BOUTIQUE CRUISING
once-secret retreat, constructed in 1937. Back on board, a formal night called for refined attire and a farewell cocktail party and gala dinner.
Turkish coast as we settled down to lunch on deck. It was the first surprise of the day as,
A
by an indefatigable librarian. There was also a couple of interesting lectures, and I particularly enjoyed ‘Southern Russia, The Ukraine, Caucasus and Trans Caucasus’ by Graham Archer CMG, a former senior member of the British Diplomatic Service.
code was casual. Some prescient passen- gers headed to the Top of the Yacht to watch ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ on the big screen, but I opted to enjoy the singing of Anna Reay, who performed both classical and modern songs in the Sirocco Lounge. Passengers who took the tour entitled
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‘In the Footsteps of the Argonauts’ the following day in the Georgian city of Batumi were well-rewarded with a stunning performance or sword-fighting by the Adjara State Folk Ensemble. Passing through the Yacht Club that afternoon, I was amazed at the number of passengers attending the watercolour class by Rita Smith and even more impressed by the proficiency of her pupils. After enjoying
32 WORLD OF CRUISING I Spring 2011
ith the temperatures rising during this Indian summer, I was glad the evening’s dress
a superb Chardonnay at dinner, I joined the ‘Improvised Quiz’ led by charismatic Cruise Director Neil. Needless to say, some of my answers were a tad risqué. The popular health resort of Sochi lies
in Russia’s Riviera at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. Its mineral springs and many sanatoria have made it the choice of politicians as well as the proletariat. It is also host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics. We took a tour to Stalin’s bottle-green
Dacha in Zelenaya Roscha (Green Grove), a curious camouflage for this dictator’s
Spirit Of Adventure FACTFILE
Built: 1979, refurbished 2006 Tonnage: 9,570 Length: 459ft
Beam: 53ft Draft: 16ft Speed: 16 knots Passengers: 348
Crew: 180 Passenger decks: 7 Registry: Bahamas
ITINERARIES: spring, Mediterranean; summer, Northern Europe; autumn, Mediterranean, Middle East; winter, South-East Asia, Australasia.
MORE INFO: Call 0800 015 6984 or visit
www.spiritofadventure.co.uk.
unbeknown to us all, our Cruise Director had persuaded fellow-passenger Lord Geoffrey Howe of Aberavon to give an impromptu talk about his time in politics and even discuss what led up to his famous resignation speech. It was a highlight of a cruise overflowing in highlights. Perhaps the cruise should have been entitled ‘Great Expectations.’
s we crossed the Black Sea heading for Istanbul and journey’s end, pods of dolphin appeared off the
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