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Live from the Ocean Princess Top of the World Explorer June 25 to July 13

DonahCBrown

By DonahCBrown,
in Princess Cruises

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paul929207

paul929207

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Donna,

You mention the Princess Book Club...didn't know they had one. How do I find out what they will be reading on the cruise I am on? Actually it is the one after yours.

Caribill gives the link to the books above. Princess has the book club on most (all?) sailings. Passengers get together to discuss the selected book.

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cboyle

cboyle

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Tomorrow we arrive in Torshavn at 7 AM – we are booked on a ship’s excursion – Sailing with Schooner “Nordlysid” – a 1945 fishing schooner, sailing for a couple of hours up the coast of Streymoy Island. Hoping for a good weather day.

 

We saw this boat when we were walking around Torshaven last year. It looks like a fun excursion but the ship's tour was canceled last year. We took the bird cliffs tour and the scenery was outstanding.

 

Carolyn

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Woobstr112G "Live from...." Rare

Woobstr112G

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Will check on the Clinique product tomorrow during the sea day. In re: deck 3 cabin layouts - will see if any of the CC group are on deck 3 and see what they have to say.

 

Here are the reports for the last couple of days:

 

Day 2 – Newcastle

 

We had a lovely day in Newcastle – weather was ideal, warm and sunny, 20 C. Our tour was with Alex Jacobs, a Blue Badge Guide with his own tour company, Northern Secrets. Pick up was at the port gate, right on time and we had the unexpected bonus of a really large bus (17 PAX) for the 4 of us when we had expected just a 6 or 7 PAX van. It was quite luxurious. Alex is a delightful young man, one of the youngest Blue Badge Guides in the UK, and is totally bilingual in English and German. He was very accommodating in our planning process, very responsive to all our questions by email and easily made changes as the day went forward. We had a city tour first, walked the Millennium Bridge and the open market area along the river Tyne, drove around the city center with several photo stops including the Grey Monument, and then headed out of Newcastle to Hadrian’s Wall country. Our first stop was Heddon-on-Wall to get our first look at Hadrian’s Wall, and then proceeded through several market towns, stopping for a tea/coffee break in Corbridge, and visiting another long section of the wall and a quarry. After this we went to the privately owned excavation site of Vindolanda where we walked through the ruins of a village and fort and visited the museum. On leaving Vindolanda, we took a scenic route returning to Newcastle and passing through the North Penninies. Another short stop was made in Blanchlands for some pictures and a brief pub visit for Newcastle Brown Ale, and we were back aboard in good time for all aboard at 4:30.

 

Our evening entertainment was Chris Watkins, the Welsh violinist who has been on board for a couple of weeks now. His shows are worth attending twice, so I did. Still no casino as we are still in UK waters and not 12 miles from shore, so no contributions to the Princess bottom line until after the port call in Edinburgh tomorrow.

 

Day 3 – Edinburgh

 

Another privately arranged day for us today in Edinburgh. We had arranged for a pickup/drop off with Holiday Taxis online (email is admin at holidaytaxis dot com, phone is 01444 257 041), and our very talented driver Roddy picked us up promptly at 8 and we agreed on a pick up point in Edinburgh at 4 PM and were dropped at the Castle at around 8:45. Traffic wasn’t hideous, but it did take a little longer than the 30 minute estimate we had heard, so, we moved our return time back a half hour to 4 rather than 4:30 in order to be sure to make it back in time for the folkloric show the ship had scheduled for 5:30. We had a group of 6 and the price we were quoted was 72 GBP, making it very cost effective and time effective compared to the $12/person round trip shuttle to the train station plus the round trip train fare between Rosyth and Edinburgh and the hassle of trying to coordinate the two without huge loss of time on the ground in enchanting Edinburgh.

 

The Castle doesn’t open until 10 AM, so we were too early to be able to start right out there. We heard estimates from a minimum of 2 hours to all day as the time needed to ‘see’ the Castle, and vacillated back and forth about taking the tour, as we had a pre-booked tour of Mary King’s Close at 10:40. In the end, we didn’t pre-purchase tickets, got into the entry area, changed our minds about taking the tour, got in the line, realized we REALLY didn’t have time, so got out of the line and walked around the top end of the Royal Mile (locally, High Street) and went into a couple of shops and the entry area of the Whiskey Experience instead.

 

Our tour of Mary King’s Close was very interesting, with a costumed guide and many stories about the residents and the history of the old city. The tour is about an hour, well organized and entertaining as well as informative – you may well learn far far more about sanitation practices (or the lack there of) in the 17th and 18th centuries than you ever wanted to. Still, it was a very worthwhile tour and gives you a good background for realizing what you are looking at as you work your way around the city, looking at the closes (side streets that run, basically, from the High Street down towards what is now the Gardens, was ‘then’ the Loch) The homes build along these streets were the first ‘skyscrapers’ running up to 14 floors, building upwards over the years as population pressures and lack of space created demand for housing that could be met most easily by building up.

After our tour, we were met by our ‘pen pal’ friends Fiona and George – and it was lovely to meet in person at last! - and were given a true ‘insiders’ tour of (mostly) the older part of Edinburgh. We had a marvelous time, and saw parts of the town that simply aren’t part of any tour you can arrange. We did, of course, hit some of the ‘regular’ tourist spots – Greyfriars Church to see Greyfriars Bobby’s grave and statue, the Princes Street Gardens (and the chief gardener’s house – what a nice perk he has!),Calton Hill and the Nelson Monument and the spectacular views from there, but also the Grassmarket and the spot where the gallows stood until 1784, the statue of Abraham Lincoln (bet you didn’t know there even WAS one in Edinburgh!) We visited two spectacularly beautifully decorated pubs – the Royal is more like an art gallery than a pub with amazing tile murals and stained glass, and the interiors of two banks, one of which was formerly a private home (mansion, actually) that aren’t on anyone’s tour list that I know of. It is impossible to express our appreciation to George and Fiona for taking all that time out of their busy lives to take us all around – what a fabulous day!

 

Return was smooth, with Roddy waiting at the appointed spot well before the appointed time, and we got back to the ship in time for the excellent folkloric show presented by “The Music of Scotland” – three pipers, three dancers, a singer and a fiddler, plus piano player and accordionist – a really enjoyable show.

 

All in all just an outstanding day (plus we had great weather until we got back to the ship, when it started to rain) Thank you thank you thank you Fiona and George! And Roddy!

 

Sounds like a great day. Thanks so much for yor reports.....:):):)

 

Bob

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DonahCBrown

DonahCBrown

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In re: book club - think it is listed on the Personalizer somewhere or other - remember finding it there once anyway. I believe it is only on the longer cruises - 14 days or more maybe?

 

Today's report:

 

Day 5, Torshavn

 

No signal this morning – not sure why. Still nursing a cold, so won’t be doing a whole lot more than our scheduled excursion, I expect. Arrived at 7 AM, cloudy, chilly (around 50 F) and predictions of light showers. We will be leaving the ship around 8:30 for our excursion. There is a shuttle from the pier to the ferry terminal, as we are docked in a commercial container port. The town is larger than we expected, spreading along and up the hillside surrounding the harbor. Architecturally, it is a mix of the principally red, yellow, and white houses and buildings that have become familiar from Norway and blocky concrete newer structures, with a few even more modern mostly glass buildings. The Faroe Islands are politically a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the currency is the Faroese Kroner, but I believe they also accept Danish Kroner.

 

The principal places of interest are the National Historical Museum in Torshavn, and the surrounding historical and picturesque fishing villages of Kirkjuboe, Kvivik and Kollafjordur. Tour offerings include several different types of boating excursions – the sailing schooner we are doing, a zodiac, and a birdwatching one, and trips to the surrounding villages, the Musuem, and a walking tour.

 

TV movie of the day is Shutter Island, Production show is “Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance” usual other entertainments. Afternoon movie in the Cabaret is Avatar.

 

Will post more after our excursion and/or when we have signal again.

 

Morning tour – okay, not great- was advertised as ‘sailing’ vessel – it had sails, but didn’t look like they’d been raised in years. We motored around the cliff faces around the harbor, saw puffins, kittiwakes, a seal, some dolphins. On return, the captain/guide pointed out the royal yacht of the Queen of Denmark who is visiting for the first time in five or six years. The yacht is escorted by two Danish navy ships and is very impressive. No one we talked to has seen the Queen, or at least didn’t know or recognize her if they had happened to.

 

After an overcast and chilly morning, the afternoon is clearing and a little warmer. There is a small ‘old town’ easily seen in about a half hour or so of walking. Local buses are free and go around most of the island, according to the ship captain. Still no signal this afternoon – will try when we are at sea again and away from the high hills. Appears that there is 3G signal – or, again, so our ship captain said.

 

Didn't get signal until well away from the islands. Beautiful sail away - sun was (is) out and it is really gorgeous.

 

Won at trivia this pm - Passport wallets.

 

Still nursing sniffles - now DH is beginning to come down with it, I fear...

 

Tina and Ken holding up so far!

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DonahCBrown

DonahCBrown

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We saw this boat when we were walking around Torshaven last year. It looks like a fun excursion but the ship's tour was canceled last year. We took the bird cliffs tour and the scenery was outstanding.

 

Carolyn

 

We pretty much did the bird cliffs as well - scenery was lovely both on the excursion and on the sail in and out, particularly out, as it was sunny- that seems to be our pattern for this trip - overcast until all aboard and then the sun comes out!

 

Hoping for continued good weather for tomorrow in Iceland. We get in at 10, will tender the first batch of folks and tours off, then dock when the ferry moves out at 12. Most likely as we're just doing walkabout, we will wait for the docking. I'm going to see if a little time in the sauna will help dry up my head cold.

 

Slots are VERY stingy on this run - unlike the first few days of the last cruise when they were pretty generous. Didn't tempt us at all to stay around. Making an early evening of it to see if rest and cold meds will get rid of this...

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Minoushka

Minoushka

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Try some Vicks just a touch under your nose and head towards the sauna .That should do it Careful not to put any in your eyes It really does clear you up .Don't forget the Kleenesx

 

Hope you feel better soon

 

Michele

 

Try CHICKEN soup it really works!!!

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coo359a2

coo359a2

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We enjoyed the fishing boat excursion but it would have been more fun if the wind was blowing so the sails could have gone up. I didn't get sick with the up and downs so that was good for me. Ken and I will do the Seydisfjordur hike to Hengifoss (Princess tour). It's a sold out tour so will see how everyone makes out on the 2.5 hour walk. So far (5am) and still a ways to go it isn't raining. Hope we will have the same weather as Torshavn.

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cboyle

cboyle

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We pretty much did the bird cliffs as well - scenery was lovely both on the excursion and on the sail in and out, particularly out, as it was sunny- that seems to be our pattern for this trip - overcast until all aboard and then the sun comes out!

 

Our tour went to the Vestmanna bird cliffs, on the other side of the island from Torshaven. The cliffs are almost 2000 ft. high and you motor right up to them, into grottoes, around sea mounts, and even through a tunnel through a sea stack. There weren't many birds at the time of year we went (it was after nesting season) but we did see some puffins in flight and other birds. This was another tour that COULD be done on your own by public bus if all of the timing fell into place exactly right. It made John too nervous (Tina can sympathize!) so we took the ship's tour there.

 

Carolyn

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DonahCBrown

DonahCBrown

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Day 6 – Seydisfjordur

 

Overcast, foggy, cold. We crept into port slowly with fog horns blaring from around 5:30 or so on. We anchored and tendered the tour groups and some independents off between 10 and 12, and then, on the departure of the ferry, maneuvered and docked, and had the gangway down around 1:30 or so. We got off in search of the pharmacy and some cough drops, and, having accomplished that and a couple of quick pictures, hurried back on board, as it is currently sleeting and around 40 F, with a brisk wind – frankly, pretty miserable. The town is pretty enough, a large waterfall just out of town that some of those who disembarked on the tenders did walk up to, but with colds, and miserable weather, not a place we were willing to explore at length. Will leave it to Tina to tell you about the hike to Hengifoss.

 

Another sea day tomorrow, to recover, and get ready for Reykjavik. Captain announced that we’d be going around to the north of Iceland, above the Arctic Circle again, to avoid bad weather to the south. Should be interesting if it isn’t fogged in the way it has been pretty much of the day today. I need to look at the maps and see where we are and where we are going relative to the active volcano.

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Woobstr112G "Live from...." Rare

Woobstr112G

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Day 6 – Seydisfjordur

 

Overcast, foggy, cold. We crept into port slowly with fog horns blaring from around 5:30 or so on. We anchored and tendered the tour groups and some independents off between 10 and 12, and then, on the departure of the ferry, maneuvered and docked, and had the gangway down around 1:30 or so. We got off in search of the pharmacy and some cough drops, and, having accomplished that and a couple of quick pictures, hurried back on board, as it is currently sleeting and around 40 F, with a brisk wind – frankly, pretty miserable. The town is pretty enough, a large waterfall just out of town that some of those who disembarked on the tenders did walk up to, but with colds, and miserable weather, not a place we were willing to explore at length. Will leave it to Tina to tell you about the hike to Hengifoss.

 

Another sea day tomorrow, to recover, and get ready for Reykjavik. Captain announced that we’d be going around to the north of Iceland, above the Arctic Circle again, to avoid bad weather to the south. Should be interesting if it isn’t fogged in the way it has been pretty much of the day today. I need to look at the maps and see where we are and where we are going relative to the active volcano.

 

Glad you were able to see a little of the port despite your sniffles. Hope you feel better soon.....:):):)

 

Bob

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DonahCBrown

DonahCBrown

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T & K home safe and sound after their hiking adventure, but we're having rough seas and Tina is feeling it. They had better weather conditions where they went for the hike than we did in the town, and seem to have enjoyed it.

 

We are turned north, back over the Arctic Circle at some point, to keep the land mass of Iceland between us and a bad storm that is south of Iceland at this point.

 

Rocking and rolling, and supposed to get even worse. Captain says we may see some ice as well. Signal comes and goes. Will do what I can...

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