Artemis PO14 1/8/10 Fjords - Must See?

[petlambDurham_UK]

Returned from The Baltic on 9/6/10 having been on A005 Azura - loved it, although heard many comments about being too big, too many people, too busy at b'fast time etc. First time cruisers with P&O and have just booked the above cruise - their smallest ship (one extreme to the other!)

 

What we're after is help in deciding what the "Must See" things are. What we should see via organised trips and what we could do ourselves. Many full days off the ship. So anyone our there who has done this trip and who can give us good advice we'd appreciate it.

 

The only organised trip we did on The Batlic trip was The Complete St. Petersburg with Alla Tours - brilliant. We managed to cover all the major "Must See" attractions at the others ports by ourselves with the help of Rick Steve's Scandanavia book, info via the internet, a good pair of walking shoes and local transport.

[Thejuggler]

It's a good idea to list where you are going for those who don't have the brochure at hand. We did the 7 day fjord trip a couple of weeks ago.

 

Bergen - easy to DIY - bus provided to city centre. If the weather is fine go on the fenicular to the top of the hill for an amazing view - 5 minutes walk from drop off point, go early to avoid the queues - you can walk back to town along well defined forest trails. Walk around Bryggen and the market then a wander around the newer parts of town - have a £10 pint of beer!

 

Stavanger - you dock right in town and can walk to everything. Oil Museum is well worth a visit, allow at least 2 hours. Excellent shops, the winter clothing is very good quality. There are independent boat trips to Pulpit rock which take about 3 hours. Anthony Gormley has produced some life size statues which are all over town - you can spend time hunting them out. To start you off the first one is right by the water at the end of the harbour!

[petlambDurham_UK]

It's a good idea to list where you are going for those who don't have the brochure at hand. We did the 7 day fjord trip a couple of weeks ago.

 

Bergen - easy to DIY - bus provided to city centre. If the weather is fine go on the fenicular to the top of the hill for an amazing view - 5 minutes walk from drop off point, go early to avoid the queues - you can walk back to town along well defined forest trails. Walk around Bryggen and the market then a wander around the newer parts of town - have a £10 pint of beer!

 

Stavanger - you dock right in town and can walk to everything. Oil Museum is well worth a visit, allow at least 2 hours. Excellent shops, the winter clothing is very good quality. There are independent boat trips to Pulpit rock which take about 3 hours. Anthony Gormley has produced some life size statues which are all over town - you can spend time hunting them out. To start you off the first one is right by the water at the end of the harbour!

Good Advice and good tips for Bergen & Stavanger. Thanks very much.

 

Will now create a new thread listing the places we will be visiting.

[LibraLass41]

No need to create another thread, just tell us the 2 other ports.

[petlambDurham_UK]

No need to create another thread, just tell us the 2 other ports.

Our other ports of call are:-

 

For Norway: Eidfjord - Alesund

 

For Iceland: Akureyri - Isafjordur - Reykjavik

 

For Ireland: Greencastle - Dublin

[LibraLass41]

Alesund

The ship berths in town, so you walk off and explore. There is a tourist train ride available from here, I found it full at lunch time when tried to buy tickets, so 'buy early ' if you want to go on this. Ticket office on Marina prom.

Here is a photo showing how close the ship berths from Alesund!

 

CAN'T HELP WITH ICELAND, SORRY.

 

Dublin

I will be going there on Azura in a fortnight, will report back, but I believe we have a free shuttle into Dublin city. From there I will probably be buying tickets for the HOHO (HOPON, HOPOFF) tourist bus, you can visit the Guiness Storehouse at one stop, there is a high observation tower there and a free guiness at the end of the trip in tower bar overlooking the city. It tastes so much creamier in Ireland. At the next stop on the bus is Kilmainham Goal (Jail) which they say is very interesting. Other places of interest along the route, including the Zoo if I remember rightly. I expect a google will tell you more of Dublin tourist bus route.

[Pearldrop]

Hi again. Glad to see you enjoyed your Baltic cruise on the Azura. We sail on her on Friday, same itinerary. Did you have any problems disembarking for the early start of the Alla tours in St. Petersburg? Any tips will be most appreciated. We leave home on Thursday so if you have time to reply before we go, please accept my thanks now.

[StLucia]

We are just back from the fjords on Ventura. At Bergen go straight to the tourist information office, on the opposite side of road to the fish market. We did this and prebooked tickets for the train from Flamm to Myrdal (I know you're not visiting Flamm this is for others who may read this thread) When we got to Flamm we walked straight onto the train and were escorted to seats by the guard. We also booked tickets for the Bergen funicular, then walked the short distance up the road to the station straight past the long queues snaking down the road. You can book all sorts of tickets at the tourist information office which may help you to miss queuing at your other ports in Norway.

[petlambDurham_UK]

Hi again. Glad to see you enjoyed your Baltic cruise on the Azura. We sail on her on Friday, same itinerary. Did you have any problems disembarking for the early start of the Alla tours in St. Petersburg? Any tips will be most appreciated. We leave home on Thursday so if you have time to reply before we go, please accept my thanks now.

Sorry didn't log on yesterday.

No problems whatsoever disembarking in St. Peters. Most of the ship's tours assembled around the ship at different locations prior to disembarking. (I think the first was about 7.45am or 8am). The ship docked around 7am and were were down there reading to get off at about 7.20am and just walked off no trouble. Just make sure you have all the necessary paperwork. Enjoy!

[ukgirlie1]

Well Hello PetlambDurham!!

So off cruising again! I have heard the fjords are amazing. You will have a great time and I am sure you will be very organised! We are planning another cruise but to the Mediterranean maybe with the girls. (The house was in one piece when we got back but I would like to take them with us!)We will probably do a last minute deal as several people seem to have scooped better staterooms on Azura for less money than us! I will be interested to see how you find the smaller ship.

Artemis leaves at the end of this year to be replaced by Adonia and she should be able to get into some smaller ports. Very different from Azura but still cruising!

 

Have fun! Sarah X

[jerseygirl06]

Hi petlamb

 

We are also on the cruise on 1st August on the Artemis I am also looking for advice on trips/ports etc and also wondering about the weather in the different ports.

 

Haven't got any info on ports in Norway or Iceland but not sure if you have been to Dublin - we went for a weekend before and did a literary walk and and an Irish Rebellion walk (details on the internet) which were both really interesting and which we will probably do again on our forthecoming visit they also do a bus tour there with individual commentary (not headphones)

 

enjoy your cruise

[kruzseeka]

The berth is right in the village at Eidfjord. It's a beautiful setting. Close to the dock is a tourist information office where you can pick up a map and walking routes. There is quite a good walk, not too strenuous but with some uphill sections and a little rough underfoot in parts, along the side of the river and up to a lake through a wooded path. To do a circular walk you continue gaining height gradually and arrive at a plateau where there are some houses. As you begin to drop down again, you get super views over Eidfjord and the ship in dock. A little land train passed us in the plateau area so perhaps it's possible to catch the train up to the plateau then walk down to the lake and along the river in the opposite direction from us thereby using the train for the uphill part of the walk.

[kruzseeka]

We are just back from the fjords on Ventura. At Bergen go straight to the tourist information office, on the opposite side of road to the fish market. We did this and prebooked tickets for the train from Flamm to Myrdal (I know you're not visiting Flamm this is for others who may read this thread) When we got to Flamm we walked straight onto the train and were escorted to seats by the guard. We also booked tickets for the Bergen funicular, then walked the short distance up the road to the station straight past the long queues snaking down the road. You can book all sorts of tickets at the tourist information office which may help you to miss queuing at your other ports in Norway.

 

Whilst at the tourist office, do take a look around too - it has the most amazing frescos - must be one of the smartest tourist offices around! Ask too for the walking map for the top of Mt Floyen at Bergen. For some reason they are not on display but are free and well worth having if you do the trip up the funicular. There are extensive walks on the top including to a lovely, serene lake which is not too far from the funicular and worth visiting.

[petlambDurham_UK]

Well Hello PetlambDurham!!

So off cruising again! I have heard the fjords are amazing. You will have a great time and I am sure you will be very organised! We are planning another cruise but to the Mediterranean maybe with the girls. (The house was in one piece when we got back but I would like to take them with us!)We will probably do a last minute deal as several people seem to have scooped better staterooms on Azura for less money than us! I will be interested to see how you find the smaller ship.

Artemis leaves at the end of this year to be replaced by Adonia and she should be able to get into some smaller ports. Very different from Azura but still cruising!

 

Have fun! Sarah X

Sarah/Steve, so good to hear from you. Yes, deals are to be had! This I found out after I booked the Azura - our holiday, for 2, reduced by £1,000. I wrote several letters to P&O but to no avail. This time we did get a good deal, half price cruise, so we decided to take it. As we are very flexible this system may just work for us for any future cruises. I must admit I am a little worried about the Artemis having been on the Azura, messages on cruise critic state she is looking her age, engines have been known to fail etc. So we'll see. Also a little worried about the sea state up around Iceland.

 

Still sorting through the Baltic photos, deleting loads and just keeping the best.

 

Hope you get sorted with your next trip.