Da Day I’m docked with Diana in Leith, dastreen she was in Lerwick, and Da Moarn she’ll be in Aberdeen, it’s just how I cruise.
Now if you think I’ve been drinking then that’s only because ye ken me, and ye ken Swan Hellenic’s hospitality.
But no, for once I’ve had to forgo the champagne, wines and cocktails but thankfully not the cuisine.
As I put mind and body back together a full week after racking up the rounds at the Open golf in Troon.
All as a guest of Hilton Head Island and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
Viking twang
So today is a new experience for Shipman Murty, cruising without the boozing.
I don’t know what the Vikings, around whom this Swan Hellenic 12-nighter Sailing with the Vikings cruise from Norway to Amsterdam, would think.
Or our old Aberdeen neighbours who have long since decamped to Elizabeth’s roots in Lerwick, Shetland.
But I hope they would appreciate my attempts at Norn/Shetland dialect which has been handed down the generations.
Since the days when Shetland was under the rule of Norway until it was given in a dowry to Scotland.
And, no, the Shetlanders were never asked and have never quite accepted it.
Oh Diana
The Norsemen (or Normans) came, Thor and conquered down from the fjords along these routes that Swan Hellenic are taking.
Luckily for us, things have come a long way since those longboats of yore with Diana the largest vessel in the Swan Hellenic fleet.
Boasting nine decks, Diana offers 192 guests five-star 96 staterooms and suites, many with private balconies.
The ship is equipped with a heated outdoor pool, open deck Jacuzzi, gym, spa and beauty salon and sauna with panoramic views.
Restaurants include the Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge, Pool Bar and Grill and room service.
Chef has pans… will sail
Did we say that Diana invited along a chef just for the Edinburgh to Amsterdam leg of the itinerary?
Nicolai Wiedmer, owner of Restaurant Eckert in Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany, who rustles up his own Gala Dinners.
And yes, myself and my own queen of the seas had to be prised out of our seats.
All to allow the cruisers who were off for the afternoon exploring Edinburgh back on.
And naturally we tried to hide ourselves away as stowaways.
All around the world
Now we all know the Vikings were famous seafarers but this Norway through Scotland to the Netherlands cruise is just a breeze for Diana.
She will travel the world in 2024/2025, with sailings to Swan Hellenic’s flagship destinations the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
And from Brazil to Papua New Guinea, Norway to New Zealand, Australia to Africa and Madagascar to the Mediterranean.
So while Da Day I’m docked with Diana in Leith then Da Moarn I could be anywhere in the world with Swan Hellenic.