Passengers on board up-market cruise ship Azamara Journey got a perfect view of the O2 dome as they sailed up the Thames to Greenwich yesterday.
And last night Edie Bornstein, the cruise line’s vice president of sales and marketing, had the best seats in the house to see her hero Rod Stewart perform on stage.
The 30,000-ton vessel, carrying 694 passengers, and one of the biggest vessels to negotiate the Thames barrier, has made Greenwich pier its home for two nights.
Azamara Journey is mid-way through a 14-night Western Europe cruise which left Barcelona on May 23, and is heading for Copenhagen, Denmark where the ship will arrive on June 6 via the Kiel Canal in northern Germany.
The visit to London was a special highlight for Edie, 48, who claims to be Rod’s biggest fan, and has been to his concerts all over the world.
“I took a water taxi from the pier at Greenwich, straight to the O2. It will be great if we can offer our guests show tickets next time we come to London, I am sure they will enjoy it as much as they do other events.”
Guess what was Edie’s favourite part of the show. “When he sang ‘Sailing,’ the crowd went wild, and while he was singing there was a montage of films of sailors and ships in the background. It was very moving, and amazing to watch,” she said.
The evening held only one disappointment for Edie. Rod, who has sailed across the Atlantic on the QE2, was too busy to accept her invitation to take a look at the ship.
Perhaps next time on Azamara’s Journey. .
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
I’m a Londoner who now lives in Cowes so unfortunately I missed the sight of this ship sailing up the Thames. I’d love to see more cruise ships heading upriver to the Big Smoke on a regular basis, for London will always be, for me, one of the world’s greatest destinations. Meanwhile, Rod, how about doing a gig on one of the bigger liners….I’d sign up for it!