“Set jetting” in Style on a 40th Anniversary Cruise with the Magna Carta - Guest Post
Whilst celebrating their 40th with an anniversary cruise onboard the Magna Carta, our guests Rose Palmer and her husband became enamoured of not only the history, attractions, and food, but also the sense that they had walked on to the set of not one, but many TV shows, movies and even commercials. Rose was so excited about seeing in real life so many places that she new from watching afar, she asked us to write of her experience.
Magna Carta scene, take 1, and ‘Action’, Rose…
“There is a long-running joke in our household that we will not visit Oxford, England, because it has too many murders – TV murders, that is. As fans of British mystery series, we’ve enjoyed the “Inspector Morse”, “Lewis”, and “Endeavor” TV shows, all of which solve weekly whodunits in and around the University town of Oxford.
So naturally, when my husband and I chose a special 40th anniversary trip, it was a luxury barge cruise on the River Thames that started with a tour of – Oxford of course! Joking aside, we had taken three previous barge cruises with European Waterways in France and Italy, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this milestone event. A leisurely luxury anniversary cruise in the English countryside with days in London before and after was perfect.
Treated like Royals
Our royal treatment began as soon as we met Sarah Jane, our European Waterways representative, at the Stafford Hotel in London. Before heading to the boat, we were treated to an exceptional afternoon tea at the hotel, complete with all the trimmings: delicious sandwiches, delicate scones with clotted cream, and delectable sweets. All this was accompanied by the teas that are made specifically for the hotel. I have had many afternoon teas in London, and this is now my favorite.
We met our boat about an hour outside of London in Henley-On-Thames. This quaint town is best known for the Henley Royal Regatta. I was more interested in it because it’s a frequent filming location for another favorite, long-running mystery series, “Midsomer Murders.” I learned that one of my favorite comedies, “The Vicar of Dibley”, also used the town as a filming site.
The crew greeted us warmly and made us feel welcome from the moment we stepped aboard. We quickly felt at home with their easy-going and jovial manner, and it didn’t take long to feel spoiled by European Waterway’strademark attentive service, which was always offered with a genuine smile.
As Seen on TV
After surviving our tour of Christ Church College in Oxford on the first day of the cruise (not that there was really ever any doubt), we continued exploring sites along the Thames for the rest of the week. One of the first villages we sailed through was Marlow, the setting for another recent favorite British mystery series, “The Marlow Murder Club.” In fact, we passed by the house that was used as the exterior of the main character, Judith Potts’ home.
Not far from Marlow, we had a special tour of Peter Freebody’s boatyard. This family-owned business has been handcrafting custom boats on the Thames for 300 years. With love and pride, the current generation continues to build and restore beautiful, classic wooden boats for discerning customers all over the world. We saw many examples of their slipper launch models docked in front of the estates that we passed along the Thames. And after touring the boatyard, I easily recognized it in another recent “Marlow Murder Club” episode that I watched after I came home.
Further down the river, we stopped to visit the gardens at the Cliveden Estate. Cliveden was once the home of the Astor family, particularly the famous American Nancy Astor, who became the first woman to be seated as a Member of Parliament in 1919. I immediately recognized the distinctive grounds and building that I had recently seen in a very distinctive Range Rover commercial.
A Real-Time Favourite
Our favorite excursion was a private tour of Dorney Court, a well-preserved Tudor estate that has been owned by the Palmer family (no relation, unfortunately) for 500 years. The historic rooms, still outfitted with original period furniture, offered an intriguing glimpse into manor house life hundreds of years ago.
With so much authentic character, it was no surprise to learn that Dorney Court has been featured in numerous films and TV Shows, many of which I recognized. All my favorite British mystery shows have filmed here: “Poirot”, “Miss Marple”, “Inspector Lewis”, “Morse”, “Endeavour”, and “Midsomer Murders”. Also, films like “The Other Boleyn Girl”, “Elizabeth”, and most recently, “Bridgerton” shot scenes inside the house.
A Real Sense of History
The week concluded with a visit to two more historic sites: Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace. We toured the staterooms at Windsor Castle, where King Charles receives and entertains visiting dignitaries. Though it is difficult to get permits for filming at Windsor, I watched many good documentaries about the castle before our trip.
At Hampton Court, we explored Henry VIII’s Tudor side of the vast palace and its gardens. On our tour, our guide Sarah Jane vividly described how each of Henry’s wives has left their mark on the history of this grand building. Back at home, I learned that many movies I was very familiar with were also filmed here: “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”, and “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”, just to name a few.
Discovering Set Jetting
In between “set jetting” to all these interesting locations, we cruised slowly down the river, savoring the serene and picturesque setting. We passed quaint villages, expensive waterside estates, and green countryside. Our companions were the many swans that live on the river and occasional rowers out for some exercise. A few times each day, we passed through a lock guarded by a lockkeeper’s house wrapped in a colorful, blooming flower garden.
Another big highlight of this anniversary cruise was the food. I have come to expect excellent cuisine aboard a European Waterways barge, but on the Magna Carta, Chef Thomas truly set a new standard. His dishes were not just delicious but also infused with creative flavors and unexpected ingredient combinations.
Please, Can I Have Some More?
A few of my favorite standouts were the heritage tomatoes with feta and Bloody Mary sorbet, a twice-baked cheese soufflé accompanied by a cheese sauce and a red pepper tapenade, as well as the beautifully presented lemon baked Alaska.
He also spoiled us with homemade breads at each meal, paired with uniquely flavored butters. Twice during the cruise, he presented us with a cheese trolley made up of four different regional cheeses. Honestly, I would have been content with his bread, cheese, and wine, but I happily ate everything Thomas placed in front of me.
As is typical with a European Waterways cruise, lunches and dinners were always served with a distinctive white and red wine that paired well with the dishes served. Vintages were sourced globally and represented some of the best wineries from France, Argentina, and Italy, as well as lesser-known producers in Portugal, Georgia, and England.
A Trip of a Lifetime
All too quickly, this special week came to an end. The Magna Carta can host up to eight guests, but on this cruise, there were only four of us, which created a very intimate and memorable experience. Our cabin and the living and dining areas were comfortable and felt like home. But it was the crew’s camaraderie and personal attention that we would miss most.
Our cruise on the Magna Carta truly was the best way to celebrate our 40th anniversary. It was an unforgettable week filled with historic sights accompanied by exceptional food and wine, all hosted by a lovely crew. Thank you, European Waterways, for another trip of a lifetime!
– Rose Palmer
If Rose has whetted your appetite and a set jetting tour along the Thames in England is of interest, check out the Magna Carta on our website for more detail, including its itinerary. Or Contact Us directly for more information.
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