Azerbaijan, Baltic Sea cruise and Saudi airlines business class

[henleybeach]

We spent the day wandering around the streets of Copenhagen. We walked down to the palace and watched changing of the guard. It was 25 degrees today so all the locals were out sunbaking along the warf and canals. We jumped on a canal tour which went for about a hour , we really enjoyed it. After that we had some beer and lunch at a little cafe on a floating pontoon on the canal. It was really cool.
We then walked around the shopping area and then headed back to the hotel, 24000 steps later and we were flat as tacks laying on the bed !

 

[henleybeach]

 

[henleybeach]

 

[ellen10]

I am enjoying your trip report and photos.
Looks like beautiful weather.

 

[craven morehead]

Today was a more relaxing day in the port of Helsinki. The tram stop is right at the harbour so we caught the tram into the city centre was takes about 15 min. There’s Trams a plenty in Helsinki!

We checked out the Helsinki cathedral, walking around it , it was beautiful. It happened to be Finland’s 100 year anniversary of the armed forces so they had a military display with tanks, rocket launchers , surface to air missiles and other military equipment. It was awesome seeing all of them and sitting in a tank and the trucks. After that we walked down to the market on the water and bought some souvenirs. It was another beautiful day , sunny and 20 degrees so we strolled along to a industrial harbour , where there was cafes and where the locals were. We had a coffee with a lovely view away from the hustle and bustle. We walked around for another couple hours , Helsinki was very clean and pretty, we defiantly rated it higher then Copenhagen. All up a nice relaxing day in a beautiful city on perfect day , full marks Helsinki

Just catching up on this great TR. I also prefer Helsinki over Copenhagen.

 

[craven morehead]

View attachment 128159 View attachment 128160 View attachment 128161 View attachment 128162 View attachment 128163

Doesn't look like that boat has moved far since I was there last September lol

 

[henleybeach]

CPH IST

Dep 1115am Arr 3pm

Aircraft A330-200
Turkish airlines

We caught the train to the airport, there was a slight bit of worry starting to creep in when the train driver said there will be a 30 min delay due to someone being on the track. A lot of the time 30 min blows out a lot longer. Thankfully this time it didn’t and we got to the airport still with plenty of time.

After check in we headed to the SAS lounge , we only had a 30 minutes there now so it was a quick stop. It was quiet nice,modern Scandinavian furniture, we had quick coffee and we were off to board.

Lunch was served and it I must say Turkish airlines has the inflight meals nailed. Lamb Kofta with rice and beans , chocolate mousse and a beer. The food on both of our Turkish airlines flights has been 10/10. I’d love to see what business class get if economy meals are this nice.

We landed on time and headed to our hotel, Crowne plaza florya, about ten minutes from the airport

 

[henleybeach]

SAS lounge and lunch on board

 

[henleybeach]

This hotel is amazing for plane lovers , they literally fly straight over the pool and from the rooftop bar you could throw a Tennis ball and hit one . A jumbo went straight over the us and it was the loudest thing I’ve ever heard . I was spewing I missed a photo of it

 

[henleybeach]

 

[henleybeach]

Not a aircraft you see everyday

 

[henleybeach]

A bottle of wine later and I got the big girl

 

[RooFlyer]

View attachment 128550 Not a aircraft you see everyday

Iranian I think.

 

[henleybeach]

My most excited I’ve been for a flight is today, I know it won’t be Singapore airlines business class but because we are flying a different airline in Saudia and my first ever Dreamliner. I looked back at my cc statement and we paid $684 pp for ist- Kul one way and it’s the Dreamliner the whole way. 1 hour connection in Jeddah.

IST- Jeddah
Dep 330pm arr 720pm
B787-9
Saudia airlines

We checked in and that wasn’t To smooth , the lady said we need a visa for Malaysia and she couldn’t give us our boarding pass and let us fly. I politely said that’s incorrect for Australians, she gave her supervisor a call and it was all good until she noticed it was a one way ticket. She asked if we had a ticket to leave the KL which I bought with me in my Carry on luggage because I thought they would ask for it .

We are sitting in the old SkyTeam lounge which is called comfort 2 lounge now, small modern newish, not many people here . Buffet had nice selections of salads and some hot choices (pasta, chicken stir fry , mixed grilled vegetables ) drink selection wasn’t huge but had the basic spirits, turkey beer and 1 red and 1 white wine.

90 minutes to go before boarding fingers crossed it’s fine !

 

[henleybeach]

 

[Pushka]

Always carry full itinerary in hand luggage.

 

[henleybeach]

We boarded the plane and were shown to our seats , for this smaller flight of just over 3 hours I choose the two windows seat for the daytime views and the next leg in the middle for night for the night flight to KL. The cabin is very nice with neutral tones and colours. Sleek looking, I haven’t flown VA new business but I think it’s practically the same ??

After we sat down , warm towels were given out and then pre departure drink of with date smoothie , water and juices.

I had the date juice and it was fantastic, creamy , oaty, sweet , just delish and mrs henley beach was trying to pinch mine! The FA seen it and came over and offered mrs henleybeach. Another FA came around and handed out menus and Evian water bottles and about ten minutes later orders were taken for dinner.
I went with the Arabic Mezze, the salmon and Arabic dessert.

We taxied out and after 10 minutes the captain and came on and said we are 16th in line and we won’t be airborne for another 20-30 minutes !
Meal service was about 15 min after takeoff and started with Arabic coffee and dates. Soon after about 15 minutes , entree was served, mezze was quiet nice and fresh as was the side salad.

Main course was bright out straight away. The salmon was a little dry but the sauce was lovely, it tasted better then it looked.
Again 5 minutes after dinner out come the sweets trolley , I had the Arabic sweets and a tea. All up cannot complain , service was efficient, the Syrian lady serving us was very friendly.

I read a book for a bit and about 45 min before landing we were handing this box full of food, I think it was to do with Ramadan as sunset had just happened.

We landed 5 minute late and bussed to the terminal where we quickly transferred to our next flight to KL. We went through security , there is seperate women’s and men’s line , one line for women and 6 for men. We didn’t even really have a chance to see anything of the terminal , but it looks run down , just as well the new one is nearly open.

A pleasant flight with a comfy seat with meals being a 7/10. So far so good.
Now for the next flight .

 

[henleybeach]

 

[henleybeach]

Jeddah - KUL
dep 820pm arr 1010am
Aircraft B787-9
Saudi airlines

A quick bus ride out to our next Dreamliner and she was a stinker here in Saudia Arabia, still 42 degrees at 8pm!

Another delicious date smoothie and a cold towel before take off. Menus were brought out as was amenity kits. The bags have quality and not a cheap feel with the male one being a Porsche one and the women’s one a furla. Inside was a lip balm, hand cream, socks , eye shades , a good toothbrush and toothpaste not those cheap coughpy ones, a phone screen wipe , a iPhone/ Samsung charging cable, a nice wooden hair brush and a pen.

For dinner I ordered the harira soup which Lina the FA told me it was vegetables, meat and beans. Then for main course I ordered the slow cooked lamb chop. Lina the FA was lovely and very nice and insisted I might want to have a snack later and to have a think about what pasta I wanted !
About 25 minutes in, out come the staters, salad with some garlic bread and Lina asked which starter I was having , western or Arabic? I was puzzled and thought she may have forgotten and i said I was having the soup. I misunderstood the menu, the soup was a extra including the starter . I turned it down and just said I was happy to have the soup. Lina certainly tried twisting my arm but I didn’t give in, I wanna walk off the plane not roll off !

The soup was really nice and full of flavour, I’m glad I was talked into getting it, that was quickly followed by the lamb which was beautiful, soft and tender. Dessert I went the fruit and tea, cannot complain about at all about the food, it was really really good, mrs henleybeach said it was the best business class food she’s ever eaten.

After dinner I put the bed down and went to sleep, after about a hour they starting serving the “snack”. It was entree , main and dessert again literally a hour after dinner! I turned it down and kept sleeping until the announcement came on that we are 45 min away from KL. There was no breakfast or tea and coffee before landing, it was a weird set up with the food service. It didn’t bother me as I’d eaten too much and couldn’t eat anymore.
We landed 10 minutes ahead of schedule for a our 2 nights in KL.

Overall impression-

I would fly Saudi again in a heartbeat, the food was delicious , sure the service isn’t as polished as Singapore airlines, the FAs I had were friendly and did a great job, yes there is no alcohol on board but even I could handle it and love a champagne on a plane ! For $700 you can’t go wrong, Emirates , SIA, Qatar , Etihad all wanted between $800- $1000 for economy for the same flight! A great experience and I’m glad we flew Saudi airlines!

 

[henleybeach]