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Bon Voyage!🛳🍾

Bon Voyage!🛳🍾

A beautiful serene evening sailing out of the fjords of Oslo is why we love cruising. With the Pilot Boat arriving we also had a Norwegian Coast Guard helicopter maneuvering for an emergency evacuation of one our guest. Another example why we get evacuation insurance. Prayer for our fellow guest.

Good afternoon from Oslo, Norway! What a beautiful day here with sunny skies and high sixties temperature. Our original scheduled tour canceled so we took the infamous Hop On Hop Off Bus. The bus picked us up right in front of our ship and started off well. As the day progressed the bus became full and the queues long. It was standing room only on lower level. With Rotterdam, Viking Jupiter, and Mein Schiff 1 in port one could sense how the system was overloaded. We did gingerly hop off and visited the Norway Culture Museum which had many buildings that had been moved there from different regions and eras of Norway. I would think World Daffodil day would be in early spring but what do I know? Happy Birthday @VictOriann!🎂 The Hop On was not suitable for many pics and some from the Culture Center where taking on my now charging ailing phone. Some days it holds a charge fairly well other days it’s like water draining out of a bathtub! Here are a few pics taken from our Verandha as we sailed in this morning.

Good afternoon from Oslo, Norway! What a beautiful day here with sunny skies and high sixties temperature. Our original scheduled tour canceled so we took the infamous Hop On Hop Off Bus. The bus picked us up right in front of our ship and started off well. As the day progressed the bus became full and the queues long. It was standing room only on lower level. With Rotterdam, Viking Jupiter, and Mein Schiff 1 in port one could sense how the system was overloaded. We did gingerly hop off and visited the Norway Culture Museum which had many buildings that had been moved there from different regions and eras of Norway. I would think World Daffodil day would be in early spring but what do I know? Happy Birthday @VictOriann!🎂 The Hop On was not suitable for many pics and some from the Culture Center where taking on my now charging ailing phone. Some days it holds a charge fairly well other days it’s like out of a bathtub! Here are a few pics taken from our Verandha as we sailed in this morning.

Nice dinner in Canelleto tonight! It’s almost a smooth skating rink out there tonight. Just smoothly gliding along to Oslo.

I’ll admit we have not done a large comparison of menus. To us it has seemed when previewing menus that there were some repeats or similar menus. Specialty dining were packed last week and the trend is starting to pick up this week. Many first time cruisers disappointed as they had not made advanced reservations.

Just watched the afternoon quartet of three strings and pianist. Sounded great to me. These are back to back cruises. The movie last night was the same as our previous Sunday embarkation. Exploration presentation today on Norway was as same as last Monday. Main Dining room same menu so far as last week.Though we booked this cruise as a 14 day Best Of Norway cruise it’s basically programmed as a seven day cruise which will have repeats. Though I agree that it would be nice to have some new choices this does often occur on what really are back to back same cruises. I’m no way a music connoisseur but the quartet sounded good to me and I thought they were very talented. Still having a great time.

Thanks for the Fleet Report. Enjoying a relaxing sea day as sail to Oslo. Good weather at 68 degrees with light breeze and calm seas. Just enjoyed a nice lunch in the Pinnacle and now awaiting a Lincoln Stage performance before attending a wine tasting. Popular shipping lanes makes it interesting for various ships. Now back to our afternoon recital. Bruce

Bon Voyage!🛳🍾

Yes, We do feel it is crowded in Lido and Music Walk areas. The specialty restaurants have been packed. High count is probably due to lots of families and many with infants Plus the total count was stated by a reliable crew member but could be wrong. Just know it’s busy. Haven’t tendered yet. Music Walk venues are packed and it’s hard to find seating and many times SRO. I feel there could be some relief if they would use the World Stage more but I’m confident they make more money in close proximity to bars.

Good afternoon from Rotterdam, Netherlands. Pretty nice day and currently 72 F. We elected to stay on-board today and for awhile pretty much had the ship to ourselves. Per staff we can expect more guest this week then last. Last week we had 2600 and lot’s of families with kids and this week we have been told almost 2,800 guest. Looks like a lot of repetitive programming as tonight’s movie is the same as last Sunday and the menu in MDR is the same. Makes you wonder why, when many of us booked this as a 14 day cruise? We have cruised into Boston a few times and I went to college there so pretty familiar with area. My first military assignment after training was at Otis AFB on Cape Cod. Tonight we start the week off with dinner in Pinnacle. Thanks for the Fleet Report and all who contribute. Have a great week. Bruce

Last night after a rather rainy and cloudy day we were treated to a beautiful sunset on the North Sea.

Today is a sea day and we are currently sailing in the North Sea amongst several oil platforms. With 2,600 guest on board many families with children it does feel crowded in places. Attended Mariners Medal ceremony where I introduced myself to Cruise Critic regulars Gail & Marty. There were several President Club folks onboard who had more then a thousand days of cruising on Hal. Music Walk venues are very crowded which I contribute to poor utilization of the World Stage. There has been no guest entertainers and we really miss that. How many times must we watch the dance team members or watch the snakes chasing lizards in Planet Earth? Dear SIL Barb leaves us tomorrow to fly home and we’ll have another week of seeing Best Of Norway. We will miss her. Tonight we dine in the Tamarind. We enjoyed breakfast in Club Orange. Just a couple of pics today as we didn’t take many due to rain around Bergen. Thanks for the Fleet Report and all who contribute.

Yesterday we visited Geriranger, Norway and it’s magnificent fjords and mountains! Absolutely one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We took in all the iconic vistas on a private tour of just me, Sue and her identical twin Barb. No service in the fjords so trying to post a day late. Today we were in Bergen and had another private tour but it was a rainy day and didn’t take many photos but it was still beautiful. Tomorrow is a sea day then Rotterdam where Sue and I will stay on for another week but Barb will be flying home as she has another cruise to Alaska coming up soon. Life is good!

Some pics from our private tour in Molde, Norway. It was a cool 48 degree F with light drizzle as we rode through the beautiful countryside, saw the beginning of the Atlantic Road with it’s memorable rocky coast. Had a great buffet lunch in Bud, Norway with typical Norwegian dishes. We are in port to 11:00 PM but we are staying warm and dry on board. Beautiful country.

Good afternoon from Molde, Norway. We had a rather bumpy ride last night after having our first meal in Club Orange. There are 2,600 pax onboard and many are from the Nederland's and lot’s of first time cruisers. Bathrobe’s are the most popular dress around the ship and in Neptune Lounge! 😁 Last night several officers were making there way around the Crow’s Nest and their specific role was to talk to guest. Nice interaction. It was a cold and drizzle day so not the best for touring but still beautiful. Tomorrow is Gerirangerfjord and the weather looks promising. Still issue’s with phone holding a charge so no pics available until it get’s recharged. @kazu Sorry about Shadow. Thanks Rich and all who contribute. Life is good on the MS Rotterdam. Tonight we dine Nami Sushi.

Very short post and not sure it will send with weak signal. Just dropping lines in Eidfjord, Norway. Our morning view and Fred Olsen Bolette next to us aka former MS Amsterdam! Great time.

Good afternoon from the MS Rotterdam. It’s 68 degrees outside so lot’s of activity inside. Didn’t attend the Mariner’s reception but did listen to shoreEx presentation and a well conducted lecture on Norway. The line at Guest Services is long as well as how to work or fix Navigator App line I had to log out and log back in and it’s working fine. Not sure why so many in Guest Services line but we have no complaints or issues so far. Great dinner at Rudy’s last night and tonight we are in Pinnacle. Lot’s of specialty dining this week as SIL is only aboard this week. Yesterday we turned in our two laundry bags at 3.00 PM and our cleaned clothes were back in room when we returned at 8:00 PM! That was our fastest turnaround ever and we all deny kudos to the laundry team using the Navigator App. After our busy three weeks in Scotland we are all enjoying this sea day as do nothing day! Yes, a nap is awaiting! Thanks Rich for the Daily report.

Debbie, First morning out and still have very good WiFi. Hope it continues. We are in 8197 so maybe same cabin you had. Little smaller inside but love our deck and views. A little motion this morning. Great dinner at Rudy’s last night.

Volendam at moor in Rotterdam. We gave three toots but no response.

Getting ready for sail away. Lot’s of young folks aboard and us primary English speaking individuals may be the minority. Make’s sense we are in Europe!. All announcements in two languages. Going to be a great cruise. Tonight we dine in Rudy’s!

Like I stated earlier it’s a beautiful day in Rotterdam and this is our view. The locals are hoping that tomorrow’s forecast actually brings some much needed rain.

We were driven by private hire to Rotterdam and now on board the MS Rotterdam on packed and enjoying the beautiful weather on our SB aft veranda..Boarding was quick and no one seemed to care about boarding times. In fact we actually got through everything and we all questioned did anyone check our vaccination and Covid test result? We enjoyed a quiet lunch in the MDR and at 2:30 we have unpacked, sorted through three weeks of dirty laundry, visited our Muster Station and laying back and watching the river traffic awaiting sail-away. Not sure how WI-Fi will be affected but will try and keep you apprised of our daily travels. In today’s world it’s always a relief when you make it onboard through all the protocol and obstacles. Thanks Rich for the Daily and for all our friends on the Daily. Bruce

Today we visited the city of Delft and The Hague. Weather again in nineties. Delft factory, old and new churches, lunch on the plaza and then over to Hague to see Prime Ministers office, Parliament and some Rembrandt and other notable art at the museum. Beautiful cities, Tonight we are having a Rjistafel dinner which is always a must have dining experience in the Netherlands. MS Rotterdam tomorrow. Interesting our guides opinion on why we have to board MS Rotterdam in Rotterdam versus Amsterdam is not because of canal conditions but because it is so much cheaper for ships to dock in Rotterdam.