My travel blogs take me all over Europe from #a2bviasea.
On this occasion I find myself in the Spanish town of Algeciras in the far southern region of the country. Realising my old chum Poeta Lopez Anglada, (better known to those in the UK as the former Champs Elysees from 1984 / Stena Parisien from 1992 / SeaFrance Manet from 1997 and finally Stena Navigator from 2009), was operating from the neighbouring port, I had to get aboard at all costs!
If you have read my blog of Algeciras (link at the end if you haven't) you will be familiar with the layout of the terminal and the city.
So, let's crack on and I will take you aboard this 1984 beauty for a crossing to Tanger Med in Morocco.
Although my accommodation in Algeciras was literally across the road from the ferry terminal, I arrived a few hours early for check-in as I was desperate to ensure I did not miss my opportunity of going aboard this ship; having previously lived near the Port of Dover I know this ship extremely well having travelled aboard her many times over the years.
It was so good to see her again so far from home and I was keen to see how her current operator has changed her interior.
Embarkation of Poeta Lopez Anglada (PLA) was delayed by many hours owing to a port state inspection and although assurances were given by Balearia staff that the sailing would not be cancelled, the other foot passengers and I were given the opportunity to travel with a rival operator, at our own cost, if we chose..
Keen to stand my ground and wait as long as it takes, embarkation duly commenced two hours late, four hours after I had actually arrived at the port; PLA having been cleared for departure, moved from her layby berth to berth 5 and was found to be moored bow first / port side to quay at the Spanish port.
As all other foot passengers had decided to travel with another operator, I was literally the ONLY foot passenger travelling aboard for this journey to Morocco!
The lengthy glazed foot passenger walkway from the terminal seemed to wrap around the vessel - as I neared I could see her starboard, forward and then port sides - the former SeaFrance Manet name could STILL be seen on her bow on the port side beneath her layers of white paint!
Foot passenger embarkation / disembarkation in both Algeciras and Tanger Med is via her 'purple stairs', port side aft.
It was like being reunited with an old friend as I ascended the stairs to her main passenger deck; her wide stairwells and glazed/metallic balustrades still very much evident.
Then, ascending the stairs, my first historical find - a Stena Line sign stating Truckers Restaurant! This would have been here since around 2009 when Poeta Lopez Anglada was called Stena Navigator operating across the north Irish Sea!
We arrive at Deck 7, the lower of the two main passenger decks.
Let's go for an explore!
To make navigation easier for the reader I usually start my blogs at one end of the ship and work my way through to the other however, on this occasion it is first necessary to get our ID documents stamped to allow entry into Morocco - if this is not done then we will be significantly delayed getting through the terminal in Tanger Med.
According to the on-board announcements we need to go to the ships' reception to complete some paperwork before proceeding to the passport office.
Having been aboard this ship previously, albeit many years ago, I know exactly where the reception is - located amid ship forward adjacent to the forward stairs.
The documentation we need to complete is fairly simple, just takes a few minutes to fill in, we then need to take this AND our passport to the passport office which is located at the forward end of the portside lounge just around the corner.
After a tense wait and some interrogating questions by the authorities my passport is stamped and I am free to relax for the duration of the voyage safe in the knowledge that I will not have any issues upon arrival in Morocco.
Please note, if you are on a busy sailing get to the information desk and passport office at the earliest opportunity! The journey to Morocco is only 90minutes and you will not want to be standing in a queue for any length of time.
As we are now at this end of the ship, let's start the 'walking tour' from here.
So, as I touched upon earlier the ships' foyer is still in its original position from when first introduced back in the mid 80's and still instantly recognisable.
The information desk is located on the starboard side of the foyer and faces forward; the actual desk being far larger than it was when she was operating from Calais to Dover as SeaFrance Manet.
Behind the desk the main bulkhead has been painted in the corporate colours of Balearia.
Lino flooring is prominent throughout this lobby. Unfortunately it is starting to 'bubble' in various places.
I did find an original UK three pin power socket and it was still working!
Access to the shop can be obtained from this lobby, but first let's go to the bar next door at the forward end of the ship.
Bar Barista, as its name suggests, serves coffee, snacks and has the décor of a northern Europe Stena Line vessel although some Balearia signage could be found.
Being the only bar which was open during this voyage it was very well patronised by passengers, though was not over crowded. The views of the Mediterranean Sea, the Rock of Gibraltar and the Moroccan coastline are spectacular and can be seen in all their glory through the large windows which are on three sides of this facility.
Let's go back to the foyer and have a look around the shop.
Access to the shop is from within the foyer next to the reception desk. The entrance/exit is one and the same.
Partially occupying the same area as it did when this ship was known as SeaFrance Manet, its foot print is now considerably smaller owing to the fact two cinemas occupy the space next door.
The shop is small but sells a selection of tobacco, and perfume products along with some children's toys and reading materials. The wall mounted shelving units surround a centralised counter where a range of goods are displayed along with the main till to pay for your items.
Regrettably there were no Baleria souvenirs available for purchase.
Running parallel to the shop along both the port and starboard sides are two window lined lounges with forward facing chairs and an adjacent corridor allowing access fore/aft along this deck.
Below - port side lounge
The lounge on the starboard side was closed off to passengers meaning
through-access was not permitted.
Both lounges have a small passport office at the forward end where, when operating to Morocco, documentation is stamped as outlined earlier.
Below - starboard side lounge
Below - starboard side lounge
Direct access to two cinemas is off a small corridor at the forward end of these aforementioned lounges - an area which was once part of the original shopping centre when she operated from Dover. Unfortunately neither was showing any movies/programmes. The journey from Algeciras to Tanger Med is only 90minutes therefore, this wasn't an issue.
The aft hall of this deck is still recognisable from all of her previous operating companies of Stena Line, SeaFrance, Sealink, etc; the metallic mirrored ceiling panels and display cabinets along with the glass balustrades of the stairs still in existence.
The carpeting appears to be a familiar Stena Line design and the 'Curious George' monkey logo affixed to the wall certainly is. The doors however which would have given access to the Curious George children's playroom were firmly closed, though old wall mounted deck plans from when this vessel was known as Daniya show a playroom still within. This area was again part of the original shopping centre.
At the after end of Deck 7 is the Met Restaurant. Accessed from the ships' port side those of you who regularly travel with Stena Line will find this area instantly recognisable.
Following Stena Line's corporate identity to a 'T', the blue carpeting, localised laminate flooring, seating design and neon overhead lighting all hark back to her time with the Swedish company.
The starboard side of the Met Restaurant, which used to double as the area where foot passengers congregated prior to disembarking in Dover between 1984 and 2009 was cordoned off, presumably owing to low passenger numbers. The décor however, was the same as the port side.
Seemingly doubling as a combined freight and passenger dining area, many persons were seen walking around with no shoes/socks on and some using the dining room as a sleeping dorm - the overall stench of moist feet was enough to put me off my food, hence why I am not able to advise what the meals were like.
The exterior deck aft of the Met Restaurant is still accessible for passengers and is a truly enjoyable area to relax in the hot Mediterranean sun.
Comprising of Stena Line corporate seating, the area has a chilled vibe - I wish some palmed planters were here to put the final touches on it.
The plastic deck covering appears to be in good condition though the balustrades are in need of attention.
The mammoth stern vehicle deck door / bridge and accompanying support structure is a pity as their shire size causes an obstruction to photograph the passing vistas - the rock of Gibraltar, Moroccan coastline, etc. But, that is just one of those things as this hardware is required for loading/unloading.
Access to the exterior deck above is no longer permitted.
Of course, I had to have an explore so having a sneaky peak, it appears the elements have taken their toll on the paint work.
Old on board signage when this ship was named Daniya show this area to be for the exclusive use of Stena Plus passengers - the name inherited after Stena Line disposed of this ship.
Let's go up to Deck 8
We'll go back to the aft hall by the Met Restaurant on Deck 7 and ascend those stairs.
Deck 8 was largely closed off due to low passengers numbers however, a swift personal guided tour by a friendly crewman from the reception desk enabled me access to the facilities up here.
At the top of the aft hall on Deck 8 we come to a spacious hall which has changed little since her time operating from Dover. Understandably the giant wall mounted mural within the stairwell has been removed and replaced by something more modern and abstract.
At the stern of Deck 8 is a restaurant accessed from the aforementioned hall by a door on the starboard side - a facility only open during high season, by all accounts.
Largely unaltered from Stena Line, it is still very much a Stena Plus first class lounge with its own exterior deck at the aft end, as described previously.
The restaurant still has Stena Line carpeting, seating design, fixtures and fittings so if you like travelling aboard a Stena ship, you will feel right at home here!
I was advised when the restaurant opens the dining area will be at the extreme stern with a 'breakout' lounge along the starboard side.
Other than transiting along the port or starboard side promenade decks, it is not possible to walk internally fore/aft as crew accommodation is in between surrounding the funnel casing therefore, we descend back down the stairs to Deck 7 by the Met Restaurant, walk forward along the corridor by the shop to the main reception and ascend the forward stairs back up to Deck 8.
We arrive at the forward hall on Deck 8. Other than some signage and a mosque which occupies the area which was once the gaming arcade (florescent lighting still adorns the entrance!) little has changed.
Below - a children's playroom used to occupy the area behind the door on the left, now crew area.
At the very forward end of Deck 8 is a Sports Bar - an area which some will remember was a restaurant come lounge back in the days when she operated from both Dover and Newhaven.
As the Sports Bar is one of the many 'out of use areas' until the summer it would be wrong of me to comment as the actual bar is devoid of stock, tables & chairs not in their correct positioning and work being undertaken on some of the ceiling panels.
However, it it were to remain as a Sports Bar I can imagine it would be a very lively area to spend the journey.
Exterior deck space aboard Poeta Lopez Anglada is in limited supply - namely the only areas available were the stern of Deck 7 and the port and starboard sides of Deck 8 - access to the other areas no longer permitted.
As this journey was made at the end of the summer season it would appear the hot Mediterranean sun and an intense schedule has taken its toll on this grand old lady as the paint work was found to be very worn and tired with flaky paint, rusted surfaces, dirty windows, grubby and oily decking and some areas missing actual hand rails.
These are all easily fixable so don't thet this put you off travelling aboard Poeta Lopez Anglada - let's hope they are rectified before the start of the next season however.
Disembarkation in Tanger Med was again via the 'purple stairs' - the same as embarking in Algeciras however, this time we continue all the way to the lower vehicle deck and disembark via the stern doors where a mini bus is waiting to take foot passengers to the terminal - further details can be found on my blog Tanger Med, link at the end.
In closing this vessel was designed and built specifically for the intensive 90minute Calais/Dover high capacity ferry crossing and over thirty years later she still proves invaluable by undertaking a similar demanding route, albeit many hundreds of miles south in the hot Mediterranean sun.
She is very fast to load owing to large drive through vehicle access, has wide staircases to enable fast access from the vehicle decks to the main passenger decks and has spacious passenger facilities enabling quick service to those aboard using the restaurant, bar and shop.
Yes, she was found to be tired looking, but this is only cosmetic and nothing that cannot be fixed.
Presently however, she is still very much a Stena Line vessel so if you are from northern Europe and happen to find yourself aboard Poeta Lopez Anglada, you will find a familiar comforting welcome aboard which will put you at your ease - something that is very much appreciated being so far away from home.
