DFDS Trip to Legoland Denmark October 2012

DFDS = easy peasy! We parked right on the quayside beside the boat at Harwich and after a short wait in a departure lounge, with a café, we walked straight on-board with our bags. Our “transfer” could not have been easier.
We found our spacious en suite cabin straightaway and our children, K and R, immediately began to fight over which bunk to sleep in.

Then we went off to discover the shop, cafe, a bar/lounge and a small children’s play area. There was a buffet restaurant and an á la carte dining area too. All the staff we dealt with were very friendly and helpful. The buffet on the first and third evening was excellent. There was plenty of fish and cold meats to choose from as starters, several choices of main course and some exceedingly tasty cakes, puddings and cheese if desired. We did find that the price of alcohol was rather high. That said there was a wide choice of drinks. After dinner, there was live entertainment in the bar.

On our first day we had a guided tour around Esbjerg and then we took ourselves off to the excellent fishing On our first day we had a guided tour around Esbjerg and then we took ourselves off to the excellent fishing museum and aquarium (which had a really good play area for the children). Buses and taxies were easy to use.

 Our second day was spent at Legoland. We were taken by coach (journey time – one hour). Plenty to see and do! We all loved it to bits. Our daughter loved the rides. Our son loved panning for gold and the penguins. They were both fascinated by the Lego model town and captivated by the Star Wars models.

We had an á la carte meal on board on the evening of the Legoland day and the staff made a special meal for our son as he is a picky eater.

Breakfasts were a delight, the buffet catered for both continental and cooked breakfasts and now we really know what “Danish pastries” should taste like.

Apparently in high season there is a children’s entertainer on board. When we travelled he had finished for the season, but this was not a problem as our two children enjoyed looking around the ship too much (there’s a Treasure Trail of clues), and certainly enjoyed their time at sea. Our son was particularly impressed that when, on our second day afloat, he lost his first tooth. . . . .that night even the Tooth Fairy was able to find our cabin!

DFDS and their excellent staff spoilt us all rotten! “More please!”

Nigel Jarvis 12th November 2012  

First published in www.parents-news.co.uk during 2012 

Other 2012 posts relating to this trip:

http://www.hadrianastreasures.com/2012/11/william-woodhave-and-his-marvellous.html

 http://www.hadrianastreasures.com/2012/11/this-is-ropery-at-fisheries-and.html


http://www.hadrianastreasures.com/2012/11/ahoy-there.html

William Woodhave and his marvellous invention

Here are some more photos from the Fisheries and Maritime Museum in Esbjerg. We had a lot of fun there - looking, playing and exploring.

I do feel a huge affinity with the sea having grown up in a seaside town - South Shields. Most of the time it frightens the life out of me but I still get drawn to it. (The more I look into my family history I find that the maternal side of the family has always been in the fishing/shipping industry in and around South Shields.)

I remember years ago when we were are a safari trip out in the Red Sea with a Dutch group some scuba equipment fell overboard. My husband, Nigel, and some others went out looking for it. It was quite a stormy night. They had on their scuba gear and it must have been pitch black. They would have taken their powerful torches with them but still I had visions of them getting caught in the propellers of the boat and never coming back!

People who earn their living from and by the sea - have generally always done it the hard way! This was an extremely good museum showing what life was like for people in times gone by. Maybe we should try and do the same thing some day down in South Shields.

After all it was where the lifeboat  built in 1789 by the boatbuilder, Henry Greathead, was invented. And what I did not realise until I clicked on the BBC link (click on the word lifeboat above) that there was controversy over who did invent the first lifeboat.

William Woodhave (excellent name!) also from South Shields came second in the 1789-lifeboat-inventing competition and he invented the first self-righting lifeboat. And as such, is seen as the REAL inventor of the lifeboat.

William's boat sticks in my mind because my great grandfather made a miniature copy of it in brass. Not sure if it is still in the family though which is a shame.

The ropery - I love the sound of that word!

This is a ropery at the Fisheries and Maritime Museum in Esbjerg, Denmark. For a map of the museum layout click here. It is an extremely worthwhile place to visit: an aquarium, museum of fishing, good places for the children to play outside and a dry harbour/museum outside too!

Ahoy there!

I spy pirates on the horizon at Legoland Denmark!

(October 2012 Visit courtesy of DFDS shipping line)

This was a good ride. The sound effects were very good
and there were some pretty scary looking pirates and their mates too!