After our sea day we arrived in Hamburg for our first visit to the city.
I was woken as Iona passed close by this ship just after midnight.
Day 3: Monday 11th December 2024: Hamburg
We had a gentle entry into Hamburg in the morning. Our late breakfast was once again in the buffet.
Into Hamburg
Once of the ship, we queued for the shuttle bus to take us into Hamburg. The buses were all under a large roof and there we were protected from the light rain.
After our coach ride into Hamburge we dropped off on Ballindamn. From there we could see rows of huts along the Jungfernstieg Promenade. This was our first sight of a Christmas market in Hamburg.
The lake, Binnenalster, to our right had a Christmas tree on a small island. We walked through the market taking our time to look at all the stalls.
Across from the market, we could see streets leaving away from the lake. The one that we chose to explore had an arcade which helped to protect us from the rain.
These ladies were taking publicity shots for their nearby shop.
Coffee time
At the end of the street we decided it was time for a coffee. The café we chose was empty but had a lot of cakes on offer at the counter!
More Christmas Markets
We explored more streets until we came to a small square with a circle of Christmas stalls. One in particular caught our eye and after conversations with the lady in the store we found a pair of earrings and a matching pendant.
The Asterpavillon
Almost back at the lake, the rain started again and we sheltered in a gluh vine bar. The stool and bench in the bar area were definitely designed to make customers not outstayed their welcome! Across the street by our pick-up point was a shopping mall, the Europa Passage.
This seemed a good place to go next. But once inside we were “hit“ by a wall of hot air. Combined with all our winter clothes this made it almost unbearable to be in there. so we left.
Through the market once again we look for somewhere to sit and eat. The rain (and time of day?) had filled up every covered area. At the end of the market was the Asterpavillon building surrounded by umbrella protected tables.
We join the small queue at the steps to wait for a table. Once inside, we could see just how big the restaurant was. Our table was on the lower level on one of the three rows of tables. More steps again we could see an even larger area of tables. On everyone of the tables we could see customers.
The menu was very graphic with images of the food accompanied by an English description. once we had our beers we ordered our lunch – mine was well looked like a glorious burger (in Hamburg what else would I have chosen?)?
The best of all the food was excellent. By the time that we had finished eating the restaurant around us had emptied. the downside of this was that our bill was “eye watering “, but we did enjoy the warmth and being dry!
Outside the rain had started again and we walked back through the market to the shuttle bus stop.
On Iona
Back at the cruise terminal, we had to wait in the long queue for security checks. Once at the security station we realised why it was taking so long as the search was both long and efficient.
We had a long rest after our walking around Hamburg.
I went out on deck to watch as Iona left Hamburg.
After the Iona had sailed from Hamburg itself, we watched the passing houses from our balcony.
Evening on Iona
We ate and made sure that we finished in time to go to the theatre for the Take That show.
The theatre was filling up as we arrived and we had to sit at the very front. Everyone around us was very excited to be seeing this new show. However, the show didn’t start and we were “told“ that there would be a short delay. The theatre was then filled with extremely loud electronic music that just repeated over and over and over again.
So loud in fact that even covering ears didn’t stop the pervasive noise.
The cruise director came to the front and explained that there was a technical problem and that hopefully it would be fixed shortly. The very loud electronic music just continued. By now the theatre audience was getting agitated and was jeering, booing and even hand clapping.
At the back we watched as several members of the audience approached the technical guys at the back of the theatre. They were gesticulating for the music to be turned off.
Then when the cruise director reappeared to make more announcements, she was shouted at about the loud music.
Her announcement was that the performance was cancelled and that we should all rebook on the P&O app. Eventually the noise stopped too.
We had plenty of time to make our way to the other end of the ship, to the Clubhouse, to catch the last part of Jonny Awsum’s musical comedy show.
From our cabin we could hear the ship’s foghorn sounding. I was surprised to see this ship so close below as we passed in the fog.
Day 4: Tuesday 12th December 2023: North Sea
Overnight we were again treated to Iona’s foghorn. The ship was making her way back down the North Sea to our next port of call, Rotterdam.
Our late breakfast was again in the Horizon restaurant and was a particularly restful as the buffet was unusually empty. Then our morning was spent listening to guest lectures.
The second lecture or perhaps talk was from Marco Pierre White. We both enjoyed his talk as he answered questions from the audience.
He described how he started his career and then how his professional life Had evolved.
On our walk around the deck, the foghorn was still sounding. We ate lunch in the very busy Quays. When we looked outside and the fog had worsened considerably.
And the fog cleared just as quickly.
This was the Celebration Evening and a bottle of fizz had been delivered to our cabin – a welcome treat. Outside in the fog had again descended and we settled down in the cabin to watch a film.
We chose “A man called Otto“ with Tom Hanks. The only trouble was that there must have been lots of cabins also watching films and the ship’s data servers were having a hard time delivering the content. The film was as a result stopping often and these pauses lasted for between 10 and 20 seconds.
Evening on Iona
To round the day off, the Take That show that we had rebooked was now cancelled.
We then had to find a restaurant where we could eat along with the hundreds of other guests of from the cancelled concert. We did finally manage to get into one but only at the fourth one we tried!
Next port was Rotterdam…