NCL-BRU on SN Brussels 04/09/06

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Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,940

We travelled by train from Scarborough via York to Newcastle on 3rd September, and then caught the Newcastle Metro to the Airport, where we checked into the Britannia Hotel for one night. After this we headed into Newcastle for something to eat and ended up in Pizza Hut with tasteless pasta. After this we headed back to the airport.

I was angry that I could not take my video camera on holiday owing to baggage restrictions, and even madder when I saw what good video footage I could have got of the departing aircraft as they flew towards our hotel :mad: :mad: :mad:

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/eastern_ncl.jpg
Two Eastern Jetstreams at NCL, showing the old and new livery.

We were up at 04:30 on the morning of the 4th September, as our flight had a scheduled departure time of 08:15 and check in would be approximately two hours before. We left the hotel and had breakfast in Starbucks in the airport terminal. The blueberry muffin is to be recommended!

After breakfast we searched in vain for information about which area to check in, so we hung around in the area we had checked in when we flew in March, and, at 06:15, the check in was opened. We were first to check in and were allocated seats 11A and 11C. After this we went into the departure lounge after first having to remove our shoes to be security screened.

When we got to the seating area, we saw a very nice sunrise.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/sunrise_ncl.jpg
The sunrise over the apron at NCL.

We saw very few aircraft arriving, and several leaving as we waited for ours to arrive.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/lineup_ncl.jpg
easyJet and British Airways at NCL.

At 07:35, the moment we were waiting for arrived.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/oodjl_ncl.jpg
ARJ85 OO-DJL arrives at the terminal.

SN2188 was to depart from gate 23, and we waited in the lounge with other passengers for the anticipated boarding call.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/oodjl_gate_ncl.jpg
OO-DJL at the gate before boarding.

At 07:56, the boarding call was made. We were greeted by the female purser as we boarded and her colleague (another stewardess) stood at the back. My Mum sat near the window and I had the aisle seat. All the window view shots were taken by my Mum.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/engine_view_2188.jpg

The Connect was handed out before we pushed back.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/connect_2188.jpg
Connect.

Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,940

We pushed back at 08:09, and taxied to the runway for take off as a Ryanair jet waited to leave behind us. At 08:16 we became airborne.

The Captain was Captain Brinckmann (don't know if that is spelt right) and he announced that the flight was expected to last 1 hour 10 minutes. We flew along the coast for a little while before we went into thick cloud, which was disappointing as we still don't know if we flew over home or not.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/after_take_off_2188_01.jpg

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/aftertakeoff_2188_02.jpg

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/after_to_2188_03.jpg
Views after take off.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/inside_2188.jpg
An inside view of the aircraft. It was mainly full.

Shortly into the flight, the snacks were handed out. And surprise, surprise, it was a fruit tart! Not had many of those on SNBA lately!

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/snack_2188.jpg
The cherry tart.

I had orange to drink and was quite hungry so I ate the tart.

http://www.dropfiles.net/filez/3608/chocolate_2188.jpg
Nice chocolates!

There was some slight turbulence in the cloud, and it was cloudy as we flew into Brussels. At 10:12, the gear was lowered, and at 10:14 we landed on familiar 25L after a very pleasant flight.

We were bussed to B terminal and collected our bags in good time. Then we went for dinner and I had spaghetti bolognese in Brussels Cafe.

We caught the Sh*tty into Brussels Noord and then the train to Brugge. We visited some nice new places - Veurne, Eupen, Mons, Zeebrugge, Lier, old favourites such as Oostende and Antwerp and a couple of coastal places as well - Knokke and De Panne.

I also had some great beers - Sloeber (September 2007 is a very good batch!) Leffe 9, Romy, Floris Apple, Leffe Vieille Cuvee, Arabier, Oerbier, Hoegaarden, Jupiler, Ename Blonde and Stella.

It was a damned good holiday with some very hot weather!

Member for

18 years 6 months

Posts: 1,289

Exellent report there! :D

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 2,561

Great report there next time your over try the badger little pub a few mins walk from ncl great food!!

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 2,017

Great report!!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,940

Thanks for the comments.

Next time we will try and find the Badger. We were surprised that many places in Newcastle centre were closed, that is how we ended up in Pizza Hut (I used to like Pizza Hut but it has gone down the pan a bit the past few years).

Member for

18 years 8 months

Posts: 4,721

Great report there Louise :cool: will there be a return trip report?

James

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 2,561

Thanks for the comments.

Next time we will try and find the Badger. We were surprised that many places in Newcastle centre were closed, that is how we ended up in Pizza Hut (I used to like Pizza Hut but it has gone down the pan a bit the past few years).

Aye the pizza hut is useless at the bigg market the gates the best place for some good food.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,940

There will be a return report, I took so many photos on holiday, with all the good weather that I've got loads to sort through. The return flight was good as well, especially the approach into Newcastle when it was dark.

We went to the Bigg Market to look for the place that makes that Curry Hell dish but it was closed (we weren't going to have curry hell but we wanted to try something else). That was only my second visit to Newcastle, I don't know the place at all.

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 2,017

I live in Newcastle comet, I can't even find my way around the City Centre!!

Member for

17 years 8 months

Posts: 715

Good report mate, I am off to Brussels on the 4th of Oct with SN from Bristol.

Si

Member for

18 years 8 months

Posts: 4,721

Good report mate, I am off to Brussels on the 4th of Oct with SN from Bristol.

Si

Cool hope there's a picture report :D :diablo:

James :cool:

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,940

Good report mate, I am off to Brussels on the 4th of Oct with SN from Bristol.

Si

Lucky you :D :D

My next flight to Brussels is on Christmas Eve with BA from MAN via LHR.

I am spending Christmas in Brugge.

SN are very good but you can get sick of the fruit pies you always seem to get on their flights now.