Copenhagen to Copenhagen June 11-25 Sailing The Coast of Norway

[SLSD]

As I mentioned before,  The Restaurant is now open for breakfast and for lunch every day.  For those that might be interested, I took photos of the menu at lunch today.  There is a classic (always available) menu and a menu with specials of the day.  

[SLSD]

Today, Ovation docked in Alesund Norway at 9am.  Mr. SLSD and I took an excursion which focussed on the Art Nouveau architecture in the city.  In 1904, Alesund, which had  a population of 12,000 burned to the ground.  Only one life was lost, but almost the entire town lost their homes.  The houses at the time were all wooden and only a few survived.  Norwegian architects who had studied in Germany immediately started planning for rebuilding.  Art Nouveau was the style at the time and this is what the designed.  The city was rebuilt in two years.  Not all of the homes built at that time still survive, but many of them do.  I've included some photos from today.  In one photo, you will see a blue wooden house.  It is one of the houses which survived the fire.  In another photo, you will see a charming outdoor cafe where Mr. SLSD is enjoying a Hansa beer. We also stopped off at a family owned bakery and purchased a fabulous cookie to share.  While there, I photographed their shelves of freshly baked bread.   The weather could not have been better today.  It was alternately cool (in the high 50 or 60s perhaps) or quite warm.  We dressed in layers, but often took off our jackets.  It was a good day!  Everyone has to be back on board by 10:30pm today.  

Edited June 13, 2023 by SLSD

[ab21au]

2SailingNomads, I think it is personal preference.  I disagree but I’m allowed to. 😀

Edited June 13, 2023 by ab21au

[Techno123]

@SLSD are any of your photos of Sukkertopen? Plan for us is to catch local bus to the base and climb it, returning back in time for lunch then pop out to explore the town afterwards - just hoping it's not the one covered in snow 😱😂

[SLSD]

24 minutes ago, Techno123 said:

@SLSD are any of your photos of Sukkertopen? Plan for us is to catch local bus to the base and climb it, returning back in time for lunch then pop out to explore the town afterwards - just hoping it's not the one covered in snow 😱😂

I don't know the names of the surrounding mountais, so I am not sure.  

[SLSD]

Here are a few more photos from the port of Alesund.  There is the advertising sign from a theater, an stone owl motif over a door, the dining room in one of the grander Art Nouveau houses,  a flower market on the street, the white Customs House which survived the fire of 1904, a replica of a Viking boat, a well preserved Art Nouveau house built after the 1904 fire, and an Art Nouveau design exterior house decortaton.  

[SLSD]

Last night, we dined at Earth and Ocean and the weather was perfect.  In addition to great weather, we had a wonderful meal.  In fact, we both thought it was the best meal of this cruise so far.  I had Wagyu Beef Cheeks and Mr. SLSD had Sea Bass.  There was a fabulous appetizer (bread with different spreads), a pasta first course for Mr. SLSD and a caesar salad with tasty anchovies for me.  And then there were scrumptious desserts.  Mine was a glazed fig concoction and Mr. SLSD's was a bread pudding.  

 

Edited June 14, 2023 by SLSD

[SLSD]

What an excellent lunch we had in The Restaurant.  The Restaurant Director confirmed that it was at the beginning of THIS voyage that Seabourn started opening The Restaurant for lunch every day alone with opening for breakfast everyday.  I wish the hours were longer, but so pleased that it is open.  This is a fleet wide change the director told us.  

 

For my appetizer at lunch, I had a grilled eggplant dish that is among the tastiest item I've had so far during this cruise.  And for the entree I had a tofu noodle dish that was delectable.  

 

The Restaurant is so peaceful at lunch--just the way we like it.  

Edited June 14, 2023 by SLSD

[SLSD]

We have enjoyed the lectures on this cruise!  There is an excellent Russian specialist , Jennifer Eremeeva, who is giving expansive lectures about the Vikings.  We've heard two of them in person and are in the midst of watching the third on TV in our suite.   Then, last night, we joined most everyone on the ship for a presentation by Steve Wozniak. He is quite personable.  I especially enjoyed his comments on his childhood.  His father was an electrical engineer and Steve had an interest in electronic since the age of eight.  We look forward to his next two presentations. 

Edited June 15, 2023 by SLSD

[SLSD]

Right now, we are in the Observation Bar having another leisurely tea--our second of this cruise.  I've included a photo of the sweet and savory offerings.  It looks like a lot--but somehow we managed.  At the same time, we're listening to acoustic guitar with singing,  This is just the perfect thing to be doing after a very busy day. 

 

Tonight is BBQ ribs night in the Colonnade.  We were tempted, but the menus at two other venues are calling our name.  We are going to try to brave the weather and go to Earth and Ocean as they are serving one of favorite menu items--slow roasted lamb shanks.  The Restaurant is serving rib eye steak, so that is also tempting.  It's not that we don't love ribs--we love them--but can have been any day of the week at home.  So--it will either be lamb or steak tonight.  

 

The second photo is my entree from last night in The Restaurant--grilled shrimp with spinach and risotto.  It made for a wonderful meal.  

Edited June 15, 2023 by SLSD

[bizinsider]

Funny, @SLSD Mary and I just got to our cabin from the Observation Lounge and realize we were sitting next to you. Would be great to meet sometime. 

 

Cheers,

Herb

[SLSD]

12 minutes ago, bizinsider said:

Funny, @SLSD Mary and I just got to our cabin from the Observation Lounge and realize we were sitting next to you. Would be great to meet sometime. 

 

Cheers,

Herb

That would be great Herb.  Name a time and place and we will meet you there.  We would enjoy meeting you and Mary. You must have seen me typing away on my laptop.   We are just back to our suite as well as we are wiped out from our long excursion today.  Still trying to decide it if it too cold for Earth and Ocean.  I think Mr. SLSD may go out and assess.  

 

Edited June 15, 2023 by SLSD

[nancygp]

11 minutes ago, bizinsider said:

Funny, @SLSD Mary and I just got to our cabin from the Observation Lounge and realize we were sitting next to you. Would be great to meet sometime. 

 

Cheers,

Herb

love it!
 

Hope you’re having a great cruise.
 

Nancy

 

 

[nancygp]

Susan, loving all your posts.  They bring back great memories from our Norway cruise last November.  So glad you’re having a wonderful cruise.

 

we sail again next month and we’re getting so excited.  It’s been brutally hot in my part of our big state and will remain unusually hot until next week…it feels like august.  Glad we will be sailing in a much cooler climate…by design.

 

Enjoy your dinner…lots of great choices.

 

Nancy

Edited June 15, 2023 by nancygp

[bizinsider]

4 minutes ago, nancygp said:

love it!
 

Hope you’re having a great cruise.
 

Nancy

 

 

Hi @nancygp... So far, so good! Just told we will be taking the inside passage up to Tromso rather than out in the open sea. Might be a treat! And as for dinner, @SLSD, we'll be at the restaurant. 

[nancygp]

Just now, bizinsider said:

Hi @nancygp... So far, so good! Just told we will be taking the inside passage up to Tromso rather than out in the open sea. Might be a treat! And as for dinner, @SLSD, we'll be at the restaurant. 

It should be a treat sailing the inside passage.   Lots to see in and around Tromso
 

enjoy dinner

 

Nancy

[SLSD]

4 minutes ago, bizinsider said:

Hi @nancygp... So far, so good! Just told we will be taking the inside passage up to Tromso rather than out in the open sea. Might be a treat! And as for dinner, @SLSD, we'll be at the restaurant. 

If you want to meet for dinner at The Restaurant--what time--and you could ask to be seated with the Daniels.  Who should we ask to be seated with?

Edited June 15, 2023 by SLSD

[bizinsider]

@SLSD, we tend to do things early, so we'll probably be there at 6:45 or so. If that works, let me know. Otherwise we'll plan another night!

[SLSD]

8 minutes ago, bizinsider said:

@SLSD, we tend to do things early, so we'll probably be there at 6:45 or so. If that works, let me know. Otherwise we'll plan another night!

6:45 works for us.  We also dine early.  We'll see you there--hopefully you will recognize us.  I was paying no attention to who was sitting around us at tea today--so you will have to introduce yourselves.

Edited June 15, 2023 by SLSD

[bizinsider]

Great @SLSD, we'll go in thru the front entrance, since we're closer to the front of the ship... we'll find you.

[CalmSea]

Great pictures. Enjoying your posts. Slow cooked lamb shanks at the E&O is one of my favorites too. The last time we had it, it was bitterly cold. We even eat with our gloves on!

[galeforce9]

3 hours ago, SLSD said:

Right now, we are in the Observation Bar having another leisurely tea--our second of this cruise.  I've included a photo of the sweet and savory offerings.  It looks like a lot--but somehow we managed.  At the same time, we're listening to acoustic guitar with singing,  This is just the perfect thing to be doing after a very busy day. 

 

Tonight is BBQ ribs night in the Colonnade.  We were tempted, but the menus at two other venues are calling our name.  We are going to try to brave the weather and go to Earth and Ocean as they are serving one of favorite menu items--slow roasted lamb shanks.  The Restaurant is serving rib eye steak, so that is also tempting.  It's not that we don't love ribs--we love them--but can have been any day of the week at home.  So--it will either be lamb or steak tonight.  

 

The second photo is my entree from last night in The Restaurant--grilled shrimp with spinach and risotto.  It made for a wonderful meal.  

Looks delicious 

[SLSD]

 

 

Today, we were in the port of Svolvaer and did a ship's excursion called The Lofoten Vikings.  It was a full day of sightseeing.  We usually don't opt for such long excursions, but we really wanted to see the museum associated with the archaeological discovery of a large Viking settlement in the area of the Lofoten Islands.  I'll post some photos of the museum and its area first.  You'll see a long green field with some large wooden stakes.  This is the area where a very large Viking long house was discovered.  It is the largest house that has ever been discovered in the Nordic areas.  The museum has reconstructed the house as closely as they could imagine it based on findings.  It's huge!  The artifacts discovered at the site include glass, pottery, parts of weapons, and jewelry. 

Edited June 15, 2023 by SLSD

[SLSD]

One of the reasons we enjoy cruising is that we always learn new things.  Today, there was a steep learning curve about dried fish.  Did you know that dried fish heads are considered a delicacy in some parts of Africa?  I certainly didn't.  Our guide took us to a rural location where there were racks and racks of cod's heads drying.  I was shocked when I saw how many teeth they have.  And did you know that fish tongues are a delicacy?  Norwegian children are taught from a young age how to cut out fish tongues and adults are not allowed to encroach on the fish tongue business which is considered to be the domain of children.  

 

Dried fish are even sold in restaurants.  The third picture here was taken of dried fish for sale in a restaurant. Our guide told us that this kind of dried fish can last for 50 years.   And the last photo is fish drying on the side of a house.  

Edited June 15, 2023 by SLSD

[SLSD]

5 hours ago, nancygp said:

Susan, loving all your posts.  They bring back great memories from our Norway cruise last November.  So glad you’re having a wonderful cruise.

 

we sail again next month and we’re getting so excited.  It’s been brutally hot in my part of our big state and will remain unusually hot until next week…it feels like august.  Glad we will be sailing in a much cooler climate…by design.

 

Enjoy your dinner…lots of great choices.

 

Nancy

We had a great dinner with Mr. and Ms. Bizinsider.  It's always fun to meet Cruise Critic contributors in person.  I'll post more photos of the Lofoten Islands tomorrow.  I just can't stay awake any longer--and tomorrow is another day.  We'll be in Tromso.  

Edited June 15, 2023 by SLSD