Live from Journey Norway Cruise

[Glenndale]

8 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

The 28th July 2021 is one that I'd like to do also, heading as it does to Longyearbyen, but I won't be booking it just now. The prices are just crazy. £13,000 for a window cabin. They are having a laugh at that price. I will wait and see what happens. 

 

Phil 

 

Phil I know you are looking at 2021 for Longyearben but Saga are offering a 16 night cruise in 2020 on their new, all balcony ship and may well repeat a similar cruise in 2021.

Their 2021 itineraries are due out soon

Just gives you a comparison for prices.

 

 

[LuAnn]

WELL..color  "me green"!!! TBH....you all are so lucky to live in Europe...and are able to "jump on" at the last minute!! Living In "So Cal"...I have to book my flights in biz class with miles well in advance!!!  I'm happy that my friends can take advantage of living in Europe!!! LuAnn

[Grandma Cruising]

Friday 12 July contd

As we didn’t go to the Azamazing Evening we ate in Prime C, along with a few other couples. We had a wonderful meal - Chef’s Special starter of Mussels 3 ways (1 with a tomato sauce and one with a white wine sauce, both baked, & one chopped up in a salad), Crab Cakes, Chateaubriand and Cappuccino  Soufflé.

We spent some time chatting in Spirits bar with people who had come back from the Azamazing evening at Nidaros Cathedral. Opinion about it was mixed - some people really loved it, others not so much, but all agreed that the setting was wonderful.

Edited July 13, 2019 by Host Grandma Cruising

[Grandma Cruising]

Saturday 13 July

We had breakfast in Discoveries as usual, then watched Journey dock in Molde. We left the ship at 9:40 to look for our guide for the Norway Excursions tour to the Atlantic Road. He was waiting just outside the dock gates for us and the tour was full - mostly with roll call members. The bus was just around the corner and at 10am we set off. Our guide, Iga, was excellent, giving us lots of information about Norwegian life. We drove for about an hour to get to the Atlantic Road. It was an interesting drive through mixed countryside with lots of farms and little villages.

We drove right along the full length of the road, which connects lots of little islands, then turned and came half way back and stopped at one of the islands where we could take photographs of one of the most photogenic bridges and walk right around the island.

[ellbon]

Saw great pictures from the evening. The organ was not used and I would of loved to hear those pipes being played. I have skipped some classical nights but as I love churches I am sure I would enjoy this. 

[Grandma Cruising]

19 hours ago, ellbon said:

Saw great pictures from the evening. The organ was not used and I would of loved to hear those pipes being played. I have skipped some classical nights but as I love churches I am sure I would enjoy this. 

I understand from those there that the organ was used.

[Grandma Cruising]

Saturday 13 July contd.

From the Atlantic Road we went to Bud which is where there is the remains World War 11 fortifications which the Germans forced prisoners of war to build. There was still some artillery there and you could see a roundhouse and other fortifications. There is a WW11 museum there too, but we did not have time to go in it.

Bud also has a very nice harbour and fishing boats.

Edited July 14, 2019 by Host Grandma Cruising

[oddjob16]

6 hours ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

Saturday 13 July contd.

From the Atlantic Road we went to Bud which is where there is the remains World War 11 fortifications which the Germans forced prisoners of war to build. There was still some artillery there and you could see a roundhouse and other fortifications. There is a WW11 museum there too, but we did not have time to go in it.

Bud also has a very nice harbour and fishing boats.

Even though Bud is almost in the Atlantic it has no lighthouse. If it had, it would probably be called Bud Light... 😂😂😂😂😂

[Grandma Cruising]

11 hours ago, oddjob16 said:

Even though Bud is almost in the Atlantic it has no lighthouse. If it had, it would probably be called Bud Light... 😂😂😂😂😂

I said roundhouse - a type of bunker!

[Grandma Cruising]

 

 

 

Saturday 13 July contd

From Bud we drove to the top of Mount Varden where there is a great view-point overlooking Molde. We could clearly see the Journey and the town, as well as having a great view of the new soccer stadium. This is where Olly Skolksjaer was the manager before he became the manager for Manchester United.

Lots of people were out with children, dogs, bikes etc.

 

On the way back down to the ship we were delayed because it’s a very narrow road and there was a cycling event taking place on the mountain. Our coach was held back by event marshalls to allow cyclists to pass through. Eventually our guide, Iga, successfully pleaded with them that we had to get back to the ship and they reluctantly let us through after nearly 45 minutes of delay.

 

Back on the Journey we had a late lunch at the Patio (yes you’ve guessed it, my DH had yet another Grrek Burger - and I had chicken consommé and nachos). At 5pm we went along to a cheese tasting event held in the Living Room. The tables were groaning with a great selection of cheeses along with crackers, bread, grapes & dried fruits.

 

 

 

We had dinner in Discoveries again, sharing a table with fellow Roll Call members.

 

Edited July 15, 2019 by Host Grandma Cruising

[oddjob16]

2 hours ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

I said roundhouse - a type of bunker!

Ohh, I was just trying to make a joke. The lighthouse outside of Bud could have beeen called Bud Lighthouse but it is called Storesundet Light. Just a pun. 

[Grandma Cruising]

2 hours ago, oddjob16 said:

Ohh, I was just trying to make a joke. The lighthouse outside of Bud could have beeen called Bud Lighthouse but it is called Storesundet Light. Just a pun. 

😁

[Grandma Cruising]

Sunday 14 July

We awoke to mist and low clouds as the ship docked in Molde.  We had an early start this morning as were booked on the Azamara Lake Loen Cruise. We had originally booked this tour for the afternoon, but four days before the cruise we got an email from Azamara telling us that the tour would now start at 8:30am! We had booked this through Azamara because we knew that it is not offered by any private tour companies. We went into breakfast in Windows before 7am for continental breakfast, but ended up waiting to eat until 7 as there is a very limited selection up until then (pastries & bread, boiled eggs, cereals etc - no fresh orange juice or ginger energisers either).

There were three buses taking us to Lake Loen ( none of them more than about half full)  - it was not a long drive and the scenery was interesting. We stopped en route to see a lovely waterfall over a weir and the guide showed us the salmon ladder that was built at the same time as the weir to make sure salmon could still make it upstream to the lake.

 

Once at Lake Loen we embarked on a very comfortable boat which had indoor and outdoor seating. There was plenty of room for us all, with lots of spare space. As it was cloudy and a bit damp we sat inside for much of the Journey, popping outside to take photos.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2019 by Host Grandma Cruising

[Grandma Cruising]

Sunday 14 July contd

At the other end of the Lake we disembarked and we’re given waffles with jam & cream and tea/coffee at the little cafe there. Then it was back on the bus to go on the very narrow road that took us up to the oath to the viewing point for the Kjendal glacier. It was a very pleasant 15 minutes walk, some of it beside the fast running stream coming from the glacier.

 

 

 

 

 

On the way back we stopped twice. The first stop was at a little memorial garden that was to remember the people killed on the two occasions when huge boulders from the mountain overlooking the lake had fallen into the lake. On the first occasion in 1905 the lake was frozen and the boulder caused the ice to rise up and crush many of the houses in two villages alongside the lake, killing 63 people. The villagers rebuilt their homes on the premise that lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place. They were wrong and unfortunately the same thing happened again in the same place in 1936. This time it was in September and the lake was not frozen, so the 1million cubic metres of rock caused a huge tidal wave that washed over both villages, this time killing 73. The same thing happened again in 1950, but this time no-one was killed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last stop was to look at some little summer huts built in typical old Norwegian style.

 

 

 

Back to the ship for lunch in the Patio for yet another Greek Burger, and I had a lamb brochette.

 

We had a quiet afternoon on sun beds on a Deck 11 as the cloud had lifted and it was a very pleasant afternoon. We had dinner in a Discoveries again - I had a wonderful Thai Pumpkin soup and grilled halibut, which was delicious. My DH had chicken parmagiano, which he said was lovely. We had a drink and chat in Spirits bar.

Edited July 15, 2019 by Host Grandma Cruising

[nordski]

44 minutes ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

Sunday 14 July contd

At the other end of the Lake we disembarked and we’re given waffles with jam & cream and tea/coffee at the little cafe there. Then it was back on the bus to go on the very narrow road that took us up to the oath to the viewing point for the Kjendal glacier. It was a very pleasant 15 minutes walk, some of it beside the fast running stream coming from the glacier.

 

 

 

 

 

On the way back we stopped twice. The first stop was at a little memorial garden that was to remember the people killed on the two occasions when huge boulders from the mountain overlooking the lake had fallen into the lake. On the first occasion in 1905 the lake was frozen and the boulder caused the ice to rise up and crush many of the houses in two villages alongside the lake, killing 63 people. The villagers rebuilt their homes on the premise that lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place. They were wrong and unfortunately the same thing happened again in the same place in 1936. This time it was in September and the lake was not frozen, so the 1million cubic metres of rock caused a huge tidal wave that washed over both villages, this time killing 73. The same thing happened again in 1950, but this time no-one was killed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last stop was to look at some little summer huts built in typical old Norwegian style.

 

 

 

Back to the ship for lunch in the Patio for yet another Greek Burger, and I had a lamb brochette.

 

We had a quiet afternoon on sun beds on a Deck 11 as the cloud had lifted and it was a very pleasant afternoon. We had dinner in a Discoveries again - I had a wonderful Thai Pumpkin soup and grilled halibut, which was delicious. My DH had chicken parmagiano, which he said was lovely. We had a drink and chat in Spirits bar.

 

Thanks for posting those pictures.

 

A remarkable memory!

[Grandma Cruising]

Monday 15 July

The ship docked in Bergen at about 8am this morning - and it is a glorious sunny day, one of the very few days when it doesn't rain In Bergen. The Viking Jupiter and the Sapphire Princess were also docked next to us.

After a late breakfast in Windows we set off for a walk around Bergen. The Journey was docked in the closest dock to the town centre, so it was a short walk to the shops and fish market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We wandered around town, looked in the main church, bought Norwegian chocolate for our grandchildren and then had a walk in the grounds of the fortress and Hakons Hall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 15, 2019 by Host Grandma Cruising

[Lottie A]

 HGC....I am going to have to try that Greek burger your OH is so fond of soon! 

Great pictures again...that cheese Buffet appeals to me more than the Chocolate Buffet does. 

[excitedofharpenden]

[Werangels]

55 minutes ago, Lottie A said:

 HGC....I am going to have to try that Greek burger your OH is so fond of soon! 

Great pictures again...that cheese Buffet appeals to me more than the Chocolate Buffet does. 

 

Me too.  Love trying new and regional cheeses.  The fish in the market looked very tasty too HGC.

[oddjob16]

3 hours ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

Monday 15 July

The ship docked in Bergen at about 8am this morning - and it is a glorious sunny day, one of the very few days when it doesn't rain In Bergen. The Viking Jupiter and the Sapphire Princess were also docked next to us.

After a late breakfast in Windows we set off for a walk around Bergen. The Journey was docked in the closest dock to the town centre, so it was a short walk to the shops and fish market.

 

3 hours ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

So glad you had great day in Bergen. I grew up there and still regard myself as a Bergener, even though I've lived in Ålesund for 20 odd years. We feel a deep connection to northeast England from centuries of trade and tourism. Many words are the same from just after the war.

Bergen is the most beautiful city in Norway. If you're unlucky it will rain, but still it will be the best place. Biased? Me? Naahh

 

[maggie.1008]

What are the ingredients in the Greek Burger ? 

 

Thanks for sharing your Journey with us. 

[uktog]

It’s a minced lamb burger served with feta cheese and olives.  I usually have it once a cruise.  It’s nice, though I like variety so once is enough. Depends on who cooks it, sometimes it can be a little greasier than an ordinary burger. 

[maggie.1008]

I will give it a try. 

[norn iron]

On 7/15/2019 at 10:54 AM, oddjob16 said:

Ohh, I was just trying to make a joke. The lighthouse outside of Bud could have beeen called Bud Lighthouse but it is called Storesundet Light. Just a pun. 

 

I thought it tasteless! (the beer, not the joke!!)

[excitedofharpenden]

25 minutes ago, norn iron said:

 

I thought it tasteless! (the beer, not the joke!!)

I agree.  In my view it's horrid. 

 

Phil