BuckeyeMark

I'll be on the Apex this spring and am trying to figure out Eden. It seems to be a two-story area that is beautiful and relaxing. It features a cafe that does breakfast and lunch and is complimentary.  And a upscale "extra charge" restaurant for supper that most say is amazing. Is all that correct? I also see people saying "Get to Eden for the evening show but hurry, it fills up fast." There's a theater there too? What else am I missing?

That's incredible shot!

30 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

You ask tough questions.  For us, we got enough.  We understood going in that there were other options, much smaller ships that gave a much more (immersive shall we say) experience.  For several reasons, for us, this was the perfect fit.  If you (or anyone) really want to have that experience, and all that it entails (for us, some positive and some negative), than that is a different option.  

 

You actually sum up what our cruise was.  A trip to Antartica, with a cruise built around it.  I may be wrong, but I believe that is exactly what Celebrity was doing in building this type of trip.  No diss taken.  We had long conversations about what we really wanted and the plusses and minuses of both (actually 3) options.  

 

Would I do it again....not sure.  We are travel agents (retired from our other real jobs, but been doing this semi real time for good while) and we would def lead a group here.  That is a different question and answer though.  For me personally, I would do an exploration, but the better half has checked this box.  Hope this answer helps.

 

 

You've done a tremendous job here ... really good stuff and I appreciate your answer so much.  If you decide being a TA is not for you consider being a travel writer - you have what it takes! 

I would be interested to know if you feel like you got "enough" Antartica on this trip. There has been talk of other lines that sail longer in Antartica etc.  Not trying to diss your cruise - it looked amazing and your photos were great. This is just a really different cruise - the sea days are the highlight! So, how do you feel about it? Did you see enough Antartica? You got what you wanted?

I have emailed EidTaxi and Grønvik Taxi- og Flyplasservice

https://www.eidtaxi.no/
https://gronvik-taxi-og-flyplasservice.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

We'll be in Nordfjordeid on May 17 (Norway's Independence Day).  Some in my group will need a taxi or shuttle to get to the Sagastad Viking center (even though it's not that far a walk they are senior citizens and can't walk it).  Ideas on who you've used in Nordfjordeid?

Got word from Celebrity today that our shore excursion has been cancelled because it went to Mount Aksla and Alesund is no longer allowing buses up Mount Aksla.  Not sure what that is about but if you have an excursion that includes Mount Aksla via bus you might check on it/prepare to make alternate plans.

Tremendous report. Great photos. Super helpful!

On 1/28/2024 at 5:20 PM, jimbo5544 said:

Am on same cruise doing live review

And doing a great job, I might add!

1 hour ago, dronnygirl said:

In Flam there is  teepee type shop where you can purchase items made by the Sami people. Some lovely items but very expensive. All can be paid by credit card

Google says it is permanently closed.  Sad face!

On 6/29/2023 at 1:45 AM, Dutch_Travelgirl said:

There seems to be some confusion here about the various shuttle busses at the port of Zeebrugge. The port of Zeebrugge where the cruise ships dock is a working port where large container ships etc also dock. It’s not a dedicated cruise port. For safety reasons it’s not allowed for cruise ship passengers to make their own way from the ship’s berth to the cruise terminal building. With containers stacked high, trucks etc etc, it’s too dangerous to walk around the port.
Therefore the port of Zeebrugge offers free shuttle busses from the location where the ship is docked to the cruise terminal building. This is the same principle as when your flight arrives at a remote stand without an airbridge. In many airports, you aren’t allowed to walk from this remote stand to the terminal building, but you’re bussed there.

 

So in Zeebrugge you’re bussed to the cruise terminal building. Once there, there are several options to get to Brugge; take a paid shuttle bus or make your way to the train station of Blankenberge and train to Brugge. 

This is very helpful but I'm wondering if the shuttle to the cruise terminal becomes a bottle neck.  How long will we be waiting for a shuttle to get to our taxi to take us into town?

And there's no way to avoid this shuttle to the terminal? We can't have our taxi pick us up directly at the ship?

Seeing some travel websites warn about China produced materials and that labeling can be deceptive.  Where can we shop in Flamm, Geiranger, Alesund and Kristiansaand to get real Norwegian items? Other tips about what to watch for? Shops that are the best? Lots of times as you come into a port town there is a gauntlet of shops and stores (all advertising they have the best deals, of course). Where have you been that you would go back to and that we should definitely visit for good prices and authentic souvenirs?

1 hour ago, edinburgher said:

as Bruges is very compact and easily walkable, you could also consider joining  a local walking tour so could also look at these as an alternative option.

Absolutely take a recommend for that too!

Need someone to take 7 of us on a nice tour of Bruges - the history, architecture, climb the Belfry, visit the chocolate museum, eat some waffles, visit chocolate shops, do the canal.

Anybody hired a private guide in Bruges they recommend?

6 hours ago, Mark_K said:

I think they use Maize and Blue. 😉

I trust the irony of a Michigan fan replying to a thread asking about secret signals is not lost on people here ... 😆

You should get a commission! This is making me want to go to Antarctica! 

On 1/16/2024 at 8:52 AM, el344 said:

Yes, we were able to get a taxi without pre booking. There was a line, but it moved quickly. We were able to put together a group of six while standing in line, so the cost was quite reasonable. You will need euros to pay.

How much for six?

Some ships use red carpet on the port side and blue on the starboard. Some ships have a pattern of arrowheads or swimming fish pointing to the ship's front so you can always look down and know if you're walking towards the front of the ship or the back.

Anything like that on Apex?

On 1/17/2024 at 9:31 PM, DrJamba said:

 

Hi!  A few days ago you posted the above.  Would you share the source for your RIB boat tour?  Unless it's through your cruise line.  I'm just wondering if there are any 3rd party tour companies doing this.

 

Thanks!

Do some searching here, but I'm reasonably certain someone posted that seeing Pulpit Rock from the water below was not very impressive. To be clear, I haven't been there, so I don't know, but when doing some research, I think someone even posted pics of Pulpit Rock as seen from below, and it really didn't look like much. Just looked like the rest of the fjord.  So you might want to check on that a little...

14 hours ago, LeeW said:

They did load the non-cruise passengers first and then put all of us in a couple of cars at the far end of the train afterwards (tours had reserved areas in various cars).  The two problems as mentioned above are getting off the ship and if you need to pick up tickets.  If the ship gets in on time and you don't need to pick up tickets you can make it. 

 

Meeting time for our tour was 730 onboard and we got to the train around 815.  Our docking time was 700.  Herding a bunch of people in a group does take a while, especially when we had a few wheelchairs in the group.  Our ship used multiple gangways to get off - avoid the forward one coming from the theater where the tours are leaving the ship!

 

Keep an eye on the ship tours - sold out ones do become available.  For example the cheaper "train on your own" was sold out months before so I bought the "train and waffles" tour for around $40pp more.  A month or so before sailing the "train on your own" became available and I cancelled the more expensive tour.  

 

By the way, there is a beach right across the stream from the cruise ship and people were using it in August.

 

Other stops:

In Honningsvag book with North Cape Tours (bookfinnmark).  Cheaper than ship tour and you get as much as 1 1/2 hours at North Cape.  Waffles there are great, and great exhibits and gift shop.

 

In Olden some ships tender to the base of the Loen lift and some dock in Olden.  But if you want to see the glacier and take the troll cars, book with oldenadventure, who meet both locations.  While you can just get a ride up to the visitor center the troll cars tend to be booked up in advance.  We had reservations, so got off bus and almost immediately got our troll car ride to the glacier.  We would NOT have wanted to walk that couple of kilometers up the steep hills.  Last 200 yards from troll car dropoff is steep but doable.  If you want to do the Loen lift, the line can be over an hour long so you must do that early.

Really good info.  I note you docked at 7, met your group at 7:30 and got to the train at 8:15. That's 45 minutes ship to train. That makes docking at 8 and train at 8:25 look very very unlikely.

In our situation (on Apex in May) I was told by the railway that Celebrity has tickets for an excursion on that 8:25 train. So I guess they think they can make it?!  Seems very tight to me.

Following this very closely.  My understanding is the Flam RR is about 400 yards from the port so it's not far. But wow, that does seem to be cutting it close!

1 hour ago, hallasm said:

Tickets have ben on sale for few days. 
Each train has a capacity of 525 pax - the cruise lines and Norway's Best reserve a lot in advance and they sell out quickly. Vy has a share that is put up for sale 60 to 120 days before.

If you have a larger group, I would suggest that you contact Norways Best directly by email: sales@norwaysbest.com.

There might be a chance -  Sky Princess is The only ship in port June 18.

Gonna try Norways Best - and we're actually on the Apex on May 18.  But still the only ship in port.

28 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

@BuckeyeMark Yes, you can book the round trip

https://www.norwaysbest.com/the-flam-railway/round-trip-with-the-flam-railway/?referrer=3919

Hit the book now.

Unfortunately, the 9:30 and 10:45 departures are both shown as sold out on May 18.

HOW CAN THEY BE SOLD OUT?!  They haven't even been on sale yet.  This is crazy.  This is my worst fear - I've got a group of 100+ and we have an excursion that afternoon with the cruise line. We need to go in the morning. Don't dock till 8.  Can't make that 8:30 train (prolly).  Need the 9:30 and now it's sold out before we ever had a shot at it.  #frustrated

11 hours ago, gnome12 said:

You can’t book on vy.no this early. You can only book round trips on norwaysbest.com. What are your plans for getting back from Myrdal? Vy.no does not release all available seats to norwaysbest, so there should be some availability 120 days out if you really only want a one way trip. 

 

By the way, there is no 9 am train. The first trip is 8:25, the next is 9:30. 

We want to go from Flam to Myrdal and then back to Flam - round trip.  And we need that 9:30. Is that book-able at Norway's Best? Norway's Best doesn't seem to have the round trip option. We just want to ride the famous Flam railway up and back. That's all I'm looking for.