July 14 Summer Cruising begins

 We started our summer of cruising -- 44 days from London to London, followed by 30 days Athens to Barcelona. Unfortunately this travel required an airplane trip to get us started.

Oceania had scheduled us RDU-IAD-LHR. We arrived in plenty of time on a hot Sunday and waited for our flight. Through a series of creeping 20-minute delays it became obvious that we would not make the connection in Dulles. We were able to to change to an American flight direct to Heathrow at the last minute. However, our bags did not.

Instead of Business we were in Economy Plus, which has seats that I would have called Business Class back in the 90s. The flight is still too short to get any real sleep even if you're laying flat. We were met with the sunrise as we approached London. 

We had arrived a day early and had a nice room at the Bailey's Hotel in Kensington. Notice all of the extra room when there isn't any luggage to clutter it up. It was conveniently located near shopping.  I needed a hoodie since London was cold compared to Chapel Hill, and we had to buy those liquids that were still traveling in our bags on some unknown continent.

Hotel Exterior

We ate locally and Cynthia had the fish 'n chips complete with mushy peas.

The next day, Tuesday, we were bussed to the ship in Southampton and boarded. Unpacking was a breeze taking less than 5 minutes. On this day and the next, a sea day, Oceania provided overnight laundry service - in by 7pm out by 7am - for the clothing on our backs. We had purchased a few items of clothing in London so were able to get by for the first days.

Thursday, July 18th, was our first port at Gothenberg Sweden. We took the shuttle into town and were deposited at the Concert Hall.

We walked the main street.

Past Botanical Gardens.

On the walk back we ventured further afield and passed the food truck rodeo.

A pedestrian street very busy on a Thursday.

City Square

Feb 14 makes sense for the heart shaped flower frame for your pictures, but July?

Thanks to work by our family back in the US, we were expecting our bags back at the ship. Because the shuttle bus apparently quit working we were taking a taxi back to the port when I got a call from a person at Gothenberg airport -- where should they deliver the bags? The ship Concierge had assured me that everything was arranged, yet they airport is calling me. Even worse, they said they couldn't deliver by the 7pm departure. I had an image of the bags following us along the trip, always one port behind. 

Returning to the ship I tried to get everything sorted out. The ship was saying the airport was lying, they knew all along where the stuff was to go, and the cruise line attempted to pick up the bags that morning and were turned away by the airport. The airport people refused to give a phone number so I had to wait for them to call. Finally they agreed to special deliver the bags.

After four days we were reunited. Unpacking took longer this time.

Now maybe we can begin enjoying the trip.