Capt_BJ

yes .... I realize it was a once in a hundred years alignment of the planets .... but I'd also say it left us with little desire to return to London ..... we LOVED Greenwich tho!!

2018 .... departing from London/Greenwich on Viking Ocean Flew in a couple of days early to explore London - we'd never been. Had NO idea that the days we were visiting were to see: Wimbledon, World Cup (soccer) finals <and England was still in>, largest Europe LGBT gathering to date AND Trump was about to arrive for a visit. The place was packed silly ....it was madness .... we'd made room reservations WAY out but getting into virtually any tourist destination was HA HA. Got on a hop-on-off and sat for an hour trying to get thru one round-about. OH - AND the temperature was RECORD HEAT ......

according to a friend on PRIMA today: Isaf' was dropped and they turned Akureyri into an overnight. Reason given was pier work not done.

Cruise ships use two berth areas in Bergen but both are less than a mile from the 'low station' for the funic' BIG ships tend to be on the orange line ... smaller ships yellow (where we were on our last VIKING OCEAN visit) and I've seen medium (ALDI) at the berth just northeast of my yellow line. We've never pre-booked the F' .... even on the busiest days the line while looking BIG wasn't that bad ... very busy mid summer day at the top of the F" with a VIKING ship at the pier center . . and an off season late in the day ride .....

Costa is there today .... tendering ~ 950 ft . .

Viking Ocean ships are on the smaller side (1000 pax) and the pier they are at is the one that had been was announced was gonna be extended a few years back. If it is in use today this suggests work NOT underway. https://www.cruiseeurope.com/news/news-isafjordur-1613379438/ I'll report back after my up coming visit on SATURN ....

Marine traffic shows Viking Saturn there now ...

Dixie Cross' IS the most well know place in Titus' and around since the 80's but I have a problem with this statement on their advertising: The menu features the very best local shrimp and fish from Port Canaveral, They opened in the 80's and the area hosted a TON of fishing boats back then. I was stationed here 86-89 and there was a slew of fish processing places in the port. I'd often seen boats parked four deep at the fish houses along the south side of Port Canaveral and rock shrimp was part of the big catch. TODAY all those boats are gone, those fish houses are gone the rock shrimp fishery is gone ..... Check the menu ... the big ticket items are Maine Lobster and Snow Crab .... not exactly local catch. IMO it is a local version of Red Lobster but to each their own . .

there is no inner port shuttle and walking may not even be an option as there is a north side and a south side to the port connected by a draw bridge which is CLOSED to foot traffic (they WILL call security) MSC usually at berth 10 while Royal's main berth is 1 but they often use 5 and/or 6 which IS walk able to 10 but not recommended. bottom line: YES use a taxi and tip nice for the small ride

Our last cruise was Carib' and each place we stopped we've been to MANY times and therefore some I didn't get off at all and others MAYBE for an hour or two at most. <a hip replacement leaves me a lil walking challenged> On the other hand I'm shortly leaving on a cruise from Bergen north to Svalbard then south to Iceland and we have excursions booked for every port (included in the cruise price)

first cruise summer 1974 'crew' on a square rigged ship I found I had a liking for the sea and its lore which led to 30 years in the Coast Guard serving on 7 ships not including training rides ... and 4 years sitting in the Captain chair. It was not unusual to come in from patrol on one day and get on a cruise the next for 'vacation' and return home just in time for another patrol. Have 60+ cruises in the books (actually kinda lost count after 60) with two more booked (Norway/Iceland and Rhine River). Who'll go to the top of the main mast and change that burnt out light bulb ......

normal tip for taxi in US is 20%. consider UBER .... is is just as easy and a lil cheaper once you learn how to use the APP but TAXI is also easy and in my experience will take credit card. As port organization goes POM is easy as all the berths are in a single row and not only is there a big electronic sign at the entr' saying who is where ... you can actually SEE the ssips over the terminal building's roofs!

from Bergen ..... fish market top of the funic' BUT a very busy day . . . VIKING boat is the left of the two at the pier

if sailing Viking which typically does first night in the boarding port and you'll get the 'included' excursion ya don't really need an 'excursion' on your free day. We're off to our third time to Bergen in a couple of weeks ... some VIKING and some 'on our own' ...... If your hotel is 'downtown' then you can easily spend a day exploring on foot. Viking IME uses the dock at what I've labeled A the walk to the fish market (yellow line) is ~.6 miles to get there you'd walk past a fort (you can go in) and all of Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf and the Funicular is close by .... boxed in my pic

https://www.northbound.is/blog/192/arriving-at-keflavik-airport How do I get from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik? ... there are 2 options: take a taxi or take a bus / airport transfer. Our recommendation would be to take one of the bus transfers as a taxi from the airport to Reykjavik can set you back around 17,000 ISK (?134). This is why most travelers will use one of the many airport transfers. The two of the more popular options are Gray Line and Airport Express.

there's more than two and don't forget Vatnahalsen Høyfjellshotell AS - Resort hotel up by Myral (and the zipline) we stayed at Heimly Pensjonat but walked to Flåm Marina & Apartments - Restaurant for some beverages ..... YES that is a guy swimming in Flam ..... and we talked to him ... he was from Florida!

Hmm ... fun question. Issue one is that there are few rest's that have any view of the port ... but there are a couple. Second is duplicating the 'vibe'. IF there are ships leaving the day before and IF you could get there in time to see there are two places on the Miami Beach side of Government Cut. Monty's Beachside in the Miami Beach Marina and Smith and Wollensky in South Point S&W is a pretty swanky steak joint but there is an ouside bar facing the water https://www.smithandwollensky.com/locations/miami-beach/ Monty's south Beach is closer to Grills in 'vibe' - very similar in years past - but now caught up in the South Beach 'thang' http://www.montyssobe.com/ .. so expect to pay $$$ even by Miami standards if you can't arrive in time to see ships leave consider the original Monty's location in Coconut Grove. I first went here around 1982 .... not sure the SB location and this one are even the same company anymore! But this one is closer to the Grills vibe ..... in a marina ... https://www.montysrawbar.com/ rehearsal party scene of Meet the Folkers (meet the parents sequel) filmed here ..... OR go to BAYSIDE and roll your dice . .

So that's what it looks like! On our July Midnight Sun cruise, we only saw fog!! Wonder if some months are better than others for viewing the North Cape. Luck of the draw. funny ... this was July '18 .... record setting warm weather. Heading back in a few weeks . . . Bergen to Iceland via Honnigsvag and Svalbard And Jan Mayen

caught this on the FLAM web cam a few minutes ago. Similar to our experience when there is a BIG ship in or multiple ships (less common since COVID). People were queud about as soon as the train arrived and boarding was in general a free for all. Since we were actually 'traveling' via train - had luggage - it was a bit stressful. notice the mob behind the train at the left. But theey don't sell more tickets then there are seats (no standees) so once the push was over it wasn't crowded

today's Florida Today: Port Canaveral is planning to build two new parking garages on its north side, adding a total of 2,700 spaces, to handle the increased demand from cruise passengers.

if you refer to the 'free parking' deal ... did you go to the site and read the details? Says you must book direct with the respective hotel . . .

Midnight Sun in 18 we crossed going North then a few days later returned crossing going south .... ceremony held after the southern crossing on a sea day .... we'd passed very close to a marker on the circle during an 'inland' passage .... as mentioned the hot tub was converted to an ice bath and one could take a quick plunge and was met with a dab of blue frosting on the nose and a shot of aquavit and a special certificate for Blue Nose ... As I recall everyone got a more generic certificate for crossing into the Arctic without the 'bluenose' designation.

google cape canaveral eco tours example Self-Guided Kayaking Manatee and Dolphin Tour ... Get a kayak delivered to you, and embark on a self-guided tour of Cape Canaveral, and Cocoa Beach. Discuss suggested routes with the staff when your kayak is delivered, and learn the basics of paddling. When ready, launch yourself into the calm water. Paddle at your own pace, and see if you can spot manatees or dolphins in the area.

Norwegians are also proud of their chocolates .... My favorite Norwegian chocolates If you’re traveling to Norway I’d recommend you to try out some delicious Norwegian chocolate. Here are three types from Freia, which are famous for their Melkesjokolade (milk chocolate) and Kvikk Lunsj. I’ve also listed Stratos and Smash from Nidar, one of the largest distributors of sweets to Norwegians. https://norwaywithpal.com/norway-travel-blog/best-norwegian-chocolate-bar/ AND waffles visit a grocery store!!!!

There may be customs regulations against bringing meat/sausage into the US. Best to check on that before trying. Not talking 'fresh' .... you'll see packages of dry sausage, some like salami and other like jerky. Since I can order and have shipped to Florida I'd not worry too much about carrying.