| Arms: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
14th Aug. 2023 |
BoMoH --> DoVeR |
On board by 13:30 |
 |
16th Aug. 2023 |
Eidfjord Hardanger Norway |
am Lecture pm RIB tour |
|
17th Aug. 2023 |
Bergen Hordaland Norway |
am Farm tour pm City |
|
18th Aug. 2023 |
Flaam Sognefjord Norway |
am Brekke- fossen pm Flaam |
|
19th Aug. 2023 |
Olden Nordfjord Norway |
am Waterfall pm Fjord |
|
22nd Aug. 2023 |
DoVeR --> BoMoH |
Home at 15:30 |
| Arms: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke at 6:45 and left the house just after nine o'clock. I took the A31 in preference to the M3, but had to queue for fifteen minutes at the A3/M25 road works. Whilst waiting, I ate two of my Boots chicken with mayonnaise sandwiches.
At Ashford I popped into the Tesco superstore to use the loo, but bought nothing. At their petrol filling station, they had no E10 unleaded petrol, so I pushed on, eating another pair of sarnies. I got to the cruise terminal at one o'clock to drop off my suitcase. I then drove up to the Western Heights to park my car and walk back down to the port. Passing by SAGA's Spirit of Adventure, one of their guests asked if I would be on board their ship.
Check-in was straight forward and where I met senior host Brendo Simeon and singer Benjamin Carpenter who I knew from SAGA. On board by 13:30, I found I had a disabled twin cabin right at the aft end facing on to the promenade. I went exploring and met host Hubert Greaves from Barbados. Back in my cabin, my suitcase had arrived and I unpacked. I made myself two small mugs of decaff instant coffee with my own Coffeemate whitener which I had brought from home.
At four o'clock we had the welcome cocktail party with CD Andy Godfey, ACD Cris Bali-os and Admin Maria Cadag. I sat next to crafter Barbara Patrick who was accompanied by Ralph Sheldrake from Colchester. I had shared a cabin with him on board the dear old Saggy Booby back in 2009. I met dance host John Jarman who I shared a cabin with on the SAGA Spirit of Discovery back in 2019. He was sat with dance host Patrick Cooney from Jersey who I had worked with on the FOCL Bolette in 2024. Also present was Paul & Suzanne Robinson, the dance couple. I had two glasses of Buck's Fizz (AKA Mimosa), before going to meet stage manager Ben in the Neptune theatre. He couldn't get my laptop to communicate with their system, so I copied my files over on to their laptop instead. Unfortunately my memory stick caught a computer virus from their laptop.
At six o'clock I sat with Patrick in the buffet. I had the roast pork and the salted caramel ice cream to eat. At 6:45 we had the first dance set in the Ocean Bar, where I did a social foxtrot, a rumba and a party samba with Suzanne. At 7:30 I updated this blog. The second dance session was at 8:15, when I did another social foxtrot and a White City waltz with Suzanne.
At 8:30 I went to the Hits from the Flix production show with nine singers and dancers. It began slowly but took off with songs from Fame, Flash Dance and Dirty Dancing. I particularly enjoyed the Mamma Mia and Les Mis selections. At 10:15 I went to the third dance set, where I did a tango and a waltz amongst others with Suzanne. When the session finished, I had a small warm Reuben sandwich in the buffet. I went to sleep at 11:45 after a long day travelling and dancing.
I awoke at 7:25 ready for two mugs of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. At eight o'clock I went to the Borealis Main Dining Room (MDR), where I sat with three ladies from Kent and one from Richmond. I began with one glass of Buck's Fizz as it would be a Formal night that evening. I had the Olsen Full English Breakfast with sauteed potatoes, but no eggs to eat, preceded by a wholemeal roll and followed by a slice of brown toast with marmite spread.
At 9:45 I went to Shorex Emma's talk on Eidfjord & Bergen, which covered the tours. Back in my cabin, I received a note from admin Maria asking me to do the Hardangerfjord running commentary. I popped to the entertainments office to check on my lecture time, which clashed with the transit. Cris said that they would do the commentary instead.
At 10:45 I heard Dr Julie Ackroyd's excellent forty minute lecture on the Vikings. This concentrated on the various personalities as featured in the Vikings television series. I took copious notes of the amusing Viking names.
At 11:30 I went to the solo travellers get together, where I chatted to some ladies from the Barnet branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A). At noon Paul & Suzanne ran their cha cha dance class which was packed. She introduced me as one of the dance hosts! They began with the basic figure, then the New Yorks, spot turns and finally underarm turns. I danced with Jo, Jocelyn and Donna amongst others.
At 12:45 I moved down to the MDR, where I asked to sit on the solo travellers table. I was actually sat with an elderly mother with grown-up son & daughter from Ramsgate. Two other single ladies completed the table for six. I had the soup, the macaroni cheese and the ice cream of the day. I then slept for an hour and a half, before changing into my formal rig.
At 5:15 I went to the Captain's welcome cocktail party, where I had one glass of red wine and a small plate of canapes. I then dined in the buffet with dance hosts John & Patrick. I had the lobster bisque, the Tandoori chicken and the salted caramel ice cream to eat. I bought a bottle of the Cabernet Sauvignon house red wine for us to share.
At 7:30 we had the first dance set, when I did a waltz, a cha cha, a Square Tango and a White City Waltz with Suzanne. At 8:45 I went to the start of the Hungarian violinist Tom Shua's show time. He began with ALW's "Phantom of the Opera", followed by Henry Mancini's "Moon River" and Queen's "We are the Champions". I slipped out at 9 o'clock for the second dance set. Here I did a Ria Bachata, a Catherine Waltz and a Saunder Together amongst other dances with Suzanne. At 10:15 I returned to see the second house. Tom Suha continued with the "Summer Storm" from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", Monti's "Czardas" and Orff's "Carmina Burana". I went to sleep at 11:20 after a busy day on board.
I got up at six o'clock, but it was now seven o'clock on Norwegian time, ready for my two mugs of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. At 7:30 I had the full English breakfast, minus the eggs, in the View buffet. The sun was shining as we entered the Hardanger Fjord.
At 9:25 Ben and Keith set me up and I left my Fjord GIFs running. At the entrance way I chatted to various guests, including an explosives expert from Roydon, near Harlow. At 9:45 Brendo introduced me and I gave my thirty five minute talk on the Story of the Fjords to a reduced sized audience, as we passed the famous Furebergfossen waterfall. I had a few questions to answer at the end.
At noon I lunched on the aubergine soup, the fettuccine duck and the cheese cake, sat with some solo travellers in the MDR. I then slept for forty five minutes until awoken by the arrival annoucement. I was off the ship just after two o'clock walking south along the fjord shore to the little marina and then inland to the two churches.
Back at the quayside, I met dispatcher Dennis and local Lars ready for my first choice RIB tour (£97). At 3:45 my six guests left the ship and we walked to the caravan containing the heavy overalls. I took pictures of my group for Emma the Shorex assistant manager. We met our male captain Helga who gave us lots of interesting facts on our RIB tour of the fjord. We saw two white tailed sea eagles and two seals, which the Captain said were sea lions? We had one close up encounter with a waterfall, but no-one got wet.
Back at the ship, I changed and went to dinner at six o'clock. I sat with dance host John and we finished up my bottle of red wine from the previous night. Then dance host Patrick arrived and he bought another bottle of red wine, so I had two glasses with my meal. I ate the cream of sweet potato soup, the roast beef and the peach & mango ice cream. After dinner I went for a walk in Eidfjord going north along the fjord shore.
Back at the ship again, I danced with Suzanne, before going to the magician's show time. I walked out of this after ten minutes of silliness. In the next dance set I did a Mayfair Quickstep and a Sindy Swing with Suzanne. I went to sleep at 10:15 after a super afternoon and evening in Eidfjord, our first Norwegian port of call.
I got up at 6:20 ready for my two mugs of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. At seven o'clock I had the full English breakfast minus any eggs with two small glasses of tomato juice to drink. Back in my cabin, I watched my Fjords talk on the telly.
At nine o'clock I was on the quayside to escort my third choice Rural Life tour (£90). Here I met local guide Gyrid (the final D is silent) and Polish driver Przemk (pronounced Shem-ek). With only sixteen guests it was an easy morning with a short drive to the Ovre-Eide Gard smallholding, which I have visited previously, last time not by coach but by hiking over the hill from Bergen.
Here we met the farm's sheep and horses, before having elevenses. We were offered either apple or raspberry cordial to begin, followed by tea, coffee or hot chocolate. I had the latter choices in both cases. Home made cakes included raspberry tarts (I had two), chocolate covered macaroons (I had one) and sweet pancakes with cream (I had one).
The farmer gave us lots of interesting stories, before he and Gyrid changed into Norwegian national costumes. He finished with an appeal for us to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. He explained that Norway had had over five hundred years under Danish control, nearly one hundred years under Sweden and five hard years under the Germans, so they wanted to fight for democracy and freedom.
Back at the ship, I gave lunch a miss and slept for three quarters of an hour. At 1:30 I walked into the city via the fortress, taking pictures of the famous Haakon's Hall and Rosenkrantz Tower. In the 7/11 supermarket I shelled out 26 NOK for a tube of superglue for my dance shoe sole repair.
At 3:40 I had had enough and so walked back to the ship. Here I updated this blog as I drank two mugs of instant decaff coffee in my cabin. At six o'clock we had the first dance set with the band playing, which was very thinly attended.
At 6:45 I dined with the dance host team in the buffet. I ordered some red wine, but got one glass not a whole bottle, so Patrick had to try again. I had the cream of chicken soup, the roast lamb and TWO small Stilton cheese plates to eat.
At 7:30 we had the second dance set where I danced with Donna from Ipswich (home of FOCL) and one of the Barnet U3A ladies, as well as Suzanne as usual. At 8:30 I went to hear the Ministry of Rock: Reloaded production show. This started slowly, but took off with Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now".
At 9:15 I rejoined the third dance set, this time with Paul's recorded music. I did another Ria Bachata with Suzanne. When that session finished at 9:45, I adjourned to my cabin to update this blog and have a mug of instant decaff coffee. I went to sleep at 10:30 after a super dry day in Bergen.
My alarm woke me at 6:30 ready for the sail-in, but we were already berthed in Flaam. At seven o'clock I had my usual full English breakfast, minus the eggs, to eat. I had just one small glass of tomato juice to drink. I was one of the first guests off the ship at 7:30, walking to the Brekkefossen waterfall as before. I took my photographs just before it started to drizzle, but I then pressed on as far as Flaam church dating from 1667. On the way back, I videotaped the famous train at Lunden (The Puffin) station. I did over sixteen thousand steps equal to over six miles of walking.
Back at the ship, I had a mug of instant decaff coffee to drink as I uploaded my videos to FaceBook and updated this blog. At noon I lunched with four single ladies in the MDR. I had the minestrone soup, the fisherman's platter and the rum & raisin ice cream. The main course included two scallops, two prawns, two goujons and two calamari rings with chips. I then slept for nearly two hours.
At three o'clock I ventured out into the sun and walked around the head of the fjord to photography the Borealis. I climbed up the small hill opposite the port to take more pictures, but it started to drizzle, so I high tailed it back to the ship. At 4:30 I went to the first dance session in the Observatory with just two lady dancers present. I did the Mayfair Quickstep and the Sally Ann Cha Cha amongst others with Suzanne and a social foxtrot with Julie from Yorkshire.
At five o'clock the ship began sailing back down Aurlandsfjord, so I sat on the rear facing bench outside my cabin. At six o'clock I dined with the dance host team in the View buffet. I bought a bottle of Argentinian Malbec red wine to share. I had the mushroom soup, the veal with leeks & potatoes, the small cheese plate and the cream slice to eat.
At 6:45 we had a dance set with the band. Amongst other fast dances, I did a Ria Bachata and a Party Samba with Suzanne. The next dance set by the band was at 8:15, followed by recorded music at nine o'clock. I did my first proper Samba with Suzanne and a Sally Ann Cha Cha as well. I didn't stay for the final 10:15 session by the musicians. I went to sleep at 10:30 having done over twenty seven thousand steps, nearly equal to eleven miles of walking during the day.
I awoke just after six o'clock, having slept for seven and a half hours, as we steamed up the North Fjord (Nordfjord). At seven o'clock I had my usual full English breakfast, but without any eggs. At 8:45 I was the third person off the ship. I walked into the centre of Olden village to photograph the old church, before walking south along the old road to the waterfall. I circled the large lake, before walking back along the road, photographing the new church on the way.
Back in the centre of the village, I bumped into Glenda who used to be the Ents. Administrator. She now works in the ship's medical centre. During the morning I had walked over seven miles.
Back at the ship just after noon, I lunched with the usual solo travellers in the MDR. I had the tomato soup, the snake & pygmy pie and the tiramisu to eat. I then slept for one hour.
At 2:30 I headed off north alongside the fjord. I got as far as the helipad overlooking the Loen Skylift, before doubling back. At 4:30 I went to the first dance session with Paul and John, but no ladies. Suzanne was escorting a tour, so I had no-one to dance with. I chatted to John who is trying to sell his two million pound bungalow in Windsor for redevelopment as three or four houses.
Back in my cabin, I updated this blog and sorted out my paperwork. At six o'clock we had the second dance set, where I danced with Suzanne. At 6:45 I dined with John & Patrick, with whom I shared the rest of my bottle of Argentinian Malbec red wine. I had the pork consomme, the roast turkey with roast potatoes and roast parsnips, a small blue cheese plate and two scoops of peach & mango ice cream to eat.
At 7:30 we had the third set, which for the first time this cruise had more ladies than hosts. I danced with Meryl, Joyce, Julie, Liz, Donna and Suzanne. At 8:30 I went to the excellent Club Capones swing time production show. Afterwards I did a few more dances in the Ocean lounge until Paul finished DJing at ten o'clock. I went to sleep at eleven o'clock, having done thirty three and a half thousand steps, equal to over thirteen miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 7:40 having slept for over eight hours after my exertions the previous day. At 8:30 I had the full English breakfast, minus any eggs, to eat in the View buffet. I had one glass of tomato juice and one glass of cava to drink.
At 9:45 I went to Diane Ivory's amusing talk on Forensic Crime Investigations. At 10:45 I went to Julie Ackroyd's interesting talk on Viking Myths. At noon I started out in Paul & Suzanne's waltz class. They taught the waltz basic, the box steps, the figure of eight and the reverse turn diamond. When they came to partner up, I had to slip out for my Speaker's Luncheon.
At 12:30 I hosted a couple from Northern Island who had studied at KCL, a couple from Royston in Hertfordshire, a couple from Kent and a single lady also from Kent. We began with a glass of Cava, followed by the choice of red or white wine. I had the chickpea soup to start, the lamb shank as my main course and the sticky toffee ice cream for dessert. We talked about geology, science fiction and the movies. The party broke up at two o'clock, when I updated this blog.
At three o'clock I moved along to the Neptune theatre to be set up. At 3:30 I gave my thirty five minute talk on Scandinavian Pop Music. Fortunately no-one walked out when I played the heavy metal track by Lordi from Finland. At the end I had a long chat to a couple from Howick in South Africa. We talked about Pietermaritzburg, the Nelson Mandela capture site and the Howick Falls. The man had worked in the nature reserve at the base of the famous waterfalls. They told me that Mahatma Gandhi had set up the Indian National Congress in Durban at the same time as the African National Congress (ANC) had been started.
Back in my cabin, I worked on my laptop, before sleeping for half an hour. I snuck into the Captain's farewell cocktail party just as the band finished playing. Three employees of the month were presented with their rewards.
At six o'clock I dined with the dance host team minus Patrick. I had the pea & ham soup and the surf & turf main course, but nothing else to eat as I was feeling bloated after a big lunch and little exercise during the day.
At 7:30 I went to the first dance set where I danced with Meryl, Joyce, Julie, Barbara and Suzanne. At 8:45 I listened to the first fifteen minutes of Brendo Simeon's Matt Monroe tribute cabaret, before slipping out for the nine o'clock dance set with Julie, Joyce and Suzanne.
At 10:15 I heard Brendo's excellent entire show time. Great songs included were "From Russia with Love", "Portrait of my Love" and "Born Free". At the end, I moved up to the Supper Club where I had a toasted sarnie AND a toasted panini, followed by some Emmental and brown Norwegian cheeses. I went to sleep at 11:45 having done only seven thousand steps, equal to less than three miles of walking during a day of FOUR meals!
I awoke at 7:25, having slept for seven and a half hours, ready for my mug of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. Just after eight, I had my usual full English breakfast of crispy bacon, grilled tomatoes, baked beans and mushrooms, but no eggs.
Back in my cabin, I worked on my laptop. At 9:45 I went to Julie's third talk on Viking long ships. She covered the Myklebust, Gokstad, Oseberg, Gjellestad & Roskilde boats.
Back in my cabin again, I watched my Scandinavian Pop Music (SPM) talk on the telly. At noon I went to Paul & Suzanne's social foxtrot class where they taught the basic figure and the side taps.
After ten minutes, I had to slip out to host my second Speaker's Luncheon. I had paying guests Rob & Louise from DoVeR to entertain. We began with a glass of cava followed by either red or white wine to drink. I had the pea soup, the pasta puttanesca and the Black Forest gateau to eat.
When the party broke up at 1:40, I slept for forty minutes. At four o'clock I went to Simon Weale's piano recital of Spanish music. I didn't know the first four pieces he played, so I slipped out after fifteen minutes. Back in my cabin, I changed and started packing. At six o'clock I dined with the dance host team. I had the cullen skink (killing skunk?) soup, the roast pork belly with crackling and honeycombe ice cream to eat.
At 6:45 we had the first dance set, but I slipped away after ten minutes to go to the excellent production show with:
9 performers 5 singers 4 dancers 3 male singers 2 female singers 2 female dancers 2 male dancers 1 missing
The "Legends of Las Vegas" were: Cher, Elton, Tina, Barry, Tom, Celine, Neil, Elvis, Michael and Frank - no need for surnames here! This was the best show of the four that they did on this cruise as I knew and loved every song.
At 8:15 we had the second dance set, but again I slipped away after thirty minutes to see the show again. My FaceBook friend Ben Carpenter closed the show with Sinatra's New York, New York. Back in the Oceans lounge, I danced a final cha cha and jive with Suzanne and a final waltz with Julie. Back in my cabin, I watched my Fjords lecture on the telly for one last time as I updated this blog. I went to sleep at 10:45, but it was now only 9:45 on BST. I had done less then seven thousand steps, equal to less than three miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke to the bow thrusters just after six o'clock, but it was only five on BST. At six o'clock I had the full English breakfast with no eggs in the View buffet as usual. Back in my cabin, I finished packing and updated this blog.
I got off the ship at 7:15 and took a taxi to my car on the Western Heights. I was on the road by 7:30, but there was a one hour delay on the M25, so I turned off the M26 to get to Royal Tunbridge Wells. Here I visited the famous Pantiles Parade and the Spa Valley Steam Railway.
I then drove across country to pick up the A27 at Lewes. Unfortunately it was very slow going through Worthing, Arundel and Chichester. I got to Hedge End at one o'clock where I had the £1.99 Whopper in Burger King. I hadn't had a single burger or pizza on the entire cruise! I then slept for three quarters of an hour. Having done some shopping at the Iceland in Westbourne, I got home at three thirty.
Suzanne later wrote: "Thank you for all the dancing"
1) "The Story of the Fjords"
Martin, who has degrees in geography, geology and theology,
gave an illustrated talk on the geography, geology and history of the fjords.
2) "Scandinavian Pop Music"
Martin shared his love of popular music with the guests.
3) "The Story of the North Sea"
Martin, who has degrees in geography, geology and theology,
could have given an illustrated talk on this great sea.
192 Cruises 49 Cruise ships (see below) 14 Cruise lines (see below) 8 Night cruise 8 View buffet dinners 8 Evenings of dancing 8 Full English breakfasts 4 Main Dining Room (MDR) lunches 4 Ports 4 Production shows 4 Solo travellers lunches 2 Speaker luncheons hosted 2 Tours 2 Beef dinner 2 Pork dinners 2 Pasta lunches 1 Wet room 1 Picture window 1 Lecture not given 1 Main Dining Room (MDR) breakfast 1 Duck lunch 1 Fish lunch 1 Steak & kidney lunch 1 Lamb lunch 1 Lamb dinner 1 Veal dinner 1 Turkey dinner
* Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines * Saga Shipping Company * Voyages of Discovery * Seabourn (Carnival) * Princess (Carnival) * Cunard (Carnival) * P&O (Carnival) * Celebrity (RCCL) * Silversea (RCCL) * Regent SS (NCL) * Oceania (NCL) * Marella (TUI) * Ambassador * Crystal
Black Prince Black Watch Borealis Boudicca Balmoral Braemar Bolette Silver Whisper Silver Spirit Silver Wind Silver Muse Silver Moon Silver Dawn 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 Oceania Sirena Oceania Marina Oceania Riviera Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Ambassador Ambition Regent Seven Seas Mariner Regent Seven Seas Splendor Sapphire Princess Caribbean Princess Marella Explorer VoD Discovery