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

[HKM]

This cruise is one that's always been on our wish list. It's being fun to follow along with all of you. Ken and Tina, are you playing Trivia?

[Pia1913]

This cruise is one that's always been on our wish list. It's being fun to follow along with all of you. Ken and Tina, are you playing Trivia?

 

Of course they are. :D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Cam capture docked at Tromso..

 

 

Now they really are heading North.

Just looking at the map makes me feel cold:eek:

 

 

 

 

 

David,What's the source for these nifty photo's?Glenn

Hi Glenn, the link to the site with the maps does not come up on CC board, but if you google sea and scanner,

then go to ships and current position, you can get a map and the bridge cam.

 

[brucedodge]

our Thai assistant waiter was beyond thrilled

 

Hi Donna,

 

By any chance was that Sam?

 

Bruce

[DonahCBrown]

Day 6 – Tromso and Day 7 at Sea

 

To expand a little on Tromso, it is a surprisingly large town, with a large university hosting more than 13,000 students. The setting is spectacular, with snow covered mountains surrounding the fjord – this was the problem with our satellite access, evidently. Not sure how the locals access internet/wireless etc., as it didn’t seem to be an issue ashore. There is free internet available at the public library and everyone seemed to have a cell phone.

 

While the ship’s shuttle was convenient, it is equally easy, once you know it is available, to use the local public bus to get around, and it is much less costly, with an all day pass available on the bus for 50 NOK per person.

 

There are admission charges to the principal sights like the Arctic Cathedral and Polaria, and most places have a senior discount, so be sure to ask.

 

The tourist information center is on the waterfront in the center city, opposite the park with the standing statue of Roald Amundsen – there are a lot of Amundsen statures, but this is the only full size standing one that I saw. Polaria is about a 15 minute walk from the information center. The Arctic Cathedral and the Cable Car are best reached by city bus because they are on the other side of a long and busy bridge – you can take most lines but the one we used was the 20/24, but the 26 and 28 also go there and the 26 is the one for the Cable Car. Ask the driver before you board to be sure you are going in the right direction. Polaria is on the 34 bus line, but we didn’t actually see that particular bus so it may be one of the less frequent ones. The botanical garden is on the 20 line The information center staff all speak excellent English – the fellow we spoke to was from Wellington New Zealand. They can give you a complete run down on which bus lines to use, where to catch them and they have excellent maps as well as the usual literature on the local attractions.

 

There is a large multi-level shopping mall just about two blocks from the information center, and about a block from that on the Storgaten is a large brewery – the Mack Olhallen that has an attached pub and offers tours. The Polar Museum which is also downtown near the Information Center offered exhibits on hunting, and has stuffed polar bears, mounted walruses, etc. as well as a section on polar explorers and Roald Amundsen – we skipped that one. The Tromso Museum has exhibits on the Sammi people (previously called Lapps or Lapplanders but this is evidently now considered an insult) as well as on the history and geology of the region and is Norway’s largest museum.

 

Today is a sea day, still pretty bumpy, raining and cold. High temp is supposed to be around 12C. Entertainment program for the day includes port talks on Ny Alesund and Honningsvag by Deborah Fraioli, Maritime History talk on Blunders in International Trade by Janis Seal, and the usual round of bingo, bridge, trivia, crafts and games. This evening we have a new entertainer – Garry Carson, and Heather continues in the Casino lounge, as do Pete Nilson Duo and Cinnamoon in the Tahitian. The Captains Circle party is tonight and it is formal night.

[DonahCBrown]

Hi Donna,

 

By any chance was that Sam?

 

Bruce

 

No, Chai.

[DonahCBrown]

This cruise is one that's always been on our wish list. It's being fun to follow along with all of you. Ken and Tina, are you playing Trivia?

 

Tina & I play with Dee & John and a nice English couple - doing pretty well - lots of 'tied' wins, couple of second places. Ken and Dennis don't play.

[coo359a2]

My two cents on Tromso - I liked it:)

 

Our visit to Tromso was the best. The weather was just what we wanted and everything to do with our transportation worked our perfectly. For those planning a cruise that includes Tromso, their city bus system is great We docked about 4 km from the city center at Breikvia (not spelled correctly and can’t find my paperwork with correct spelling). The ship had a shuttle for $10 roundtrip but we plus Carolyn and John and about 10 others decided to try catching the local bus at the stop across the street from the ship. Very easy. Got combination tickets fro the bus and the cable car right from him (135 Kroner per person). The driver did make change which was a concern I had as I only had a 200 or 500 Kroner bill. The cable car ride was the highlight for us. Totally awesome views and perfect weather. Also visited the Arctic Cathedral and walked around the Thai festival that was taking place on the walking street . Got the bus back to ship and walked to the Botanical Garden – most northern botanical garden and it’s free. For those wanting to try the local bus to the city center and on to the cable car, walk out the gate and then along side the fence till you come to the tunnel going under the street to the bus stop Not far at all. Take the #42 bus into the city center and then the #26 to the cable car and the cathedral. Pick up times are posted at each bus hut. We then caught bus 42 back to the ship. Most everyone spoke perfect English and willing to help you out with directions. The captain did warn us later in the evening that we would have bad/rough weather and he was spot on. The ship – at least in my cabin – would rock forwards and back and then side to side. This went on for most of the night – at least it felt that way to me. Today – 13th – it is much smoother with just a little movement. Looking forward to Ny Alesund tomorrow.

[Pia1913]

Good Morning my friends who are cruising w/o me. ;) As you proceed along your journey, we are in the midst of getting ready to disembark the Emerald. Beat the H out of 'em in trivia and just in case............I have lots of extra decks of cards. :D

[topdogbh]

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.

Thanks for all the useful information. Looking forward to getting onboard in Dover on the 25th. One question for Donna is where the independent/private tour people are meeting on the Ocean prior to disembarking the ship to meet their tour operator.

I am lead for two tours and have asked my groups to meet in the lobby/shore excursion area of deck 4, 15 minutes prior to tour pickup/start time.

Might there be any other place on the place that would work better?

 

Bill

[paul929207]

Thanks for all the useful information. Looking forward to getting onboard in Dover on the 25th. One question for Donna is where the independent/private tour people are meeting on the Ocean prior to disembarking the ship to meet their tour operator.

I am lead for two tours and have asked my groups to meet in the lobby/shore excursion area of deck 4, 15 minutes prior to tour pickup/start time.

Might there be any other place on the place that would work better?

 

Bill

Bill,

I was on the Ocean cruise that ended in Dover last week. Our independent tours met in the Casino Lounge (deck 5), the Club Lounge (Deck 5 outside the MDR) and by the Purser's DEsk on Deck 4. Whoever organized the tour specified the meeting place.

[#1PrincessFan]

I was so disappointed not to take this trip with you because my mom broke her hip just a few weeks before we were scheduled to embark the ship. So, I am living vacariously through all of you. I look forward every day to seeing what the ports look like and what everyone has enjoyed doing on that day.

 

I am curious as to what folks packed for your adventure. I know there can be such a wide range of weather. Did most everone bring jeans, long sleeve shirts, fleece jackets and other items that would allow layering? Do you need shorts at all? Any tips would be most appreciated! I will go on this trip one day.

 

Thanks again Donna, Tina, John, and Any others who have contributed.

 

Betty

[Nick_C]

Can someone tell me how much a reasonable bottle of wine costs in the MDR? Was thinking about buying some OBC, and just trying to budget!

[Canuker]

Hey Donna, many thanks for your update on World Cup coverage on board:

 

"There was supposed to be a feed into the Cabaret Lounge. Turned out the signal wasn't expected to be strong enough, so it was cancelled, although supposed to be sent to cabin feed if signal improves. So far, nothing" .

Not what I wanted to hear, but what I did expect to hear. As you press further north, your chances of a decent signal are going to worsen.

When we join the ship on June 25, I'm going to come armed with a portable shortwave radio.

 

Donna, you're doing such a wonderful job of keeping us informed. There's a martini with your name on it when I see you!

 

Best,

Canuker

[Pia1913]

Donna, you're doing such a wonderful job of keeping us informed. There's a martini with your name on it when I see you!

 

 

She drinks wine, but maybe you can persuade her to imbibe a martini. :D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

 

Heading back down to Honningsvag (North Cape)

[DonahCBrown]

Day 7 Magdalena Fjord/Ny Alesund

Weather was overcast for the most part, and cold – high 3 C. Early AM we entered Magdalena Fjord, sailed in about 6 miles and the Captain rotated the ship a full 360 at the end of fjord so that everyone had a view of the glaciers and mountains, then we exited and entered the Kongsfjorden and berthed at the research station at Ny Alesund. Ny Alesund is the northernmost functional public settlement in the world. The village boasts a small museum/information center with displays about the work done at the station, a gift shop that did a brisk business during our stay, a post office that also was heavily used, and a café that seemed closed and a hotel, as well as homes and buildings related to the current mission of research on climate and atmosphere and the new Arctic Marine Laboratory opened in 2005, and older structures, some no longer in use, related to the coal mining operations that were the principal historic activity in this area. There are a few interpretive markers around on the loop trail through the settlement and a some relics such as the small train used in the coal mining operations. Research activities are conducted by teams from Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, France, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the People’s Republic of China (their building has two large concrete Foo Dogs guarding the door). The permanent population is around 35 people, with another 120 researchers, technicians and field assistants in residence in the summer.

 

In spite of the warnings, we didn’t see any polar bears, but did see a lone reindeer, a lot of artic terns, and the local dog sled dogs. There was still a lot of snow on the ground, the lake, which is used by migrating birds was still mostly frozen over, and there were several visible glaciers in the fjord in which we were docked.

 

Most everyone was back on board by or before 5, and we left shortly after 6 PM, on our way back to the coast of Norway and the next stop, which will be Honnigsvag and the North Cape.

 

Entertainment on board today for those staying on board was a showing of “It’s Complicated” at 2:45. In room movie tonight is “The Hangover” and in the Cabaret Lounge tonight is the Johnny Depp “Alice in Wonderland.” There is a 50s and 60s Rock and Roll Sock Hop in the Tahitian Lounge, and Heather Sullivan continues in the Casino Lounge.

 

Tomorrow is a sea day, and perhaps we will have internet signal again at some point – there has been none at all today, nor has there been any wireless phone signal so this will get posted whenever we reestablish contact with the satellite. Likewise, we have no idea what is happening in the world at large, as there has been no tv signal either.

 

Tomorrow we have a Fine Jewelry Silent Auction, Art Auction, bingo, port talks on Gravdal and Trondheim, enrichment lecture on Pirates of the High Seas, the Pub Lunch, the Wine Tasting, as well as the usual games and crafts. TV movie is “It’s Complicated,” evening movie will be “Shutter Island” and we have a new entertainer - Chris Watkins. Dancing in the Tahitian, Heather in the Casino Lounge.

[DonahCBrown]

Thanks for all the useful information. Looking forward to getting onboard in Dover on the 25th. One question for Donna is where the independent/private tour people are meeting on the Ocean prior to disembarking the ship to meet their tour operator.

I am lead for two tours and have asked my groups to meet in the lobby/shore excursion area of deck 4, 15 minutes prior to tour pickup/start time.

Might there be any other place on the place that would work better?

 

Bill

 

Been meeting in the Club Bar but anywhere that you can all remember and agree on will work. Typically, we've been exiting deck 3 forward so deck 4 at the desk works well.

[DonahCBrown]

I was so disappointed not to take this trip with you because my mom broke her hip just a few weeks before we were scheduled to embark the ship. So, I am living vacariously through all of you. I look forward every day to seeing what the ports look like and what everyone has enjoyed doing on that day.

 

I am curious as to what folks packed for your adventure. I know there can be such a wide range of weather. Did most everone bring jeans, long sleeve shirts, fleece jackets and other items that would allow layering? Do you need shorts at all? Any tips would be most appreciated! I will go on this trip one day.

 

Thanks again Donna, Tina, John, and Any others who have contributed.

 

Betty

 

Lots of layers - no shorts.

[JohnLauben]

The internet and satellite TV (CNN, FOX News, BBC) have been spotty at best, due to limited satellite coverage. Production shows have been cancelled also ... the lead singer(s) have colds! Had a little bit of snow out on deck yesterday, when the temperature hit 0C (32F). But, lots of snow in the mountains! Internet back right now, but could disappear at any moment!

[DonahCBrown]

We did the pub lunch today - quite nice, in the steakhouse - much better than balancing plates in the Wheelhouse on the Ruby! Service was good, food was tasty. Tina and I did the 'Ploughman's Lunch' Dennis the Bangers & Mash and Ken the Fish & Chips - all enjoyed. Only menu item we didn't try was the cottage pie - have no idea what's in it. Pia - next time, we'll bring Mike!

 

This afternoon is the wine tasting, but we're skipping. They're not doing the nice shot glasses. We plan to do the special Elite/Suite reception tonight and the "B" menu Bistro, as that has one of Tina's favorites - the Chicken Kiev.

 

Not much more to tell - nice relaxing sea day going on here - low visibility, overcast, chilly outside so we're staying inside!

 

In re: wine in the dining room - I'd expect to pay around $30 or so for a decent bottle.

[Pia1913]

We did the pub lunch today - quite nice, in the steakhouse - much better than balancing plates in the Wheelhouse on the Ruby! Service was good, food was tasty. Tina and I did the 'Ploughman's Lunch' Dennis the Bangers & Mash and Ken the Fish & Chips - all enjoyed. Only menu item we didn't try was the cottage pie - have no idea what's in it. Pia - next time, we'll bring Mike!

He thanks you, Donna. As long as I don't have to go. ;)

 

This afternoon is the wine tasting, but we're skipping. They're not doing the nice shot glasses. We plan to do the special Elite/Suite reception tonight and the "B" menu Bistro, as that has one of Tina's favorites - the Chicken Kiev.

 

Me too. Tina, eat some for me. :D

.

 

Keep warm. Don't know whether I could survive so much of that weather.

[sunsetbeachgal]

Hi Donna,

 

Could you please tell me more about the evening "bistro dining"-in particular what type of food is served. Is it the same menu every night or is it the same food as the main dining room. What are some of the things on the menu? We have a very port-intensive 14 day cruise coming up in Sept on the Ocean, and some of us are trying to decide whether or not to bring formal clothing (since the cruise is really two 7 day back-to-backs, there are four formal nights).

 

Any info you can give is greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks!

[sea stitcher]

Donna, thanks so much for the updates on the ship's progress. Jim and I did this same cruise last June/July. I'm glad that you were able to stop in Ny Alesund. I loved that stop. Looking forward to seeing the ship on the 25th! We'll be waiting nearby in a Martello Tower in Folkestone.

Margaret (and Jim)

[Minoushka]

Could you post a picture of Ocean Princess next to another ship?I really need to see just how small this ship is Does it feel small ..Do you feel movement more ?

I am a TAD .....worried re its size I have always been on relatively Big ships 2000+++pax .

Please post

Thank You

I'm glad you are enjoying Norway It is beautiful

 

Michele