QE2 last departure from Oslo

[Oslo Dutch]

Today was QE2's last departure from Oslo.

 

You can see pics and movies on the following page:

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/vandijkreint2/QE2FarewellOslo10August2008

 

Apologies as my camera and editing skills are nto what they are suppose to be but it gives a nice impression!

 

Reint

[Bramcruiser]

Thanks Reint. Sad piece of history but nice pics! Glad the weather was good for the final visit.

 

David

[new to cuising]

Good to see these pictures Reint - i was on board - so saw it from the other side of the window - a real pity it rained as i'm sure if it had been dry there would have been many more spectators

[Guest Anorak33]

Thanks Reint. Sad piece of history but nice pics! Glad the weather was good for the final visit.

 

David

 

Oslo grey, overcast or raining all day. Didn't even bother getting off. Wifi internet which is free and available at all Norwegian ports very weak signal and would not connect for most people, one of the dancers with a new sony vaio just got connected in Casino near window.

 

Very poor sendoff in Oslo when compared to Stavanger the previous day,there over a hundred boats and ships, large and small, preceding us, following us, around us, fireboat shooting jets of water in a fan shape, steam ferries and launches blowing their hooters.

 

Thousands in the crowd waving, it was wonderful - and sunny.

 

Geiranger before that - cannon salute on leaving, Norwegians waving flags, very touching. Police chief and Mayor etc came on ship for final visit, nice gifts for ships officers.

[bobby1119]

Nice work.

Enjoyed the photos.

[new to cuising]

Very poor sendoff in Oslo when compared to Stavanger the previous day,there over a hundred boats and ships, large and small, preceding us, following us, around us, fireboat shooting jets of water in a fan shape, steam ferries and launches blowing their hooters.

 

 

I too was disappointed with the Oslo send off. Stavanger was absolutely wonderful, I agree. Crowds were several deep all along the quayside and literally hundreds of boats all around chasing QE2 until they could no longer keep up with her.

 

I really thought that Oslo would pull something out to the bag, but as already mentioned it seems only the dedicated QE2 watchers turned out.

 

I'll post some photos of Stavanger once downloaded from camera

[rjms74]

We had a similar great send off from Bergen in June on her last call there with many boats & also fireboat with water sending us off + local band playing - all very moving! so how was the Iceland / Norway cruise - we had reasonable weather in June & both sea days were very hot & sunny - did you have calm seas during the whole cruise?

 

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

RJMS74

[Oslo Dutch]

I too was disappointed with the Oslo send off. Stavanger was absolutely wonderful, I agree. Crowds were several deep all along the quayside and literally hundreds of boats all around chasing QE2 until they could no longer keep up with her.

 

I really thought that Oslo would pull something out to the bag, but as already mentioned it seems only the dedicated QE2 watchers turned out.

 

 

I am not surprised there were hardly any people. First the weather was really bad (I stood for a while with an umbrella in the pooring rain) and second Oslo doesn't seem to be that bothered about cruiseships in general. In all those years I've never seen scenes here like in Hamburg or Rotterdam.

 

This is socially one of weirdest and boring cities I've lived in. Oslo people do not seem to generate any enthusiasm for anything at all. Everything is very cool, distant and stand offish. Apart from May 17th , the national holiday, when most people dress up in their national costumes. Showing off they are actually from the country side and not from the city.

 

However, I was there!!! :D

 

Reint