Dover (Again)

We’re in Dover again.  After having only just returned from our European campervan tour a couple of weeks ago. This time, however, we’re here to join Saga’s ‘Spirit of Adventure’, on a two-week voyage billed as Treasures of Scandinavia.

We spent last night in the Ashford Travelodge, having driven down from West Yorkshire a day later than scheduled due to the ship having been delayed. As Travelodges go, it’s exceedingly well served in terms of food outlets. Being right alongside a Cineworld, there’s a Macdonalds, Nandos, KFC, Beefeater, Korean Cowgirl, Frankie and Benny’s and a Subway to choose from. there’s also a Dobby’s garden centre, where we bought tow large pots for the garden and had a very reasonably-priced breakfast this morning, before mooching around in a local ‘Range’ before heading off towards the port.

Embarkation was all very swift, as per usual. Once on board, we ate lunch in The Grill before the mandatory Emergency Drill and a meeting with the entertainments team in the Ward Room afterwards. The sea outside the quayside did not instil confidence in our departure. It was some relief, then, that once we’d left the harbour and turned left, towards Scandinavia, the sea immediately calmed down.