit the independent nation of Ireland with calls in Cobh, Bantry, and Galway. We’ll continue to Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, to visit Londonderry, Belfast, and Dublin.

Continuing our circle we’ll call at Holyhead in Wales before making a morning passage through the Tower Bridge back here in London. I hope you’ll join me in these pages. Here’s our plan:

All photos and text Copyright 2019 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved. See more photos on my website at http://www.coreysandler.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE ANY PHOTO OR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

21-23 June 2019:
London, United Kingdom:
Through the Tower Bridge to the Top of Norway and Around the Corner to Copenhagen

By Corey Sandler

We’ve come to our third loop of northern Europe this season on Silver Wind.

We entered the Thames Estuary about noontime and made our way up the river, passing through the London Tower Bridge in early evening to our dock alongside HMS Belfast across from the Tower of London.

In doing so we completed our round-trip from the U.K. to France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway without once having to enter an airport. That is among the many charms of sea travel.

Safe travels to guests leaving us here in London.

An homage to Hitchcock’s Rear Window near Millennium Pier

Early on Sunday morning we–with the assistance of tugs–backed away from the dock and went through the bridge in reverse, turning around to face down the river near Greenwich.

We’re off on a cruise that will enter into the North Sea and up the west coast of Norway to its top at Nordkapp. Then we’ll turn back to the bottom of Norway and around the corner to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Here’s our plan:

I hope you’ll join me here in these pages.

All photos and text Copyright 2019 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved. See more photos on my website at http://www.coreysandler.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE ANY PHOTO OR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

9 June 2019:
London, United Kingdom:
Through the Tower Bridge to Scandinavia and Back

By Corey Sandler

We arrived early this morning in London, one of the most spectacular waterborne approaches in the world.

It was a superb morning, with the extra added excitement of a hot air balloon regatta overhead near Greenwich.

Here is some of what we saw today:

The Tower Bridge spans were raised for us and we moved slowly and carefully to our dock across from the Tower of London alongside the retired light cruiser HMS Belfast, a ship that saw duty in some of the critical battles of northern Norway during World War II.

For guests leaving us here, safe travels. And to new friends, welcome aboard.

We’ll rest here for the day, backing out through the bridge early on Monday.

Silver Wind tied up to the floating dock alongside HMS Belfast in the River Thames.

The Tower of London reflected in a modern building near Millennium Pier on the River Thames. The Tower is off the starboard side of our ship as we are moored to HMS Belfast.

Our schedule calls for visits to Honfleur in Normandy, France and then through the Kiel Canal in Germany for visits to Copenhagen and Aalborg in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden, the capital city of Oslo in Norway, and then back one more time to London.

Here’s our plan:

I hope you’ll join me here in these pages.

All photos and text Copyright 2019 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved. See more photos on my website at http://www.coreysandler.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE ANY PHOTO OR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

30 May 2019:
London, United Kingdom:
Through the Tower Bridge to Coastal Norway and Back

By Corey Sandler

Welcome aboard.

We’re off on the first of three loops in northern Europe, with wonderful London as our port of departure for each.

Silver Wind is one of a small number of cruise ships that are small enough to fit through the Tower Bridge (or to put it another way, not so huge that they cast shadows on the towns they visit.)

Here’s what we looked like on an earlier visit as we passed through the bridge in the night.

On this cruise we’ll enter the North Sea and stop at some of the resplendent settlements and fjords of southern and central Norway. Heading back, we’ll spend the day in Edinburgh, Scotland before coming back through the London Tower Bridge.

Here’s our plan:

Here’s Silver Wind tied up to the floating dock alongside HMS Belfast. We like that just fine.

All photos and text Copyright 2019 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved. See more photos on my website at http://www.coreysandler.com

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE ANY PHOTO OR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS
————-
Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM
Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

10 September 2018:
London:
Crossing the Pond

By Corey Sandler

Silver Spirit is taking on fuel, wine, food, luggage, and passengers here in London as we prepare to cross the pond to the New World.

We begin our voyage on the River Thames, at the port of Tilbury, about 22 miles downriver from the big city.

Silversea Silver Spirit off of Portofino, Italy earlier this year.

Our first call will be at Falmouth in Cornwall in the south of England.

We will have a day at sea tomorrow, and then we’ll continue around the corner to Cobh (Cork) in Ireland, the last port seen by the SS Titanic.

For us, it will be four days at sea across the pond to St. John’s, Newfoundland in Canada.

I trust they have loaded enough wine.

Here’s our plan:

I hope you’ll join me here in these pages.

All photos and text Copyright 2018 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

1 August 2018:
London, England, UK:
Arriving in Style

By Corey Sandler

In the early morning we arrived just below London, and at our appointed hour the bascules of the London Tower Bridge opened to let us through once more. This is what is called arriving in style.

We will be heading home for a short break, returning in about six weeks for more adventures.

We’ll be back aboard ship in London, this time on Silver Spirit as she heads across the pond to Canada and the American Northeast.

To all of our friends, safe travels.

All photos and text Copyright 2018 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

16-17 July 2018:
London, England, UK:
Up the River

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

In the early, early morning we completed our progression up the River Thames and through the London Tower Bridge to our dock.

We entered the river in the dark and arrived at the bridge at dawn. The trip is glorious anytime but this arrival was spectacular.

We’ll rest here for two days and enjoy London before we head back down the river for a trip to Norway and back.

All photos by Corey Sandler, 2018. All rights reserved.

Safe travels to guests who leave us here, and welcome aboard to those joining us at our glorious parking space on the river.

Here’s our plan for the next cruise:

All photos and text Copyright 2018 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

22-23 June 2018:
London, UK:
Through the Tower Bridge by Night

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

There are few entrances more grand, more dramatic than sailing up the River Thames and through the London Tower Bridge to dock across from the London Tower.

We came by night, and London slowly revealed herself as the river twisted back and forth below the city. And then all was there in front of us. Traffic came to a halt at either side of the bridge, the twin bascules rose to make an opening, and we sailed through.

We arrived at the mouth of the Thames Estuary about 5 in the afternoon, passing nearby Shivering Sands and Red Sands forts, eerie remnants of World War II defensive antiaircraft stations.

We came alongside Gravesend and Tilbury at 830pm, and passed through the London Flood Barrier an hour later.

And then, at 1045 at night we came to–and through–the London Tower Bridge.

I was on the bridge giving commentary throughout, pausing when I could to take photographs. Here is some of what we saw:

Click on any photo to see a larger version.

All photos by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

This glorious cruise has come to an end, and to those guests leaving us here in London, I wish safe travels until we meet again.

For those continuing, and those joining us here, welcome aboard.

Saturday night we’re off to the far north of the United Kingdom and then across to Iceland. We will back out from our dock alongside HMS Belfast and through the London Tower Bridge once again, turning around and sailing downstream.

Here’s our plan:

I’ll be reporting in from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and then from Iceland. I hope you’ll join me here.

All photos and text Copyright 2018 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

29 June 2017:
London, England:
Journey’s End, Through the Tower Bridge

By Corey Sandler

We’ve completed our roundtrip from cosmopolitan London up the west coast of Norway to the cold top at the northernmost point of mainland Europe and back.

Early this morning, Silver Wind entered the estuary of the River Thames about 1:30 a.m.

Sunrise came at 5:47 a.m., in time for us to have a glorious approach to London, gleaming in the early sun.

Just as the morning rush hour got fully under way, the spans of the London Tower Bridge opened to let us through to come through to our mooring.

Here are some photos I took two weeks ago when Silver Wind went through the Tower Bridge at the end of our previous cruise.

Passing Through the London Flood Barrier

Under the Emirates Cable Car

\

Alongside the O2 Arena, With Adventurous Gawkers On the Rafters

Passing By Our Sister Ship Silver Cloud

Arrivederci to our guests heading home; some will take a taxi from the ship to Greater London, and others have longer journeys. Safe travels.

We, too, are going home for a while. We’ll be back aboard ship in the fall; I hope you’ll join me here in these pages.

All photos and text Copyright 2017 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

You can help support this site by making purchases from AMAZON.COM by clicking on the banner below.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS,  PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

11-12 June 2017:
London, England:
Through the Tower Bridge to a Farewell and a Welcome Aboard

By Corey Sandler

On a handsome Sunday afternoon, Silver Wind made its grand approach to London, one of my favorite sail-ins anywhere in the world.

Our ship is just the right size to make her way up the River Thames and through the Tower Bridge. All traffic across the river was stopped, and the twin bascule arms of the bridge were raised to let us pass through. This is an experience that never gets old, not for me or the captain, crew, and passengers.

In the morning, as we approached the mouth of the Thames we passed near to the Thames Estuary Mansell Forts, rising from the sea like rusty machines from H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds.

The offshore forts  were built during the Second World War to defend against German minelayers and planes that were seeking to approach London up the watery highway of the river.

Here is a photo I took this morning as we passed nearby the ghostly forts.

We passed between Gravesend on the south bank, and Tilbury on the north. Some larger cruise ships and freighters can come no closer than this.

Pocanontas, the daughter of a chief in Virginia,  was by many accounts the first native American to visit England. After marrying a colonist in America, John Rolfe, she later sailed with him to England where she was received at the court in London and feted as a celebrity.

On the return voyage, seven months later, she was taken ill and died ashore in Gravesend in 1617 at age 21. She is buried under the chancel of St George’s parish church.

Closer to London, we passed through the Thames Barrier, erected to guard against the flooding of much of Greater London by exceptional high tides and storm surges that move up from the North Sea.

In modern times, a flood in 1928 killed 14, and then the North Sea Flood of 1953 killed 307, resulting in the construction of the barrier.

Just short of the Tower Bridge, we crossed over the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, which links Greenwich to the South to the Isle of Dogs in London. The tunnel opened in 1902, built of cast iron rings that extend 1,215 feet of 370 meters; the interior is about 9 feet in diameter–and I can’t recommend it to claustrophobics.

And then finally, the Tower Bridge opened for us. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name.

The bridge opened in 1894, with two towers tied together above by a pair of horizontal walkways. The roadway pivots upward at each end in a bascule design, like a forearm bending up from the elbow.

To those guests leaving us here in London, I wish you arrivederci, until we meet again. I hope to sail with you again. And to guests joining us here for the next cruise, benvenuto. Welcome aboard.

We’re headed back down the Thames and then up the west coast of Norway to near its top…and then back up the Thames to where we started. Here’s our plan:

After two days in the North Sea, we are due to call at the pretty little village of Flåm, Norway. It is best-known as the lower terminus of a railroad that ascends up from the fjord into the surrounding mountains.

We’ll continue on to Alesund, Svolvaer, Tromso, and Honningsvåg near the top of Norway and close to Nordkapp, the famed north cape of the country.

Then we’ll turn back for more calls in Norway, at Bodo, Trondheim, Molde, Olden, and the wondrous city of Bergen.

I hope you’ll join me here in these pages.

All photos and text Copyright 2017 by Corey Sandler, all rights reserved.

You can help support this site by making purchases from
AMAZON.COM by clicking on the banner below.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Henry Hudson Dreams cover

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer (Kindle Edition)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS,  PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

16 July 2013 London Tower Bridge: Hello, I Must Be Going

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

From London to London, June 8 to July 16. [whohit]-London Tower Bridge-[/whohit]

Along the way, we visited France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia (Murmansk and Arkhangelsk), Sweden, Estonia, Finland, and Russia (Saint Petersburg).

We crossed the English Channel once in each direction, and sailed through the Kiel Canal from the North Sea to the Baltic and returned the same way.

Our final cruise, one that is not enjoyed by very many any more: a stately trip up the River Thames that ended with a passage through the Tower Bridge. It does not get much more dramatic than that.

Only a few dozen cruise ships pass through the bridge each year these days. You’ve got to be on a small vessel, not one of those monstrous megaships. I’m just saying . . .

London Thames Tower Bridge Jul16 2013-6275

At the mouth of the Thames, the remains of Maunsell Forts erected during World War II to protect the entrance to the river.

London Thames Tower Bridge Jul16 2013-6289

Passing through the Thames Barrier, a flood-control system

London Thames Tower Bridge Jul16 2013-6285

Cruise Director Judie Abbott, one of the gems of the sea. She will mark her 50th year as a performer and cruise director in 2014, a Jubilee worth celebrating at every port of call.

London Thames Tower Bridge Jul16 2013-6295-2  London Thames Tower Bridge Jul16 2013-6320

Gondolas pass over the O2 Arena near Greenwich. And just beyond, we see the spans of the Tower Bridge opening to let us pass through.

London Thames Tower Bridge Jul16 2013-6340 London Thames Tower Bridge Jul16 2013-6345

We pass through the Tower Bridge.

This also marked the conclusion of this leg of our voyages. Beginning in the second week of January, we have been at sea on Silversea Silver Spirit, Silver Wind, and Silver Cloud  for five months with just two short breaks.

We fly home for the remainder of July and August and then return to join Silver Whisper for one more loop of the Baltic Sea and then a transatlantic crossing to Atlantic Canada, New England, and New York.

I hope you’ll join me here on my blog again, starting in September.

Until then: safe travels. 

Corey Sandler

All text and photos Copyright 2013 by Corey Sandler. If you’d like a copy of a photo, please contact me. To see my upcoming schedule of cruises, visit http://www.silversea.com/life-onboard/enrichment/destination-consultants/?staff=6417