At 46,052GT, Magellan is Cruise & Maritime Voyages brand new flagship. Capable of accommodating 1250 guests, Magellan is large and spacious, yet still retains the intimate quality the British cruise line is known for. Join us as we tour Magellan...
My journey began at the London Eye, admittedly an unusual starting point to be joining a ship. A special service had been provided by MBNA Thames Clippers, which would transport our group along the River Thames in comfort from the heart of Central London to Tilbury. If travelling direct, the journey would take an impressive 35 minutes, however we stopped along the route to pick up more guests. With 13 fast and frequent vessels, sailing between Putney and Greenwich, the Thames Clippers are a great way to explore London on water, escaping the manic crowds and congestion of the Tube and roads. Travelling by river also offered a unique chance to see some of London's most famous landmarks, including Tower Bridge, the Shard and the O2 Arena. As the high speed vessel approached Magellan, the ship looked impressive and majestic.
Once on board, Myself and Harry went straight to our cabin, 5109 to be exact, which was a Standard Plus Twin category. First impressions of the room were excellent. Spacious and modern, the cabin far exceeded expectations, and was a welcome change from the small, compact staterooms of today's modern, mega ships.
After checking out the various accommodation types, we explored the diverse range of venues on board. Our cabin was on the same deck as the lobby area, so we began our tour there. The space features a striking central seating area. Surprisingly, the reception and excursion desk signs are still in Spanish from when the ship was operated by, now defunct cruise line, Ibero Cruceros.
The vast openness of the Art Gallery makes it an eerily looking space. With the photo gallery looking directly down above this area, and the Show Lounge adjacent, the prime position of this venue is seriously underused.
| |
NAMING CEREMONY The naming ceremony for Magellan took place at 4pm in the Magellan Show Lounge. Hosted by cruise director, Richard Sykes, executive members of the Cruise & Maritime Voyages' company were introduced, including CEO & Chairman Christian Verhounig; Commercial Director, Chris Coates; and Mike Hall, Head of Marketing. Several members of the shore-side and on board crew were also introduced. After various speeches, and the ships blessing, it was time for the ship's godmother, Gloria Hunniford, to name the vessel, Magellan, by unveiling a plaque. After the unveiling, we were treated to a magical performance by Latin American dancers Luke Miller and Laura Robinson, who are winners of the under 21 Champions of Tomorrow and Stars of the Future tiles. The sensational operatic singer, Yvonne Howard and pianist Juliet Edwards also performed. | |
The large, spacious Raffles Bistro, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving a wide selection of hot and cold food. Individual food counters make it easy to find the exact food you fancy, whether that's soup and a bread roll, a traditional sunday roast, or tempting desserts. Magellan's buffet also features a cooked-to-order pizzeria and specialty counter featuring themed dishes, such as Indian and Italian.
To begin our meal, a Salmon Amuse Bouche was served. To start, I choose the Cream of Tomato Soup, which was served with garlic croutons. After a tasty starter, our waiter brought out a Raspberry Sorbet, which was drenched in Champagne. This was a delicious palate cleanser, in between courses and the chucks of raspberry mixed into the sorbet, gave it a great fruity taste. For the main course, I choose the Roast Vermont Turkey Breast, which was served with Roast Potatoes, Onion and Sage Stuffing, Vegetables, Gravy and Cranberry Sauce. Our waiter amusingly said "Merry Christmas" when he served it! After a delicious meal, the waiters performed the famous Baked Alaska Parade, before giving us all a mouth-watering slice off it!