How different are these cruises?

[farbster]

We're looking at the Copenhagen-Copenhagen cruise this summer on the Whisper (#4518 sailing on July 27, 2015).

 

Previously, we were on the Cloud, sailing London-London. That voyage (18 nights) went to the Brit. Isles and Iceland, with Reykjavik as the midway point.

 

How different are these cruises? We did enjoy the ports like Faroe Islands and seeing puffins, but I'm curious if we would feel we were on the same type of cruise.

 

We are somewhat locked into the dates near this cruise and we've already done Greece and Med with Silversea. My wife isn't interested in Explorer cruise.

 

Thanks for your advice!

[RachelG]

Totally different. The cruise you are looking at is a Norway cruise. My very favorite ever cruise was probably our Norway one. We have done the British Isles and Iceland too. But Norway is spectacular. Go for it!

[Herman The Cat]

Agreed, they are very different cruises! We loved our Norway cruise, but it is more about sailing through the majestic fjords, and you won't see much "wildlife". The reason they go to Flam is for the railway ride. They go to Kristiansund mostly for the Atlantic Road excursion (though I did a hike) but the Atlantic Road is probably best by private excursion if you can find one since you can't really see the road unless you are on the front seat of the excursion bus. There are overland tours, and the ship drops people for that tour in Hellsyt and picks them up in Gundvangen. Geiranger is the end of a fjord and is beautiful with some really interesting excursions (hike, kayaking, organic dairy farm in the hills). Bergen is a lovely town to stroll around in for the day, go to the market, take the funicular, etc. We were very lucky--went mid-July and had sunny days every day without a cloud in the sky. I guess I would say the difference is it is beautiful scenery but I wouldn't describe it as "active" nature and wildlife etc. like Iceland. TLCOhio did a great live blog a number of years ago that you can search for with tons of photos.

[TLCOhio]

Totally different. The cruise you are looking at is a Norway cruise. My very favorite ever cruise was probably our Norway one. We have done the British Isles and Iceland too. But Norway is spectacular. Go for it!

 

It is good that the original poster is interested in a Copenhagen-Copenhagen cruise this summer on the Whisper (#4518 sailing on July 27, 2015). But, currently, the Silversea website shows that this cruise is on a wait-list.

 

These are popular, great locations in Norway!! Plus, sailing from and back to Copenhagen that allows sampling this super wonderful and charming Danish capital. This cruise includes: Flåm, Gudvangen, Kristiansund, Hellesylt, Geiranger and Bergen. As noted below in my live/blog, we visited all of these stops except Kristiansund in 2010 while on the Silver Cloud. Below are some sample visuals for why this area can be so popular.

 

KEY NORWAY COAST CHALLENGE/QUESTION: One major issue is whether to just focus on the lower Norway fjords, Bergen, etc. Nice and wonderful. BUT, there is the option of going up, UP farther north, above the Arctic Circle, seeing such great places as the Lofoten Islands, the North Cape, interesting cities such as Tromso and Trondheim, etc., in taking more time to go more north. Only doing the lower portion requires less time, has more sailing/ship options and costs less. That’s very good! BUT, if you can take the added time, seeing farther up this Norway coast can be very special and unique. Especially, if you really love/seek nature, great scenery, wildlife, etc. Your choice?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 168,662 views. Appreciate the interest and follow-up questions/comments!!

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

You go on these Norway Coast cruises for the spectacular fjords. From the journey to Flam, Gudvangen and Sognerfjord, here is one picture giving you a sampling of the skies and views for these beautiful internal coastlines of the fjords. Being up on the top of the boat can provide great view on BOTH sides as you sail up and down these various fjords.

 

 

 

This is the super scenic view from immediately above Geiranger that shows the Silver Cloud and Costa ships tendered. A little before this picture, we were to go to Mt. Dalsnibba as a photo stop from this 4,920-foot vantage for the snow-covered surrounding mountains, icy glaciers, crystalline lakes and Geirangerfjord far below. Here is this view, at a lower level, that provided a wonderful vista.:

 

 

 

After being tendered from Geiranger, we sailed out and passed by two super famous waterfalls. YES, yes, we saw lots and lots of waterfalls on this trip, but these two were among the “best of the best”. First is the “Seven Sisters”. Directly opposite in this narrow fjord, it is called several names, including “The Suitor”. The majesty for these feats of nature is pretty amazing.:

 

 

 

At Flam, you can see here some of the great fjord, dramatic mountains, waterfalls, etc. Below are some pictures and highlights from this day in the Sognerfjord that is rated as the best in all of Norway for these views and doing a spectacular train ride up the mountain, seeing the valleys, waterfalls, etc.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a close look at these historic Bergen Hanseatic merchant warehouse building fronts, people taking pictures, etc. Super loved the charm, character, history and beauty in Bergen.:

 

[farbster]

Thanks to everyone for their response.

 

As to the waitlist, I am hopeful that my TA will be able to pull something out of thin air :D

 

I would do the more adventurous explorer cruise, but that would have to be with my next wife.

 

Trying to figure out what to pair this with? Maybe visiting Oslo and Gothenburg on one end and Copenhagen and Stockholm on the other end. No interest at all to see Leningrad via cruise ship (that's the next cruise if we did B2B).

[TLCOhio]

We loved our Norway cruise, but it is more about sailing through the majestic fjords, and you won't see much "wildlife". The reason they go to Flam is for the railway ride. TLCOhio did a great live blog a number of years ago that you can search for with tons of photos.

 

Appreciate Herman's nice mention of my live/blog and the wise comments about the wonderful Flam rail adventure! Loved it and for all options in and around these amazing fjords, etc. Below are a few more visuals on this train trip, plus added potentials for charming and historic Bergen. Much more on the live/blog.

 

Flam, with a population of about 500, is nestled in a tributary of the world's longest and deepest fjord. It is 128 miles long and has a maximum depth of 4,291 feet. On the question of how deep are these fjords, local say: “A mermaid could swim all the way to China.” The chief attraction here is the 73-year-old Flam Railway. It includes twenty tunnels and eight stops as it goes up the mountain. This rail lines rises from Flam’s gingerbread rail station going up 2,835 feet to Myrdal and this "Roof of Norway" rail station. In 2010, this railway was chosen as one of the top ten most beautiful train journeys in Europe by National Geographic Traveler Magazine. In 2012, there was a new passenger record of 635,368 riders carried. That is a big jump up in ridership from 475K in 2005 and 380K in 1994.

Railroad website with more history and technical details for its construction, operations: http://www.flaamsbana.no/eng.

 

We are getting ready for a Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo back-to-back sailing on the Silver Cloud. No fjords there, but we hope to see some interesting parts of the world.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 92,003 views for this posting.

 

 

Arriving at Flam, our Captain is right there directing this docking process. You can see here some of the fjord mountains, waterfalls in the background. This town is fairly small with the rail trip being the main attraction and activity here.:

 

 

 

Here is another highlight from the Flam train ride, including this train traveling between tunnels, the amazing construction through the challenging rock environment, etc. Lots of great, interesting views on this routing, up and down. :

 

 

 

This picture shows the Bergen Floibanen funicular railway coming up the steep hill with the harbor, fish market, etc. in the background of this charming Norway coastal town with so much great history and architecture. On the top, somewhat right, the Silver Cloud and Costa ships can be seen in the harbor.

 

 

 

Right near the Hanseatic merchant warehouse area is the Bergen Fish Market with lots of options to buy food to eat on site or just watch, enjoying the “show” as people ask questions and buy the various fresh fish items.:

 

[TLCOhio]

Thanks to everyone for their response. As to the waitlist, I am hopeful that my TA will be able to pull something out of thin air. Trying to figure out what to pair this with? Maybe visiting Oslo and Gothenburg on one end and Copenhagen and Stockholm on the other end. No interest at all to see Leningrad via cruise ship (that's the next cruise if we did B2B).

 

Good luck with your waitlist hopes/efforts!! Have not been to Gothenburg, but have experienced the other three cities. Oslo is nice, especially if you like more contemporary art. BUT, Copenhagen and Stockholm are more the "super stars" of this area. Especially if history, architecture, culture, charm, etc., are your priorities. Below are a few of my visual samples to help build up the excitement for these many and varied options.

 

Don't be shy! Let us know any added questions, info needs, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. We are now at 192,154 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Vigeland Park has a wide variety of outdoor sculptures in a super, wonderful setting that is a highlight for Oslo. There is a wide variety of art, water features, spectacular settings, etc. Its admission is free and the views and art are "priceless". It is open 24/7 so hours are not an issue.:

 

 

 

This picture shows the main, historic fortress next to where many cruise ships dock in Oslo. The fortress construction started around the late 1290’s. The very interesting Norwegian Resistance museum can be visited there. Norwegian Royalty have been buried in the Royal Mausoleum in the castle. A portion of this fortress was replicated at the Norway pavilion at Disney’s Epcot Center.:

 

 

 

At Stockholm’s Royal Palace, the changing of the guard is one of the key highlights and is handy, close to the next-door historic old town area. And it’s free! No charge or tickets required.:

 

 

 

The Vasa Museum with this large salvaged ship from the 1600’s in Stockholm is top attraction. This is their website: http://vasamuseet.se/en/ Taking almost two years (1626-1627) to build Vasa, carpenters, sawyers, smiths, ropelayers, sailmakers, painters, carvers, gun carriage makers and other specialists struggled to complete the navy’s great, new ship. The king, Gustav II Adolf, visited the shipyard to inspect the work. With a hull built of more than a thousand oak trees with 64 cannon, masts over 50 meters high and hundreds of painted and gilded sculptures, this was a spectacular ship. BUT, it was too heavy and sunk sailing out from the harbor.:

 

 

 

Copenhagen's City Hall and its large Square are in the heart of the main downtown, near Tivoli and the central train station. Completed in 1905, it was designed in the "National Romantic" style with inspiration from the Siena City Hall. Dominated by its richly-ornamented front wth the gilded statue of Absalon just above the balcony, its tall, slim clock tower is 345.6 feet or 105.6 meters tall. It is one of the tallest buildings in Denmark.:

 

 

 

Copenhagen’s Nyhavn or “new” Harbor is actually old and charming. This waterfront entertainment district is lined by brightly colored 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants. Serving as a "heritage harbor", the canal also has many historical wooden ships. Lots of people and fun activity!!:

 

[RachelG]

There is plenty to do in Copenhagen for several days. We have been there 4 times and find plenty to do each time.

 

Stockholm is amazing and would be a great place, again for several days visit.

 

I haven't been to Gothenburg though it sounds interesting.

 

Oslo is nice, but not a place I would make a special trip to visit. Have been there twice.

 

And I agree about St. Petersburg. We have been twice. There is plenty to see, but I have no desire to return.

Edited January 13, 2015 by RachelG