Fjord Cruise Port Changes; thoughts?

[Doh15]

Azamara is not doing Flam or Geiranger but they do have cruises with an overnight in Bergen which should allow a visit to Flam and the fjords. 

[hallasm]

17 hours ago, Doh15 said:

Azamara is not doing Flam or Geiranger

 

Pursuit is still doing Flåm. It’s a three hours drive by train or bus from Bergen to Flåm - scenic drive.

[CanEcosse]

On 7/16/2019 at 10:52 AM, Doh15 said:

Azamara is not doing Flam or Geiranger but they do have cruises with an overnight in Bergen which should allow a visit to Flam and the fjords. 

 

Azamara's website is still showing Flam and Geiranger for July 2020.

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/en-ca/voyage/pr17u001/17-nt-norway-intensive-north-cape-voyage

Has something changed that you are aware of?

[Doh15]

55 minutes ago, CanEcosse said:

 

Azamara's website is still showing Flam and Geiranger for July 2020.

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/en-ca/voyage/pr17u001/17-nt-norway-intensive-north-cape-voyage

Has something changed that you are aware of?

 

As hallasm pointed out, it appears one of the ships is going to those ports— I was looking at the itinerary for a different ship. 

[LEtue]

The Crown Princess itinerary for July 2020 hasn't changed - at least not yet.   Wonder if we will see some modifications? 

 

Saturday, July 25    London (Southampton), England

Sunday, July 26    At Sea

Monday, July 27    Bergen, Norway

Tuesday, July 28    Alesund, Norway

Wednesday, July 29   Olden, Norway

Thursday, July 30    Hellesylt, Norway

Thursday, July 30    Geiranger, Norway     

Friday, July 31            Stavanger, Norway

Saturday, August 1    At Sea

Sunday, August 2    London (Southampton), England

 

[Mr. Click]

We did the fjords two years ago on Royal and Flam and Geiranger where the true highlights for us.  We went in May and the rose gardens in Molde were not blooming yet and it was a damp, dark day so we opted to skip trying to do the Atlantic Road and just walked around the town for a few hours.  We went back to the ship pretty early. along with most of our fellow passengers. The line to re-board was over two blocks long.  Going in late May meant we got some nice weather, some not so nice weather but the waterfalls were going full force so that was a major plus.  If I were going back, I would not go without a chance to see Geiranger and Flam again.

[mhb1757]

Sorry you are missing Flam and geiranger. Both are breathtaking. Molde was very pleasant. I took a trip out the Atlantic Road and while it was quite enjoyable it couldn’t compare to either of the ports you will be missing. Very different scenery. The town of Molde and the living history museum was enjoyable as well. Not so touristy as Flam, but again, nothing like the scenery of those 2 fjords you will be missing. 

[LEtue]

Received an itinerary modification this week for the Crown Princess - July 25.  They will be using water shuttles in the fjords....

 

Itinerary Day Date Description Arrive Depart Sat Jul 25 London (Southampton) Check In 12:30pm-3:00pm   04:00P Sun Jul 26 At Sea     Mon Jul 27 Bergen 10:00A 06:00P Tue Jul 28 Alesund 07:00A 06:00P Wed Jul 29 Olden Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 08:00A 06:00P Day Date Description Arrive Depart Thu Jul 30 Hellesylt Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 08:00A 10:00A Thu Jul 30 Geiranger Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 12:00P 06:00P Fri Jul 31 Stavanger 12:00P 07:00P Sat Aug 01 At Sea     Sun Aug 02 London (Southampton) 07:00A

[hallasm]

1 hour ago, LEtue said:

Received an itinerary modification this week for the Crown Princess - July 25.  They will be using water shuttles in the fjords

Tendering is  for those ports.

[Coral]

4 hours ago, LEtue said:

Received an itinerary modification this week for the Crown Princess - July 25.  They will be using water shuttles in the fjords....

 

Itinerary Day Date Description Arrive Depart Sat Jul 25 London (Southampton) Check In 12:30pm-3:00pm   04:00P Sun Jul 26 At Sea     Mon Jul 27 Bergen 10:00A 06:00P Tue Jul 28 Alesund 07:00A 06:00P Wed Jul 29 Olden Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 08:00A 06:00P Day Date Description Arrive Depart Thu Jul 30 Hellesylt Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 08:00A 10:00A Thu Jul 30 Geiranger Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 12:00P 06:00P Fri Jul 31 Stavanger 12:00P 07:00P Sat Aug 01 At Sea     Sun Aug 02 London (Southampton) 07:00A

At least you get to go! Gerianger is beautiful. 

[Coral]

3 hours ago, hallasm said:

Tendering is  for those ports.

Yes but it usually says "tenders" for Princess. I wonder why they are now saying "water shuttles". I wonder if they are not using Princess's tenders but local tenders (more energy efficient?).

[HLGW60]

11 minutes ago, Coral said:

Yes but it usually says "tenders" for Princess. I wonder why they are now saying "water shuttles". I wonder if they are not using Princess's tenders but local tenders (more energy efficient?).

 

Water shuttles are just a new updated name for tenders.   I know Carnival started renaming tenders as water shuttles almost a year ago.   I suspect the same is true for Princess since they are owned by Carnival.   Here is an article about it: https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-cruise-line-ditches-tenders-for-water-shuttles/

[Coral]

21 minutes ago, HLGW60 said:

 

Water shuttles are just a new updated name for tenders.   I know Carnival started renaming tenders as water shuttles almost a year ago.   I suspect the same is true for Princess since they are owned by Carnival.   Here is an article about it: https://cruiseradio.net/carnival-cruise-line-ditches-tenders-for-water-shuttles/

I have a cruise this year and Princess is using the term "tenders" on my cruise. Though, maybe Princess is implementing it next near.

 

Thanks for the article - will look at it now.

[capriccio]

9 hours ago, Coral said:

I have a cruise this year and Princess is using the term "tenders" on my cruise. Though, maybe Princess is implementing it next near.

 

Thanks for the article - will look at it now.

 

On the Sapphire Princess Land of the Midnight Sun cruise this past June, I noticed that Princess had changed 'tender' to 'water shuttle' in the Princess Patter guidance.  Maybe they thought that was more explanatory to passengers? Hellesylt, Gerainger, and Gravdal (Lofoten Islands) were tender (oops, water shuttle) ports.

[CanEcosse]

On 6/21/2019 at 2:23 PM, saltshell said:

Holland has changed ports on 10 day cruise.

Following is old to new:

Flam to Skjolden

Geiranger to Molde

Cancelled cruising Geirangerfjord

Please give me your thoughts.

It must be ship specific. The Nieuw Statendam lists several 2020 cruises going to Flam and/or Geirangerfjord.

[oakridger]

I was just notified yesterday that my cruise on the Crystal Symphony in June 2020 has cancelled Geiranger and Flam and added Olden and Molde.  I'm wondering which of the older HAL ships are still permitted to sail there, if any?

 

~Nancy

[ski ww]

The fjord approaching Skjolden looks like it will be a beautiful long cruise with lots of scenery.

[scubacruiserx2]

 

We think that it stinks that cruise lines may be using a bait and switch tactic . To get to Geiranger we hired a great guide who took us there from Alesund .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hallasm]

4 hours ago, ski ww said:

The fjord approaching Skjolden looks like it will be a beautiful long cruise with lots of scenery.

Indeed a nice Fjord sailing  - both Sognefjord and Lustrafjord - actually longer than sailing through Aurlandfjord to Flåm

You must be at the upper deck 5 hours prior to arrival into Skjolden to enjoy the scenery.

Sunrise 4 am mid June and 4:30 mid July. 

.

 

 

[ski ww]

Great pictures & video, thanks for posting.

[ontheweb]

On 8/24/2019 at 9:09 AM, LEtue said:

Received an itinerary modification this week for the Crown Princess - July 25.  They will be using water shuttles in the fjords....

 

Itinerary Day Date Description Arrive Depart Sat Jul 25 London (Southampton) Check In 12:30pm-3:00pm   04:00P Sun Jul 26 At Sea     Mon Jul 27 Bergen 10:00A 06:00P Tue Jul 28 Alesund 07:00A 06:00P Wed Jul 29 Olden Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 08:00A 06:00P Day Date Description Arrive Depart Thu Jul 30 Hellesylt Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 08:00A 10:00A Thu Jul 30 Geiranger Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 12:00P 06:00P Fri Jul 31 Stavanger 12:00P 07:00P Sat Aug 01 At Sea     Sun Aug 02 London (Southampton) 07:00A

We are also on that cruise (and on the roll call with you.)

 

We did not receive that, but I did notice when I was in my personalizer the water shuttles.

 

I wonder if they will discriminate against those not using Princess tours for those ports.

[ontheweb]

On 8/24/2019 at 9:09 AM, LEtue said:

Received an itinerary modification this week for the Crown Princess - July 25.  They will be using water shuttles in the fjords....

 

Itinerary Day Date Description Arrive Depart Sat Jul 25 London (Southampton) Check In 12:30pm-3:00pm   04:00P Sun Jul 26 At Sea     Mon Jul 27 Bergen 10:00A 06:00P Tue Jul 28 Alesund 07:00A 06:00P Wed Jul 29 Olden Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 08:00A 06:00P Day Date Description Arrive Depart Thu Jul 30 Hellesylt Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 08:00A 10:00A Thu Jul 30 Geiranger Water Shuttle Required Wheelchair Access Limited 12:00P 06:00P Fri Jul 31 Stavanger 12:00P 07:00P Sat Aug 01 At Sea     Sun Aug 02 London (Southampton) 07:00A

I just noticed a little while ago that Helleyslt which requires the water shuttle has only 2 hours 8 AM to 10 AM. Taking away shuttle time and you generally have to be back on the ship at least 1/2 hour before departure, I don't see how that leaves any time for the port.

[kaisatsu]

24 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

I just noticed a little while ago that Helleyslt which requires the water shuttle has only 2 hours 8 AM to 10 AM. Taking away shuttle time and you generally have to be back on the ship at least 1/2 hour before departure, I don't see how that leaves any time for the port.

Hellesylt is often a departure-only port for tours traveling overland you Geiranger. The two times I’ve visited, only tour passengers departed. If you have an independent tour to Geiranger it may be possible to disembark, but I’ve never tried because I prefer to enjoy the fjord sailing and spend time in/around Geiranger itself.

[scubacruiserx2]

On 10/13/2019 at 12:50 PM, ski ww said:

Great pictures & video, thanks for posting.

 

Thanks and you're welcome .

[hallasm]

26 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

I  don't see how that leaves any time for the port.

This is only a ‘technical stop’ to allow for ship  excursions  to start in Hellesylt and end in Geiranger - there is a boat service from Hellesylt to Geiranger - I would stay at the ship and then plan for a bus tour to the view points in Geiranger.