British Isles Cruise (September 28 – October 8, 2025)

Trini and I went to the same British Isles cruise in 2018; however, this time we are with Trini’s “pioneer” nurses celebrating their 50th Anniversary of arrival in the United States. More than fifty years ago, more than 20 young nurses were recruited from the Philippines by Spartanburg Hospital in South Carolina. Since then, many have ventured to other states and many established their roots in the Palmetto State. There were three couples from California: Oya and Tommy Holgado, Nell and Alex Baes, Onie and Erna Marasigan. And of course, one couple from Nevada, Trini and Kaloi Pebenito. There were also four couples from Spartanburg, S.C.: Nelda and Mike Hope, Maria and Igidio Bernardi, Vickie and Eddie Baumann, Ofie and Manny Lopez.

We flew from Las Vegas and the rest of the folks from California flew from Los Angeles. I’m assuming our friends from the South flew out of Greenville, S.C. Oya and Tommy waited for us in Heathrow International Airport in London and we all rode together to Southampton where we stayed for one night in a hotel (our room paid for by Oya).

The following day was wet and cold (not surprising, you’re in the UK after all). The check-in process at the embarkation area was smooth despite the number of passengers arriving. We’ve been spoiled by our previous cruises with Viking which has much lesser cruisers! I surmised there must have been over 3,000 guests aboard (contrast that with less than a thousand in a Viking ocean liner).

Day 1 was slightly chaotic since everyone was trying to get their bearings aboard. It was past lunch time so you expected a clogged food line in the buffet. Our group was trying to communicate via Messenger (or roaming) and some of us were able to meet in the buffet. Thankfully, our cruise travel agent assigned most of us rooms on the same deck. We stopped by The Plaza and watched the ship’s entertainers with their variety musicals urging guests to line dance with them. I did.

We had dinner at Concerto Restaurant – a sit-down eatery that didn’t require reservations. Other than the Horizon buffet, all the restaurants required advance reservations. This was where we had the first formal night dinner also.

Like all cruise ships, there is a nightly entertainment offered for the guests. Last night was a magic show which Trini and I walked out after several minutes. Living in Las Vegas for more than eight years now, we’ve seen numerous top caliber shows (lately we saw the world-famous David Copperfield) so this particular show was not so enthralling for us. Tonight’s show though was a classic light opera mixed with pop music. So we stayed the entire time.

This morning, we will be anchoring off the coast of Dun Laonghaire (Dublin). We will be transported via water shuttles to take us ashore. I’m hoping it will be a calm water. I’ve experienced choppy waters in the Mediterranean in the past and it was scary!