Dear Ms Pfeiffer, Dear Ms Weber,<\/p>\n
I have just returned from my trip and would like to give you some brief feedback.<\/p>\n
To get straight to the point: it was a very enjoyable and eventful trip.<\/p>\n
We were warmly welcomed by the crew. Indeed, the entire crew were always attentive to the passengers\u2019 needs and very helpful. Captain H. showed great understanding towards the guests on board. For example, he allowed unrestricted access to the bridge (which, in my experience, is by no means a given). He answered all our questions and was always up for a chat. It\u2019s always worth mentioning the cook \u2013 who is actually the most important person on board \u2013 in this case, the cook. She was excellent at looking after both the crew and the passengers. The food consisted of hearty home-style cooking: varied, diverse and always delicious. Fresh salad and fruit were served with the main meals. Often, two dishes were offered as part of a buffet. Anyone who couldn\u2019t make up their mind simply had both. In addition, you could make yourself sandwiches with sausage or cheese at any time. At coffee breaks, there were cakes or biscuits. So you certainly couldn\u2019t go hungry here.<\/p>\n
The cabin was small but cosy and practical. They had warned me that it was actually too cramped for two people. That\u2019s certainly true. But we were immediately offered a second, smaller cabin, so that everyone had their own space to retreat to. I found that a very generous gesture. All the conditions for a pleasant stay were therefore met.<\/p>\n
The journey offered interesting passages through various locks and the Kiel Canal. Passengers were always allowed on the bridge. I\u2019ve experienced things differently in the past. Anyone hoping for a special adventure during the ice season will get their money\u2019s worth. In total, we were stuck in the ice three times. The work of the icebreakers is impressive. It\u2019s particularly atmospheric when the ship fights its way free from the ice under a sky lit by the Northern Lights.<\/p>\n
As an added bonus, we got to experience a special nautical challenge on the last two days of the return journey. We got caught in a full-blown storm on the North Sea. You really need to be prepared for that. For me, it was a fantastic experience that rounded off the trip. A sailor might see it a bit differently.<\/p>\n
Finally, let me make one more comment on the \u2018embarkation information\u2019. It is indeed very confusing that there are three instances of both Duitslandweg and Finlandweg. Anyone using a sat-nav should always ensure they enter the exact postcode and the precise location \u2013 please do not enter \u2018Terneuzen\u2019. If you\u2019re not careful and turn up at the wrong Finlandweg 1, you\u2019ll be greeted with a knowing grin.<\/p>\n
At the Immigration Office, we were met by an official who seemed either baffled or clueless and didn\u2019t quite understand what we wanted. He sought advice from his superior. They wanted to know if we intended to work on the ship; they didn\u2019t seem interested in the passengers. Both shrugged, remarking that they\u2019d never come across such a situation before. It\u2019s important to know the exact name of the ship and the captain. Without any certificate or stamp, we left again.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s very convenient that you can park right at the gate leading to the berth. Travelling by car is definitely the best option.<\/p>\n
This is unlikely to have been my last cargo ship journey.<\/p>\n
Thank you for your efforts and I wish you continued success.<\/p>\n
Kind regards<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Ms Pfeiffer, Dear Ms Weber, I have just returned from my trip and would like to give you some brief feedback. To get straight to the point: it was a very enjoyable and eventful trip. We were warmly welcomed by the crew. Indeed, the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","kontinent":[87],"gebiet":[111,123],"class_list":["post-6899","reisebericht","type-reisebericht","status-publish","hentry","kontinent-northern-europe","gebiet-finland","gebiet-northern-europe"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n