Rare twangster Posted May 16 #1 Share Posted May 16 This post was recognized by LauraS! "Once again, twangster come through! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Cruise Reports page. When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" twangster was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 4 points. I'm starting this LIVE thread a little late here on day two but I figure it's better late than not at all. This is a B2B for me starting with 15 nights for cruise #1 and then 12 nights for cruise #2. Screenshots from cruisemapper.com Cruise #1: Cruise #2: Even though it's day two as I write this, let's rewind just a bit. 15 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #2 Share Posted May 16 Flying from the U.S. for this cruise I made a connection in Atlanta (so that means a Delta ticket) with the overseas flight on KLM metal. I chose this evening flight so I'd arrive close to the check in time for my hotel in Amsterdam the next day. I arrived in Amsterdam on the 13th of May two days before the cruise boards. With the recent Northern Lights fiesta I was hoping to see a sign of them from the plane. I did a test shot with my phone to see if my luck was good. It was not. Time for some sleep. A little later I woke with some mild turbulence and discovered a sunrise in the making. Time for more sleep. Arrival into AMS airport was easy with a quick immigration stop and with my luggage secured it was off into Amsterdam. I chose the train as my method of transportation into the city. For 4,90€ it's hard to beat. The train was easy to board with a near level entrance making luggage handling a breeze. Unfortunately it was announced this train is no longer in service and we were directed across the platform to an older train that required hoisting my luggage up a few steps. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #3 Share Posted May 16 From the Centraal station I chose to walk the 1.6 km to my hotel which given the nature of the brick lined sidewalks was probably not the best choice but I had another hour to kill before check in time. At least I could do some sightseeing along the way. So many canals! It's a very pretty city. 25 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #4 Share Posted May 16 After a nap in my hotel it was time to venture out. What trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a visit to the red light district? 31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #5 Share Posted May 16 (edited) The next day I slept in a bit as I adjusted my clock to local time. To get around I bought a 24 hour ticket from GVB to ride the trams timing it so I could use the trams the next day for my transportation to the terminal to board the ship. The 24 hour pass was 9€. As part of my exploration I did a dry run to the Passenger Terminal so I'd know the shortest route with luggage the following day. The NCL Prima was at the terminal so I didn't venture upstairs. The trams are very convenient and an easy way to get around. Edited May 16 by twangster 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #6 Share Posted May 16 Day One I woke early to discover the Royal app was blank. Meanwhile a text message came through. Looks like I made the threshold for access to the Concierge Club. A few hours later the app and website fixed themselves and my cruises returned. Phew. 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #7 Share Posted May 16 Shortly before 10am I checked out of my hotel and started the journey to the ship. Hauling my luggage was a bit of pain but with a tram stop a few hundred meters from my hotel it was easy and cheap. My timing was perfect and the trip to the passenger terminal was super fast. I arrived at the terminal around 10:10am. Luggage drop on the 1st floor, up the escalator to security and the waiting area. I was through security and waiting by 10:15am. There were already at least one hundred guests ahead of me with a dedicated seating area for suites and pinnacle. So while I as early I was by no means the first. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #8 Share Posted May 16 Despite not needing a VISA or travel authorization for entry into the UK just yet, we are required to go through passport control when we arrive in Dover on day two. Shortly after 11am we began boarding starting with suites and pinnacle. Fresh from dry dock this is the first revenue cruise. With a fresh paint job Jewel was looking very clean. We were welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine and wooden tulips for the ladies. 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #9 Share Posted May 16 Since the ship had just come from drydock with no passengers to debark our cabins were ready. Cabin tour, 4D balcony on deck 7 forward, port side. On deck 7 some of the balconies are extended and have an open upward view to the sky. While there is little privacy when standing at the railing I enjoy these extended balconies. I'm not one to use my balcony without attire. Given the potential of the Northern Lights and views as we sail into the fjords of Norway on the next cruise I was glad to be able to secure these forward deck 7 cabins for both cruises. I do have to move cabins for the next cruise heading aft a few cabins but after 15 nights a change will do me good. I've stayed in these forward deck 7 cabins before and i really like the open views to the sky yet a covered balcony like every other balcony when it's desired. Plus these are some of the only balcony cabins with a view straight down to the water. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #10 Share Posted May 16 A quick Voom test from my cabin: Pretty great speeds and low latency. Voom rates on board: 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #11 Share Posted May 16 Looks like new carpet in the guest hallways. The Windjammer team was happy to greet us. Views from the Windjammer aft outdoor seating area for lunch. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #12 Share Posted May 16 To illustrate how convenient the passenger terminal is from the Centraal station... You can it's pretty close. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #13 Share Posted May 16 Day 1 and 2 cruise compass: JW May 15 day 1 2 cruisecompass.pdf 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missusdubbya Posted May 16 #14 Share Posted May 16 Looking forward to this one! Thanks Twangster 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FionaMG Posted May 16 #15 Share Posted May 16 Fabulous itinerary. Looking forward to following along. Have an amazing trip! ☺️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine3601 Posted May 16 #16 Share Posted May 16 Excellent itinerary! Great photos so far and will definitely follow along as we have been eyeing up these itineraries for a while. We also enjoy those extended balconies on deck 7 forward or aft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted May 16 #17 Share Posted May 16 So they haven’t replaced the blue saggy sofas in the cabins. Wonder if the threadbare furniture in Colony Club has been updated. Thanks for the very clear pic of the d7 extended balconies… have one of those next year 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bobmacliberty Posted May 16 #18 Share Posted May 16 I'm all in for this. Can't wait for some fantastic @twangster photos. Did you bring a tripod for the long exposure shots? Did you get a little house on KLM? I always preferred KLM equipment to/from Schiphol even if it was a Delta ticket. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare RobInMN Posted May 16 #19 Share Posted May 16 We did an almost identical B2B in 2022. It was 12 & 12, so we did not hit any of those England/Scotland ports, just Iceland & Ireland. And some of the Norway ports were different. We did Arctic Circle first. I think the order you are doing it is better. As amazing as Iceland is, it sort of lost some of it's thunder after seeing Norway first. I think this way, they can both amaze you. This was our favorite cruise so far. You are going to have a great time! We will be following along and re-enjoying it vicariously. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare island lady Posted May 16 #20 Share Posted May 16 2 hours ago, twangster said: To illustrate how convenient the passenger terminal is from the Centraal station... You can it's pretty close. Great review and pics so far, my friend. Wonderful job! Awwww...not one, but two beloved Viking river ships (they do love to raft onto each other). Loved the 3 weeks we did on Vidar last year. 🙂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #21 Share Posted May 16 Our sail away was delayed two hours given the time we were assigned to go through the lock to reach the sea. With waves of rain moving through the area we had a soggy sail away at 6pm. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomcherv Posted May 16 #22 Share Posted May 16 Looking forward to reading your trip highlights - we're on Jewel starting July 5 for an Arctic Circle cruise 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #23 Share Posted May 16 (edited) Sort of like sailing from New Orleans this cruise starts off as a river cruise. Our location and time. Residential in places, and industrial in places. Who said cars can't float? Edited May 16 by twangster 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #24 Share Posted May 16 Finally we reach the lock. Looking aft the lock gate behind us begins to close. While subtle there is a small difference in water level. 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted May 16 Author #25 Share Posted May 16 Eventually the water level equalizes and the forward gate is opened. Looking back as we move forward towards the sea. Finally we have reached the sea. 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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