Oceanic Odyssey: Samantha's Albatros Voyage

Embark on a voyage of discovery with Samantha as she sets sail on the Albatros Expedition Cruise! Join her thrilling adventure through the vast expanse of the ocean, where each wave carries the promise of excitement and wonder.

With expert guides leading the way, Samantha explores remote islands, encounters majestic marine life, and delves into the secrets of the sea.

So come aboard and join Samantha as she navigates the open seas, seeking adventure, enlightenment, and the pure joy of exploration.

Journey there

Who did you fly with?
We flew British Airways down and Easyjet on the way back

Did you get any connecting transport from the airport?
We were picked up by coach from Heathrow Airport and taken straight to the port at Portsmouth

How was the journey?
Great journey and service from British Airways it was very quick through Heathrow.

Did anything memorable happen?
We met our representative from Albatros Expeditions along with other guests who had travelled from afar to join us for the weekend. Some had travelled from as far as Qatar, India, Italy and Germany.

Hotels

Where did you stay?
VIP weekend expedition cruise with Albatros Expeditions, we sailed on their ship Ocean Albatros

Were there any special features? 
Even though this is a serious expedition ship, it was lovely inside with a spa and gym and outside there was a pool and hot tubs.

What was your stay like? Did you enjoy it?
We had an incredible stay, it went too fast and I would love to return on a longer sailing. As it was my first time on an expedition cruise ship it was interesting to compare to a traditional cruise line. The service was very personal, it was definitely a relaxed luxury. No dress codes to adhere to onboard and lovely quiet spaces to sit and relax in between activities.

The food was wonderful and members of the team made a point of joining you at mealtimes at your table so everyone could eat together and discuss the day's activities. The family from Denmark that owns the company also joined us on this trip and it was lovely to hear their talks on the history of the company and their hopes for the future. While there is no entertainment on board they arrange various talks from experts, for example, we had wine and beer history/making and tasting explanations from the F&B director. There was also a talk from a renowned bird expert on the birds of the English Channel.

Did you receive any special service/treatment? 
After speaking to the captain after the final dinner I was able to go on a tour of the bridge which was fascinating!

Any recommendations?
There is an observation lounge on deck 8 which had fantastic views while in a cosy “Hygge” setting with tabletop fireplaces and comfy chairs to warm yourself with a freshly made hot chocolate or coffee.

Activities

Where did you go?  
We all went out on zodiacs to the island of Alderney, where we were taken on a tour of the island by experts from the Alderney Wildlife Trust. In the afternoon we sailed very close to a large colony of Gannets that had been under threat and were now growing again in numbers. Everyone was out on deck to get a good view and explanations from the experts on board.

What did you see/do?
We were treated to cabin tours and a tour of the ship including the spa, gym, sauna and mudroom.

Did you learn any fun facts or see anything exciting?
Alderney is a beautiful island and really is a hidden gem of the Channel Islands, there is only a population of between 1500-2000 people at any one time and everyone seems to know each other! It has a very interesting history, the countryside and other natural sites were stunning.

What was the weather like?
We were very lucky with the weather as it was raining as we boarded and disembarked. But during our morning in Alderney, the sun was shining on us and was actually quite warm.

Any recommendations?
If you’ve found any of the activities too strenuous there is a lovely spa on board to help relax any aches or pains.

Food/Drinks

Did you go to any local restaurants/cafes?
We didn’t have time to take in any local restaurants on our visit as there wasn’t enough time, but we were thoroughly fed and watered during the trip, with snacks and afternoon teas between meal times.

What did you enjoy eating/drinking?
The quality of the food was absolutely first class with plenty of choices and options for dietary requirements. My favourite moment was a hot chocolate in the observation lounge in a cosy chair!

Any recommendations?
Try everything (in moderation!) or pack elasticated-waisted clothes...

Conclusion

Would you recommend this holiday and who to?
I would recommend this type of holiday where you want to be active during the day and relax in the evening. While there are no specific facilities on board for children if you have a nature-loving child over perhaps 8/9 years old they will still love this type of holiday and the staff make a huge fuss of them! You were made to feel so safe and looked after that I wouldn’t worry if I hadn’t travelled on an expedition cruise before. This family-run company are experts in the Artic Region, but also travel down to Antarctica. If you wanted to try this style of holiday to see if it’s for you they have shorter itineraries and some are around the British Isles and Scandinavia. If you like nature, and wildlife and want to experience it first-hand with experts for company then you will love it!

To find out more about Albatross Expeditions please get in touch with Samantha:- 
0808 169 8208
[email protected]