Nov.
2023
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SoToN
by 12:50
Nov.
2023
Troms
Norway
Cathedral &
Polaria Aquarium
Nov.
2023
Nordland
Norway
p.m. Demo.
Dec.
2023
More og
Romsdal
p.m. Heritage
Walk
Dec.
2023
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BoMoH
by 9:10
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
|
23rd Nov. 2023 |
BoMoH --> SoToN |
On board by 12:50 |
|
28th Nov. 2023 |
Tromso Troms Norway |
Arctic Cathedral & Polaria Aquarium |
|
30th Nov. 2023 |
Narvik Nordland Norway |
a.m. Station p.m. Demo. |
|
2nd Dec. 2023 |
Alesund More og Romsdal |
a.m. Walking p.m. Heritage Walk |
|
5th Dec. 2023 |
SoToN --> BoMoH |
Home by 9:10 |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke just after six o'clock ready for two fried eggs on toast for breakfast. At 9:30 I phoned for a Streamline taxi, which got me to BoMoH station as the 9:45 Cross Country train departed. I caught the ten o'clock SWR train getting to SoToN by 10:30. I was at the Mayflower cruise terminal before eleven o'clock, but the departure lounge was closed and we had to sit in the arrivals hall instead. Here I ate my Boots sandwich and drank some of my milk that I had brought from home.
At 11:30 I was quickly prioritised through check-in, but they didn't like my cartoon photo of myself! I was on board by 12:50 where I had the potato soup, the roast beef and the cheesecake for lunch in the Belvedere buffet. At 1:30 the cabins were released and I found I had an inside twin on Dominica deck five aft.
At two o'clock I slept for one hour, undisturbed for a change. I then met my steward Daniel and unpacked my large case, bulging with winter wear. I bumped into Dep. Ents. Man. Matthew and followed him back to his office under the theatre. Here he had to deal with the pantomine quartet, who will be performing towards the end of the cruise. I gave Matt my updated list of lectures, taking out both the Story of the Fjords as we are not going there and my talk on Grieg as we are not going to Bergen. Nevertheless, when I later got the next day's programme the Fjords lecture was still in place!
At 4:30 the Captain came on to the Tannoy(TM) to say that he was waiting for an ambulance to arrive to take off a sick guest. It must have been all the excitement of going on a cruise! We finally departed after six o'clock. I sat in the Crows' Nest observation lounge as we turned around and sailed down the Solent to the sea. The Captain then said that owing to a depression in the North Sea, we would go the long way round, hugging the Belgian, Dutch, German, Danish and Norwegian coasts, as we had two days to get there!
Back in my cabin, I started work on this blog. At 8:30 I went to my allocated table for eight people in the Meridian Main Dining Room (MDR), but no-one else turned up! I had the ham & lentil soup, the roast lamb and the chocolate ice cream. During the meal, the Maitre d'Hotel came over to apologise for me having to dine alone and offered to move me to another table. Instead I told him I would swap to Anytime Freedom Dining, so that I could eat earlier.
At 9:30 I went to the first dance session to recorded music in the Retreat dance studio. Here I did just one waltz with youngster Beth to the only track that the Belfast cruise staffer played. There were only a handful of guests present, including the dance couple, but no-one would make any requests, so we just sat and chatted.
At 10:30 I went to hear Roy Locke, the German/Australian singer's excellent Magic of the Musicals showtime. As previously he began with "Oh what a lovely morning" from Oklahoma and "Some enchanted evening" from South Pacific. He ended with medleys from Phantom and Les Mis. I went to sleep at 11:30 having done over eleven thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke at six o'clock ready to have my mug of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. At 6:30 I had the full English breakfast in the Belvedere buffet, but there were no plum tomatoes, no crispy bacon and the omelette station hadn't yet opened for service.
Back in my cabin I worked on my laptop. When Daniel came to service the cabin at 8:30, I did a dozen circuits equal to one mile of walking around the indoor pool under the closed roof, as the outside areas were all cordoned off, except for the aft verandah with the smoking area.
At nine o'clock I handed in my escort wish list at the Shore Experiences desk. At ten o'clock I listened to Steve Simone's interesting fifty minute talk on MoTown music. At the start his head microphone suffered from interference and he had to transfer over to a hand mic instead. I only knew less than half the featured music videos and he didn't sing himself as promised. He said he was going on in a later lecture to cover Michael Jackson, which should be good.
When he finished, Andre quickly set me up with a hand mic and I was able to stand at one of the doors to meet and greet the guests as they came in. At 11:15 I gave my thirty five minute talk on the Story of the Fjords with just one short video at the end. I had a few questions to answer afterwards. One lady said that she had studied at Keele University, where she had known Edward the son of my supervisor Professor Ed Derbyshire. I had shown a picture of the latter in my lecture! My lecture clashed with the first waltz dance class of the day. At 12:15 I lunched on the sweet potato soup, the roast chicken and the cherry cheesecake in the Belvedere buffet. I then slept for one hour, thus missing the salsa dance class.
Unfortunately the weather deteriorated and the Captain announced we were having to turn north away from the Dutch coast into the hurricane force northerly wind peaking at 82 knots. This reduced the rolling motion, but increased the pitching and may impact our progress north! Being housed low down at the aft of the ship, this was not so good for me. At one point both Azipod(TM) giant outboard motors came out of the water and cut out! The Captain suddenly announced "Attention, all guests AND all crew either sit down or lie down NOW!" as the ship lurched over. Power was quickly returned and we continued north slowly.
At 3:15 the second waltz dance class of the day was cancelled, so I did another twelve circuits of the indoor swimming pool. I squandered away the afternoon watching TV and playing FreeCell. At six o'clock I went straight into the Anytime Freedom MDR. Here I was sat with three couples and a lady whose husband was seasick back in their cabin. I had the mushroom soup, the lovely sirloin steak and the raspberry ripple ice cream.
At 8:30 I went to John Martin's comedy showtime. He had a hard time with some heckling and a few guests arriving late and leaving early. He told some clever jokes and the anal humour was very funny! I then had to do a bit of walking to reach my ten thousand steps / four miles daily quota. I went to sleep at 10:10, but it was now 11:10 on Central European Time (CET).
I awoke at 6:15, having slept for seven hours, ready for my usual instant decaff coffee in the cabin. At 7:15 I had the full English breakfast with a fried egg in the Belvedere buffet as the omelette station hadn't yet got going. Back in my cabin, I worked on my laptop. When Daniel came to service the cabin at 7:50, I did twelve circuits of the covered swimming pool, equal to one mile of walking.
At nine o'clock I touched base with the Shore Experiences desk. They told me that the Rauma railway tour had been cancelled, as the Sunday service in the winter is a replacement bus! At ten o'clock I heard Simon's second MoTown lecture, in which he sang one song himself.
Just before I gave my thirty five minute talk on Norwegian railways, CD Giovanni whispered to me that we would need another sea day and so we would have to miss out Andalsnes and the Rauma railway anyway. I had to continue with my lecture covering Oslo, Andalsnes and Narvik for the Ofoten railway. I showed only one of the two Rauma railway videos, but both of the Ofoten line ones.
At 12:15 I lunched on the butternut squash soup and the Cumberland sausage with mashed potato and cauliflower cheese, followed by the peach Melba. The latter was a thin cream with a few peach segments and no ice cream! I was sat with three couples on a sharing table in the Meridian MDR. Back in my cabin, I slept for eighty minutes.
After my mid-afternoon instant coffee, at 3:15 I went to Catherine & John's dance class where they taught the Catherine Waltz sequence dance to a dozen guests in the Retreat dance studio. I danced with Yvonne from Jersey, who had also lived in South Hampshire and South Devon. Back in my cabin, I had a second afternoon coffee whilst watching television. At 4:30 the Captain announced that we would be missing out on the call into Andalsnes. I then got into my formal red rig.
At six o'clock I went to the Captain's welcome cocktail party around the covered swimming pool, where I had just one glass of bubbly. I then moved down to the Meridian MDR, where I sat on another freedom dining sharing table for eight. Here there were two young ladies travelling together, a couple who live in France near Montmorillon travelling with their mother and a couple from Plymouth. I had the pea soup, the surf & turf main course with extra lobster gravy (!) followed by the cheese plate instead of dessert.
At the end of the meal, the navigational bridge announced the first sighting of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). The outside decks were still closed off, so I went out to the smokers area on the aft verandah. Unfortunately the ships lights at the rear were too bright to see anything.
At 8:30 I went to the first showtime, which had been billed as the Killer Queen tribute production show. However they had problems with the elevated stage and so saxophonist Julian Smith played instead. He began with some great tunes like Palladio and Somewhere from West Side Story, but then we had some modern, funky numbers by Sade, Kenny G and himself, which I didn't care for. A few people walked out, but most of the guests loved it.
At 9:30 we had the Gala Ball in the Globe nightclub. Here I mainly danced with instructress Catherine, but also did some dances with Yvonne from Jersey. Unfortunately her friend Norma, also from Jersey, didn't dance. When this finished at 11:30, I had just met my ten thousand step quota for the day, going to sleep just before midnight.
I awoke at 7:35, having slept for seven and a half hours, ready for my usual mug of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. Just after eight o'clock, I had grapefruit segments, two eggs Benedict, toast with Marmite, a glass of tomato juice and a cup of coffee for breakfast. I was sat with a virgin cruise couple from Wakefield with their mother, a couple whose husband worked in the nuclear industry and two single ladies. Afterwards, I did three circuits of the promenade deck equal to one mile of walking.
At ten o'clock I joined twenty six guests at the line dancing class in the Retreat dance studio. Dillon taught the Electric Slide and the Lemon Tree whilst Char(lotte) taught Blue Rose Is and the Little Red Book. All four were done to the proper music for a change!
At 11:15 I went to Catherine & John's ballroom jive class. I danced with Frances from Solihull doing the basic figure - back, rock, dum-di-dum, dum-di-dum, back rock. Catherine also taught the underarm turn and the American spin. I then caught the end of Steve Simone's talk on Stevie Wonder.
At 12:15 I lunched on the lentil soup, the chicken & ham pie and the rhubarb fool. I was sat with four guests on a table for six with one space. One couple were from Chesterfield in North Derbyshire and two ladies were from Sheffield. I then slept for an hour and a half, awoken by my alarm at 2:45, ready for my mid-afternoon instant decaff coffee in the cabin.
At 3:15 Catherine recapped the ballroom jive and introduced the change of hands behind the back, the hip bumps and the stop & start. I danced with Gill, also from Solihull, who had a bad ankle and was walking with a stick! Back in my cabin again, I watched my Fjord and Railway lectures on the television.
At 6:15 I tried to join the table of the Solihull ladies including Frances and Gill, but I was turned away. Instead I dined with a couple from Worthing and a school teacher also from Solihull with her daughter who worked for AstraZeneca in Winchester. I had the broccoli soup, the roast lamb and the cheese plate. I had moved on to the latter, rather than my favourite ice cream, to avoid aggravating my thrush!
At 8:30 I went to see and hear the excellent Killer Queen production show. They sang all the famous hits, but there were a couple of songs I didn't know. At 9:30 I danced with Catherine in the Retreat dance studios along with three other couples.
At 10:30 I went and watched the Queen tribute show for a second time. Apparently there was a second announcement from the navigational bridge about the Northern Lights whilst the show was running. Afterwards I went up to the forward facing gym, but the outside lights were still on and the external balcony was very exposed. I then had three small snacks to eat in the midnight buffet for the first time this cruise. I took a mug of hot chocolate back to my cabin. I went to sleep just after midnight, having done thirteen and a half thousand steps, almost equal to six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 7:45 having slept for nearly eight hours. At 8:30 I had two bacon croissants with two glasses of tomato juice for breakfast in the Belvedere buffet. When Daniel came to service the cabin at 9:15, I did twelve laps of the swimming pool under the covered roof, equal to one mile of walking.
At ten o'clock I went to Steve's forty minute talk on Marvin Gaye, where he sang one song live. Then Dejan set me up ready to give my forty minute lecture entitled "Welcome to Norway!" I finished with the video of Alexander Rybak winning the Eurovision song contest. At the end, I had some questions to answer.
At 12:15 I lunched on the pea soup, the shepherds pie and the chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. I was sat with a couple from Cheshire and their son, plus fellow lecturer Steve Simone. The latter asked me to send him the pictures I had taken of his talks. Unfortunately the service was very slow with the coffee and tea served before the dessert. I didn't get back to my cabin until two o'clock, where I slept for forty five minutes, before having my mid-afternoon instant decaff coffee.
At 3:15 I attended Catherine & John's class, where they taught the Caribbean Calypso and recapped the Ria Bachata that they had taught that morning. I danced with Yvonne from Jersey. Back in my cabin, I watched my Fjords and Railways lectures on the television again as I updated this blog.
At 5:15 the officer of the watch came on to the corridor Tannoy(TM) to say that the Northern Lights were on the port side of the ship again. I began the laborious process of getting dressed: long johns, jeans, long sleeve polo shirt, Norwegian jumper, jacket and Northern Lights coat! Outside on the decks it was chilly with the Plough constellation visible, but no Aurora to be seen.
At six o'clock I queued up for the Anytime dining restaurant. I was sat with a young GP and his wife from Swansea, an older couple from Carmarthen and a couple from Wigan. I had the French onion soup, the beef Wellington and the cheese plate for dinner. Afterwards I collected my tour escort briefing and had a mug of instant decaff coffee in my cabin.
At 8:30 I went to Roy Locke's second showtime mainly Opera with a bit of Popera thrown in. He began with "Sole mio" and "As time goes by" from Casablanca. The audience clapped along to the Vesuvius Funicular song with its eighteen beat phrasing. He did the Phantom duet "All I ask of you" with the soprano from the duo, followed by "Music of the Night" sung in German! He finished with "Nessun Dorma".
At 9:30 I went to the second Gala Ball in the Globe, where I danced exclusively with Catherine. We did the Ria Bachata and the Caribbean Calypso, which she had taught during the day, several times. I slipped out just before eleven o'clock to check on the Aurora, which was faintly visible, but I couldn't get a good picture. I went to sleep soon after, having done thirteen and a half thousand steps again, equal to nearly six miles of walking during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at seven o'clock ready for my usual mug of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. It took me a while to ablute and get into my long johns, long sleeve polo shirt, heavy duty trousers, Norwegian sweater and heavy jacket. At 7:35 I had two bacon baps with grilled tomatoes and one glass of tomato juice in the Belvedere buffet which was already getting busy. I went outside to photograph the snow covered Tromso around the commercial port. The famous botanic garden and geological trail were in darkness, but all the warehouses were lit up.
Back in my cabin, Daniel had already been, so I was able to post my photos and update this blog. I was also able to share one of Steve's auroral photographs from the previous evening. At nine o'clock I was on dispatch duty in the Palladium theatre, but we didn't get away until nearly ten o'clock. We had to queue on the stairs for ten minutes. On the quayside I met driver Paul and 22 year old guide Arild, who was half Ukrainian, together with forty two guests for my third choice tour.
Our first stop was at the famous Arctic Cathedral, which is actually just a parish church. I recorded my piece to camera outside and took some photos inside. Our second stop was at the Polaria aquarium which had a large tank with some seals, but I don't approve of keeping them in captivity. The camouflaged bottom fish were very difficult to spot!
We began here by watching a very wide screen movie set on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago. There were four ceiling mounted projectors, but five overlapping screens. The aerial drone footage was superb, as we flew over the landscapes. However it would have been more appropriate if they had shown us the Northern Lights movie instead.
Back at the commercial port, I jumped on to the 12:30 shuttle bus into the city centre. Here I went in the new tourist information office, the old wooden cathedral and the Blue Vision building. The latter has a huge tank full of cod fish alongside the cafeteria. I took photographs in the receptions of the Magic Ice Bar and the North Norway Art Gallery, but didn't pay to go in either. I captured the outside of the Troll Museum, the Full Steam building and the Polar Museum. The old fort (Skansen) was deeply covered in snow, but I was able to photograph one of the old cannons there.
At two o'clock there was a long line at the shuttle bus stop outside the Radisson Blu Hotel, not the Roald Amundsen Place mentioned in the ship's Horizon programme. After five minutes THREE shuttle buses arrived together.
Back at the ship, I had a late lunch of a cheeseburger and chips without the bun by the pool. I then slept for three quarters of an hour, without taking off all my layers! At four o'clock I donned my large, bright red Northern Lights coat and ventured ashore again. I walked along the illuminated walkway to the brightly lit subway under the main road. I then walked the quarter of a mile to the northernmost botanic garden in the world. This was also deeply covered with snow, so I trudged carefully a few hundred yards uphill. Unfortunately the full moon was bathing the snow in light, so although I was now away from the artificial light pollution, and some stars and planets were out, I couldn't see any Northern Lights.
Back at the ship again, I ventured out on to the forward balcony in front of the gymnasium, but again nothing was to be seen. At six o'clock I dined on the mulligatawny soup, the sirloin steak and the cheese plate. I was sat with two couples, one pair of which were from SoToN and with two singles, both partially deaf.
Back in my cabin again, I had my after dinner instant decaff coffee whilst updating this blog. I also downloaded my day's photography to my laptop. At 8:30 I went to the Knightingales showtime, comprising three female vocalists, one blonde, one brunette and one black haired. They sang pop songs from the 60s and 70s, originally by artistes such as Tom Jones (It's not unusual), Elton John (I'm still standing) and Freddie Mercury.
At 9:15 I adjourned to the Retreat dance studio, which had been laid out for a lecture, so we had to move all the chairs off the dance floor. Only three guests arrived and one couple asked to learn the Melody Foxtot, which Catherine duly taught. I did it just once with her and then we sat chatting. She told us about having Rowan Atkinson as her very first dance partner whilst they were both undergraduates at Newcastle University! I went to sleep at 11:15, having done over seventeen thousand steps, equal to nearly seven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 7:30, half an hour before my alarm. Just after eight o'clock, I had two egg baps with just one glass of tomato juice. Back in my cabin, I worked on my laptop. When Daniel came to service the cabin at 8:50, I did just one circuit of the outside promenade deck, equal to one third of a mile of walking. Instead of continuing inappropriately dressed, I moved up to the Lido deck and did twelve laps of the covered swimming pool, equal to one mile of walking.
At ten o'clock I went to Steve's interesting forty minute talk on Harry Belafonte. I didn't know he was a film star as well as a singer. I particularly loved the song "Island in the Sun" the video of which Steve played. When he had finished Dejan and Andre set me up.
At 11:15 I gave my forty minute lecture on the Story of the Vikings with just one of the two final videos. I had a fair few questions to field at the end. At 12:15 I lunched on the chickpea & chorizo soup, the fishermen's pie with extra buttered vegetables on the side, but no bread or dessert. I then slept for one hour followed by my mid-afternoon instant decaff coffee.
At 3:20 Catherine taught the Valentino Jive and recapped the Midnight Jive she had first taught that morning. The former was easy, but the latter was difficult, particularly the whip/top figure with a behind/unwind move. I danced with Yvonne from Jersey as usual.
Back in my cabin, I had my second coffee of the afternoon, whilst updating this blog and watching a recording of Strictly Come Dancing at Blackpool. I donned my heavy jacket and ventured out onto the south facing balcony and the north facing aft verandah, with some stars and a few little clouds, but no Northern Lights.
At six o'clock I dined on the vegetable soup, the lamb rump and the cherry cheesecake. I was sat with the couple from Worthing again, another couple and the trio who had walked back into the city on their own yesterday from my tour at the Polaria aquarium. Down on deck one, I found I didn't have to escort a tour in Narvik, so I will try and get off sharpish at eight o'clock and do my photography in the morning light. I haven't been to Narvik since 2011, so we shall see if it has changed much.
At 8:30 I went to the excellent Applause production show consisting of twelve performers:
5 Female dancers 3 Male singers 2 Female singers 2 Male dancers
They did short versions of both old and new musicals in an awards type show. They had a large number of costume changes, some of which they only wore for less than a minute. The revolving, elevating and descending stages were also well used.
At 9:30 I went to the thinly attended dance session in the Retreat studio. Here I danced exclusively with Catherine, including dancing the Ria Bachata, the easy Valentino Jive and the difficult Midnight Jive. At 10:30 I went back to see the Applause production show for a second time. At the end, I popped out on to the decks are either end of the ship, but there were no Northern Lights to be seen. I went to sleep at 11:30. having done over twelve thousand steps, equal to nearly five miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke to my alarm at six o'clock, but abluting and dressing took time. At 6:45 I had two egg baps to eat with just one glass of tomato juice to drink. I popped out on to both ends of the ship to photograph the arrival into Narvik.
Back in my cabin, I worked on my laptop. When Daniel came at 7:25 (sic) to service the cabin, I went out on the promenade deck to watch the gangways being installed. I was first off the ship at 8:10 walking uphill to the Scandic Hotel, where I used their free wi-fi. I continued to the railway station where the waitresses in the cafe said that you could buy tickets on the trains. I went through the old cemetery with some British Commonwealth War Graves, but the underpass to the new cemetery was being upgraded, so I had to walk uphill to find another subway under the railway. I could then double back to the famous Peace Chapel. Unfortunately this was closed as they prepared it for a funeral later in the day.
I walked down the little valley to the Victoria Haven marina, before doubling back to the railway station. Here it transpired that both the regular train service and the tourist Arctic train were fully booked. However I did get to video the Vy (pronounced Vee, but meaning View) train leaving and the Arctic one arriving. On the way back, I went in both AMFI shopping malls and the tourist information centre, but gave the War and Narvik museums a miss. I crossed the railway bridge to find the main stone church, but it was closed. I went in the Scandic hotel again to upload the map of my morning's walking.
Back at the ship, I had the butternut squash soup, the scampi, cod & chips and the raspberry fool for lunch. I then slept for eighty five minutes. At four o'clock, after my mid-afternoon coffee, I walked back uphill to the Scandic hotel for one last time. In front of the town hall there was a large torchlight demonstration against the planned closure of the A&E departments, in the hospitals of both Narvik and Harstad in the nearby Lofoten islands. I popped into the Swedish seamen's church for a second time, now that the cafeteria had reopened.
Back at the ship again, I dined on the Caesar salad, the rump of beef and the rum & raisin ice cream. I was sat with a family of four, a couple from Burnham in Bucks and a single, diabetic lady. The latter was using an app to monitor her blood sugar and halfway through her main course she had to eat two jelly babies!
Back in my cabin, I updated this blog whilst watching my railway talk for the umpteenth time. At 8:30 there was a tour being dispatched from the Palladium theatre, so showtime was delayed until nine o'clock. I have seen Wayne Denton's excellent John Denver tribute act several time before: "All the famous songs were there: Rocky Mountain High, Take Me Home Country Roads, Thank God I'm a Country Boy, Leaving on a Jet Plane and Annie's Song. When he told the story of how school teacher Christa McAuliffe had replaced John Denver as the Citizen Astronaut and he sang "Flying For Me", I nearly shed a tear!" This time I did shed a tear!
At 10:30 I went to hear him again and again I cried! I had two small portions of lasagna in the midnight buffet. I went to sleep at 11:25 having done over twenty eight thousand steps, equal to over eleven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:25, half an hour before my alarm, having slept for seven hours. I breakfasted at 7:05 on two egg baps, one glass of tomato juice and one glass of banana & apple smoothie. Back in my cabin at 7:45, Daniel had already been in and out, so I was able to update my Grieg talk. I only managed one circuit of the promenade deck, equal to just one third of a mile, as it was too cold. I then did twelve laps, equal to one mile, around the covered swimming pool.
Back in my cabin again, I uploaded my Narvik photos from the previous day. At ten o'clock I went to Steve's interesting forty minute talk on Michael Jackson. I had to take notes so that I can update my own Jacko talk! When he finished, Alvino set me up quickly, so I was able to set my Aalesund pictures running and sit by the main door to greet the guests as they arrived.
At 11:15 I gave my forty minute talk on Edvard Grieg to a select audience. One gentleman told me about Grieg's influence on modern rock music! At 12:15 I lunched on the five bean soup and the macaroni cheese with extra green vegetables. I was sat with three couples and a single lady at the large table by the huge rear window overlooking the ship's wake. One of the couples was from Newcastle-under-Lyme near Keele University and one couple was from Sizewell in Suffolk. I then slept for an hour and a quarter, before having my mid-afternoon coffee whilst updating this blog.
At 3:15 I went to Catherine & John's quickstep class. They recapped the basic, the lock step and the spin turn that they had taught in the morning, before going over the hesitation step and the fish tail. The former begins with half a spin turn, then the hesitation on the right foot followed by step, chasse, step, chasse reverse turn. The latter begins with a spin turn and a chasse followed by a right check step and four quick steps: left behind, right to the side, step, lock, (step). There were no single ladies present, so Catherine got me started on these new figures, but then had to help those couples struggling. Later I did another dozen circuits, equal to one mile, walking around the covered swimming pool.
At six o'clock I dined with a couple from Lincoln and three single ladies, one of whom was from Weymouth. I ordered the chicken soup, but tomato soup arrived instead, which I accepted. I had the medium rare sirloin steak with broccoli, stick beans and chips as my main course. The waiter tried to give me a dessert spoon, so I told him that I had ordered the cheese plate not the cheese cake! Towards the end of the meal, the navigational bridge announced that the Northern Lights were visible from the aft of the ship. I couldn't see them from the restaurant and then I couldn't see them from the aft promenade either.
At 8:30 I went to the excellent Deck the Halls production show, which was full of famous Christmas songs, sat at the front of the left balcony. Again the twelve cast members wore a large number of different costumes during the show. The seven piece orchestra was sat at the back of the stage on a raised platform.
At 9:30 I moved up to the Retreat dance studio with Catherine & John. I practised the fish tail in the quickstep and the hesitation in both the quickstep and the waltz with her. We also did the Ria Bachata, the Midnight Jive and the Valentino Jive, all three of which I had learnt in their classes on board.
At 10:30 I went to see the Christmas show for a second time sat at the back of the stalls. Afterwards, I sampled TWO chicken and ONE spicy beef dishes in the midnight buffet. Out on the aft verandah, I couldn't see any Northern Lights. I went to sleep just before midnight, having done nearly twelve and a half thousand steps, equal to five miles of walking, during the day.
I got up at 6:25 ready to ablute, however the bottom of the shower tray was peeling up to reveal a lot of black mould that I had to try and flush away. I took a picture and reported it to reception. I had two egg baps for breakfast at 7:15 in the Belvedere buffet.
At 7:30 I watched the pilot embark via the rope ladder in the dark. When Daniel came to service the cabin at 7:45, I went up to the Crow's Nest observation lounge, but it was closed off. The balcony on the deck below had snow on it and it was cold outside as we sailed into Alesund.
Just after nine o'clock I got off the ship, after short delays on either side of the gangway. I went in the little tourist information office on the quayside, but the main one was closed on Saturdays and Sundays. I walked along the pedestrianised King Street to get to the town park. Here I recorded pieces to camera in front of the statues of Viking Rollo(n) and Kaiser Willhelm II. I then climbed up the 418 steps to the Aksla viewpoint, which had fabulous views, as the sun rose over the snow covered hills.
Back at the town park, I walked to the town museum, which was closed, and the fort with a lower level viewpoint. I went in the central shopping mall, but there was no free wi-fi to be had. I did nearly twelve thousand steps, equal to over four miles of walking, during the morning. Back at the ship at eleven o'clock, I had a cheeseburger and chips with no bun as an early lunch. I took more photographs from the forward balcony and the aft verandah.
Back in my cabin, I had a late morning instant decaff coffee to drink. At noon I was on dispatch duty on the quayside to escort my third choice Heritage Walk. Here I met German guide Finja from Hannover, who led our group of twenty four guests. We headed first towards the park, which was supposed to be the final stop, before exploring the town. We finished at the church, after two hours of walking.
Back in my cabin, I had a mid-afternoon coffee, before sleeping for one hour. I then worked on my laptop. At six o'clock I dined on the Greek salad, the Milanese chicken and the cheese plate. I was sat with the hard of hearing man and three couples, one pair of whom came from Blists Hill near Ironbridge in Shropshire.
Back in my cabin again, I had my evening instant decaff coffee with extra coffeemate whitener. At 8:30 I went to the Knightingales second excellent concert, which again had more songs by male artistes than female, including "Burning Love" by Elvis and "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison. Female artistes covered included "Simply the Best" by Tina Turner and "Jump" by the Pointer Sisters.
At 9:30 I went to the dance set in the Retreat dance studio, where I practised the hesitation and the fish tail in the quickstep and the hesitation in the waltz with Catherine. We also did the ballroom tango for the first time, the rock jive and the Midnight Jive sequence dance. At 10:30 I went back to watch the excellent Knightingales for a second time, this time from the back of the front stalls. I went to sleep at 11:30 having done twenty four thousand steps, equal to nearly ten miles of walking during the day.
I got up at 6:30 ready for my usual mug of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. At 7:15 I had two egg baps to eat with one glass of tomato juice and one glass of blackberry smoothie to drink. I chatted with a gent from Aldermaston who had earlier spoken to me after my Grieg lecture, telling me about the use of classical music by rock musicians like Ritchie Blackmore, Deep Purple and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Back in my cabin, Daniel had already been and I worked on my laptop. At 9:30 I did twelve laps of the covered swimming pool equal to one mile of walking. At ten o'clock I went to the half hour long church service led by the deputy Captain. Afterwards Alvino and Andre set me up and I was able to greet the guests as they came through the main door wearing my Norway tee shirt.
At 11:15 I gave my forty minute talk on Scandinavian Pop Music including Aqua's Barbie video at the end. I had a few suggestions for additions including Ace of Base, Roxette, Lene Marlin and the Cardigans. At 12:15 I lunched on the beef consomme, the chicken tikka masala and the chocolate profiteroles. I was sat with three single ladies and a couple from Devon. The latter were tenant farmers working on National Trust land near Torquay. They said their son was looking after their livestock whilst they were cruising.
I then slept for an hour and a half. Awaking just before my alarm at three o'clock, I had a quick coffee, before moving up to the Retreat dance studio. Here the gaggle of single ladies, including Gill and Frances, slipped out just before the session began. Then Catherine recapped the Midnight Jive & White City Waltz sequence dances and the two advanced figures she had taught in the ballroom quickstep: the fish tail and the hesitation with a reverse turn. I have just about got all these moves sorted, but whether I will be able to remember them and execute them back home is another matter!
During the session, I received an offer of a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean and up the Amazon from Regent Seven Seas Cruises, prior to my Panama Canal cruise already booked with them. I also had to turn this down as I have too many booked events leading up to Christmas, including two medical appointments and would involve writing two new port talks in the few days I would have at home.
I spent the rest of the afternoon working on my laptop. At six o'clock I dined on the onion soup, the rump of lamb and the raspberry souffle with ice cream. I was sat with the couple from Worthing again and four single ladies: one from Fife, one from Wakefield, one from Somerset, with the deaf lady on the end. At 8:30 I went to Wayne Denton's excellent Neil Diamond tribute show, which I have seen before, but not quite as good as his earlier John Denver show, so I didn't go back to see it for a second time.
At 9:30 we had the third and final gala ball in the Globe ballroom. I danced exclusively with instructress Catherine, doing lots of sequence dances including: Party Paso, Party Samba, Ria Bachata, Rumba One, Sindy Swing, Melody Foxtrot, Mayfair Quickstep, White City Waltz & Waltz Catherine. I did my first slow foxtrot and my first salsa of the cruise with her, as well as the usual ballroom dances: the quickstep, waltz, jive and cha cha.
At 11:30 I had one small beef roll and one small panna cotta in the midnight buffet. I went to sleep at midnight having done over twelve thousand steps, equal to nearly five miles of walking, during the day.
I got up at 6:30 ready for my usual mug of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. At 7:15 I had two egg baps to eat with one glass of tomato juice and one glass of tropical smoothie to drink. When I got back to the cabin, Daniel had already been. I then worked on my North Sea presentation.
At ten o'clock I listened to Steve's interesting forty minute talk on Sam Cooke, not the advertised one on the Soul Queen: Aretha Franklin. He sang one song, Twistin' the Night Away. Alvino set me up and I didn't need the audio lead as there were no videos to play. I alternated between my new Alesund and Narvik photo albums, as I greeted the guests at the main door.
At 11:15 I gave my forty minute talk on the Story of the North Sea. At the end I had a few questions to handle. I then said goodbye to Matt in the office. He said he had had a few positive guest comments on my lectures and no negative ones.
At 12:30 I lunched on the chickpea soup, the fish & chips and the panna cotta. I was sat with one single lady and three couples, two of which pairs came from East Anglia. I then slept for one hour, awoken by my alarm, ready for my mid-afternoon coffee.
At 3:15 I went to the dance class in the Retreat. Here Catherine taught the Rosalie Rumba, which had been choreographed by their own teachers in Whitley Bay. I danced with Yvonne from Jersey. We did it to both a slow rumba and a fast jive. It was easy except for another whip/top which I have trouble with.
Back in my cabin, I updated this blog. Just after six o'clock, I dined on the broccoli soup, the sirloin steak and the cheese plate. I was sat with a couple from Brackley near Bicester and a couple from the Auvergne in France. He was from Smethwick in Birmingham and she was from Kerala in India. Her daughter was also with them. It transpired that she was an executive at LinkedIn.Com so I sent her a connection request.
At 8:30 I watched the Circus production show from the back right as the auditorium was very nearly full. It included songs like "Burlesque", "Fever" and "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". Unfortunately they murdered the inevitable "Send in the Clowns" by Stephen Sondheim.
At 9:30 I danced with Catherine, even though it was her night off. Cruise staffer Amy played the tracks and danced with John. We did the Ria Bachata and other sequence dances, plus the waltz and the quickstep ballroom dances, so I was able to practise the fish tail and hesitations. Amy said that the average age on this cruise was 65, but would be 55 on the follow on booze cruise to Amsterdam and is normally 75 on a typical Med cruise on Arcadia.
At 10:30 I watched the show for a second time with a central seat at the back of the stalls. I went to sleep at 11:45, but it was now just 10:45 on GMT.
My alarm woke me at seven o'clock, but it was now only six o'clock on GMT. I had my final instant decaff coffee in the cabin, followed by two egg baps to eat, one glass of tomato juice and one fruit smoothie to drink for breakfast in the Belvedere buffet. Back in my cabin, I finished packing and updated this blog.
I was off the ship at 7:25 and able to catch the eight o'clock stopping train to BoMoH. The south side car park at SoToN station had finally reopened with my taxi driver using it for the very first time. I had invested a fiver in a National Express coach ticket, just in case the railways were on strike. I got home just after nine o'clock.
It had been another super cruise, but I never got to see the Northern Lights. Those guests on the Auroral tours from Tromso did see them, but the folks on the Narvik tours didn't, owing to cloudy weather. Some guests managed to photograph them from the ship.
Ashley wrote: "Just to let you know how much I have been enjoying your enrichment talks on Arcadia. Keep up the good work!"
1) "The Story of the Fjords"
Martin, who has degrees in geography, geology and theology,
will give an illustrated talk on the geography, geology and history of the fjords.
(He has given this lecture on six different cruises including once on the
Iona as well as here)
(Includes coverage of Romsdalsfjord)
2) "The Railways of Norway"
An illustrated talk on the geography and history of the Norwegian railways.
(Includes coverage of the Narvik line and the Rauma railway in Andalsnes)
(Martin has given this lecture on two different cruises as well as here)
3) "Welcome to Norway!"
Martin, who has degrees in geography, geology and theology,
will give a general introduction to the geography and history of Norway.
(He has given this lecture on six different cruises as well as here)
4) "The Story of the Vikings"
Martin, who has degrees in geography, geology and theology,
will give an illustrated talk on these Scandinavian sailors and warriors.
(He has given this lecture on five cruises as well as here)
5) "Grieg: Norway's Greatest Classical Composer"
Martin will share his love of classical music with you.
Come and hear about Edvard Grieg's life & music.
(He has given this lecture on three different cruises as well as here)
6) "Scandinavian Pop Music"
Martin will share his love of popular music with you.
(Includes coverage of Norwegian pop acts A-ha and Alexander Ryback)
7) "The Story of the North Sea"
Martin, who has degrees in geography, geology & theology,
will tell you about the natural history and human history of this great sea.
Includes coverage of the Hanseatic League of medieval North Sea merchants.
(He has given this lecture on twelve different cruises as well as here)
8) "Glacier: The Story of Glaciology"
Martin, who has been on three university expeditions to Norwegian glaciers,
will give an illustrated talk on the geography, geology and history of the glaciers.
(He has given this lecture on two different cruises including once on the Iona, but not here)
13 Cruise lines (see below) 12 Night cruise 11 Nights anytime freedom dining 8 Sea days 7 Lectures (not Glaciers) 7 Man orchestra 7 Egg baps for breakfast 7 Cheese plates for dinner 6 Times giving my Viking lecture 5 Female dancers 4 North Sea days 4 Norwegian Sea days 4 Cabin drawers 4 Sirloin steak dinners 4 Lamb dinners 4 Production shows 3 Port days (Tromso, Narvik & Alesund) 3 Globe gala balls 3 Storey atrium 3 Male singers 3 Luncheon pies 3 Beef dinners 2 Male dancers 2 Female singers 2 Storey theatre (stalls and balcony) 2 Tours escorted 2 Single beds 2 Swimming pools 2 Dance floors (Retreat studio and Globe nightclub) 2 Bacon baps for breakfast 2 Full English breakfasts 2 Cheeseburger & chips luncheons 2 Fish & chips luncheons 1 Second sitting dinner (first night) 1 Chicken dinner 1 Eggs Benedict breakfast
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 Three 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 Ambassador Ambience Ambassador Ambition Marella Explorer Oceania Sirena Sapphire Princess VoD Discovery