LIVE from the Rotterdam’s Best of Norway: August 17-31, 2024

[Haljo1935]

@0106 thanks for sharing your amazing pictures!!

Rain and all, you seem to be having a great cruise. 

[0106]

On 8/15/2024 at 1:27 AM, grannyshell said:

We're also visiting Stavanger but understand we will actually be docked in Sandnes which adds a little wrinkle...wonder if you will dock there as well.

We are docked in Stavanger. It is pouring rain and very windy.  My travel partners are reluctant to go on our RIB tour to Pulpit Rock this afternoon.  They are afraid they will get seasick.  We’ll see what the afternoon brings…

[cruisemom42]

Flåm was such a highlight of this cruise. Partly due to the weather no doubt.

 

Just to add info for the DIYers, the Flåmsbana (train) is super easy to do on your own. The rail station is only a couple of blocks from the ship, no possible way of getting lost. I purchase my ticket online back when the 2024 schedule was first announced so you do have to plan ahead. The cost for the return trip is about $70 US (return) per person. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 22 by cruisemom42

[cruisemom42]

I went to the Morimoto’s by Sea pop/up last night held in Tamarind. While I enjoyed it, I’m not sure the hefty extra cost is entirely justified. 
 

I ordered the pork gyoza, angry lobster pad Thai (which I enjoyed, I know some have not) and the melting chocolate sphere. Pics below.

 

 

 

 

[0106]

Although it was raining everyone decided to go on the RIB Tour.  It was $125 pp.Because of the weather it was a bit rough until we got into the Lysefjord. Once there, it was spectacular to get so close.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 22 by 0106

[puppycanducruise]

Norway is gorgeous.  I want to go back.

Thanks for sharing your pictures.  More please.

[Cruisin4now]

13 minutes ago, 0106 said:

Although it was raining everyone decided to go on the RIB Tour.  It was $125 pp.Because of the weather it was a bit rough until we got into the Lysefjord. Once there, it was spectacular to get so close.

 

 

 

 

It’s as though I can make out a face in the rock and waterfall!  Cool!

[Ellencruise]

Gotta go book a Norway cruise, early booking for 2026!

[julia]

3 hours ago, Cruisin4now said:

It’s as though I can make out a face in the rock and waterfall!  Cool!

I totally saw the face first...

[albingirl]

Fabulous photos, thanks so much.

[0106]

Friday- Sea Day in the rainy North Sea as we journey back to Rotterdam.  Really wish this was an actual 14 day cruise instead of a B2B.  I don’t mind sea days but would prefer to see more Norwegian ports.

 

We went to breakfast in CO at 9.  There was already a line waiting for the Scandinavian Brunch which is from 9:30-12:30.  Still a line when we left CO at 9:45.  Here’s the menuOther activities schedule for this afternoon include The City at Sea, Cake Me Away, Royal Dutch Tea and Deal or No Deal game show along with the usual trivia and bingo.

 

Happy to answer any questions about the ship or the ports.  You’ll need to wait until tomorrow for more pictures.😉

[VMax1700]

26 minutes ago, 0106 said:

Really wish this was an actual 14 day cruise instead of a B2B.  I don’t mind sea days but would prefer to see more Norwegian ports.

You really should try a 'Nordkapp' cruise through the Arctic Circle and on to Hammerfest and Honningsvag.....truly amazing!

[0106]

@VMax1700Thanks for giving me something to research on my sea day.  I’d love to go above the Arctic Circle and also see the Northern Lights.

 

This photo is for you:  Raisin Bread Pudding

Edited August 23 by 0106

[VMax1700]

1 minute ago, 0106 said:

@VMax1700Thanks for giving me something to research on my sea day.  I’d love to go above the Arctic Circle and also see the Northern Lights.

 

This photo is for you:  Raisin Bread Pudding

Thanks for the Bread Pudding Photo....its been a long time 😍

 

You really need to do Nordkapp around the end of June to get the best 'midnight sun' experience.....walking the Promenade Deck at midnight with your sunglasses on!

 

For Northern Lights you would need to be there September at the earliest.......so plan two cruises 😉

[Petula Snark]

21 minutes ago, 0106 said:

This photo is for you:  Raisin Bread Pudding

 

That looks good enough to eat!

 

Edited August 23 by Petula Snark

[Haljo1935]

So enjoying thread @0106 thanks for sharing your amazing pictures!!

Rain and all, you seem to be having a great cruise. 

[Lido deck main]

Loving this review.  Great information, pictures.  Thank you.

[SilvertoGold]

5 hours ago, 0106 said:

Friday- Sea Day in the rainy North Sea as we journey back to Rotterdam.  Really wish this was an actual 14 day cruise instead of a B2B.  I don’t mind sea days but would prefer to see more Norwegian ports.

 

We went to breakfast in CO at 9.  There was already a line waiting for the Scandinavian Brunch which is from 9:30-12:30.  Still a line when we left CO at 9:45.  Here’s the menuOther activities schedule for this afternoon include The City at Sea, Cake Me Away, Royal Dutch Tea and Deal or No Deal game show along with the usual trivia and bingo.

 

Happy to answer any questions about the ship or the ports.  You’ll need to wait until tomorrow for more pictures.😉

Thanks for showing the Brunch menu. I love to see how HAL customizes the standard menu to fit the itineraries!  NZ/Australia, Alaska, N. Europe!

Fantastic commentary and photos. Enjoy!!

[Bkguy]

Missed signing up in time for the Rotterdam excursion to Kinderdijk.  Looks like we can do it using the Waterbus.  

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

To really see the very far north and come close to the polar ice cap, you should do the cruise that includes Spitzbergen.  They used to do it once a year in late July or early August.

[Ken the cruiser]

9 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

To really see the very far north and come close to the polar ice cap, you should do the cruise that includes Spitzbergen.  They used to do it once a year in late July or early August.

We agree! We’ve got an Aug 2025 cruise booked with Viking that spends a couple of days there. Here’s a list of the various cruise lines that still visit Longyearbyen and Svalbard, Norway.

 
https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/longyearbyen-port-897

 

[0106]

Awoke to a rainy turn around day in Rotterdam.  Today we did a HAL tour The Windmills of Kinderdijk, built in the 1700s, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site for $139.

The 19 windmills that remain intact today are lined up along the riverfront and were used to pump rising water to the canal and keep the village dry.

Beautiful garden outside  We were able to go inside inside one of them for an up-close appreciation of how these simple machines harness the power of the wind in order to work. ( Kept the video short to be sure it would post.)

It was interesting to watch the drawbridge to the windmill go up so a canal boat could pass through.

 

 

The guide was good.  There was a brief movie, a coffee shop and a gift shop.  
 

Looking forward to Sailaway and our next adventure.

Edited August 24 by 0106

[Chrissy6299]

Following! I have family that joined you on board today. They're not cool like you though; thanks for sharing your experiences with us landlubbers. 

[Live4cruises]

@0106, thank you so much for this thread! Your pictures are out of this world. We are on this cruise in October 2025, so appreciate all the ideas. 

[twosit]

I’m interested to know what has worked for clothing. Clearly raingear is a necessity, but do you find yourself using or wishing you had an insulated jacket?