Live from the Ocean Princess Land of the Midnight Sun June 7 - 25

[DonahCBrown]

Cheating a little here - we will be 'live' tomorrow, but thought I'd start this up from the lovely Intercontinental Park Lane in London. We'll leave here tomorrow around noon to take the train from Victoria Station to Dover Priory and then to the ship.

 

Thus far, can happily recommend the Heathrow Express - a whole 15 or so minutes from Heathrow to Paddington Station - really a nice way to get into central London, very efficient, easy to get to within the airport, lots of room for luggage. Immigration and customs were handled very efficiently as well, at Heathrow - one of our best airport experiences ever.

 

We spent the last three nights at the beautiful and ideally located Intercontinental Park Lane - great people and service - they couldn't have been any nicer to us.

 

Will check in from the ship tomorrow and start the 'real' live, but couldn't resist using my last remaining free minutes here at the hotel to get things rolling.

[phabric]

Will be looking forward to your reviews. We will be on the Ocean July 31.

 

Tell us about the food, entertainment and the ship, likes or dislikes. What it is like to be on a small ship with only 670 passengers compared to 3,000.

[Woobstr112G]

Looking forward to oyour impressions. have a great cruise.....:):):)

 

Bob

[rdsqrl]

Looking forward to hearing all about this itinerary -- it sounds so cool!

 

I totally agree with you about the Heathrow Express. It's the best airport-city transportation I've ever experienced. Can't understand why people still bother with cabs or coaches. Heathrow is a very easy airport to fly into. Out of, not so much, though!

[DeepWaterMariner]

Thanks for providing this "live from" thread. I'll be following along.

[long cruiser]

We love the small ships.

long cruiser

[DonahCBrown]

Will be looking forward to your reviews. We will be on the Ocean July 31.

 

Tell us about the food, entertainment and the ship, likes or dislikes. What it is like to be on a small ship with only 670 passengers compared to 3,000.

 

We've done the sister ships, Royal and Pacific, loved both of them. It is a very different experience than being on one of the big ships - much more intimate, much easier for ports - you usually can be in the town as opposed to out in 'containerland', if you have to tender, it goes faster. We've found that, in general, food is better, and service is more personal. On the downside, the entertainment is more limited, shows are more cabaret like (on the plus side, that can make some of the older shows seem really fresh) and there won't be as many choices for activities, or for food venues.

 

Any day cruising, as the bumper sticker goes, is better than any day working, though - we enjoy both experiences and look forward to sharing the details of this one with you!

 

Last morning in London and we'll soon be on our way to Dover and the Ocean Princess.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Last morning in London and we'll soon be on our way to Dover and the Ocean Princess.

 

 

 

Hi Donah,

Your ship has arrived in Dover and is waiting your arrival.

Thank you so much for taking us with you on this amazing itinerary.

Agree with you about the small ships for these far away places. They are just magic.

Looking forward to following your adventures into this little known part of our planet.

[paul929207]

Donna,

We will be getting off in a couple of hours after 31 wonderful days on the Beautiful White Lady. Have a great cruise.

[sunsetbeachgal]

Oh! I am so excited to have another Live From thread from the Ocean, which we sail on in September---thanks in advance, Donah!

[Minoushka]

WE will board on July 13 in New York .Please share as much as you can about the ship ,the places you visit ,weather ,things not to miss etc .If you could get pictures to post I would greatly appreciate it I would love to see what an obstructed cabin looks like ...how blocked is it

Wishing you fine weather and calm seas!!!

 

Bon Voyage

 

Michele

[Pia1913]

Good morning my friends on the Ocean from LIVE on the Emerald. So glad you started this right away Donna and also happy to hear you had all that time in London. Means you didn't miss your connection after all. Right? Hi to Tina and I'll be following you from here and then from home.

[DonahCBrown]

Day One – Land of the Midnight Sun Ocean Princess Cruise

 

After a very pleasant train journey from Victoria Station to Dover Priory, we boarded Ocean Princess at around 2:00 PM, by which time there were no crowds and we were on board within 10 minutes or so. Luggage was delivered within the following thirty minutes and by three we were unpacked and settled in.

 

Lunch was available in both the dining room from noon to 1:30 and at the buffet from noon until 4:00 – we grabbed a quick bite in the buffet just before the muster drill.

 

Dinner was the usual prime rib, chili, barramundi menu – I had the fish, everyone else did the prime rib and it looked good. The Panorama seems to be offering a nightly dinner buffet now (used to be a switch off between pizza and ‘bistro’)

 

Entertainment tonight is Bobby Dennis, an English comic, and the Welcome Aboard show in the Cabaret Lounge, and various dance options in the Tahitian, with a ‘mix and mingle with the Cruise Staff at 9:30 PM sandwiched between the Pete Nilson duo early, and Cinnamoon and a DJ late. Usual ship tours, spa tours, etc. earlier in the day.

 

Our first formal night and Captain’s Welcome party are tomorrow, and the second form is on June 14, and third is on June 19. Time change forward by an hour tonight, compounding the existing jet lag, so it is an early night for us, after DH won a little in the Casino and I …. didn’t….

 

Something new to us – there is an “activation” fee of 3.95 for “all users upon your first login only” - otherwise internet seems to be the usual and customary – bonus minutes for those purchasing plans today, printing cost of .50 per print job – which seems less – I seem to recall charges per page – of course, it may be – the internet person wasn’t there to answer questions when I was up there.

 

Personnel – Captain is Stefano Ravera, Cruise Director is Susan Rawlings. (Sammi Baker just left today, on her way back to Juneau) Our Hotel Manager is Daniele Cafiso, Maitre d’ is Francisco Patricio, Chef is Antonio Costantino. Captain’s Circle hostess/future cruise consultant is Gloria Mallard. Happy to give greetings to any old friends if anyone wants.

 

Tomorrow’s show is Cinematastic, and in the Casino Lounge, pianist Heather Sullivan. Did hear that an old favorite of ours, Phillipa Healey is on board as well, so we’ll be looking forward to her performance. Tomorrow’s TV movie is Nine, the roll call got a listing in the Patter, which is nice. It is in direct conflict with morning Trivia which isn’t. Oh well…

 

We will have a port talk by Deborah Fraioli on Stavanger & Flaam and an enrichment lecture by Janis Seal in the Maritime History @Sea called A Profie of Norway. Will likely try and do both.

 

Annoyingly slow and drop prone internet – will keep making notes and post when I can. Connection is impossible tonight and the jet lag has hit.

 

Okay - the time to do this is EARLY am - Connection pretty good, and I'm off to join DH, Tina & Ken in the gym. It is 07:00, cool, overcast.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Thanks for the update on this exciting cruise.

 

For those following , here is the itinerary

 

Mon 07/06/10 Dover / England 17:00

Tue 08/06/10 At Sea

Wed 09/06/10 Stavanger / Norway 07:00 16:00

Thu 10/06/10 Flåm (Aurlandsfjord) / Norway 07:00 16:00

Fri 11/06/10 At Sea

Sat 12/06/10 Tromsø / Norway 10:00 18:00

Sun 13/06/10 At Sea

Mon 14/06/10 Magdalenenfjord / Svalbard 07:00 09:00

Mon 14/06/10 Ny Ålesund / Svalbard 13:30 18:30

Tue 15/06/10 At Sea

Wed 16/06/10 Honningsvag (North Cape) / Norway 08:00 17:00

Thu 17/06/10 At Sea

Fri 18/06/10 Murmansk / Russia 06:00 17:00

Sat 19/06/10 At Sea

Sun 20/06/10 Gravdal (Leknes/Lofoten) / Norway 08:00 16:00

Mon 21/06/10 Trondheim / Norway 12:00 17:00

Tue 22/06/10 Hellesylt (Sunnylvsfjord) / Norway 08:00 10:00

Tue 22/06/10 Geiranger (Geirangerfjord) / Norway 12:00 18:00

Wed 23/06/10 Bergen / Norway 08:00 17:00

Thu 24/06/10 At Sea

Fri 25/06/10 Dover / England 07:00

 

Traveled Distance: 9,199.41 km/4,967.29 nm

 

On the way to the first port of call....

 

 

[Pia1913]

Day One – Land of the Midnight Sun Ocean Princess Cruise

 

After a very pleasant train journey from Victoria Station to Dover Priory, we boarded Ocean Princess at around 2:00 PM, by which time there were no crowds and we were on board within 10 minutes or so. Luggage was delivered within the following thirty minutes and by three we were unpacked and settled in.

 

Lunch was available in both the dining room from noon to 1:30 and at the buffet from noon until 4:00 – we grabbed a quick bite in the buffet just before the muster drill.

 

Dinner was the usual prime rib, chili, barramundi menu – I had the fish, everyone else did the prime rib and it looked good. The Panorama seems to be offering a nightly dinner buffet now (used to be a switch off between pizza and ‘bistro’)

 

Entertainment tonight is Bobby Dennis, an English comic, and the Welcome Aboard show in the Cabaret Lounge, and various dance options in the Tahitian, with a ‘mix and mingle with the Cruise Staff at 9:30 PM sandwiched between the Pete Nilson duo early, and Cinnamoon and a DJ late. Usual ship tours, spa tours, etc. earlier in the day.

 

Our first formal night and Captain’s Welcome party are tomorrow, and the second form is on June 14, and third is on June 19. Time change forward by an hour tonight, compounding the existing jet lag, so it is an early night for us, after DH won a little in the Casino and I …. didn’t….

 

Something new to us – there is an “activation” fee of 3.95 for “all users upon your first login only” - otherwise internet seems to be the usual and customary – bonus minutes for those purchasing plans today, printing cost of .50 per print job – which seems less – I seem to recall charges per page – of course, it may be – the internet person wasn’t there to answer questions when I was up there.

 

Personnel – Captain is Stefano Ravera, Cruise Director is Susan Rawlings. (Sammi Baker just left today, on her way back to Juneau) Our Hotel Manager is Daniele Cafiso, Maitre d’ is Francisco Patricio, Chef is Antonio Costantino. Captain’s Circle hostess/future cruise consultant is Gloria Mallard. Happy to give greetings to any old friends if anyone wants.

 

Tomorrow’s show is Cinematastic, and in the Casino Lounge, pianist Heather Sullivan. Did hear that an old favorite of ours, Phillipa Healey is on board as well, so we’ll be looking forward to her performance. Tomorrow’s TV movie is Nine, the roll call got a listing in the Patter, which is nice. It is in direct conflict with morning Trivia which isn’t. Oh well…

 

We will have a port talk by Deborah Fraioli on Stavanger & Flaam and an enrichment lecture by Janis Seal in the Maritime History @Sea called A Profie of Norway. Will likely try and do both.

 

Annoyingly slow and drop prone internet – will keep making notes and post when I can. Connection is impossible tonight and the jet lag has hit.

 

Okay - the time to do this is EARLY am - Connection pretty good, and I'm off to join DH, Tina & Ken in the gym. It is 07:00, cool, overcast.

 

Hi Donna and Tina and..........

 

That $3.95 charge should be erased. Check your statement. It may not even be there. Hi from the Emerald. I'll be cruising with you guys too.

[mississauga]

Looking forward to "cruising" with you on this itinerary!

[caribill]

Something new to us – there is an “activation” fee of 3.95 for “all users upon your first login only” - otherwise internet seems to be the usual and customary – bonus minutes for those purchasing plans today, printing cost of .50 per print job – which seems less – I seem to recall charges per page – of course, it may be – the internet person wasn’t there to answer questions when I was up there.

 

 

The 3.95 activation fee is not new, but it is not charged to those with platinum, elite, and suite status when they "buy" their free minutes.

[mmwc]

Day One – Land of the Midnight Sun Ocean Princess Cruise

 

After a very pleasant train journey from Victoria Station to Dover Priory, we boarded Ocean Princess at around 2:00 PM, by which time there were no crowds and we were on board within 10 minutes or so. Luggage was delivered within the following thirty minutes and by three we were unpacked and settled in.

 

Lunch was available in both the dining room from noon to 1:30 and at the buffet from noon until 4:00 – we grabbed a quick bite in the buffet just before the muster drill.

 

Dinner was the usual prime rib, chili, barramundi menu – I had the fish, everyone else did the prime rib and it looked good. The Panorama seems to be offering a nightly dinner buffet now (used to be a switch off between pizza and ‘bistro’)

 

Entertainment tonight is Bobby Dennis, an English comic, and the Welcome Aboard show in the Cabaret Lounge, and various dance options in the Tahitian, with a ‘mix and mingle with the Cruise Staff at 9:30 PM sandwiched between the Pete Nilson duo early, and Cinnamoon and a DJ late. Usual ship tours, spa tours, etc. earlier in the day.

 

Our first formal night and Captain’s Welcome party are tomorrow, and the second form is on June 14, and third is on June 19. Time change forward by an hour tonight, compounding the existing jet lag, so it is an early night for us, after DH won a little in the Casino and I …. didn’t….

 

Something new to us – there is an “activation” fee of 3.95 for “all users upon your first login only” - otherwise internet seems to be the usual and customary – bonus minutes for those purchasing plans today, printing cost of .50 per print job – which seems less – I seem to recall charges per page – of course, it may be – the internet person wasn’t there to answer questions when I was up there.

 

Personnel – Captain is Stefano Ravera, Cruise Director is Susan Rawlings. (Sammi Baker just left today, on her way back to Juneau) Our Hotel Manager is Daniele Cafiso, Maitre d’ is Francisco Patricio, Chef is Antonio Costantino. Captain’s Circle hostess/future cruise consultant is Gloria Mallard. Happy to give greetings to any old friends if anyone wants.

 

Tomorrow’s show is Cinematastic, and in the Casino Lounge, pianist Heather Sullivan. Did hear that an old favorite of ours, Phillipa Healey is on board as well, so we’ll be looking forward to her performance. Tomorrow’s TV movie is Nine, the roll call got a listing in the Patter, which is nice. It is in direct conflict with morning Trivia which isn’t. Oh well…

 

We will have a port talk by Deborah Fraioli on Stavanger & Flaam and an enrichment lecture by Janis Seal in the Maritime History @Sea called A Profie of Norway. Will likely try and do both.

 

Annoyingly slow and drop prone internet – will keep making notes and post when I can. Connection is impossible tonight and the jet lag has hit.

 

Okay - the time to do this is EARLY am - Connection pretty good, and I'm off to join DH, Tina & Ken in the gym. It is 07:00, cool, overcast.

 

Thanks for doing this we are reading it with great interest as we are booked for July 2011.

 

Midge

[themerle]

Loooking forward to your review. Hope you enjoy your cruise!

[paul929207]

We got off the Ocean yesterday and were not charged the activation fee for using the Elite/Platinum credit.

[DeepWaterMariner]

Looks like a great itinerary. We've done some of it before but you've got some interesting ones we've missed.

[DonahCBrown]

Day 2 – Very nice sea day on board the Ocean Princess, starting with a bit of time spent in the freshly renovated gym – all new equipment, in great shape – treadmills with tvs in the consoles, all the latest and greatest cardio and nice weight machines as well. Not very many folks showed up at 7 and there were no lines or waiting for any of the equipment.

 

Attended the first port talk about Stavenger and Flaam (and more or less learned how to pronounce each – Stah VAN grr and Flah-muh – sort of…) Deborah Fraioli was well informed and the talk was well attended and interesting. Stavenger is the fourth largest city in Norway and a Viking port dating from the 800/900s, and a major hub for the merchant and fishing fleets in the 17th and 18th centuries, and a center of the North Sea oil trade in the 20th and 21st centuries. We have begun passing oil rigs periodically – and looking at them with some trepidation, given the current crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the major attractions in Stavenger is the Petroleum Museum. Other attractions include the Canning Museum (sardine cannery history and artifacts) and a Maritime Museum, dedicated to the extensive maritime and mercantile history of the region. A bit out of the town proper are a living history museum of an Iron Age farmstead and a medieval cloister monastery.

 

We had a well attended Cruise Critic Roll Call gathering with Stuart, one of the dancer/Cruise Director staff members there to greet everyone, and Cruise Director Susan Rawlings and a number of the other ship’s officers stopping by to say hello, and a visit from the very gracious and friendly Captain Ravera, as well.

 

Although we missed the morning trivia which conflicted with the Roll Call gathering, we did manage to garner a three way tie in the afternoon trivia. No prizes this cruise – vouchers which can be redeemed at some future point towards the end of the cruise for hats, pins, lanyards, etc. at various levels of accumulated vouchers. No word yet about port day trivias – it will be interesting to see if Pia’s experience of ‘no prizes on port days’ holds true here as well. We won’t find out tomorrow, as we’ll be off most of the day, first looking around Stavenger, then, at noon, taking the boat trip to Pulpit Rock.

 

It was the first formal night, and the Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Party, held in the Cabaret Lounge – a very nice event, in the old style – not the new combination Champagne Waterfall/Welcome Party we’ve had the last couple of cruises. Our waiter’s recommended dinner entrees this evening were steak medallions, and shrimp in a Newberg style sauce – our table picked the medallions, which I would say were only fair as they were fairly thin cut and universally over cooked. I ordered medium, got well, my DH ordered rare, also got well done.

 

DH continues to do pretty well with the penny slots – I continue to feel I left all my luck at JFK, just making it on the flight with our one hour connection…I certainly haven’t brought any with me to the casino, in any event. After making my contribution, stopped for a bit to listen to the talented Heather Sullivan sing and play, then make an early evening of it to get a nice early start in the morning with the obligatory hour in the gym, then off to our first port of call.

 

Late this afternoon, the weather cleared (drizzle and chilly all day prior) and the sun is shining brightly now at 8:35 PM. Seas have been very smooth, and we’re looking forward to our first port.

[DonahCBrown]

Guess I just didn't read the fine print before on the activation fee, since others seem to know about it, but I don't recall seeing it before. Will be monitoring the printouts to see if it shows up.

 

David, as ever, thanks for doing the picture postings. Someday maybe I'll figure out how to do, meanwhile, glad you are on the job and helping out!! Mahalo!

 

Pia, regards from all your buddies on board here.

[phabric]

It is nice to hear that the "Port talks" is exactly talking about the Port not stores like on the Caribbean cruises.

[Minoushka]

Which penny machines are on Ocean Princess?I enjoy Cleopatra,Happy Camper ,Mr Lucky's Chinese takeout ,

 

Just curious