Norwegian Jade - Fjords Cruise 25 August - 3 September -Day 5 -Flam

[Jack Staff]

The evening before arrival at Flam we had been told as this was a tender port to collect tickets and so have allocated disembarkation times - we chose 9am -the time the ship was due to arrive.

 

 

 

The day was cloudy but at least it was not raining and we were preparing to go to breakfast (it was about 8am) when the announcement was made calling for the first numbered tickets. We thought it a bit early and continued with what we were doing. A few minutes later our ticket number was called -very early! A little later there was an announcement that they were calling 'early birds' and would repeat the session later. However that did not happen. On making our way to the exit port (deck 5?) we were halted at deck 7 and told we could go no further until all the previous passengers had been cleared. After a short wait (a few minutes) we were instructed to carry on and go to the tenders - however at deck 6 there was a rope across the stairs but no one in attendance we all found this curious and after a short wait just carried on down where we found the tenders waiting for us- no one asked or checked the tender tickets at all and we were off ship before our tender time! The entire operation seemed somewhat confused and not very professional.

 

Flam is a small village at the end of a Fjord and a train trip to Myrdal is one of the advertised highlights. We had looked at booking train tickets before we left the UK via the web site (NCL tour cost much more) and had found that all tickets were sold out. However we went to the rail booking office and found there was no problem and so purchased tickets for that day.

 

 

 

We do like the popular road trains that run and so we decided to do one of their tours while we waited for the train (Flamsbana) and off we went. The tour lasted about 90mins or so and trundled through the village proper which is a little journey away from the dock. We enjoyed it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On return to Flam dock we visited the museum - found it was mainly about the railway and interesting . It was time to take the train to Myrdal (a fairly uninteresting village that has a connection to the Bergen main line) which will take approximately one hour and you do not get off the train as it returns to Flam where the ship is. First part of the journey gives a different view of Flam village as opposed to the road train then out it goes into the country. The train stops at a water fall for 5 mins so that you can take photos and while there music is played and a person or two does a short performance. (See the figure in red at top right hand of picture to give some scale). An enjoyable journey.

 

 

 

 

Back to the ship and dinner in the buffet. Tonights theatre performance is by the production cast and is 'Blazing Boots' - a tribute to pop country music. Enjoyable.

Edited September 10, 2018 by Jack Staff

[ighten]

Ah brings back memories - nice pics and report