​Nearly Time To Cruise Around The Isle Of Wight On Astoria...

It’s very nearly time for our next overnight cruise with Cruise & Maritime Voyages and we’re heading back aboard the elegant and classic traditional ocean liner, Astoria which is 70 years old!
 
Despite her age the ship is in superb condition, having been completely re-built from the hull up in 1994. Astoria still retains all the charm and character of a true ocean liner, although smaller than most, carrying just 550-passengers.

Gavin and I have cruised on Astoria before and have fallen in love with the ship. This will be our third time cruising on Astoria and despite the fact we are going to be on board for just one night we’re still a little excited.
 
Our overnight cruise departs on 15 September 2018 from Poole in Dorset and cruising around the Isle of Wight before docking into Portsmouth early the following morning. Poole is a truly spectacular port to cruise from and one which only a handful of smaller cruise ships visit. Astoria is the only cruise ship offering cruises from the port. Gavin and I recently cruised from Poole on Astoria on a three-night sailing and the sail away was spectacular. As we returned into Poole we also saw a pod of eleven dolphins, which passed right by the ship!
 
On this cruise Astoria is due to depart Poole at 18:00, hopefully not any later so we can have a few hours of daylight to enjoy on deck before watching the sun go down as we cruising towards and past the Isle of Wight. If we’re lucky we might spot some marine wildlife again!
 
We’re also looking forward to arriving into Portsmouth as neither of us has visited the port before so it will be another new experience. It will naturally be quite a rushed cruise spending less than 18 hours on board but nevertheless going to be a great night. We are actually also spending a night in Poole before the cruise and a night in Southampton once we disembark, so we are really away for 4 days.
 
Anyway, nearly time to start packing…best remember our tuxedo as this overnight cruise is a 'Special Overnight Gala Cruise' too!