Venture Expedition...or is it? Edinburgh to Tromso

[ellasabe]

11 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

So true, EL can make or break it.  That along with the Captian and how well they work together. Yesterdays parking job was amazing. 

 

Lucqui is one of the greats for sure.  The team seems quite lite both in quantity and depth so he has his work cut out for him on this leg. I do however like the fresh faces. Lots of eager youngsters with happy attitudes.

 

Do you have any idea if Lucqui is always on Venture?  We will board in Edinburgh for our Longyearbyen expedition on June 20. Wonder if he stays on Venture for the season??   Sounds like the people/team make a huge difference.  We noticed this as well on our Silversea expeditions to Antarctica and Galapagos.

[markandjie]

1 hour ago, ellasabe said:

 

Do you have any idea if Lucqui is always on Venture?

 

Sadly no. He went on leave right as we boarded last summer, then he was on Pursuit while we were on Venture in Antarctica over Thanksgiving. It's luck of the draw. 

[ellasabe]

1 hour ago, markandjie said:

 

Sadly no. He went on leave right as we boarded last summer, then he was on Pursuit while we were on Venture in Antarctica over Thanksgiving. It's luck of the draw. 

From reading this thread, the post # 50 from a day ago, says he is... Just wondering if the OP knows if he's on for the next few legs.

 

 

Edited May 31 by ellasabe

[highplanesdrifters]

13 hours ago, Sucellos said:

Wow, that price for a bike tour around town is just crazy, even as a guided tour. If you would like to bike you can also rent city bikes all over town (https://trondheimbysykkel.no/en)

First: You'll fnd a lot of info on the official site: https://visittrondheim.no/en/

 

I have marked some of the things I mention with numbers in this map:

Some of the street art is quite cool, so I'll include a map even though the tour didn't trigger you.
Map with street art in Trondheim
You'll dock (Map: 1) like 100 meter from one of my favourites, a 500 m2 (5400 sqft) piece of this angel girl watching over us. (Map: 2)

(Photo credit: Trondheim Street Art Festival)

 

The Nidaros Cathedral (Nidaros Cathedral) (Map: 3) is a nice place to visit if old churches are your thing and is probably considered one of the main classic tourist attraction here in town. It also includes some good exhibitions, including the Norwegian Crown Regalia. A short guided tour of the cathedral in english seems to be planned at 11am. 

If weather is bad, lunch buffet at classic hotel Britannia (Hotel Britannia) (Map: 4) could be a nice break while you're in town, or stroll over to Trondheims "old town" Bakklandet (Map: 5) and find a cozy more informal place for lunch. Or just stop by either "Hevd" or "Godt Brød" (You'll find them on a couple of locations, check google maps) for a delicous pastry on the go. 

(Bakklandet. Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

You can visit Munkholmen (the Monk's Islet) (More info about "Munkholmen") by taking a short shuttle boat trip. Usually there are a guided tour in english there as well. Se the web page for more info. 

 

Hope you will enjoy it and let me know if you have any questions. 

 

Thank you so very much for the detailed information.   A nice free roam to some of these spots will be the order of the day.  CC Intelligencia to the rescue.

[highplanesdrifters]

9 hours ago, ellasabe said:

From reading this thread, the post # 50 from a day ago, says he is... Just wondering if the OP knows if he's on for the next few legs.

 

 

 

I'll see what I can find out.  I suspect they will beef up expedition Staff as they head into the Arctic.  Or at least I hope so.  Seabourn has many talented ELs and expedition Staff. Although some have been poached by the new expedition lines. 

 

The problem on this trip is the scheduling from the corporate mother ship.  They were late to the game and most likely didn't have the appropriate help from real ELs when planning the trip. Or this is a new hybrid model they are trying out.   

 

Here are some examples of misses, or near misses.  Isle of Noss should always have been on the agenda, it's a drive by right out of Lewrick. Lucqui got us a zodiac tour, exactly whata good EL does.  Big misses.  Shetland is a hotbed for amazing walks, hikes and birds.  Foula and Papa Stor two quick examples.  Instead we got Ullapool and Aberdeen. Was this a revenue move or just scheduling incompetence?  We have a sea day today, which I love. But we're poking along at 9 Knots. Could have easily slipped a half day in somewhere.

[highplanesdrifters]

Isle of Noss

 

Yes I've been critical.  Hats off to Lucqui.  He could have done a drive by.  To drop the zodiacs at 5:30pm and finish operations at 8pm, very impressive.  Our third time here and first in zodiacs. I think expedition Staff were more excited than guests.  Not the greatest bird shots on the cliffs but the nooks, crannies and caves we explored, oh my!

 

The show on the ship before zodiac departure was impressive. Gannets soaring so close you could touch them. Many were carrying mouths full of nest material.  The decks were a mess of bird droppings along with chunks of food they dropped like crustation parts.  You were a target if you were outside. 😅

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Isle of Noss

 

Hard to capture the scale of 20,000 plus breeding pairs. All the white bits are birds, mostly Gannets and Guillomonts. 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Going in bits, twonky internet.

 

Exploring the nooks and caves was a highlight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Isle of Noss

 

Killer cave and more rocks for the other rockhounds.😄 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Isle of Noss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ellasabe]

5 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 

I'll see what I can find out.  I suspect they will beef up expedition Staff as they head into the Arctic.  Or at least I hope so.  Seabourn has many talented ELs and expedition Staff. Although some have been poached by the new expedition lines. 

 

The problem on this trip is the scheduling from the corporate mother ship.  They were late to the game and most likely didn't have the appropriate help from real ELs when planning the trip. Or this is a new hybrid model they are trying out.   

 

Here are some examples of misses, or near misses.  Isle of Noss should always have been on the agenda, it's a drive by right out of Lewrick. Lucqui got us a zodiac tour, exactly whata good EL does.  Big misses.  Shetland is a hotbed for amazing walks, hikes and birds.  Foula and Papa Stor two quick examples.  Instead we got Ullapool and Aberdeen. Was this a revenue move or just scheduling incompetence?  We have a sea day today, which I love. But we're poking along at 9 Knots. Could have easily slipped a half day in somewhere.

Thank you so much for the info and all the great photos.  I hope heading to the Arctic season, all hands on deck, so to speak!  Our favorite expeditions have been with leaders and staff who match our excitement and enthusiam. 

[highplanesdrifters]

Shetland

 

We had morning tour to Jarlshof, a prehistoric Norse Settlement. 

It contains remains dating from 2500 BC up to the 17th century AD. Shetland history dating from Neolithic, Bronze, Pictish, Iron all found in layers.

 

A stunning sunny day changed in the blink of an eye.

 

 

Clouds and drizzle.

 

 

Examples of the multi use rooms at Jarlsfof.

 

 

 

An intricate system connected everything.

 

 

The large structure was the Lairds house from the 17th century. A house with a view.

 

 

We had a scenic stroll along the water.

 

 

On to Lerwick. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Lerwick, Shetland 

 

The main industry in Shetland is still fishing. In the northern island of Unst there is a Spaceport. Yep you heard me, Spaceport.  Saxavord is designed for small rockets delivering payloads into low earth orbit.  Unst also makes gin. We will be trying their seaweed gin later.😄  Fyi, the bottle is blue, noted the gin.

 

 

Happy shopkeeper.  

 

 

Had a tasty burger at The Dowery. 

 

 

A stroll about town with some retail therapy at R.A.M.  Don't worry @galeforce9 your scarf record is safe.😄

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the penultimate stop, Jimmy's house. Now that he's gone looks like they are fixing it up for Vera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Slight correction.   Isle of Noss was on our original booking itinerary.   It was removed once on board.

[highplanesdrifters]

Alesund, Norway

 

 

Charming Art Noveau town which was rebuilt after a fire in 1904,  hence the predominant architecture.   Kaiser Wilhelm who loved the city sent a few German ships to help rebuild.  Worth a stroll about to learn the history and see the architecture.  Repeat visit for use so we chose the Giske and Goedy experience with trips to a church and lighthouse. Mistake. It started out OK, but quickly digressed into a sit around and wait to leave scenario.  Grumble grumble.

 

 

The OK part.

This marble church was built in 1180 by a wealthy family for its private use.   The marble from Norway and Italy is now covered in plaster to protect it. 

 

 

One of the restorations occurred in 1756. Jacob a local craftsman carved the alter at age 22. Along the way added the pulpit. His last carving was finished at age 80.

 

 

In the early 1900's the carvings were painted white so as not to distract the heathans from the word of God. It was all eventually restored with Jacob's original notes.

 

 

An original lace tablecloth from 1688 still dons the alter.

 

Legend has it the grave of the builder is next to the church. It is covered with glass to protect it from the weather.

 

 

The Lighthouse

On to the Grumble Grumble part.

 

One could climb the lighthouse, take a stroll along the shore and have cake in the adjoining center. We asked the guide about departure time, he said I'll let you know later. We pressed again and again as we wanted to have a proper walk. Finally, 11:45 was agreed.  Walk, cake, 11:45 comes and goes.   Guests getting antsy. Finally after 12, I find the Seabourn guide who finds the bus guide who finds the bus. What should have been a 20 minute stop stretches over an hour.  Jeeesh.  

 

 

 

Had we known the guide was on another time planet we could have really enjoyed this beautiful spot instead of rushing back to wait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Runde, Norway

Another large bird colony, primarily Gannets.

 

Napus Inturruptus

Luiqui announced that they were dropping the zodiacs, time to gear up. Be ready in 15. No wait there is a swell at the debark.  Nevermind we found a spot get ready.

 

 

Canceled.

The swell was too large near the shore. We are told the operation is too dangerous.  Through the binoculars expedition staff looked to be having good ride.  I'm starting to feel that perhaps there should be zodiac levels like hikes.

Easy - suitable for everyone with good mobility.

Moderate - bumpy getting in and you're going to get jostled and splashed a bit.

Difficult - challenging entry and you WILL BE bounced and showered!

Titanic - How bad do you want to see those birds up close?

 

 

 

 

[Sucellos]

On 6/1/2024 at 8:45 AM, highplanesdrifters said:

 

Thank you so very much for the detailed information.   A nice free roam to some of these spots will be the order of the day.  CC Intelligencia to the rescue.

 

 

You are very welcome! I see you're already docked here, with a distant relative from Costa at the more downtown berth 🙂 Hope you enjoy your day!

[highplanesdrifters]

@Sucellos

 

What a great city!  MTC.

 

Loved your favorite. 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Trondheim,  Norway

 

Another Ocean Cruise stop. Yes I'm still grumpy about the lack of an expedition.

 

As @Sucellos noted we were joined by the monster Costa ship.  The town and sights were packed.  We couldn't bear the thought of another mediocre bus tour and did a free roam with excellent tips from Sucellos.

 

We waited for the rain to subside and scored an Uber for $10 to the Cathedral.  Oh my what a magnificent place. We've seen a few Cathedrals in our day. This one might be my favorite. Classic Cathedral architecture with mostly monochrome stylings and carvings. So elegant. Origins date  to 1140. Put this place on your agenda.

 

 

 

 

 

An alter made by the Sami people.

 

 

Check out this  sneaky fox surprising tourists in the courtyard.

 

 

A quick walk about this charming town looking for lunch. 

 

 

 

Royal Residence

 

 

Jackpot on the lunch spot, Grafen.

 

 

 

Best Fish Soup I've had in a long time.

 

 

Who knew, Saul Goodman has an office in Trondheim. 

 

 

In spite of the rain and no expedition a great time was had by all!

 

[highplanesdrifters]

After late lunches on shore we've really enjoyed having the sushi option for dinner.

 

 

 

A great view.

 

 

 

I love a spin on the dance floor. I found Disco night a bit sad. Had to take a pass. Maybe it got better. It had an assisted living feel when I was there.

 

 

However the Nordic Brothers were a fun treat. A comedy music combo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Vistenfjorden, Norway

 

A sparkling sail into the fjord. 

Love the granite contrast of the seven sister mountains with the red mounds.

 

 

We had a nice zodiac ride in the afternoon.  Some folks got a kayak or submarine trip. Mother Nature smiled upon us. On a scenic Norway scale I'd give it a 6.5. Weather scale 10!

 

 

 

Up close with the rocks. 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Champagne & Caviar party on a stunning day.  Yes please!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Melfjordbotn, Norway

 

We spent a spectacular day exploring Melfjord, home to Norways second largest glacier.  A small fjord, only 21 miles long. The scenery was a solid 9 and weather a 6-10, depending on which minute you chose to judge. We went from cold wet and windy to balmy and sunny on a micro minute time scale.

 

Venture is a beauty. She just fits in with nature. OK, she fits in as much as a large ship can.😄

 

 The wind picked up.

 out of nowhere and we were all given a nice zodiac shower. Looking for a bit of shelter we explored a quiet cove where the zodiacs were hiding.  Seals popped their heads up here and there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A wild and wet ride took us to see the glacier hanging from the top like a hankerchief. 

 

 

 

 

 

Waterfalls galore.

 

 

Weather gets cold.

 

 

Weather gets warm

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Zodiac thrill ride in Melfjord. 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

After a thrilling morning we were ready for some Chill Time.  Liuqui decided to give us some and announced a Pop Up Polar plunge. Technically we were in the Arctic circle. Perhaps a Norwegian Plunge.  All good fun. Threw on the swimmies and dove in.

Sorry no pics, except of the goodies that awaited us.

 

 

Captian then toured another arm of the fjord while waiting for the kayaks to finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a far sail to our morning stop, and our kind Captian took us to the other side of the Svartisen glacier to hang out during dinner. What a day of Nordic eye candy.