thornegirl

2 minutes ago, Yorkypete said:

Yet they are still advertising it as going to Geiranger for the day after a stop at Hellesylt. P&O are beginning to be a cruise line to avoid.

 

We are on Iona on the 6th August sailing (G226).  Still not been informed that we are not stopping at Geiranger.  It is now saying that Hellesylt is arriving morning depart afternoon and Geriangerfjord  afternoon/evening. I checked yesterday and it was still saying Geiranger.

 I did ask the question to P&O a few weeks ago when Iona was missing on the Geiranger port website all summer and was told that there had not been a change to the itinerary.  P&O should at least give some OBC to compensate , they'll be saving a huge amount of money not docking at Geiranger, but they won't.  

Will just have to make the most of Hellesylt,  next port Haugesund wasn't looking forward to that one but have found out there's a Jazz festival on the day we're there so that might make it interesting.

24 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

No it was about restaurants, things to see etc.

Ahh ok, so it was thread drift then 

3 minutes ago, Fionboard said:

No, just cannot see the difference between a cruise visitor to a destination and a traveller visiting by train, coach or plane. We all require the same sort of information, all of which can be found with a simple internet search. 

I think the question was regarding shuttles, whether they are free or charged for. Therefore the shuttle PDF was the information that was required and not information regarding the port.  

15 hours ago, SarahHben said:

So today we are in Haugesund. 
We had a rain shower to start the day but since then it’s been part sun part cloud and when the sun is shining it’s quite warm.

We are currently enjoying the sun on our balcony and it’s nice to have a relaxing afternoon and not rushing around doing lots.

Thats the positives!

Others May feel differently but an hour and a half was plenty of time for us to look around and take a few photos. I really think it’s worth doing an excursion from Haugesund because there’s not much to do here.

The biggest problem for us is that we haven’t found it to be wheelchair friendly at all. Even getting away from the ship docking area was difficult. The flat path took us right through where people we’re waiting for their coach yours so I had to ‘excuse me’ my way through everyone. People are mainly very kind though and let us through. Then we found that there are not many dropped kerbs here, not even at the pedestrian crossings. I saw a couple of wheelchair users staying in the road but between the 5 of us we managed to lift the wheelchair up and down the kerbs. Next was an enormous long bridge that we had to push the wheelchair up and over, oh my goodness it was hard going. My sister and I both pushed together and then going down the other side mum kept a hand on the brake just incase 🥴 my husband did the pushing on the way back. 
Many of the shops were shut because it’s a national holiday and to get to the main view points there were lots of hills and steps so it was a bit frustrating for mum. We were only off ship for an hour and a half I think. 
We had a very light lunch in the buffet and then went to Aqua restaurant for afternoon tea. The sandwiches weren’t great but the scones were delicious and there was a good choice of cakes, the prawn rolls were good and my sister and brother in law don’t like prawns so we ate theirs.
We will have a later dinner so we are just relaxing now, enjoying the sun and the rest.

The acrobatic show is on for the first time in the SkyDome tonight so we’re hoping to get along to that. 

Thanks for the information from Haugesund,  I'm glad that we have booked an excursion.  I didn't think it looked that interesting.  

14 minutes ago, SarahHben said:

 

I don’t disagree with you, it was certainly disappointing for people like my sister who wasn’t able to do the extra trip to Geiranger and my comment is nothing to do with the rights and wrongs of how it’s been dealt with,  but before leaving England I looked up how much it would cost to do the ferry independently from Hellesylt to Geiranger and if I calculated correctly it was around the same price that P&O charged for the trip.

Just for information for anyone it might help,  I have booked tickets for our family (5 adults and 3 children) on the car ferry that goes from Hellelyst to Geiranger.  The price is £42 per adult and £21 per child.  I did a web chat with the company and you have to book the time there and back and you cannot catch and earlier ferry if you want to,  the tickets can be cancelled and refunded up to 7 days prior to the trip.  There are 330 seats to book, we are going at 9.30 and returning at 2pm. It takes and hour and five minutes according to the timetable.  

18 minutes ago, dalesmouse said:

It was via  P&O but was twice the price £99 pp we ended on it by default as P&o had made a mess of booking a kayak trip...won't bore you with story but I'm so glad they did as we had such a fabulous morning .You probs haven't had an answer as the guys & gals from Bonseye  apart from farming and running a success tourist business do all sorts of things for the port and are currently  on the quayside untying Iona and sending us on our way

Thanks for the information.  That price is a lot more than they charge direct, hopefully we can book direct with them.  

2 hours ago, dalesmouse said:

 

We are currently on board Iona and were initially disappointed to be diverted to Hellesylt however decided to make the best of it .Went out on a RHIB tour down Geraingerfjord this morning and would thoroughly recommend.Not only was it a fantastic way to see the scenery from the fjord, our guide who was born and lives on a farm on the fjord side provided a fantastic commentary on the Fjord and it's history. Top notch survival suits were provided .Check out Bonseye RHIB tours website- they are easy to locate on the quayside.Hellesylt is a pretty little port and as the sun has just come out ,no complaints from me🌞

Can I ask was this a rib tour through P&O or direct with Bonseye?  I've emailed Bonseye direct but not had a reply yet

57 minutes ago, Host Sharon said:

No. I gather the gunport doors are the wrong height to use the sea walk. Iona also cannot fit under the bridge at Bergen so that rights off that as an alternative port.

Well that's interesting, Iona for the fjords is probably not the best ship to see the spectacular fjords.  Surely they would have tried all the options out while Iona was up in the fjords during the Covid lockdown, then advertise and sell itinerarys that they knew could be fulfilled.  Not as it is now more sea days than ports because of operational reasons. 

We (husband and I) have been to the fjords a number of times on various ships and we've told our children and grandchildren how beautiful it is.  We should have all been on Iona's first season to the fjords but that was cancelled so we re-booked for this year.  I'm sure we will all have a fantastic time but still disappointed about not getting into Geiranger. 

15 hours ago, molecrochip said:

Iona is the biggest ship to ever be scheduled to call at the SeaWalk.

 

Unusually with the SeaWalk, the ship is at anchor rather than tied to the quay/moorings. Therefore, I believe the SeaWalk requires seas to be slight as the ships must also switch of their engines when alongside.

Suggestion is that the sea conditions have not been right and there is now questions as to whether there will ever be the correct conditions.

Is this not just due to the cost of using the seawalk facility being far greater than mooring at hellesylt.  

10 hours ago, vitrocmax said:

They are still running the RIB experience, but from Hellesylt. 

That's very expensive, we paid £49 per adult and £32 per child with Geiranger Fjord . They have refunded for our booking made with them. There is another company called Bonseye AS based in Hellesylt and their charges are the same as Geiranger Fjord but on their booking calendar they are booked up for every Wednesday. Same day as Iona is in port!  P&O have known that they won't be docking in Geiranger to have block booked the Bonseye rib trips.

1 hour ago, SarahHben said:

I’m onboard at the moment and one of the new Hellesylt excursions is an “on your own” boat trip to Geiranger. You can either leave at 7:30am or the one we’re doing, 10:30 am. I think they said it’s around 1hr 15mins boat transfer each way and we’ll have 3 hours free time once there. Hope that helps. It’s £59 per person

There are 8 of us, so I don't think we will be adding that to the cost of the rib excursion.  So disappointed , will be contacting the rib company in Geiranger to cancel or see if they will be moving to Hellesylt.  I would imagine that there are a few very unhappy cruisers.

8 minutes ago, jaydee6969 said:

 

The link is to the port authority, and until this morning Iona was stopping at Geiranger on the site.  Now all changed.  Obviously we are all waiting for the official word from P&O, but now I am expecting to be in Hellesylt next week.

 

Hellesylt has a dock to tie up too.  If you look at the video link below and scroll back a couple of hours you will see and Aidaperla tied up.

 

 

I'm relieved its not a tender port but my problem now is how to get to Geiranger for the rib safari!  Geiranger was one of the two highlights of this cruise

5 minutes ago, jaydee6969 said:

Have just been informed and seen on the Geiranger Port Authority site, Geiranger has been cancelled for the season for Iona with stops at Hellesylt instead.

 

https://www.stranda-hamnevesen.no/cruise-calls/

 

Can I ask who have you been informed by?

Isn't Hellesylt a tender port, its a tiny place.

We are on Iona on 6th August sailing and I have already booked a rib safari independently so I'm quite concerned.

The Glass House is usually open for lunch, we have gone in there on embarkation day.

We're on Iona in August and have 3 cabins booked not had anything from our TA, our balance is being paid tomorrow.  Will contact the TA later to check this out.  

43 minutes ago, bigmanchads said:

First time cruiser, first time poster.

 

We are on the Iona Fjords 7 day cruise leaving this Saturday 30th April. I have been logging in to My PO website for weeks and have booked and printed all I need however their is still no indication of when/if there is a Formal/Black Tie night. All days currently state Evening Casual. Surely it would be on there by now if it was going to be? 

 

Appreciate any guidance as I'm about to decide whether to pack the tux or not!

 

Cheers

We are on Iona on 7/8/22 and the formal/celebration night is the on the second day. Would imagine its the same on all Iona Norway cruises.  

On 4/17/2022 at 10:04 PM, thornegirl said:

will do but I don't think the Olden tourist office opens until 1st May.  

I've called the Olden tourist information office today, they've said that they don't do the independent shuttle bus now, but you can book on the same day with Olden Adventure.  You could also get the local bus there but the return wouldn't get back for the ships departure!, you could get a taxi there and back but not sure of the cost. Or you could hire a car, we would need 2 cars because of the numbers.  I have emailed a taxi company and Hertz car hire to see what the total costs are.

We might wait to see what the weather is like when we get there and see what options we have on the day.  

2 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

The whole sunbed thing is crazy. Empty sunbeds all day, mostly occupied only by towels.

 

It could very easily be remedied, and sometimes is……….😇

We were on Azura in the Caribbean a few years ago and a friend was on the deck above the main pool early in the morning when she saw a family reserving at least 6 sunbeds on the front row of the pool.  They said "that will do when we get back from the trip this afternoon". Once they had left she then went and removed all the towels and put their books on a table. She made sure she was around the pool when they came back to discover their 'reserved' sunbeds were taken, they weren't happy.

I inform the card provider that we are going abroad.  Other card providers charge a percentage per transaction.  My debit card charges that percentage, that's why I have the Halifax clarity card.  Martins money tips recommended that for travel abroad.

13 minutes ago, keithhutch said:

Hi bit late now as we go tomorrow but we never gave it a thought about taking currency on our fjords cruise on Iona…will euros be accepted or do we need krone…thanks

I've been to Norway 4 times and have never taken currency always pay with my Halifax clarity credit card, (no charge for paying for things abroad).  Never had a problem in shops or transport. 

1 hour ago, Kittyonions said:

Thorne girl I would also be very interested it doing the skylift independently, as the excursion on our cruise is fully booked. Please post if you are able to get any advice from tourist office in Olden. Many thanks.

will do but I don't think the Olden tourist office opens until 1st May.  

2 hours ago, davecttr said:

It is amazing. At the top is restaurant with views out over the fjord where your cruise ship looks like a little plastic boat. the more adventurous can take a walk along the many footpaths or you can just sit and admire the view. When I was there base jumpers were leaping off the precipice in front of the restaurant windows 😱

 

There was a local radio station interviewing one of the young ladies. Roughly translated the question was "When did you first suspect you were bonkers"  😁

 

Taking the private trip from the quayside has the advantage that you don't have a wasted trip if it is cloudy.

We went on the Skylift about a month after it first opened in 2017,  we now want to go again with all our family again in August.  When we went in 2017 we went on a shuttle bus which we booked at the tourist information office and bought the tickets at the Skylift. We would like to do that again, as like you say if it cloudy you don't get the full effect, plus you can stay as long as you like and not be tied to the timing of the ships excursion.

Do you know if the shuttle bus is still running?  I was going to email the Olden tourist information office but I can't find an email address, I've got a phone number so if all else fails I'll give them a call.

9 hours ago, Gettingwarmer said:

Look at the P&O excursions. See what time they leave and duration, then you can see what time they get back. Does yours fit that time frame. 

Oh yes that's a very good idea.  Thank you

Thanks for the information. I’ll email them to double check the times. But it may be too tight, don’t want to be late for the sailing. 

If anyone has been on Iona could you advise what time the departure time is.  Its only saying depart afternoon on the itinerary.  

I'm trying to book Flor & Fjaere independently as the excursion through P&O has been cancelled.  The trip would return to Stavanger at 4.30 in the afternoon.