| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
|---|---|---|---|
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5th Feb. 2023 |
BoMoH --> SoToN |
On board by noon |
 |
7th Feb. 2023 |
Bergen Norway |
Mt. Floyen Forest Walk and Bonfire |
|
8th Feb. 2023 |
Flam Norway |
Mountain Railway |
|
9th Feb. 2023 |
Stavanger Norway |
From Oil to Oil |
|
11th Feb. 2023 |
SoToN U.K. |
Home by 9:00! |
| Flag: | Date: | Port: | Comment: |
I awoke at 6:30 and left the house at 10:10 in a Streamline taxi for the station. I got to SoToN an hour later and was at the new Horizon cruise terminal by 11:30. Here I had to stand in line for nearly half an hour to get through security. Having checked in, I was told there would be another half hour wait before embarkation, so I started work on this blog. However, after writing just one sentence, we were called forward, so I was on board soon after noon.
In the buffet, I had the thin vegetable soup and the roast beef with roast potatoes and sweet corn. At one o'clock the cabins were released and I found that I had a large disabled twin cabin with wet room. It had a large picture window which was a one way mirror on to the outside promenade. I needed to remember that the mirrored window wouldn't be working at night time!
After lunch, I developed a bout of heartburn, but lying on my left side cured it without recourse to medication. I then slept for an hour and a half, awoken every half hour by a tannoy message about checking in to one's lifeboat, in lieu of a safety drill. At four o'clock I had my first instant decaff coffee in the cabin.
At 4:30 I went to the entertainers' cocktail party where I drank just one Buck's Fizz. Here I said hello to the lovely Lynn and her husand Allan, the dance instructors. I also met the two dance hosts, one of whom being Colin Scott, who I had shared a cabin with back in 2011 on a Med cruise on the Braemer. ACD Anthony led the meeting until CD Andy took over. At the end, Anthony asked both of us speakers to turn up for both shows that evening!
I then went to the Neptune Theatre to check out my laptop with the boys in the booth. At 5:45 we had the first dance set where I did two waltzes, one slow foxtrot and a smooch with the lovely Lynn. We then adjourned to the buffet for dinner. I had the cream of celery soup, the pasta carbonara and the ice cream to eat.
Back in the cabin, Kristine had made up the bed for the evening. The next dance set was at eight o'clock, where I did a Rumba (Number) One with posh Mary and several dances with the lovely Lynn, including a Party Samba, but the floor was getting too full.
At 8:45 I went to the show time which began with the "Greatest Show" song and "Never Enough" from Jekyll & Hyde. Then CD Andy introduced ACD Anthony, one of the hostesses, one of the resident musicians and the two guest speakers. John spoke about his lectures on Grieg and the Golden Era of Norwegian Art, whilst I mentioned my three lectures on the Fjords, the Railways and Bergen. The show finished with a selection from the Wizard of Oz, beginning and ending inevitably with "Somewhere over the Rainbow!"
At 9:30 I danced with the lovely Lynn on a near empty floor. I then adjourned to my cabin to update this blog, whilst I remembered the busy first day's happenings. At 10:30 I went back to the Neptune theatre for the second sitting show time. When we had done our introductions, I slipped out and went up to the late night buffet. Here I had a small smoked salmon roll with some potato crisps. I went to bed at 11:30 having done over eight thousand steps during the day.
My alarm woke me at six o'clock, but it was now seven on Norwegian time. I had a mug of instant decaff coffee, before abluting. At 7:50 I had TWO freshly made eggs Benedict in the View buffet. I had just one glass of tomato juice, but gave the Buck's Fizz a miss! I then did two circuits of the promenade deck, equal to about half a mile of walking, whilst Kristine made up the cabin. I then worked on my laptop.
At 9:15 I went to the Neptune theatre, but the technician didn't appear until just ten minutes before the start of my lecture on the Fjords. Despite having tested my laptop out the day before, it was flickering badly, so I had to copy my files across to their laptop instead. CD Andy introduced me and I started five minutes late. At the end, I couldn't get my video to work, so I only talked for 35 minutes. However, this was good as I had a lot of questions to answer. The issue of landslides and tsunamis came up again and one lady wanted to know why they were called Sounds in New Zealand!
I retired to my cabin for my mid-morning instant decaff coffee, before returning to the theatre to hear John's 45 minute talk on Grieg. This included a few points, like Liszt's letter to Grieg, which I didn't already know about. At noon I lunched on the potato soup and the salmon with chips & carrots. I then slept for an hour, before having my mid-afternoon instant decaff coffee in the cabin.
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At 2:45 I was set up without any hassles in the Neptune theatre. I then gave my 35 minute talk on Norwegian railways, skipping over the northern lines. Allan was the DJ at 4:30 in the Observatory for a mix of ballroom, latin and sequence dancing. I danced with his wife, the lovely Lynn. At the end, I rushed off to get changed into my grey formal outfit, ready for the Captain's first cocktail party at 5:30. Here I had two glasses of Buck's Fizz and a small plate of canapes.
At 6:15 and then again at seven o'clock, we danced to the band in the Ocean Bar, but with very few guests present. At 7:45 the four members of the dance host team and myself had dinner in the View buffet. I began with the lobster bisque, followed by the minute steak with jacket potato, red cabbage and mixed veg. I was about to slip away, when Allan came back with my favourite honeycombe ice cream, so I had to indulge! In the Destination Services office I picked up my escort things ready for the next day. I had been given my first choice, the Mount Floyen Forest Walk & Bonfire!
Back in my cabin, I updated this blog and had another mug of instant decaff coffee to drink. At 9:30 we had the final dance set of the evening which was very thin. The singer sang "Achy, Breaky Heart", so I led off the Electric Slide.
At 10:30 I went to Andy Eastwood's excellent multi-instrument show time. He began with Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and covered songs by the Beatles, Billy Joel, Elvis Presley and George Formby amongst others, finishing with a round Britain medley. He played the banjo, ukelele, guitar and violin, but I had trouble keeping awake. I had previously heard him on the Black Watch and the Spirit of Adventure. At the end, lovely Lynn kindly took my formal jacket away to repair a split seam. I went to sleep at 11:30, having done over twelve thousand steps, nearly equal to five miles of walking during the day!
I awoke at seven o'clock ready for my mug of instant decaff coffee in the cabin. At 7:45 I had a freshly made cheese omelette with streaky bacon, one glass of tomato juice and a croissant with Marmite spread. Back in the cabin, I updated my Bergen talk. When Kristine came to service the room, I did umpteen circuits of the Lido swimming pool under the closed roof, as the outside promenade was too chilly.
At nine o'clock, I touched base with the Destination Services desk to check on last minute availability for Bergen that afternoon. At ten o'clock, I had my mid-morning coffee in the cabin. At 10:30 I moved up to the Neptune Theatre ready to be set up for my Bergen talk. My laptop was flickering again, so I had to use their computer instead. At eleven o'clock Andy introduced me and I gave my 35 minute lecture. I had lots of questions to field at the end, including one on the ice bar.
Out on deck, we were sailing into Bergen. I went out on to the balcony under the bridge, which had been especially opened up for us, but there was a cold wind. At noon I had fish & chips by the pool with the roof closed as we sailed under the two suspensions bridges. At 12:30 I dozed for over an hour interrupted by two arrival annoucements.
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At two o'clock I was on escort duty on the quayside. We left with guide Tured (?) and 24 guests at 2:35 for my first choice hike. We walked past the famous Hanseatic wharf to the funicular railway base station to catch the 3:15 service up Mount Floyen. At the top we saw the famous goats and donned studded soles over our boots to walk on the ice. We only went a short way into the forest to find a small bonfire and hot apple juice awaiting us. Back at the top station, we all used the loos, before taking the 4:45 train back down. On the way back to the ship it started to rain, so we rushed back for 5:15.
Back in my cabin, I peeled off the wet clothes and had my late afternoon mug of instant decaff coffee to drink. At 6:15 I went to the Main Dining Room (MDR) but failed to get on to first sitting and was told to come back for the second. At 6:30 we had the first dance set where I danced exclusively with the lovely Lynn. I then dined with her and her husband Allan in the View buffet. I had the braised steak with roast potatoes and vegetables, follwed by the cheese plate.
At eight o'clock we had the second dance set which was quite busy, so I sat out most of the dances, as the small floor was nearly full. At 8:45 I went to the "Come Fly With Me" production show time, featuring Italy, France, Norway (replacing Austria), Argentina & Brazil. It was daring to have songs sung in Italian, French (Je ne regrette rien) and Spanish (Don't cry for me Argentina) as well as in English. There was a barn storming Can Can, but none of the boys could do the splits! The second Norwegian song was Alexander Ryback's "Fairytale" which had won the Eurovision Song Context. The Brazilian finale costumes were great, but consisted of only one song (Let's get loud?)
Back in my cabin I updated this blog, going to bed at 10:10. having done fourteen and a half thousand steps, nearly equal to six miles of walking during the day!
I awoke at six o'clock having slept for nearly eight hours. I breakfasted on a freshly made cheese omelette with streaky bacon and two rolls with butter and marmite. There was no tomato juice, so I had two glasses of apple juice instead.
Just before eight o'clock I was the first guest off the ship. The officials in the terminal helped me put on my wire mesh crampons. I walked all the way around the head of the fjord past the main marina to the little one opposite the lovely Bolette.
Back in the village, I videoed the nine o'clock train departing and recorded my own piece to camera. I went in the small, but perfectly formed railway museum and picked up lots of tourist leaflets. I then walked around the other side of the harbour to the little beach.
Back at the port, I went in their excellent wi-fi lounge, before returning to the ship. I had walked four miles in just over two hours. Here I placed my damp socks in the free tumble drier and had my mid-morning coffee.
At eleven o'clock I was on escort duty for my sixth choice railway tour in the Neptune Lounge Theatre. At 11:15 I led a large group along the quayside to the railway station. The train departed at 11:45 on the three quarter of an hour ride up the valley to Myrdal. I chatted with Bridge instructor Mike from St. Albans, who was also escorting.
We had a five minute stop at the Cheers Force waterfall (Kjosfossen) which was rather icy. The top station had a cold wind with snow flurries, so I spent most of the time in the waiting room. Here I managed to leave my famous yellow umbrella behind. On the way back, I chatted to a lady from British Columbia and her two friends.
Back at the port, I popped into the super wi-fi lounge. Back on the ship, I late lunched with David & Marjorie on the burger and chips with no bun beside the pool. I then slept for three quarters of an hour, only to be awoken by the Captain's departure annoucement. I quickly drank my mid-afternoon coffee and rushed out on to the aft promenade deck, right next to my cabin, to watch the scenic cruising down Aurlandsfjord.
At five o'clock I went to Allan's recorded session in the Observatory, where I danced with his wife the lovely Lynn. This was followed by three rather quiet sets to the band in the Ocean's bar. At 7:30 I dined with the dance host team in the View buffet. I began with the rather thin chicken noodle soup and then continued with the Burgundy beef. I had a small chocolate mousse and a small cheese plate with three Ritz crackers.
At 8:45 I went to Paul Boardman's comedy show time which had a lot of new jokes which I didn't know, but was a little bit naughty. I went to bed at 10:10 again, having done nearly twenty one thousand steps, equal to over eight miles of walking during the day.
I awoke at 6:10 after a rocky night in the Norwegian sea. At 7:30 I had a freshly made cheese omelette with streaky bacon and two croissants with marmite for breakfast sat with Mike the Bridge instructor. He regaled me with his gambling exploits on politics and the Oscars! I then went out on to the promenade deck by my cabin to watch the sail into Stavanger.
I was one of the first guests off the ship at 9:30 and I walked for over two hours covering nearly five miles. When it started to rain I sought shelter in St. Peter's which is now the main church of the city, whilst the cathedral is being restored ready for it's 900th anniversary in 2025.
Back at the ship, I had my second beefburger & chips with no bun of the cruise beside the pool. At one o'clock, I was on duty on the quayside ready to escort my second choice Two Oils tour. Unfortunately it started to rain, so we had to huddle under the gate keeper's canopy.
My guide Anna then led our twelve guests to the Canning museum. We first went in the period wooden house, where we all had four different sardines to eat! In the old factory, we saw how the sardines were prepared for canning in olive oil. I chatted with a well-spoken man, who was a member of a Livery Company in the City of London!
We then walked through Old (Gamle) Stavanger to the Petroleum museum. We only saw a portion of this fascinating place. Anna was quite emotional when describing the 123 people who lost their lives in the Alexander Keilland platform disaster.
On the way back to the ship, we got caught in a ferocious hail storm with biting winds. Back in my cabin, I peeled off my wet clothes and settled down for my usual late afternoon instant decaff coffee. Later Allan phoned to say that they would be eating early, at 6:30 in the View buffet, and would I like to join them. At 5:45 I went up to the Lido deck, but the pool had been emptied, so I just spent fifteen minutes in one of the luke warm jacuzzis for the first time this cruise.
At 6:30 I dined with the lovely Lynn, Allan and Bob in the View buffet. I began with the smoked haddock soup and continued with the tandoori chicken. I had the cheese plate followed by two scoops of the toffee fudge ice cream with chopped pistacio nuts and chocolate sprinkles! It was too rough to dance, so we lingered for an hour and a quarter.
Back in my cabin, I updated this blog and watched TV. At 8:45 I went to ACD Anthony Cranny's excellent one man show. I particularly enjoyed the Phil Collins song and the Robbie Williams medley:
1. "It had better be tonight" 2. "Mack the knife" 3. "Concrete & Clay" 4. "Mr Bojangles" 5. The Robbie Medley (De Toppers) 6. "Comfortably numb" 7. "In the Air tonight" 8. "Wipeout"
I went to bed at 10:10 yet again, having done nineteen and a half thousand steps, nearly equal to eight miles of walking (but no dancing) during the day!
I awoke at 8:20 ready for my usual mug of instant decaff coffee. At nine o'clock I went to the Bloomsbury Main Dining Room (MDR) and asked to sit at the Solos sharing table, but the usherette misunderstood me and took me to a solo table by the window. Here I had TWO eggs Benedict, TWO slices of brown toast with marmite and a glass of tomato juice.
Back in my cabin, I backupped my photographs from the previous three port days. At 10:30 I went to the twenty minute line dancing session led by dancer Joseph. He quickly taught One Step Forward, Electric Slide and a third dance he didn't know the name of. The middle of the three dances had FOUR rather than TWO grapevines, making it a 26 count dance! At eleven o'clock I went to the Ask the Captain session chaired by CD Andy, sat with dance host Colin.
At noon I hosted my second lunch forum with Tessa from Dover and Sue & Chris from Redhill. The former had four degrees from King's, Lancaster, the Open University and somewhere else, so we had a lot in common. The latter couple had travelled extensively with lots of stories to relate. They had paid £15 each to lunch with me! I began with the tomato soup, continued with the snake & pygmy pie and finished with the tiramisu. We had a bottle of cava to share.
At two o'clock I retired for my siesta, but I couldn't sleep as I was excited about going home the next day. I had an early afternoon coffee, before attending John's second 45 minute lecture on the Golden Era of Norwegian Art, which surprisingly didn't cover much about Edvard Munch. John later said that some audiences find Munch's work difficult and depressing, hence his choice of other artists. I then did umpteen circuits of the pool under the closed roof.
At four o'clock I went to the first classical concert by the two pianists. My three lectures had to precede the ports of call, so I had taken their slot on the first sea day. They began inevitably with Grieg: Morning, Anitra's Dance and In the Hall of the Mountain King. The next two were more modern, solo pieces by Ravel & Ireland. The following two pieces were back to Grieg, but this time the other pianist on her own: the Nocturne and To Spring.
At this point, I had to slip out to go to Allan's recorded music dance session in the Observatory. This was followed by two further dance sets by Nelson's band in the Ocean's bar. When they finished I said my thanks and goodbyes to Nelson, Hazel and the boys.
At 7:30 I dined with the lovely Lynn, Allan and Bob in the View buffet. I ordered a bottle of the house rose to use up my On Board Spend (OBS). I began with the tomato soup with chorizo sausage and continued with the veal. I followed these with the cheese plate and two scoops of the toffee fudge ice cream.
At nine o'clock I sat with the lovely Lynn and Allan in the show theatre, where they bought me a pina colada. The production company performed their Olsen awards show of favourite musicals, climaxing with a selection from Les Miserables. I went to bed at 10:40 having done nine thousand steps, equal to less than four miles of walking, during the day.
I awoke at 6:30, but it was now only 5:30 on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Having had my final instant decaff coffee in the cabin, I got ready for breakfast. In the View buffet, I had a freshly made cheese omelette with streaky bacon and one sausage. I had two glasses of tomato juice, one croissant and one seeded roll with butter and marmite sat with a couple from West Wales.
Back in my cabin, I finished packing, but decided to wait for the sunrise before departing. I got off the ship at 7:30 and caught the eight o'clock train getting home by nine.
I scored 4.5 out of 5 equal to 90%.
My report said: "Very informative. Gives warmth both on and off stage. Chats to guests around the ship."
It had been a short, but enjoyable cruise!
6 Dinners in the View buffet 5 Breakfasts in the View buffet 4 Sardines on a plate at the Canning museum 3 Tours escorted (Funicular, Railway & Oil) 3 Itinerary Insight lectures given 3 Ports of call (Bergen, Flaam & Stavanger) 3 Paying guests at my Speaker Forum luncheon 2 Trains ridden (Funicular & Mountain) 2 Enrichment lectures given (Fjords & Railways) 2 Lido burgers 1 Lido fish & chips 1 Bloomsbury MDR breakfast 1 Port talk given (Bergen) 1 Speaker Forum luncheon hosted
"Joy of the Journey" aka On Board Cruise Programme Booklet "Itinerary Insights" aka Highlighted Lectures & Events "Journey Guide" aka Shore Excursions Booklet "Journey Navigators" aka Guest Lecturers "Culture Curators" aka History Speakers "Maritime Guides" aka Marine Speakers "Nature Scouts" aka Nature Speakers
Eleven 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) * Ambassador * CrystalThirty Nine 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 Oriana P&O Iona Crystal Symphony Crystal Serenity Seabourn Odyssey Seabourn Sojourn Ambassador Ambience Sapphire Princess VoD Discovery