Sept.
2019
Kent
UK
before
2 o'clock
Sept.
2019
Vest Agder
Norway
Garden
Sept.
2019
Hordaland
Norway
Marken
Sept.
2019
Møre og
Romsdal
Open Air
Museum
Oct.
2019
Rogaland
Norway
havn
Tour
Oct.
2019
Kent
UK
at
Noon!
| Date: | Port: | Arms: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26th Sept. 2019 |
DoVeR Kent UK |
|
Aboard before 2 o'clock |
| 28th Sept. 2019 |
Kristiansand Vest Agder Norway |
|
Botanic Garden |
| 29th Sept. 2019 |
Bergen Hordaland Norway |
|
Nordnes & Marken |
| 30th Sept. 2019 |
Ålesund Møre og Romsdal |
|
Sunnmore Open Air Museum |
| 1st Oct. 2019 |
Haugesund Rogaland Norway |
|
Skudenes- havn Tour |
| 3rd Oct. 2019 |
DoVeR Kent UK |
|
Home at Noon! |
I left my sister-in-law's house in Harlow just after 9 o'clock, getting to Lakeside by ten. Here I had the £2.50 breakfast in IKEA, before whizzing around the shopping centre. I sped across the QE2 bridge, but didn't stop at Bluewater as the signs said that the M20 was closed at Ashford. I turned off the M25 on to the A2/M2, but didn't go all the way into DoVeR, turning off on to the Folkestone road to avoid the tailbacks from the port.
I got to the empty cruise terminal at noon, where some disembarking pax were still waiting for their cars home. I was soon joined by Charmain from Clevedon, June from Essex, Alison from Poole, Alan from SoToN and Richard from Fareham. Sue, the port speaker, came over to say thank you for the photograph of the Spirit of Discovery that I had sent her.
Embarkation began at 1:45 and I was soon on board, passing David Sims playing the piano in the atrium. I had some scampi and chicken gougons in the embarkation buffet, sat with Charmain, before having a lie down in our cabin. At 4 o'clock we had the entertainers' cocktail party, where I met the two other lecturers on board.
At 5:15 we had the safety drill in the Living Room. I danced only with Charmain at the six o'clock sailaway beside the pool, before adjourning to the Britannia Lounge at 6:15 for the first dance session. Here I danced with Charmain, June, Mary, Aileen, Hilary, Heather and others - surprisingly busy for the first evening.
I dined in the Grand Dining Room on the rib eye steak with chips, sat with Charmain, June, Mary, Ann & Hughie, the latter pair being keen dancers from Melton Mowbray. At 9 o'clock we had Stuart's first set in the Britannia Lounge. At 9:45 I snuck into the Playhouse Theatre for the West End to Broadway show time. I caught the Oklahoma, Phantom, Les Mis and Chorus Line scenes ending with the Wizard of Oz finale. Back up in the Britannia Lounge, Stuart's final set went on until 11:20 when I went to bed.
I awoke at 7:30, but it was now 8:30 on Norwegian time. I had the duo of omelettes special breakfast, sat with June and another lady. At 9:30 I went to Nicola & Nick's line dance class, where they taught Lemon Tree & Red Hot Salsa to 15 pax.
At 9:15 I sat with Rosemary & Charmain in the Playhouse Theatre for Sue's 40 minute interesting talk on Kristiansand. Back in the cabin, I changed into the informal outfit, before enjoying Sir Chris Coville's RAF lecture. At noon we had the singles mingle. I then lunched on the poached salmon and chips, sat with June, Charmain and Richard in the Grill buffet.
At 1:30 I taught the Social Foxtrot to 18 pax with the help of Richard, Alan & Alison. I then slept for an hour and a half, before wallowing in the jacuzzi for fifteen minutes. Back in the cabin again, I updated this blog. At 5:30 we were invited to a soirée in sisters Hilary & Heather's fantastic suite. It had dual aspect windows, a large balcony and a guest toilet! I had a can of diet coke as I was feeling a little fragile after too much buck's fizz yesterday. We also had delicious canapés.
At 6:15 we had a busy dance set, where I danced twice each with Aileen, Charmain, Peggy, Mary, Rosemary and Maureen. I led off the Party Samba for the first time this cruise. At 7 o'clock I dined in the Grand Dining Room on the rib eye steak and chips again, sat with Janice from Suffolk, a lady from Richmond, two other quiet ladies and a gay couple from Lancashire.
At 9 o'clock we had a dance set with the Hungarian lady singer and her trio. I danced with Charmain, Aileen, Mary, Peggy, Maureen, Janice, Hilary, Heather and some other ladies. Back in the cabin, I listened to the four young men singing in the Playhouse theatre. They sang mostly musical theatre and swing numbers. The last dance set was mainly disco, so I had a relatively easy time. The music finished at 11:15 and I then had an interesting chat with drummer Steve Thompson about life 'below stairs'! I went to bed at 11:30.
I awoke at 7:25 ready for the poached egg and smoked salmon special, sat with Charmain. I was one of the first off the ship at 8:15, walking the couple of miles to the small, but perfectly formed, botanic garden. Unfortunately the Nature Museum there and the Tourist Information Office in the city centre were both closed on Saturdays. I caught the 11:30 shuttle bus back to the ship and updated this blog.
At noon I lunched on the Norwegian meat balls & chips, sat with Peggy and a couple from Somerset. I then slept for nearly two hours. I caught the penultimate shuttle bus back into town at 2:55 and watched a groom drive his new bride off in an enormous dumper truck! I walked around the various marinas, before heading back to the ship for four o'clock. I then had a decaff coffee and made a mug of tea for Richard. Our departure from Kristiansand was delayed by a medical evacuation.
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At 6 o'clock we had the Captain's cocktail party, where I had one dance with Charmain. I shook hands with Chief Engineer Mark Cameron and Executive Chef John McCerery. I had my photo taken with Maureen and then with Hughie, Ann & Charmain. I dined on the Bergen fish soup, the king crab claws, one Tornedo Rossini fillet steak with chips, and finished with English butter toffee ice cream, sat with Fernando and Charmain, next to the four male singers who had sung the previous night.
At 9:15 we had the first dance set, but after a foxtrot with Peggy and a waltz with another lady, Richard called a halt to the dancing as it was getting a bit rocky. Having been delayed leaving Kristiansand and having to approach Bergen from the north due to bridge repairs, the Captain was going at full speed, possibly with the stabilisers retracted.
When Robbie came on for his cabaret, I went back to the cabin to watch the violin duo on the TV who were performing in the Playhouse theatre. Back up in the Britannia lounge, it was mainly disco dancing to the Hungarian singer and her trio. They finished at 11:40, when I went to bed. During the day, I had done over 30,000 steps equivalent to twelve miles of walking.
I awoke at 7:50 ready for the smoked salmon omelette, sat with Charmain, Ann & Hughie. I put my first load of washing on and did two and half circuits of the promenade deck with Charmain. At 10:45 Sue gave her 50 minute talk on Ålesund & Haugesund, but this meant that I missed the line dancing class. Richard said that they had taught the Electric Slide & Little Red Book.
At noon I lunched on the roast leg of beef, sat with Charmain enjoying the panoramic view of Bergen from the Grill buffet. I then slept for an hour, before taking the 2:15 shuttle bus into the city. I walked around the Nordnes peninsula, out to the station and back along the Marken cobbled street. Back at the ship at 4:30, I had a decaff coffee and sat out on the balcony.
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At six o'clock Stuart had his first set with all the usual suspects present. I dined at 7:10 in the Grand Dining Room on the rib eye steak yet again with chips, sat with Suzanne Jones from Essex/Norfolk, her mother and a quiet lady from Whetstone in North London. We danced both before and after Stuart's cabaret, during which I watched the production show on the cabin TV. For the last dance at 11:25, I bagged a smooch with birthday girl ACD Maja! During the day, I had done over 25,000 steps equivalent to ten miles of walking.
I didn't wake up until the Captain's annoucement at 8:10. I had the special breakfast sat with Rosemary from Northumberland followed by port speaker Sue and her husband. I took her to task for getting the berth wrong at both here in Ålesund and at Kristiansand! A storm having gone through in the night, there was fresh snow on the mountains, the first of the winter.
Off the ship at 9 o'clock, I walked across town to the tourist information office. I then caught the 9:30 bus out to the Sunnmore open air museum for 42 NoK. I explored the main building before finally managing to buy an entrance ticket at 80 NoK. Going around the large boat building, the first of the Saga tour buses had arrived. I headed out around the extensive site with lots of vernacular buildings. The large church was lovely and warm away from the cold wind. I then caught the service bus back into town.
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At noon I lunched on smoked salmon salad with chips, sat with Peggy and Charmain. I then slept for nearly two hours, before heading back into town again. The sunshine and showers continued, but the north wind was still cold. Back at the ship again, I had a decaff coffee as I updated this blog and watched Prof Chris Stillman's geology lecture. At 5:15 I went to Charmain's cabin for her soirée with Peggy, Hilary, Stuart, Alison, Alan & Richard.
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At 6:30 we had the Britannia Club cocktail party where I chatted with June and another lady. I dined in the Grand Dining Room on the rib eye steak for a fourth time, this time with a jacket potato NOT chips, sat with Ian (whose wife was seasick), Janet, Jo and her mother Anne from Colchester, June from Essex and Ann & Hughie from Melton Mowbray. At 9 o'clock we didn't dance until towards the end of the set, when I did just three dances.
Back in the cabin I listened to the boy band singers as I updated this blog. We danced the final set finishing at 11:25, finishing with two new dancing ladies. During the day, I had done nearly 20,000 steps equivalent to eight miles of walking.
I awoke at 7:25 just before my alarm ready for the breakfast special sat with Charmain and a couple from Kent. Owing to the wind, we were unable to arrive until daylight, so all the tours were put back one hour. This decision was almost immediately reversed, so I rushed out to my coach at 9 o'clock, but we didn't actually get away until 9:25. Our first stop was at the Fishermen's memorial on Kamoy island, facing Utsira island of weather forecast fame. Next we visited the charming fishing village of Skudeneshavn with its interesting museum.
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Back at the ship at 1:30, I lunched on smoked salmon salad with chips, sat with Peggy, Heather & Hilary. I then slept for three quarters of an hour, before heading back into town on the 3:10 shuttle. I went in the library, the tourist information office and the big shopping mall, before walking back to the ship. I then had afternoon tea for the only time this cruise, sat with Rosemary, who regaled me with her trip to Kabul & the Khyber Pass! At 5:30 we had our second soirée with Hilary & Heather in their suite, this time joined by singer Abbie.
At 6:30 we had the Newcomers cocktail party where I chatted to Janice and a chap who had been a lecturer in theoretical physics at King's College London. His colleague Dr John Martin had first taught me computer programming, which led to my career! I dined in the Grand Dining Room on the Chateaubriand beef sat with June, a lady from Bucks, a family of husband, wife & mother-in-law, and two single ladies from Derbyshire both wearing Paisley patterned blouses! We danced with all the usual suspects in the first after dinner set to the Hungarian singer. When the cabaret came on, I adjourned to the cabin to update this blog and listen to the violin duo playing in the theatre. I had done over 17 thousand steps during the day equivalent to nearly 7 miles of walking!
I awoke just before eight o'clock ready for the herb omelette special sat with Charmain and another couple in the Grill buffet. At 9:30 two of the girls recapped Lemon Tree, Red Hot Salsa & Little Red Book and taught one new dance to twelve pax. At 10:15 I went to Sir Chris's interesting talk on the Red Arrows, sat with Charmain in the Playhouse Theatre.
After dealing with my laundry, I went to Prof Stillman's lecture which was billed as the last great ice age in the North Sea, but was actually about oil and gas stretching up into the Arctic Ocean as well. He spent the first ten minutes on just one slide! At noon I dined on ham salad with chips sat with Charmain and Heather from Reading in the Grill buffet.
At 1:30 Alan taught the Waltz to 18 pax with the help of Alison and myself, but not Richard. The latter was preoccupied with finding new dance hosts for the following "Dance to France" cruise. He had at first been told that there was no room on board for dance hosts, so had stood the booked people down. Various ladies on board had reacted to the news by emailing Saga HQ who had thus changed their minds! I then dozed for an hour, before continuing with this blog over a mug of decaff coffee. It only took me half an hour to pack.
At 6:15 we danced with the usual suspects to Stuart's early evening set, together with one new lady. At 7 o'clock I dined with Charmain and Aileen in the Grill buffet. I began with the red bell pepper soup, continued with the crayfish & avocado starter, enjoyed the rib eye steak with chips for the fifth time, had the double Irish ice cream for dessert and finished with some cheese!
Back in the cabin again, I updated this blog. We danced again after dinner with the gang and another new lady. Why do they come out of the woodwork on the very last evening of the cruise? I led off another Party Samba as usual.
Back in the cabin yet again, I listened to the "Putting on the Ritz" production show. The final dance set was mainly disco, but they did play Lemon Tree so I led off the line dance that the girls had taught. At 11:30 we said our goodbyes.
I got up at 7:45, but it was now only 6:45 on BST. They weren't doing a special, so I had TWO eggs Benedict for breakfast, sat with a Kendal couple who used to live in Poole. Charmain joined me and then single ladies from Kent & Enfield too. Sat on the next table was the former lecturer from KCL, so we reminisced about the old Chesham Hotel.
Back in the cabin I said goodbye to Richard, finished my packing and updated this blog one last time. Down in the Living Room I said goodbye to Aileen and with tag zero I was off the ship at the stated time of 8:25. I had an easy ride home with two comfort stops, getting back at noon, after another super cruise!
One lady later wrote: "Am amazed at the details of your life when you weren`t dancing with me! One of my many jobs over the years was working with a hospital dietitian and I am glad you ate well and also slept well so you had lots of energy to push your ladies round the dance floor. Enjoyed your company so keep in touch and am interested in Alaska which you said you were visiting sometime."
7 Dining tables hosted 4 Ports revisited 3 Cocktail parties attended 2 Suite soirées 1 Superior soirée 1 Ballroom dance class taken (SF) 1 New town (Skudeneshavn) 1 Tour paid for
My Favourite Cruise Ports of Call 45x Dover, England 44x Southampton, England 22x Lisbon, Portugal 20x Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain 16x Bergen, Norway 14x Gibraltar 13x Bridgetown, Barbados 13x Funchal, Madeira 13x Stavanger, Norway 12x Copenhagen, Denmark 12x Kiel Canal, Germany 11x Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain 11x Dublin, Ireland 11x Barcelona, Spain 10x Cartagena, Spain 10x Palma, Majorca, Spain 10x Valletta, Malta 9x Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain 9x St. George's, Grenada 9x IJmuiden for Amsterdam, Netherlands 9x Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland 9x Oporto, Portugal 8x Stockholm, Sweden 8x Belfast, Northern Ireland 8x Civitavecchia for Rome, Italy 8x Mahon, Menorca, Spain 8x Piraeus for Athens, Greece 7x St. Peter Port, Guernsey 6x St. Petersburg, Russia 6x Liverpool, England 6x Istanbul, Turkey 6x Helsinki, Finland 6x Malaga, Spain 5x Oslo, Norway 5x Cape Town, South Africa 5x Bordeaux, France 4x Seville, Spain 4x Livorno for Pisa & Florence, Italy 4x Venice, Italy 4x Heraklion, Crete, Greece 4x Torshavm, Faeroes 3x Mindelo, Cape Verde 3x Manaus, Brazil 3x Lulea, Gulf of Bothnia, Sweden 3x Cartagena de Indias, Colombia 3x Ponta Delgada, Azores 3x Ajaccio, Corsica 3x Port Everglades, Florida 3x Visby, Gotland, Sweden 3x Portsmouth, England 2x Sevastopol, Crimea, Russia 2x Reykjavik, Iceland 2x Sharm el Sheik for St. Catherine's Monastery, Egypt 2x New York, USA 2x Sydney, Australia 2x Melbourne, Australia 2x Auckland, New Zealand 2x Aqaba for Petra, Jordan 2x Panama Canal 2x Mumbai, India 2x Odessa, Ukraine 2x Corfu Town, Greece 2x Miami, USA 1x Suez Canal 1x Adelaide, Australia 1x Haifa for Nazareth, Israel 1x Ashdod for Jerusalem & Bethlehem, Israel 1x Archangel, Russia 1x Murmansk, Russia 1x Georgetown, Ascension Island 1x Halifax, Canada 1x Havana, Cuba 1x Hugh Town, Isles of Scilly 1x Tresco, Isles of Scilly 1x Douglas, Isle of Man 1x Jamestown, St. Helena 1x Singapore 1x Malé, Maldives 1x Port Victoria, Seychelles 1x Hamilton, Bermuda 1x Alice Town, Bahamas