16th September 2018 Leaving Portsmouth Harbour on the Astoria

Hi Dear Folk,

At last on way to Norway. We left Portsmouth harbour aboard the Astoria on a beautiful sunny day.  The Astoria is a Swedish ship first ordered in 1944, during the second world war, which is hard to believe.  It was launched the 9th September 1946 in Gothenburg, Sweden.  Her first maiden voyage was in 1948 for the Swedish American Line.  One could imagine that in 1948 it must have been quite full, in view of the refuge situation in Europe at this time.

I loved being on this ship and for the first few days it was hard to believe that the ship was full 555 passengers, because we hardly saw anyone and for a small ship it did not seem crowded at all.

Our trip from my friend Jean's to Portsmouth was not without insistent.  We caught the train up to London, no problem and made our way across London by tube to the coach station.  We were there in plenty of time at the front of the queue, when we showed the copies of our tickets, they said no this is not acceptable we needed an assigned number.  Jean had checked several times with the travel agency to make sure we had everything.

Everyone was getting on the coach and passing us by.  I stayed with the luggage Jean ran off to see if could buy another ticket, but was told no the coach is full and this is the only one to Portsmouth.  In the end after much trepidation on our part, a manager allowed us on the bus.  Boy did we breath a sigh of relief.  Although Jean already had alternative routes in mind to get us down there by train, but thank goodness it was all alright.

Of course we would have had the same problem coming home, but the passenger coordinator on board ship bought us tickets and gave them to us, plus a refund.  Good P.R, but she was most helpful. That was after several attempts while on vacation to sort it out with the travel agency.  Needless to say Jean spoke with them when we got back, how very unhelpful they were.

In any case here we are being towed out with a tug boat, under beautiful blue skies.  Now we can relax and enjoy it.

I think it's wonderful to travel on an old seaworthy ship, to relive the past so to speak.  Obviously she does not have the speed of the newer ships.

I think the ship above is the HMS Victory. best known for her roll in the Battle of Trafalgar, Lord Nelson's flag ship.

I think this is HMS Warrior 1860, the first iron hulled armored battle ship, using steam and sail.

Spinnaker Tower which has a glass floor.

Ben Ainslie building for the design and construction of world class sailing boats.

View of old Portsmouth.

The Round Tower was built in 1418 to defend the harbour.

The Palmerston Forts were built in the Solent and around Portsmouth in 1859 with the thought of a perceived invasion by the French.

Our cabin which was very nice.  Getting settled in.

Christine