Reflections of Ireland

Source:  Irish Mirror front page September 13, 2001

September 11, 2001

The Day That Changed

The World Forever

Those words from this gripping image in the Irish Mirror sum things up for us the best.   Three hours after the first plane struck the World Trade Center, we would see an immediate difference.

As with all historic events, one remembers where they were when they heard the news. Our vantage point for the tragic events of 9/11 was Paris, France.   We had just departed on a Transatlantic Cruise onboard the Norwegian Sun.   It was it's maiden voyage which left from Southampton, England the day before.   

We had spent a wonderful day in Paris, about three hours from where our ship docked in LeHarve, France.   We toured the city, had lunch onboard a river boat, and did some shopping before returning to our bus for the return to the ship.   The bus driver, who spoke only French, tried to tell us about the events by motioning with his hands (showing a plane crashing).  Of course, we had no idea what he was trying to tell us.   Someone got him to change the radio station and finally a reporter speaking in English broke the news to us.

Arriving in Ireland

Flags of Ireland following attacks

On September 13th, we arrived in our first port of call following the attacks.  Arriving early in Cobh, Ireland, we departed for our scheduled shore tour.  Our tour guide began the introductions by expressing condolences about the attacks.  At the conclusion of our tour, we had some time for shopping near the ship.    We purchased the Irish Mirror newspaper where we learned of an entirely different perspective on the attacks.

Source:  Irish Mirror September 13, 2001

Ruth McCourt, 45, was taking her daughter, Juliana, age 4, on a shopping trip from Boston to Los Angeles.   Their flight was one of the hijacked planes that struck the World Trade Center.  Meanwhile, Ruth's brother, Ronnie Clifford, an architect, was helping to rescue victims from the earlier attack.   He was unaware that above his head his sister and niece were perishing in the flames.

Here in Co Cork, the rest of the family was attempting to deal with the news of the tragedy that struck their family.     After reading this story in the newspaper, we were aware of how far reaching this tragedy really was.

An Irish gentleman approached us as we returned to the ship.   He said "You are Americans, aren't you".  We replied that we were.   His response was, "You'll get those B...ds".    At that moment in time, we were united with the rest of the world, from government officials, to the man on the streets, the world was one in convictions that those responsible had to be held accountable.

Ireland Day of Mourning ... Schools, offices, and businesses across Ireland closed on Friday, September 14th for a national day of mourning.  The Irish Mirror  reported "Ireland will weep for America tomorrow as the nation remembers the innocent dead".

Continuing our Path of the Vikings Journey
 

Source: The Scottish SUN September 15, 2001

Just being with Scots who care has helped so much...

We arrived in Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland on September 15th, and once again were greeted by sympathetic locals.   Inaugural festivities, upon the first visit of Norwegian Sun to Scotland, did take place, but they were  low key.

That newspaper headline in The Scottish SUN reflected the sentiments of an American mother and daughter who were amongst the crowd paying respects at Glasgow's George Square as similar mourning events were held across the globe.   In London, thousands gathered outside St. Paul's Cathedral for England's memorial.

Our day in Scotland was a rainy one, perhaps fitting considering the earlier events of the week.   The people were wonderful and we enjoyed our stay despite the tragedy that underscored the entire voyage.

Throughout the remaining days of the Path of the Vikings voyage we encountered similar scenes to those in Ireland and Scotland, where flags were at half-mast, the people were caring and sympathetic, and comforted us during this very emotional time.    This cruise will always be remembered, not because it was the most exotic or most picturesque, but for the one with the people with the warmest hearts.   

We will also remember the Captain and Crew of the Norwegian Sun who stepped up to the challenges and helped the passengers through this difficult time.  Norwegian Cruise Line definitely went above and beyond when they opened up the phone lines and internet twice during the voyage and rearranged all the transportation for guests since our final destination was changed from New York to Boston.

See our Facebook Page for more Pictures from our Path of the Vikings Cruise - Including more 9/11 reflections.   While you are there, Like Us so that you can continue to follow our specials and stories.

Since #FriFotos is featuring #IRELAND today, we wanted to reflect on how the people there helped us through a tough time.
 

Grímsvötn Volcano Causes Travel Woes

Grímsvötn eruption

Credit: Institute of Earth Sciences

Widespread Flight Cancellations 

Possible as Ash Continues

UPDATE:  25 May -- Bremen & Hamburg (no flights) - Could Impact Berlin & Poland

According to the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre(VAAC) in London, areas of ash concentration are over the north of Germany. Currently no flights are being accepted into Bremen and Hamburg. On a normal day, these airports would expect around 120 and 480 flights respectively.  

The ash cloud is expected to move during the day and could affect Berlin and also parts of Poland. Airports in Germany south of Bremen are not expected to be affected.

There are no restrictions on flights in any other part of Europe. According to the VAAC forecasts, it is expected that ash cloud coverage will dissipate during the day.

Related Blog Post ... Iceland Volcanic Ash Grounds Flights

Reminiscent of a year ago, airlines and air traffic controllers across Europe continue to watch and monitor as a cloud of volcanic ash spreads west from Iceland, threatening to disrupt flights on a wide scale.

The ash cloud was expected to reach London's Heathrow airport -- the world's busiest international air travel hub -- this afternoon, Europe's air traffic control organization Eurocontrol said.

Concentration of ash there is expected to be low and it's not yet clear if Heathrow flights will be canceled.

The ash cloud is forecast to cover all of British airspace by 1 a.m. Wednesday morning.

It will be densest over Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, the Met Office said. Heathrow is in the south.

United Kingdom  

• Some flights have been cancelled to and from Leeds Bradford and Humberside Airports today 
• Some flights have been cancelled to Scotland and Northern Ireland at Leeds Bradford Airport
• Eastern Airways has cancelled Aberdeen flights to and from Humberside Airport.
• Disruptions at Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports
• Some flight cancellations at both Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports, although the airports themselves remain open
• Morning flights to Aberdeen from Durham Tees Valley as well as later departures to Southampton were cancelled
• At Newcastle Airport, flights to and from Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Faro and Malta were cancelled.

Scotland

• Edinburgh airport is open but passengers are advised to contact their airlines before travelling to the airport. Forecasters say that high density ash is likely from 1pm to 6pm today although disruption may spread into the night. 
• Glasgow airport is also open and is not expecting any disruption today. 
• Inverness airport remains closed. 
• Aberdeen airport is hoping to resume operations from 1pm onwards although there will still be considerable delays and cancellations throughout the day.

Svalbard

• Flights have been cancelled to and from Svalbard. It is unknown when flights will resume.

Denmark

• Danish authorities have closed the airspace below 4 miles in the northwest of the country. 
• This does not directly affect airports but Copenhagen airport is experiencing some delays and cancellations, primarily to Scotland and Greenland destinations, although these are expected to clear by 8.00pm today. 

Northern Ireland 

• Flights are halted into and out of Scotland and the north-east of England. 
• Easyjet flights from Belfast International Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh have been cancelled. 
• Two flights between Belfast and Newcastle and Newcastle and Belfast have also been cancelled. 
• Two Loganair flights between Belfast City Airport and Dundee will also remain grounded.

Norway 

• Both Stavanger and Karmoey airports have been affected with flights being cancelled as the cloud is expected to spread to the south of the country later today. 

Contact your airline if you are flying in the impacted areas.  

Met Office forecasts for the end of this week indicate mainly low levels of ash affecting parts of UK and Europe. This forecast does depend on the status of the Volcano since the wind direction and strength will remain variable. You should stay up to date with the latest advice from the Met Office. How this affects flight routing decisions would be determined by CAA and NATS together with the individual airlines.

 Eruption in Iceland: News | Update | Vatnajökull monitoring | Volcanic ash advisory |

• Photos from the Eruption
   
• Satellite Images and Maps

Current Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAA) from London and Toulouse 

London VAA: Issued advisories | Issued graphics     Toulouse VAA: Issued advisories

Latest Ash Impact on Flights Keflavik International Airport  Heathrow airport Ash Concentration UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) EUROCONTROL Icelandic MetOffice (IMO) National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) Track Flights Live Over Europe

Icelandic volcano pictures, blogs, and other links Volcano halts Icelandic flights (BBC) Latest UK Met Office News Grímsvötn volcano FAQ  Grímsvötn volcanic ash observations Forecasters’ blog  British Geological Survey (BGS) Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland NOAA Satellite and Information Service More information from NOAA about volcanoes EUMETSAT - Monitoring weather and climate from space (volcanic ash page) NASA Earth Observatory - images, stories, discoveries about climate and the environment

Remembering 9/11 From Our Vantage Point

Source:  Irish Mirror front page September 13, 2001

September 11, 2001

The Day That Changed

The World Forever

Those words from this gripping image in the Irish Mirror sum things up for us the best.   Three hours after the first plane struck the World Trade Center, we would see an immediate difference.

As with all historic events, one remembers where they were when they heard the news. Our vantage point for the tragic events of 9/11 was Paris, France.   We had just departed on a Transatlantic Cruise onboard the Norwegian Sun.   It was it's maiden voyage which left from Southampton, England the day before.   

We had spent a wonderful day in Paris, about three hours from where our ship docked in LeHarve, France.   We toured the city, had lunch onboard a river boat, and did some shopping before returning to our bus for the return to the ship.   The bus driver, who spoke only French, tried to tell us about the events by motioning with his hands (showing a plane crashing).  Of course, we had no idea what he was trying to tell us.   Someone got him to change the radio station and finally a reporter speaking in English broke the news to us.

Since the ship's final destination was New York, the majority of the passengers were from there.   Imagine the horror that filled the bus as we learned of the attacks.    The next three hours was excruciating as we were stuck on the bus.   When we arrived at the ship, security was like we had never seen before.   From that day forward, ship security would be increased to a level we had never seen in our 20 years of cruising.

Once onboard the ship, passengers headed to the nearest television set which was tuned to CNN news.   Just like folks back home, we were bombarded with the images over and over again as the days events were relived.     Imagine being over 4,000 miles from home and not knowing how your loved ones were in the wake of the attacks.    What happened next will also be remembered by us forever... the Captain announced that each and every passenger would be allowed to make a phone call home to check on family.   The phone lines and internet would be opened free of charge for the next 24 hours to allow everyone to contact their loved ones.   Our next day was spent at sea, so there would have been no other way to call home, except via the ship's satellite communication, so this was most welcome news to the passengers.

Source:  Irish Mirror September 13, 2001

On September 13th, we arrived in our first port of call following the attacks.  Arriving early in Cobh, Ireland, we departed for our scheduled shore tour.  Our tour guide began the introductions by expressing condolences about the attacks.  At the conclusion of our tour, we had some time for shopping near the ship.    We purchased the Irish Mirror newspaper where we learned of an entirely different perspective on the attacks.

Ruth McCourt, 45, was taking her daughter, Juliana, age 4, on a shopping trip from Boston to Los Angeles.   Their flight was one of the hijacked planes that struck the World Trade Center.  Meanwhile, Ruth's brother, Ronnie Clifford, an architect, was helping to rescue victims from the earlier attack.   He was unaware that above his head his sister and niece were perishing in the flames.

Here in Co Cork, the rest of the family was attempting to deal with the news of the tragedy that struck their family.     After reading this story in the newspaper, we were aware of how far reaching this tragedy really was.

An Irish gentleman approached us as we returned to the ship.   He said "You are Americans, aren't you".  We replied that we were.   His response was, "You'll get those B...ds".    At that moment in time, we were united with the rest of the world, from government officials, to the man on the streets, the world was one in convictions that those responsible had to be held accountable.

Ports put on high alert...  The newspaper also reported that all entry points into Ireland were on high alert amid fears of further attacks like those in the United States.   A high-level security group consisting of Gardai, army officers, and government officials was established to co-ordinate the response to Tuesday's terrorist attack.   

Flights are Canceled...  All transatlantic flights out of Dublin airport were cancelled and passengers were advised to contact their airlines helplines for assistance.   Later in our cruise we would talk with Canadians who had taken stranded passengers into their homes as their flights were diverted.

Ireland Day of Mourning ... Schools, offices, and businesses across Ireland closed on Friday, September 14th for a national day of mourning.  The Irish Mirror  reported "Ireland will weep for America tomorrow as the nation remembers the innocent dead".

Source: The Scottish SUN September 15, 2001

Just being with Scots who care has helped so much...

We arrived in Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland on September 15th, and once again were greeted by sympathetic locals.   Inaugural festivities, upon the first visit of Norwegian Sun to Scotland, did take place, but they were  low key.

That newspaper headline in The Scottish SUN reflected the sentiments of an American mother and daughter who were amongst the crowd paying respects at Glasgow's George Square as similar mourning events were held across the globe.   In London, thousands gathered outside St. Paul's Cathedral for England's memorial.

Our day in Scotland was a rainy one, perhaps fitting considering the earlier events of the week.   The people were wonderful and we enjoyed our stay despite the tragedy that underscored the entire voyage.

Throughout the remaining days of the Path of the Vikings voyage we encountered similar scenes to those in Ireland and Scotland, where flags were at half-mast, the people were caring and sympathetic, and comforted us during this very emotional time.    This cruise will always be remembered, not because it was the most exotic or most picturesque, but for the one with the people with the warmest hearts.   

We will also remember the Captain and Crew of the Norwegian Sun who stepped up to the challenges and helped the passengers through this difficult time.  Norwegian Cruise Line definitely went above and beyond when they opened up the phone lines and internet twice during the voyage and rearranged all the transportation for guests since our final destination was changed from New York to Boston.

See our Facebook Page for more Pictures from our Path of the Vikings Cruise - Including more 9/11 reflections.   While you are there, Like Us so that you can continue to follow our specials and stories.

New Flight Cancellations Due to Volcanic Ash

Heathrow & Gatwick Impacted

Once again a new week starts with flight cancellations caused by the latest volcanic ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. 

Impacted airports include:  Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Liverpool, East Midlands, Birmingham, Teesside, Norwich and Doncaster in England.  Additional airports in the no-fly zone include all those in Northern Ireland, Ronaldsway, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Northern Scotland. Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol and Farnborough.

Useful Links:   CAA   EUROCONTROL  MetOffice    Nats

If you are flying to this part of Europe, please consult your airline directly for latest information.   Cruise line passengers may be impacted if flights are delayed.

Related Blog Posts

Iceland Volcanic Ash Causes New Woes

Cruise With Christine Pappin: Europe Travel Woes Continue

Cruise With Christine Pappin: Hopes Rise for UK Flight Resumption 

Cruise With Christine Pappin: Erupting Volcano Grounds Flights

Rather than repeat links, please consult these other posts for resources.

 

Princess Announces 2011 Europe Deployment

Emerald and Royal Princess in Santorini Greece courtesy of Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises 2011 Europe 
Largest and Most Extensive Season


7 ships, 42 itineraries and over 135 ports of call — more than ever before! 

Princess Cruises leads the resurgence in European Cruising with an expanded program including their newest ships Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, and Ruby Princess in addition to small ship experiences on Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess.    Seven ships in all will be in Europe for the 2011 season.

Emerald Princess returns to the Baltic

Enjoy your trip to the Baltic region on an enhanced 11-day sailing round-trip out of Copenhagen.  Each voyage features a  2-Day Experience in St. Petersburg, Russia, and includes Oslo, Berlin, Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn, as well as the new port of Aarhus, Denmark.  Extend your cruise in Copenhagen before or after your voyage.  Overnight calls in these cities allow you to enjoy their highlights by day and enjoy the nightlife too.

More overnight calls throughout Europe 

All 12-day sailings throughout the Mediterranean feature an overnight stay in grand cities like Venice or Istanbul, and Holy Land and Egypt & Aegean itineraries include two full days in 

different ports in the countries of Israel and Egypt to explore fascinating cities such as Jerusalem and Giza.  Ocean Princess offers overnight calls in Edinburgh or Dublin on select Northern Europe itineraries.

New 7-Day Interlude voyages on Ocean Princess

Ocean Princess, one the Small Ships of Princess,  sails week-long itineraries visiting a variety of the Mediterranean’s boutique ports.  Combine sailings to create a 14- or 21-day Interlude combination voyage to see even more.

New Ports 

Europe 2011 features maiden calls in Aarhus, Denmark; Motril (for Granada), Spain; Crete (Aghios Nikolaos), Greece; Antwerp, Belgium; and Séte, France.

Unique Itineraries

Princess Cruises features some unique itineraries including Spitsbergen & North Cape, Land of the Midnight Sun, Iceland, Ireland & Scotland, Iceland & Greenland Explorer & British Isles Explorer, Top of the World Explorer, and Fire & Ice Explorer.

Princess will be accepting reservations for 2011 sailings beginning March 25th.  Additional information about Princess Cruises Itineraries can be found here.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Continuing with our 12 Night British Isles / Norwegian Fjords cruise, our next port was Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland . This was our second time in Greenock, so we decided to do a tour of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, on our own. Edinburgh is about 45 minutes away, via ScotRail, from where we docked. Since RCCL was offering a bus transfer to Edinburgh, we decided to use that option instead.

Should you decide to use the ship's shuttle to Edinburgh, you need to be aware that a fair amount of walking will be required from the unloading point to any of the attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle.

As the bus pulled into town, we passed by the castle, so we had no problems determining which way to walk after getting off the shuttle bus. It was raining, but that didn't dampen our spirits as we walked to the castle. When we got there, a parade was underway. We watched the parade and then went into the castle grounds to begin our exploration. We spent several hours touring the castle, had some lunch, and then checked out the local stores before retuning to the bus pickup location.

Some other popular attractions in Edinburgh are Palace Of Holyroodhouse , the Scott Monument, the New Parliament Building Information Centre, the Lauriston Castle, and the Nelson Monument.

For more pictures of Edinburgh Castle, see our Kodak Gallery album. There are additional albums posted under the Gallery drop down on my Scotland page of our Cruise Vacations website. See that page for links to other planning resources and information about our previous trip to this area.