| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
27th June 2023 |
BoMoH --> LoNDoN |
Skylark MoTeL |
 |
28th June 2023 |
Copenhagen Denmark |
On board by 15:30 |
 |
30th June 2023 |
Flaam Norway |
Railway & Biking Adventure |
|
1st July 2023 |
Aalesund Norway |
Art Nouveau City Walk |
|
2nd July 2023 |
Trondheim Norway |
Ringve Music Museum |
|
3rd July 2023 |
Aandalsnes Norway |
Romsdalen Cable Car & Nature Walk |
|
4th July 2023 |
Nordfjordeid Norway |
Loen Cable Car |
|
5th July 2023 |
Bergen Norway |
Twelve mile walk & canoeing |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I got up at 6:45 and left the house at nine o'clock. I parked in Holdenhurst village and walked across the A338 bridge to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. At ten o'clock I had my annual glaucoma check-up. Initially my eye pressure readings were 17 and 19, below the 21 referral level. However a later, more accurate test revealed figures of 21 and 28, above the referral level. The glaucoma nurse gave me two options: a brief laser operation or eye drops for the rest of my life! I opted for the former and look forward to the appointment.
The procedures having taken one hour, I went shopping in Tesco's superstore next door, before walking back to my car. In Holdenhurst village I had an early lunch of two roast beef sandwiches to eat and the last of my milk to drink. I then slept for three quarters of an hour as the morning's eye drops wore off. I then drove to London, getting to Tesco's in Ashford at two o'clock. Here I filled up with petrol and did some more shopping.
I got to the Skylark motel at 2:45, where the B&B cost £99 with parking at £8 per day. Here I slept for another hour, before recharging my oyster card at the tube station. I bought some cherries in Sainsbury's and some corned beef slices in Iceland for my supper. Back at the Skylark, I sat out in the garden to eat my picnic, watching the constant stream of planes landing at nearby Heathrow. I listened to the Radio Four PM programme with the BBC Sounds app on my Nokia mobile phone.
Back in my double room, I started work on this blog and spent the evening watching television. In particular, I saw Michael Sheen playing Kenneth Williams in Fantabulosa on BBC4. I went to sleep at 10:45, having done nearly twelve thousand steps, equal to nearly five miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke at five o'clock ONE hour before my alarms. Breakfast didn't start until seven o'clock, so I just had my banana with a mug of tea. I caught the 6:30 tube to Deathrow, where I was able to check in quickly. I then sat outside by the smokers' area in the cool, overcast conditions. I got through security quickly and then settled down at a charging station, with a view of the landing runway, to update this blog. Here I worked on my upcoming presentations.
I got on the SAS A320 Airbus quite quickly. We took off half an hour late, but made up the time as usually happens. I got out my laptop to update this blog and to continue working on my slides, until the battery ran out. We were offered complimentary tea or coffee, but nothing to eat. With no decaff coffee on offer, I just had two small cups of tea.
We landed on time and the formalities were quick. The immigration officer spent some time trying to work out if I had spent more then 90 days out of the last 180 in the EU. I didn't like to tell him that repeatedly going in and out of the EU on cruise ships didn't appear in my passport! After waiting for my driver for ten minutes, I phoned the port agent, who said he was on his way. After forty five minutes I had to phone again and they said they would send another driver. Eventually after over an hour's wait a driver appeared and whisked me off in his Mercedes limousine.
At the ship, embarkation took a quarter of an hour as a result of an IT failure. Once on board, I found I had a panorama suite on deck nine. I immediately had my favourite small puttanesca pizza al fresco in the Spaccanapoli pizzeria in the shade from the hot sun. I had some running about to do, before I could have my late siesta. After only fifteen minutes of sleep I was awoken by the safety drill.
Back in my cabin, I was summoned down to her office by Olena the shore excursions manager. At 5:45 I was on door duty in the panorama lounge ready to introduce myself to the assembled guests. CD Bruno from Argentina introduced me to his husband Marcus! At 6:45 I went to the solo travellers get together in La Dolce Vita lounge. Only Linda from Maryland showed up and we were joined by ACD Joanna and cruise sales Carmen.
At 7:30 Joanna and I led just Linda down to the Atlantide main restaurant. I had the mushroom soup with TWO king scallops, the Caesar salad with smoked duck AND anchovies, the filet mignon with THREE chips, asparagus, green beans and Bearnaise sauce followed by the sugar free Fantasia dessert. I had TWO glasses of the red wine.
At 9:30 the party broke up and I retired to my suite to update this blog and have an early night. I went to sleep at 10:15 having done only seven thousand steps, equal to less than three miles of walking during a busy day.
I got up just after six o'clock and had a warm smoked salmon panini to eat in the Arts Cafe just after 6:30. Back in my suite, I worked on my laptop. I then did eight circuits of the top deck jogging track, equal to one mile of walking, but it was overcast and breezy. At nine o'clock Gusti came to service the suite, so I touched base with the Shore Concierge team to hand in my wishlist of tour escorting.
At 9:30 I went to the Venetian lounge, but Ruslan didn't arrive until 9:40 to set me up. He said the HDMI lead was no good and we would have to use the poorer VGA cable instead. At ten o'clock Bruno introduced me and I gave my thirty minute talk on Flaam to a decent sized audience. My five videos all worked well. I had some questions to field at the end.
At noon I lunched on the egg drop soup, THREE lamb chops and TWO scoops of ice cream in La Terrazza buffet. I then slept for an hour and a half, thus missing the line dance class. Afterwards, I watched my first port talk on the telly.
At four o'clock I watched the 2021 biopic of Steve McCurry, the famous American photographer, in the Venetian lounge theatre. It transpires that he extensively photoshops his pictures, so I shall declare in my lecture tomorrow that I don't! Just after six o'clock, I did another eight laps of the top deck as the sun came out after the rain had blown through. I don't mind rain on a sea day, it increases my audience!
At 6:45 I went to the Captain's cocktail party where I had two small canapes and a glass of sparkling water. I slipped out at seven o'clock to host the solo trvellers with Christiano the International Host from Sao Paulo in Brazil. Again only Linda from Maryland showed up, so I took her to dinner in the Sea And Land Taste (SALT) dining room. I had the shrimp salad and the Arctic char, but no dessert as I had to slip out at nine o'clock. I went up to the dance session in the Panorama lounge as a lady had asked me at the end of my monring's lecture to have a dance, but she didn't show up.
At 9:45 I sat back with Linda to watch the Mind the Gap production show starring ACD Joanna. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done only nine thousand steps, less then four miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarms at six o'clock after a restless night. At 6:45 I had a cheese omelette with crisy bacon, tomatoes and a hash brown to eat with a glass of V8 to drink. I was then joined by Linda, who having a New York Jewish son-in-law, had a smoked salmon bagel for breakfast. I finished up the other half of her bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
At 8:30 I was on duty on the quayside ready to lead my second choice Train & Bike tour ($199). When all thirty guests had assembled, we walked to the station. Here I met guide Bente and assistant Rune. We were given fifteen minutes free time, before boarding the famous train. We had several stops on the way up, including ten minutes at the Cheers Force waterfall. One of the guests took a photograph of the dancing nymph here, with their zoom lens, which revealed it to be a man in drag!
At Myrdal, the top station, we had ten minutes free time, before the train descended again. This time we got out half way down at the passing loop. Here we boarded our bicycles and ventured off down the valley. This was very easy cycling with lots of photo stops as the sun came out. Two ladies rode down rather slowly and so we missed the two explanations in the lovely little wooden church. This was an absolutely fabulous tour, one of my best!
Back at the ship, I had the hake fish and chips al fresco by the pool, before sleeping for one hour. I then filled in my escort report using the dreaded Adobe Acrobat. Oh what a trial! I had to phone one of my agent's back to discuss my upcoming Saga cruises. I then went back ashore via the huge, free wi-fi lounge at the port. I headed for the Fretheim Culture Park, which had hillside walks behind the hotel of the same name. I had never done this area before, and it was ideal for photography with the sun behind me.
Back at the ship again, the French Shorex lady eventually helped me post my report, another trial! She also gave me the last minute availability for Aalesund, which I was about to lecture on. Rio, the DJ from Las Vegas with Greek and Latino parents, set me up. I then gave my 35 minute talk on Aalesund with one time lapse video at the end. The number of attendees was down as we sailed away down the magnificent Aurlandsfjord in the sunshine.
After my lecture, I went up to the top deck to watch the scenery. At seven o'clock I hosted Linda with the pair of singers Alfie and Ciaran. At 7:30 the two of us descended to the Atlantide main dining room for dinner. I had the lobster salad, which was actually just a starter, the lobster bisque, the tenderloin veal and the tiramisu. I had two glasses of Californian red wine to drink.
At 9:30 we went to the Soprano's solo cabaret, comprising opera and musical theatre songs, but I kept falling asleep. I went to bed at 10:45, having done nearly fourteen thousand steps, equal to over five miles of walking during the day, not counting the cycling!
I got up just before six o'clock, half an hour before my alarms. At 6:30 I had one small warm smoked salmon panini and a decaff cappuccino coffee in the Arts Cafe. I then updated this blog.
At 7:30 I had a spinach omelette with crispy bacon, two tomatoes, one corn beef hash and one hash brown to eat in La Terrazza. I had just one glass of V8 juice to drink. Back in my suite, I uploaded my photographs from the previous day. When the suite was being serviced, I went up to the top deck to watch the final berthing beside the enormous Norwegian Prima. Across the other side of town Silver Shadow was berthed at the Hurtigruten quay. When the latter ferry later arrived it had to berth next to us.
At 9:30 I was on duty on the quayside ready to escort my second choice Art Nouveau City Walk ($89). Having dispatched Mikael with the first group, I departed with guide Madeleine and sixteen guests. It was her very first time leading this tour. We began at the Art Nouveau Centre (Jugenstilsenteret) where we entered a Tardis like time machine to go back to 1904. We then had audio-visual displays on multiple small screens in two small rooms. Upstairs was the Art Nouveau museum with examples of furniture, pottery and jewellery. The dining room was laid out for a formal banquet. Downstairs again we had our kaffee und kuchen. I had red bush tea with my small cake topped with custard.
We then started our walk around town, beginning with the outside of the fisheries museum. We traversed the main pedestrianised shopping street, but one old lady baulked at some steps, so I led the party onwards and upwards, whilst the guide took her the long way round. We met up again at the park. Here four guests wanted to tackle the 418 steps to the high Aksla viewpoint, whilst we went to the lower viewpoint at the old fort (Skansen). Gradually guests left us to explore the town on their own. At the end it was just two Australian guests left with Madeleine and me back at the ship. Here I had a small puttanesca pizza, before sleeping for only half an hour.
I then walked back into town to photograph both shopping centres. Back at the ship again, I touched base with Olena, before updating this blog. At 5:15 I gave my thirty five minute talk on Trondheim.
At seven o'clock Anna, orginally from Taiwan, but now living in California, joined Linda and me for cocktails. Anna dined with her daughter, whilst Linda and I went down to the SALT local specialities restaurant. Here I had the Norwegian ham, the filet mignon and the Danish cake.
At 9:30 we watched the excellent Queen tribute show, which I have seen a few times, but still love. I managed to stay awake throughout! Back in my suite, I watched my Trondheim talk on the telly. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done over nineteen thousand steps, nearly equal to eight miles of walking during the day!
I awoke just before six o'clock ready for my warm smoked salmon panini with decaff cappuccino at 6:30 in the Arts Cafe. I was first of the ship at eight o'clock, photographing the walk into the city. I got as far as the maritime museum, whose only external exhibit was a floating mine, before turning back.
At 9:15 I was on duty on the quayside to escort my first choice Ringve music museum tour ($109). I has 23 guests with Italian/Norwegian guide Angelica and driver Ke(r)til. We had a short run past the huge Nazi U-boat base to the suburban estate. After a quick look at the botanic garden, the party entered the locked building. Unfortunately one gent had wandered off, so I had to wait outside for him to reappear. We then had to sit outside or explore the other buildings and the grounds for one hour until the group emerged from the locked building. Next up was our free time to visit the famous musical instrument museum. At noon we had a glass of prosecco and a short piano recital in the period manor house, not the concert hall. He played pieces by Grieg, Mozart and Bach amongst others.
At 12:30 we headed back to the ship via the Royal Residence in the centre of the city. Here I had my first cheeseburger and chips of the cruise by the pool, before sleeping for an hour. At four o'clock I gave my forty minute talk on both Nordfjordeid and Aandalsnes. I then had a lot of paperwork to catch up with as we sailed away from Trondheim.
At seven I hosted just Chinese Anna, but she had to leave early to have dinner with her daughter. Next Linda arrived and then Jonathan. I had chatted with the latter on the Art Nouveau walk, when I had discovered he was a professor of transportation at George Mason university near Washington DC. He was having dinner with his mother and sister, so I led just Linda down to the Atlantide main restaurant. Here I had the lobster bisque (again), the prime rib of beef and the blueberry dessert with two glasses of Tuscan red wine.
At 9:45 we listened to the Musica Maestro crossover show. I particularly enjoyed the Carmen medley, the funicular song and the Les Mis medley at the end as usual. I went to sleep at 11:15 having done over thirteen thousand steps, equal to over five miles of walking, during the day!
I awoke at six o'clock ready for my breakfast of TWO eggs Benedict at seven o'clock in La Terrazza. I was first off the ship just before eight o'clock, doing some photography in town in the drizzle. On the way back from the start of the mountain walks, it started to rain heavily, so I headed back to the ship. I only managed nearly six thousand steps, equal to over two miles, before having to stop walking.
Back in my suite, I changed and placed my wet trousers and jacket in the tumble drier. I then updated this blog and worked on the slides for the next cruise in a few days time. At 11:15 Jo rang to say that they wanted my Bergen port talk that afternoon at four o'clock, even though it wasn't in the newsletter, as the next day was the 4th of July and given over to US Independence Day events! As Bergen is a turnaround port, there were no shore excursions to worry about.
At noon I was on duty on the quayside for my first choice Romdsdalen cable car and nature walk ($109). At 12:30 guide Eva and assistant Silje led just sixteen guests away, with six no shows owing to the poor weather. At 12:45 we ascended in the modern gondola, but entered the mist near the top. Ten guests then came on the nature walk with us. We looked into a "bothy" shelter hut, but saw nothing else of interest.
Back at the top station after our twenty minute hike, I took some photographs inside the restaurant. At 13:15 we descended in the gondola and the guests all stayed in town. I walked back to the ship on my own. Having an upset stomach, no doubt due to over-eating, I gave lunch a miss and instead slept for one hour. At four o'clock, I gave my thirty minute lecture on Bergen to a surprisingly large audience, given that the lecture wasn't in the programme.
Back in my suite, I completed my tour escort report form and watched my Nordfjordeid and Andalsnes talk on the telly. At 6:30 I went to the excellent Musicals production show time with the six Voices of Silversea. I had to slip out at seven o'clock in case any solo travellers turned up. Linda stayed until the end, before joining me for just five minutes in La Dolce Vita lounge.
We then moved down to the SALT restaurant, where I had the oxtail soup and the roast duck, but the latter was a bit tough. Not feeling so good, I made my excuses and retired for the night. I went to bed at 9:45 and watched one of my talks on the telly. During the day I had done ten and a half thousand steps, equal to four miles of walking, in spite of the inclement weather.
I awoke just before six o'clock, much refreshed after yesterday. At 6:30 I had a warm smoked salmon panini to eat with a berry water to drink in the Arts Cafe.
At eight o'clock I was on duty in the Venetian lounge ready to escort my first choice tour to the Loen cable car ($139). At 8:30 I led my flock down to the tender and got on last. In the marina, I got off first and led my guests to the waiting bus. Here I met guide Camilla from Ukraine and driver Utte. We had an hour's drive along the main road to Loen, where we ascended the famous skylift. Unfortunately toward the top we entered the mist which never cleared. We had an hour at the top to explore, before descending back into the clearer weather. We drove back on the narrow road with two photostops at fjord view points.
Back at the marina, we all jumped into the tender to get back to the ship. Here I went to the Independence Day buffet, where I had the pumpkin soup, half a lobster and the mixed grill. I then slept for just half an hour, before catching a tender back ashore. Here I rushed around taking lots of photographs on my first visit to Nordfjordeid.
At 6:30 I sat with Linda in the Venetian lounge to hear the excellent Songs of America production show with the six Voices of Silversea. I slipped out at seven o'clock before the crew parade in case any solo travellers showed up in La Dolce Vita lounge. Later Linda and Jonathan arrived, but the latter was dining with his mother and sister, so I led the former down to the Atlantide main restaurant. Here I had the shrimp bisque and the huge beefburger, but I left the bun and, would you believe it, some of the chips! I gave the special Key Lime Pie a miss, and had just two glasses of the Californian red wine. At the end we had photographs and I said goodbye to Linda.
Back in my suite, I started packing and watched my last port talk on the telly. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock having done nearly fifteen thousand steps, equal to nearly six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at six o'clock and had TWO eggs Benedict at 6:30 in La Terrazza. At eight o'clock I was off the ship and walking north to the Old Bergen (Gamle Bergen) open air museum. Despite having been here a couple of times, I took lots of photographs and recorded TWO pieces to camera.
I started my MapMyWalk app and headed back along the coast to the New Fisheries museum. They told me that the museum's shuttle bus service had been discontinued, but they have launched the new Blue (Blaa) Aquaculture exhibition nearby. I had past it on my way out, but had assumed it was a posh restaurant, not an exhibition!
I then climbed up the western flank of Mount Floyen. At the top I bumped into Linda from Maryland and I bought her a coffee to go with my strawberry smoothie (100 NoK = $10). We then walked to the little lake where I partook of the free canoeing, something which I had never done before! Linda sat and watched from the shore, taking some delightful pictures.
Back at the top station of the funicular railway, I said goodbye and then walked back down the hill. At the bottom, I went in the Arven gold and silver factory for the first time and the military museum at the fortress for the umpteenth time. Back at the ship at two o'clock, I had a small puttanesca pizza and then slept for an hour and a half. I then had a lot of sorting out and unpacking to do, as well as updating my talks.
At six o'clock we had the safety drill, followed by the introductions in the Panorama lounge. At 7:15 I hosted the solo travellers with ACD Joanna and cruise saleswoman Carmen. Deb from Vancouver and Robert from New York City attended, so Jo and I led them down to the Atlantide main restaurant at 7:30. Here I had the shrimp bisque again, the prime rib of beef again and just one glass of red wine.
I had to slip out at 8:40 ready to set up for my 9:15 lecture. Bruno introduced me and I gave my forty five minute talk on both Nordfjordeid and Geiranger. At the end a gent was asking about Loen, Lodalen and Briksdalsbreen, so I showed him the time lapse of the glacier's retreat. Back in my suite, I watched my Nordfjordeid and Geiranger talk on the telly. I went to bed at 11:15 having done over thirty one thousand steps, equal to over twelve miles of walking during the day!
7 Day cruise 6 Old ports 6 Port talks (not Copenhagen) 6 Silversea ships 5 Production shows 5 Tours escorted 5 Lectures (NFE & Aandalsnes combined) 4 Arts Cafe continental breakfasts 4 Atlantide dinners 4 Cruises on the Silver Dawn 4 Cruises on the Silver Moon 3 Cruises on the Silver Spirit 3 SALT dinners 3 Telephones 2 Cruises on the Silver Wind 2 Eggs Benedict breakfasts 2 Full English breakfasts 2 La Terrazza buffet lunches 2 Puttanesca pizza lunches 2 Cable cars 1 Cruise on the Silver Muse 1 Cruise on the Silver Whisper 1 Fish & chips lunch 1 Cheeseburger lunch 1 New port (Nordfjordeid) 1 Cabaret 1 Great cruise!
Thirteen Cruise Lines:
* Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines * Saga Shipping Company * Voyages of Discovery * Seabourn (Carnival) * Princess (Carnival) * Cunard (Carnival) * P&O (Carnival) * Celebrity (RCCL) * Silversea (RCCL) * Oceania (NCL) * Marella (TUI) * Ambassador * CrystalForty Two Cruise Ships:
Silver Whisper Silver Spirit Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn Black Prince Black Watch Boudicca Balmoral Braemar Bolette Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Solstice Celebrity Eclipse Celebrity Edge Celebrity Apex Saga Rose Saga Ruby Saga Sapphire Saga Pearl II Quest for Adventure Spirit of Adventure (Old SofA) Spirit of Adventure (New SofA) Spirit of Discovery Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) Queen Elizabeth (QE) Queen Victoria (QV) Queen Mary 2 (QM2) P&O Arcadia P&O Aurora P&O Oriana P&O Iona Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Marella Explorer Oceania Sirena Ambassador Ambience Sapphire Princess VoD Discovery