WeeDram

I find this fascinating.  This time of the year Reykjavik gets no night at all. Thanks for all the great photos.

The linked review includes the OP’s shuttle experience at Bergen. Also looks like low capacity shuttle for mobility impaired. OP’s party walked from the port.

@hallasm, is a chip and pin debit card (Visa in our case) as accepted as a credit card?

By the way, thank you for your informative posts.

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Thanks @Ipeeinthepools and Jim for posting this about windy.com - very cool, especially when you’re out on the high seas as we will be in the Pacific for another few weeks!! 😁

@Ken the cruiserwindy.com and windy.app are different.  I’m seeing better reviews for windy.app. Not sure which ones @Jim_Iain and @Ipeeinthepools are using.

1 hour ago, Laurab23 said:

I am getting worried about my cruise next month regarding Luminae. I do not eat fish so hope the other items are good. I may be ordering from MD or Blu. I will be on Summit.

 

Laura

We sailed Beyond last week. Not only the fish, but the beef was good in Luminae. I ordered ribeye, NY strip, and filet mignon medium rare (not the same night 😀). All were great.  It definitely depends on the ship, if not actually the sailing.  Good luck!

On 4/18/2023 at 7:29 PM, Jim_Iain said:

Maybe it's just the time we go to the Retreat (about 7:30 PM) but the Bartender just isn't as attentive as other lounges whether Michael's Club or Retreat.    Patrick is a superstar and very responsive.   The bartender seems to spend more time stocking things than taking care of customers and most of the guest have to go up to the bar and pickup and order their own drinks.

I think that in addition to different perspectives on the decor, we are seeing different perspectives on what we expect from a bar. Some like a nice lounge with comfortable chairs and good servers and some prefer a compatico bar - by which I mean a commodious bar with ample chairs, friendly denizens, and expert interactive bartenders.

With a pretty cramped bar situated such that the bartenders can see only a portion of the lounge and such that any queue to the restrooms impinges on the bar’s airspace, I’d say the Retreat is a lounge with an afterthought bar (Edge didn’t have one at all). We’ve enjoyed comfortable lounges and compatico (yeah, I made up this label … and sober, too) bars.  Our favorite bars offer us a choice.

On 4/12/2023 at 11:40 AM, Jim_Iain said:

 

My understanding is that it doesn't have to do with the size of Apex just that they are cutting the number of ships  allowed through the locks (something like 50%).   Which will limit the salt intrusion.

 

It is really weird that that TA goes into Rotterdam, the Norwegian Fjord cruise embarks in Rotterdam and returns to Amsterdam then the British Isle will embark Amsterdam and disembark in Rotterdam.

Jim, I really look forward to your review.

I've been following the Port of Amsterdam news since we we're sailing there this summer.

For your loyal readers - the Port of Amsterdam website has news articles on the changes to sea lock operation due to the long drought in the Netherlands (this issue dates back to last summer).  Instead of opening the sea lock on demand as ships arrive, they are gathering ships in groups and opening the lock only when sufficient ships are waiting and only then on a strict schedule (every 12 hours as I recall).  This reduces the number of passages through the lock, which reduces the number of times the lock is opened, which reduces the salt water incursion (since the drought has reduced the flow of fresh water that naturally forms the boundary between the fresh water of the port and the sea).  I speculate that this causes the cruise lines significant scheduling issues (and probably marine traffic jams in the port every 12 hours), and has resulted in cancellations and port changes as unintended consequences of the lock operations.

On 4/14/2023 at 12:47 PM, DaKahuna said:

 

I infer from your post that they do not have the Zacapa Old Fashioned any longer?  That was my 'go to' drink at the WCB.  Don't get me wrong, the Bumbu is excellent as well, I have a bottle here in my 'bar stock' but I really prefer the Zacapa 23. 

 

 

Just enjoyed “a few” Zacapa Old Fashioneds (followed DaKahuna recommendation) at WCB on Beyond, so DW checked the bar menus on the app.  It seems that only Reflection shows Bumbu.  Maybe there’s hope, yet.

I like to try something new each cruise.  Sometimes I pick up a new favorite, like bourbon Manhattan or Woodford Reserve with an ice cube.