Serenade of the “C’s” I Mean “I’s” – Ice Bergs, Iceland, Ice Caps and Ice Cream

[SailorJack]

We are finally on our way and anyone who has sailed out of Copenhagen will be familiar with the wind farms that line the way out to sea.

 

 

 

Well, that was quick.  We are in Skagen, Denmark.  Ostensibly a fishing port, to us the town was more like a tourist stop. But there were a few ships in the harbor.

 

 

We walked into town and saw the architecture that was to seen both here and in our next port in Norway  -white buildings with red tile roofs.

 

 

A hotel - not quite as elaborate as the ones in our last port.

 

 

 

 

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎10‎/‎21‎/‎2018 at 7:27 AM, A&L_Ont said:

SailorJack, you had me laughing at the pool. The people around me are wondering what I have, and if it’s contagious. As always well done, and I am look forward to seeing the pics. 

Starting to post the pictures...hope you enjoy them.

 

Jack

[SailorJack]

On ‎10‎/‎22‎/‎2018 at 12:18 PM, Yorkvillain said:

Bravo SJ. You are in your own league when it comes to reviews on this forum. Amazing. And perhaps your greatest closing line ever.  

Thanks.  I  gave a lot of thought about writing that last line, but it was just too good to pass up. Where else can you work a Wonderbra into a cruise review!

 

Jack

[SailorJack]

This is the entrance to downtown Skagen - the first building you come to.

 

 

 

Skagen's main street.

 

 

Shops and restaurants lined the main street, but not doing a lot of business in the cold rain that day.

 

 

 

 

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎10‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 2:46 PM, molsonschooner said:

I have been on Cruise critic for a few years now. Even though I have read from many people that your reviews are awesome, I had never read one. Until now. I should have listened to these people. This was very informative yet still very funny. Nice job

You should have tried the poutine. 

Thanks for those kind words. I actually regret not at least trying it when I was in Halifax, and will remedy that oversight on my next visit home!

[SailorJack]

Town Square in Skagen.  We never did learn what the symbolism was for the artwork.

 

 

 

Some last shots of town as we head back to the ship to get out of the rain.

 

 

 

 

One of the things that we found a little odd was the fact that all the houses seemed to be white with red roofs, but all the buildings in town were either brick or yellow - with red tile roofs.

 

 

 

Nest stop  -Stavenger, Norway.

 

 

[Havin'fun]

Thanks for another wonderful review.

You think I would learn not to read these while at work. 🤣

 

[SailorJack]

Entering Stavenger harbor. The rain clouds are threatening, but actually cleared up by the time we got off the ship. The waters, however are really quite rough.

 

 

 

To give you an idea how rough the water was inside the harbor, look at this little guy trying to get out.  Here is bow is pointing up....

 

 

 

And here it is plunging into the sea - and this is inside the harbor!

 

 

This shot gives you an idea of just how close the town is to the harbor.  Notice all the red roofs in the backgaround.  Downtown was a very easy walk from the pier.

 

 

 

 

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎10‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 7:42 AM, h20skibum said:

Great read SJ.   We encountered one of the Spotted Dick Restaurants in Toronto.  Evidently they did not get the memo to change it to Richard.  I would post a photo, but don't want to break your photo sequence.

 

Carry on.

Glad you enjoyed it. I had no idea there was actually a restaurant named Spotted Dick!  Feel free to post your photo - there are probably a lot of people who have not heard of spotted dick.

[h20skibum]

1 hour ago, SailorJack said:

Glad you enjoyed it. I had no idea there was actually a restaurant named Spotted Dick!  Feel free to post your photo - there are probably a lot of people who have not heard of spotted dick.

You never know where you will find The Spotted Dick.

[SailorJack]

Our first view of downtown Stavenger.  Like our previous port, the houses were uniformly white with red tile roofs.

 

 

 

 

You can see how close we are to downtown.  Those people in the foreground are passengers getting off the ship.

 

 

But notice how closely packed the houses are.  There is virtually no yard to speak of.

 

 

 

But there is sort of a community green space.

 

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎10‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 5:20 PM, wassup4565 said:

Thank you for a great read.  Such an intinerary!  Our TA on Brilliance a few years ago stopped at Reykjavik for two days (one night) and we were so enthralled with that country we’ve since travelled back there twice.  Flew over Greenland on one return trip, and I was so happy to read your account of actually visiting there.  

Glad you enjoyed it.  There is so much to see there, we are looking forward to a return trip.

 

Jack

[SailorJack]

We have finally docked in Stravenger and have pulled up next to the Viking Star.  Ironically, this was the ship that we had tried to book but lost out as it was fully booked. The same itinerary as the Serenade,  but no regrets - the Serenade was a great ship!

 

 

We are ashore and are greeted with a very colorful introduction to the city.

 

 

The ship is docked right downtown and there was a very nice promenade as we disembarked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BigNance]

On 10/20/2018 at 10:49 AM, SailorJack said:

Photos coming as soon as I can edit them. Sorry for the long review.  I edited out quite a bit, but still wound up with about three type written pages more than I usually use, but there was so much to see and do on this cruise!

 

When it is a Sailor Jack review, the longer the better!  This was great!  Thank you for sharing with the rest of us!

 

[SailorJack]

Docked right next to us were a number of tall ships.

 

 

This one was advertising trips along the fiord and to Pulpit Rock. Price for a three hour trip was about $40.

 

 

 

 

This one needed a little TLC!

 

 

[BigNance]

HMmmm.  Does that last one pay the passengers??  For operating the bilge pumps??

[SailorJack]

On ‎10‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 5:14 PM, bobmacliberty said:

Finally getting a chance to read this.  Fantastic read!  Keel Bill?  Really??

 

Very interesting itinerary.  This one goes on my cruises in retirement list.

 

One of my favorite movies - especially Volume 1!

 

It is a great itinerary - why wait for retirement?

 

Jack

[SailorJack]

This shot gives you an idea on just how narrow was the inlet in which we docked.  Not a lot of room to maneuver.

 

 

Tall ships lined both side of the docking area.

 

 

 

 

A couple of the obligatory pictures of the ship in port.

 

 

 

 

 

[bobmacliberty]

20 hours ago, SailorJack said:

 

One of my favorite movies - especially Volume 1!

 

It is a great itinerary - why wait for retirement?

 

Jack

 

The dojo scene with Lucy Liu's gang is vintage Tarantino.  

[pacruise804]

Great review and pictures - amazing itinerary.  Looks like you managed a few spots with sun

[SailorJack]

On ‎11‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 1:46 PM, h20skibum said:

You never know where you will find The Spotted Dick.

Thanks for posting the photo … as I mentioned before I did not know about this chain.  Loved your introduction!

 

Jack

[SailorJack]

The harbor was lined with trendy bars.

 

 

We enjoyed our traditional "beer ashore" in this bar in the yellow building.

 

 

Due to the rain, not a lot of outdoor seating this morning, although it cleared up nicely later in the afternoon.

 

 

 

A very colorful downtown area. This really was an interesting port.

 

 

 

 

[SailorJack]

On ‎10‎/‎29‎/‎2018 at 6:05 PM, jagsfan said:

I’m so very happy to be able to read one of your reviews again. 

I want to tell you I have taught a multitude of people how to walk like an Egyptian even though I get the very unsophisticated giggles every time. 

Glad you enjoyed it. That was a fun trip and I was really not exaggerating (much) when I described how you had to walk inside a pyramid - especially if you are well over 6 feet tall!

[SailorJack]

On ‎11‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 11:05 AM, Havin'fun said:

Thanks for another wonderful review.

You think I would learn not to read these while at work. 🤣

 

 I have heard that one before. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

Jack

[critterchick]

Thanks for helping me relive the experience! We found a great little Thai place in Qaqortoq. Unfortunately they were too busy for me to ask why they chose that town to move to from Thailand.