Cappers

I have tried looking for the Flora and Fauna excursion but not sure what I'm looking for

P&O do it, I was looking at it last night. I decided against it because it said that in May when I am going that the gardens are newly planted so there wouldn't really be that much to see. Shame really because As a florist it's just my cup of tea:D

Not wanting to steal this thread but has anybody done a ship tour called " the roof of Norway " ? I'm looking at options for our May fjord cruise and I quite fancy this one. I think it goes from Bergen. I can't decide on this trip or just wandering around Bergen,,which I have already done twice. My husband and son are doing a hike but that's my idea of hell really!

In Flaam we did a tour that involved getting another train at the top of the Flaambahn (Myrdahl) and went to Voss I think, where we had lunch we then had a coach drive back to the ship, excellent scenary on that trip, someone said on another forum that it is called Norway in a Nutshell, I cant remember!

Yes,,there is trip called "Norway in a nutshell". I did it last year but for the life of me I cannot remember where from:confused:

It must have been Flam because I do recall it ended with the train trip down from Myrdal. It was a good day out and we had a brilliant young man as our guide. We also had a very good lunch at a nice hotel near a lake.

40% discount,,,£1500,,,that's another holiday that is!!!

So yes,,I ,,as the lady of the household,,would grab that bargain!

What a lively if somewhat contentious thread this had turned into!

Flam,,definately the train,,but you will have to book it well in advance because it sells out at an alarming rate and space is limited. We did the ships trip last year and thought it was very good. The queues in Flam around the ticket office were endless and they soon declare it full for the day and close it.

Stavanger is a nice enough place to spend the day just exploring the town and harbour etc,,some nice shops. I did the open top bus thing which is right there next to where the ship docks. I've also done the stavanger countryside tour which was,,in my humble opinion,,really quite boring and gave you very little time off the coach. Yes,,we had a good ride round the surrounding area of stavanger but I found it really tiresome to be honest. This year I will be doing the Lysefjord and pulpit rock trip from stavanger but as yet have not decided wether to do the ships trip or get one of the boats that do it there on the day. Lots of people say that the Viking museum and the old sardine canning museum are worth a visit,,and I may have dreamt it but I think they might be free..someone here will know for sure. I've also done the leisurely stavanger tour,,that was ok,,only a couple of hours I think so it gives you time for a wander round as well. It took you to the 3 swords monument and a good ride round. Personally,,I think that stavanger is the least Norwegian of the ports on the fjord cruises.

Nnnooooo,,,you can't come home yet!! We want more:(

2 questions though,,1, does the Tui Discovery look nice?

And 2,, just how big is Harmony? On a scale of 1 to 1000000!! ;)

I've just booked for me and my husband and our son (27) ,,he wanted to come to Norway,,and I was quite shocked at the price for him. I've booked him a balcony cabin the same grade as ours but even so the single supplement they put on the basic price made me gulp! It's about £550:mad:,,that's the bar bill! We've treated him cos he's a hard working teacher who's just bought his first house so he's skint now! Our daughter doesn't want to come but it would almost have been cheaper to book 2 people in his cabin. T'aint right,,t'aint fair,,t'aint proper,,but there's nothing I can do about it. From their point of view they are losing out on a paying passenger in the other bed in the cabin.

I agree with Selbourne about P&O missing a trick with the mini cruises. I've done about 8 of them now and I to have noticed that the staff don't seem to engage as much as on longer cruises. I think they must think it's not worth getting to know passengers for such a short time.

I was on Ventura over New Year on the 4 nighter to Bruges and Amsterdam and had a fabulous time. Everything was lovely,,wether that was the seasonal effect or not I couldn't say. Ventura isn't my favourite ship but there really wasn't anything worth moaning about. We thought the beach house was very good, and also the glass house,,we can't comment on the epicurean as it's not somewhere we would ever think about,,seems a bit too fancy and pretentious for my liking. Entertainment was excellent,,but again that might have been upgraded for New Year. Daytime activities seemed to centre around dancing,quizzes and selling you "stuff" ! I'm sure it will be lovely.

We changed Geiranger to Andalsnes - the change came through about 10 mins after the confirmation !!

There have been other posts about this on here.

That's ok with me,,I liked Andalsnes so it wouldn't be too much of a hardship to visit again.

It may be in the itinerary but recently they seem to change this port quite frequently.

Interesting! Would you happen to know where they usually change it to?

I would strongly advise against booking a Fjords cruise on Britannia, especially if the longer / more scenic Fjords are important to you or your friends. P&O advertise Britannia itineraries that include these locations and then change them a few months before departure, replacing them with more coastal locations. This happened to us last year when both Flaam and Olden were cancelled, which was 50% of our scheduled itinerary and 100% of the long scenic Fjords we were due to visit. P&O did not consider this to be a material change!! Furthermore, they had continued to market the cruise as visiting these ports 6 months after the change had been made. This wasn't a one off either. I found out that 6 port calls to Olden / Flaam by Britannia were cancelled last year. If you book a smaller ship you have far less chance of the itinerary being changed.

I went on Britannia to the fjords last year and we went to flam,,,I was truly astounded that she got in because its tiny and she literally filled that little port! I could not believe a ship that big got in there and was then able to manoeuvre round and get out again! The wonders of modern technology and engineering I suppose. I was also amazed and slightly concerned at just how close to the little beach we were parked as well,,the water must be deep to float cruise ships like Britannia,,or don't they need as much as I think they do?

If you particularly want Gerainger you could look at Azura's fjord cruise on the 28 th May,,that's going there.

I've been in July and been in a blizzard up mount dalsnibba and then last May I went prepared with boots and a good coat and it was perfect blue skies and warm sunshine every day! I'd say,,unpredictable ;)

Azura is a beautiful ship :cool: she has the X factor! I'm going Norway on her in May and can't wait.

:cool: loving this running commentary on your cruise guys! It's making me want to do the Caribbean even more than I already do! Hope you had a lovely birthday and looking forward to reading more of your posts. :)

Thank you gentlemen;)

Hi John,,you seem to be the go to person for all queries about cabins and decks etc,,,so I'm wondering,,do you know if the obstructed view cabins on Azura are on E deck? Pretty please and thank you!

Just be aware that on an early saver you cannot pick your cabins and you and your children could be allocated cabins in totally different parts of the ship.

 

Michele

We don't care really,,I'll choose the grade and we'll be happy wherever we end up,,my " kids" are 27 and 23 so I'm assuming they'll be ok if I'm not next door;)

Aahhhaaaa,,,I've just looked and the price column says early saver:D Smashing! Thank you gentlemen. If the beautiful Azura now has 2 dining rooms for freedom there must be a greater chance of getting it.,,and if we didn't then I could use my womanly wiles on the staff;) or just beg!

Hhhmmm,,early saver?? I haven't noticed when I've been looking at it! I will go and inspect it further:) this might sound daft but is it too late for early saver?

Good evening all.:) in your humble opinions,,what do you think the chances are of me getting freedom dining on Azura in May for a fjord cruise with a booking of 2 cabins on the saver price??? Our kids want to come because we are going with family friends and it would be lovely. The price difference is currently over £400 per person and x 4 that's excursions and bar bill innit :D our friends have already booked and have opted for freedom dining so obviously we need the same so we can dine together. The last 3 cruises we've been allocated freedom but they were Britannia and Ventura.,,2 on saver fares and 1 select. It's not something I usually think about really. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Even though Ventura and Azura are virtually the same ship prefer Azura.

I agree :D Azura just seems to have the X factor!

Hhmmmm...Britannia has the edge for me but the lack of a proper prom deck at the same level as all the bars etc is a definite drawback. Beautiful ship though,,lots of outdoor space which is good for sea days. Azura still my favourite though :D seems to be more of a fun atmosphere on Ventura.

Hi Cappers, we have booked Oriana for August, one week round Ireland for £854 each, outside cabin on F deck, which we thought was quite good :)

Oooohhh hello Linda :D I can't remember exactly which cruise I was looking at now cos I've looked at so many in my search for something interesting! That's a good price for the one you've booked. I doubt we'll be sailing on oriana anytime soon. A chap I know at work keeps telling me to go princess or Cunard,,princess yes definately like to try but don't think I'd like Cunard,,couldn't stand the snobbery I hear so much about.