Last year, Competa IT celebrated its 25th anniversary with an unforgettable weekend trip to Malaga and the beautiful mountain village of Cómpeta in Spain. It was a great experience for our team of developers and that's why we wanted to organize something special again this year. Ultimately we decided to take a mini cruise from IJmuiden to Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom. In this article we will tell you more about this exciting journey.

mini cruise

The program of our mini-cruise starts with embarkation in IJmuiden, where we board the ferry to Newcastle. The crossing takes about 15 hours, but we were certainly not bored! There are numerous facilities on board, such as restaurants, bars, a cinema and even a casino. There is enough to do and see to pass the time.

After everyone was settled in their own cabin, it was time to explore the boat. At Explorers Kitchen we enjoyed the extensive range of delicious hot and cold dishes. After which it was time to relax with bingo in the club, which was a nice start to our first evening on the boat. After bingo the live band came on stage. Here we danced our feet to golden old, new, international and Dutch-language hits.

Newcastle upon Tyne

In the morning we left the harbor by bus to the bustling center of Newcastle. On arrival we took a group photo on the Swing Bridge, which offers a beautiful view of the River Tyne with its iconic bridges such as Tynes Bridge and Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Then everyone could go their own way in Newcastle with colleagues. Whether you are a lover of history, culture, shopping or simply want to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, Newcastle has something for everyone.

There is the iconic Newcastle Castle with its rich history, from where you have an impressive panoramic view of the city itself and the River Tyne. A visit to Grainger Town should of course also not be missed. Here we visited Gray Street (one of the most beautiful streets in Great Britain!). The charming streets and beautiful Georgian architecture took us back to times long past.

Newcastle upon Tyne is known for its beautiful architecture, which is a mix of ancient and modern styles. The city has a rich history dating back to Roman times, which can be seen in several historic buildings. This made this outing also an excellent opportunity for our colleagues who like to take photographs.

heading home

After a fun day exploring Newcastle, we could all get back on the bus to the boat. Here, after we had freshened up, we could again enjoy the buffet in the Explorer's Kitchen. In the evening we enjoyed the live entertainment and some colleagues even played a game of Mario Kart! Of course, this evening we were again on the boat again. All in all it was a great trip full of new experiences and fun together.

Curious about what we experienced and what it was like on the boat? Then watch the video below! We are also looking forward to October's event: the Halloween Pub Quiz, which promises to be terrifyingly exciting again!