Bratwurst On Board Braemar

Celia Ramos, Senior Travel Consultant at our Norwich travel agents in store at Jarrolds, enjoyed a cruise with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on board Braemar. Despite some bad weather, she loved every minute of her trip and would recommend a cruise to all her customers. He is a more detailed account of her sailing.

Destination: Germany
Operator/Host: Angela Flynn
Accommodation
(Hotel names/Ship name): MS Braemar
Airline: British Airways
Duration: 5 Nights

Flight

On arrival at London Heathrow, at around 6 am, the airport was relatively quiet, which was nice. I headed straight for check-in and the lady on the desk already had my boarding pass printed out as we were a group, meaning the process was really quick. I dropped off my baggage at the self-service bag drop machine, which was simple and efficient, and headed straight for security. Again, it was really quiet with no queues; it took me about three minutes to get through.

Because we were a group, we were all seated together on the aircraft, which was nice. The cabin crew were pleasant and offered us drinks and snacks at an extra cost. The seats were comfortable enough and the flight itself didn't take long. Overall it was around an hour and a half.

Accommodation

I had a Superior Ocean View cabin, which was a nice size for two people and not too small. It was very clean and had a lovely, traditional feel to it. I loved the fact that I had a picture window. Even though it was slightly obstructed by a lifeboat, I still loved waking up every morning and being able to look out and see a new port. My room had tea and coffee making facilities which, along with the cups, was replaced daily.

The beds were two singles and soooo comfy and warm. The pillows were incredible. I have never slept so well than I did on the cruise. I slept so well that I wanted to take a pillow home with me. The shower was also good; the pressure of the water was fab and, having stayed in plenty of hotels myself and knowing that can be an issue, I was impressed.

The maid cleaned my room and replaced the towels twice a day, even if I’d only used the towel once. There was also a TV in the room which had plenty of movies, TV and music channels and also any guest services information.

What Was Included?

The trip included a city tour of Hamburg

• Day in Bremen - Freimarkt (Didn't happen due to weather conditions)
• Cruising the Kiel Canal
• Two nights in Kiel
• Coach tour of Kiel

Trip Highlights

My favourite part was going through the Kiel Canal in the early hours of the morning and then having a champagne breakfast in the Grampian Restaurant whilst taking in the scenery. We then had traditional German bratwurst on the top deck washed down with delicious, hot mulled wine whilst cruising the canal. This truly was a memorable day.

Recommendations

Yes, I would definitely recommend a cruise like this. Although I only joined for the last five days, I really enjoyed it and had such fun. There's plenty on board for guests to do and the food was just incredible.  

The staff on board are amazing and I really couldn't fault the service. Although I was gutted we missed out on seeing Bremen and going to the Freimarkt, I really enjoyed the itinerary and finding out a lot of history about Kiel and Germany. The German bratwurst and mulled wine on the top deck was a winner for me.

Loved it!

Additional Comments

I'd like to pass on my thanks to Hector and Bryan, who both looked after us all and made sure we were happy during our meals. Hector was always making sure my glass was topped up and was always smiling and helpful.

Must see? Going through the locks
Must do? Walk into Kiel town and try local pastries at cafes
Must try? German bratwurst and mulled wine

If you would like to book a cruise holiday like the one that Celia enjoyed, our team of experts will be able to advise the perfect ship and cruise line for you. Drop by any of our travel agents in Dorset, Hampshire, Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk for more information.