Baltic , Norway , Iceland and the U.K. on the Zuiderdam 2019 with photos

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

We were a little disappointed because of HAL not providing a interdenominational service on Pentecost Sunday and the protesters antics . With the 9 AM turnaround day it made it very difficult for the crew and passengers who had to scramble for planes and rooms . Additionally , Pentecost Monday is a holiday in Denmark with many people running , and watching , the Royal Race that was run through the streets in Copenhagen . We were doing a tour with a local and we went with the self disembarkation group which was larger than normal . Morten was our guide and driver .

The Zuiderdam was a little further out than we normally dock in the foreground

Where the RCI ship is within walking distance to a number of sites

We wanted to get to the Little Mermaid before the people started crawling on her

There's also a Polar Bear with cubs nearby

We also saw the genetically modified Little Mermaid - no crowds here

We also stopped at Nyboder to see the small row houses

Edited July 12, 2019 by scubacruiserx2

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

The next stop was Kastellet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kastellet,_Copenhagen

The barracks

The church was in session

The windmill

the church

It look's like someone has a big headache

Perhaps a bite to eat

We all had a Ristet . This isn't my photo , but it was what we had . Grilled onions and pickled cucumbers = YUM

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

A couple more churches

Saint Alban's (English Church )

And The Church of Holmen (Sailor's Church )

They were closing this one when we were there

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

Amalienborg , the Queens Winter Palace .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalienborg

It's also where you can see the changing of the guard

There is a police presence there during the changing which has prompted a saying : The Danish Army is the only Army which requires police protection !

Frederik's Church

We had arrangements to go up above the dome for a view of the city .

The climb to the top of the church was a tiny , dark , steep , circular stairway in which you couldn't see anything except the shoes of the person in front of you . And when one person stops , the whole group stops . So , were the views worth the climb ?

In the distance , we could see the Church of our Savior

And the Eclipse

And almost below us , where we had been .

Note : This segment was from our previous cruise . Where the Eclipse is was a RCI ship and where the RCI ship in the distance is , was where the Zuiderdam was this trip .

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

Nyhavn was busy before the race

Our last visit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyhavn

And , a return to our starting point , Nyhavn .

Tivoli Gardens

It was the inspiration which caused Walt Disney to built an amusement park after he had visited Tivoli . It's located in the city .

The Pantomine Theater

The Moorish Palace

The H.C. Anderson statute is just down the street

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

On our last trip we stopped at Rosenborg Castle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenborg_Castle

There is a moat below the bricks

A side view , from near the restrooms

The top floor of the castle is a large room called The Knight's Hall .

The walls are covered by 12 tapestries and at one end is a silver throne , the Throne for Audience

There are several paintings on the ceiling

They reminded us of the Moscow Metro

And the Royal Danish Coat of Arms

And on the end opposite of the silver throne , The King's and Queen's Coronation Throne guarded by the Three Silver Lions .

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

Our last stop in Rosenborg Castle was the basement . At the entrance the guards were more vigilant than the ceremonial guards which we had seen earlier .

The Treasury

Order of the Elephant

The Oldenburg Horn

And finally , our last stop in the Danish Treasury - The Crown Jewels . The following descriptions are from the Kongerness Samling website , but the photos are mine .

The Order of Dannebrog Star

Star of the Order of Dannebrog, gold with brilliants and rubies. Made after amendments to the statutes of the Order in 1808, probably for Frederik VI.

In this case is the Danish Crown Regalia including :

The Anointing Sword, gold with enamel, table-cut and rose-cut stones. Used by the Absolutist kings and possibly by Frederik III. Originally a wedding present from Christian IV to Frederik III in 1643.

The Orb, gold with enamel and table-cut stones. Made in Hamburg for Frederik III’s coronation in 1648. Used at anointings during the period of Absolutism.

The Sceptre, gold with enamel and table-cut diamonds. Made for the coronation of Frederik III in 1648 by an unknown goldsmith in Copenhagen. Used at anointings during the period of Absolutism until 1840.

The Ampulla of gold with enamel and table-cut stones. Made for the coronation of Frederik III in 1648 by an unknown goldsmith in Copenhagen. Used at anointings during the period of Absolutism.

and the

Amethyst (1305 carats/261 g.) in a casing with Christian V’s name in gold on enamel, possibly made by Paul Kurtz, 1671. The jewel was only used when the kings sat on the throne during the anointing

And the crowns . Beautiful to look at , but hard to take photos to do them justice !

Christian IV’s crown

Christian IV’s crown, made 1595-1596 by Dirich Fyring in Odense.

Gold with enamel, table-cut stones and pearls; total weight 2895 g. The figures on the crown’s large points illustrate the virtues and powers of a king.

Detail of King Christian the IV's crown .

Within another case resided two crowns , the larger and older of the two is King Christian the V's .

The Crown of the Absolute Monarchs, used by the kings from Christian V to Christian VIII.

Made by Paul Kurtz in Copenhagen, 1670-1671. Gold with enamel and table-cut stones. Total weight 2080 g. Also 2 garnets and 2 sapphires, of which the largest dates back to Frederik I and was presumbaly a gift to his father, Christian I, from the Duke of Milan in 1474. On the palmette above this is a table-cut diamond, behind wich Christian V’s monogram in gold thread can be seen. Since the abolition of absolutism, the crown has only be used at the castrum doloris of the deceased Kings.

Ibid

And the smaller of the the two is the Queen's Crown

The Queen’s Crown, made for Queen Sophie Magdalene by court jeweller Frederik (I) Fabritius in 1731.

It was in use until 1840. The table-cut stones are believed to have come from Queen Sophie Amalie’s crown from 1648. The crown was especially crafted for the queen, since the previous crown was worn by the much despised Anna Sophie Revntlow, the second wife of Frederik IV.

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

This year our last stops were at The Copenhagen Cathedral known for it's statutes of Jesus and the Apostles

And The Church of our Savior

It was another great tour but time to get back to the ship

cat shepard · July 12, 2019

You might not be satisfied with your pics of the crowns, but they are amazing. Such detail!

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

We had booked this 2nd leg of the cruise first and later added the Baltic . HAL gave us our new room cards and in transit card before we left that morning which we showed with our passport when we returned . All clothes on hangers were moved to our new room while we were gone . Everything else was in our suitcases and it was all in the room when we got there .

We didn't have to attend the safety drill . And can we say that we really liked this balcony and the job that HAL had done that day .

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

39 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

You might not be satisfied with your pics of the crowns, but they are amazing. Such detail!

Thank you Cat , their work on the crowns and regalia was was beautiful .

scubacruiserx2 · July 12, 2019

With the 25% first night discount we booked the Pinnacle Grill for dinner

We had some King Crab legs on the Zaandam that were not very good in January , but these were very good

Nice finish

erewhon · July 13, 2019

Thank you for your reply.

Super photos.

scubacruiserx2 · July 13, 2019

9 hours ago, erewhon said:

Thank you for your reply.

Super photos.

You're welcome . We were looking forward to seeing some scenery and critters this trip .

scubacruiserx2 · July 13, 2019

America's Test Kitchen

Days at sea turn into Gala nights . We learned this trip that lunch is served in the MDR but the menu is not posted on TV . So after breakfast at the Pinnacle we took menu shots outside of the MDR .