"Sorta" Live from the Explorer in the Norwegian Fjords

[Hambagahle]

You really DO look like happy campers!!   Wish Ken and I were onboard with you but that will wait till March!  Have lots of fun!

[Travelcat2]

Wow - the restaurant looks devine!  So, you only got lost twice?  That is really good as we have been lost for at least an hour in Copenhagen (looking for a specific Italian restaurant)!  We ended up dining at Riz Raz which is a vegetarian restaurant (we are not vegetarian) but the food was the right price and was prepared very well.

 

Love your itinerary as it concentrates on Scandinavia (especially Norway which we love and have cruised previously).  Our Norway cruise is still amongst the top cruises that we have done on Regent.  

 

It is so nice to have a "sorta" live thread from this part of the world!

[ronrick1943]

So far so good, looks like all is good.  Enjoy reading now and really look forward to seeing and reading about your cruise.  Looking forward to hearing about your likes, so-so's and whatever else happens during the cruise.  Thanks for taking the time, photos really nice.

[boblerm]

Jackie, fortunately the folks that we ran into were very nice and happy to help get me unlost.  On one occasion, I must have looked confused (well, I guess more confused than my usual state), and a gentleman came up to me and asked if I needed directions.  As an aside, every person that I came into contact with spoke perfect English.

 

Thank you Ron, so far, only likes, no so-so's as of yet!

 

 

[boblerm]

 

Last night's sailaway  was a bit of a bust as it was rainy and overcast, and frankly, the sail out of Copenhagen doesn't offer much in the way of scenery.  But we were sitting in the Observation Lounge on the Explorer, so what can be bad?

 

When we got back to our room, the skies were brighter, and I went out on our balcony and saw this

 

 

 

I had no idea what this was, so I asked Bixby.  Who dat, you may ask?  Bixby is a "virtual assistant" on my Samsung phone that can, among other things, identify a landmark in a photo.  Which to me is not so far removed from witchcraft.  Bixby informed me that it is Kronberg Castle in Helsingor, Denmark, and was the inspiration of Hamlet's Elsinore.

 

[boblerm]

We always have dinner on the first night in Prime 7. Why? I don't know. But it's a tradition!

 

We started with Ahi and Avocado Tower and the Crab cake, both excellent. We created our own surf and turf, namely Bone in Ribeye and Crab Legs. We saw  on a recent trip report (I think Z and TB's) that you can have the crab legs removed from the shell, so we did as well, makes things a lot easier.

 

 

We often skip desert, but never in P7, as here is featured the best desert on the planet (and for me, reason enough alone to cruise on Regent) , the Caramel Popcorn Sundae.

 

 

Someone on a recent thread was asking for suggestions as to what liqueor to pair with it,.. may I suggest.. Godiva White?

 

 

 

The production show was Broadway in Concert.  I hated.......... to see it end. It was fabulous IMO. 

 

We have been on board for less than a day, my preliminary assessment :

Service - A+

Cuisine - A+

Entertainment - A+

Internet - C-  (but hey, for a cruise ship, that's pretty much a rave review)

 

And having John Barron as Cruise Director is an absolute treat.

Edited August 9, 2019 by boblerm

[boblerm]

Today we are in Kristiansand, Norway, (and as Flossie009 has pointed out, not to be confused with Kristiansund, where the Navigator is today.)

 

 

We have an afternoon excursion. 

[Hambagahle]

Can't wait to try the Popcorn sundae!  But the whole meal looks perfect.  Photos are great!  

 

 

[seaknots]

good we have 2 report from norway

yours is best but not to tell @flossie009

 

[boblerm]

1 hour ago, seaknots said:

good we have 2 report from norway

yours is best but not to tell @flossie009

 

Seaknots, you are quite the coquettish two-timer!😄

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

Bob

You ate my favorite meal in P7! My mouth is watering- -

Looking forward to December, when I can order it for myself. 

We loved our sailing  in Norway last summer. 

Enjoy and be safe. 

Sheila

 

[boblerm]

Thank you, Sheila!

 

Today's excursion was "Hollen, Sogen and the Vest Agder Open Air Museum".

The Museum is a site where 30 homes of various ages were relocated to the grounds there, mostly old farmhouses.

 

 

 

 

 

Next, the Sogne Old Church with 17th century Renaissance decorations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, Hollen where we visited an old fisherman's village.

 

 

 

Not the most exciting excursion I have been on, but pleasant enough.

The timing was a little challenging for mealtime, as we left too early for lunch and returned too late for it (oh dear!)  So we went to afternoon tea, which, believe it or not was the first time we have done so on a cruise ship.  A fellow can get used to this!😁

 

Dinner tonight in Compass Rose, the production show is "My Revolution, music of the British invasion."

 

Tomorrow we are in Bergen, but weather forecast is not promising.😫.

Edited August 9, 2019 by boblerm

[boblerm]

I have my first complaint.

Ready? Brace yourself :

The pretzels in the lounges are stale! Oh, the agony! 

But the chips (crisps for my UK friends) and peanuts are just fine, thank you.

 

Another complaint, but this one with tongue in cheek. I have a problem with Compass Rose. When you get the menu, on the right side are listed mouth watering daily specials. On the left side are "always available" items, some of which I know that I love, others that I have not had a chance to try yet. The problem? I am on vacation, why should I have to make such gut wrenching decisions every night?

 

 

Below are Caviar Portiferoles, Pasta with Lobster Sauce, Duck with Fried Rice Frittata and Bok Choy.

 

 

 

O M G

 

 

The show, "My Revolution" - great energy, beautiful voices, talented dancers, top notch orchestra, great back lit LED backdrop lighting, excellent sound system, doing the music that I grew up with. Everyone has their own opinion, but for me, cruise ship entertainment just doesn't get any better than this. 

[boblerm]

A rainy day in Bergen.

 

It turns out that if you woke up in the morning in Bergen and said that before looking out the window, the odds are that you would be correct, not many sunny days here.

Our excursion was Troldhaugen, Mt. Floyen & Funicular. 

 

The worst part of touring on a rainy day is trying to get photos from a tour bus. 

 

 

 

 

But once in a while you can get a shot through the raindrops. 

 

 

In Troldhaugen is the home of composer Edvard Grieg, we toured his historic home, and walked the grounds a bit in the pouring rain. 

 

 

 

We took the Funicular up to the top of Mount Floyen. Worse than rain on a tour is fog, happily, we had little. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my favorite sight of all.

 

Our neighbor is the Viking Jupiter, the second best ship in port today.😄

 

The drive around town was lovely despite the lack of many photo opportunities 

 

We had a very enjoyable tour notwithstanding the conditions. 

[boblerm]

Do you remember the 60 'a TV show Laugh In? One of the cast members name was Henry Gibson. I was quite surprised to learn that he is quite famous in Norway as our tour guide mentioned him several times.

 

What's that? Oh. Jeannie just informed me that she was referring to Henrik Ibsen. Not Henry Gibson. 

 

Never mind.

 

We will have dinner again tonight in Compass Rose (decisions, decisions).

 

The show is comedian Martin Beaumont. 

 

Tomorrow is a sea day. I love sea days as there is plenty of time for one of my favorite activities, namely doing nothing. And I do it so well. 

But there is alway room for improvement, so I anxiously await the publication of Ron and Rick's book. 

[Wendy The Wanderer]

20 hours ago, boblerm said:

Today's excursion was "Hollen, Sogen and the Vest Agder Open Air Museum".

The Museum is a site where 30 homes of various ages were relocated to the grounds there, mostly old farmhouses.

 

Huh!  I did a similar museum in Oslo, years ago.  I thought it was wonderful, but I had the luxury of being by myself with no time constraints, so I could wander around for the whole day if I wanted. What struck me is that they seemed to have such reverence for their past.

 

BTW, I've heard it lmost always rains in Bergen?

Edited August 10, 2019 by Wendy The Wanderer

[boblerm]

14 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:

Was the pasta in lobster sauce in CR or Sette Mari? I don't recall seeing it on the menu but I will definitely order it when we are onboard.

Jackie, the pasta dish was in CR, on the special of the day side.  It was really good!

[boblerm]

14 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

BTW, I've heard it lmost always rains in Bergen?

Wendy, I suppose that the answer depends on whether one is a glass half full/ half empty person.  Half empty- in an average year, there are 260 days if rain🙁.  Half- full: there are 105 nice days!😊

I guess that would be more like 2/3 empty/ 1/3 full, but let's not quibble.😁

[flossie009]

1 hour ago, boblerm said:

Jackie, the pasta dish was in CR, on the special of the day side.  It was really good!

 

David had the Spaghetti with Lobster last week in Compass Rose on Navigator. He also said it was delicious and not to be missed when offered.

 

Loving your blog 🙂

[boblerm]

27 minutes ago, flossie009 said:

 

David had the Spaghetti with Lobster last week in Compass Rose on Navigator. He also said it was delicious and not to be missed when offered.

 

Loving your blog 🙂

Thank you Susan, right back at ya! 😊

The show last night was comedian Martin Beaumont, very funny. As a special treat, the opening act was the production cast doing an ABBA medley. 

 

Another great dinner in CR, escargot (on the always available menu, and strangely listed under "meats") 

Planko encrusted shrimp (on the specialty menu, but if you miss it, I recommend you special order it another night, it is that good) 

 

 

Lobster tails, before and after (always available. Is anyone aware of another cruise line that offers Lobster any night, no special order necessary?) 

Did I say earlier that we hardly ever order desert? I guess I lied.

 

 Grand Marnier Soufflé

 

[boblerm]

 

 

 

 

A sea day on Sunday on the Explorer means Gala Brunch in Compass Rose. But on Sunday there is also Champaign and Caviar breakfast in La Veranda, and there is  an Asian Barbecue lunch at the pool grill. See what I mean about difficult choices? Darn you, Regent! 

 

Champaign Caviar breakfast 

 

 

 

Compass Rose Brunch 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[boblerm]

As we are crossing the Arctic Circle today, there is the traditional Order of the Blue Nose ritual, where one has the honor of donning a Viking helmet, getting a blue nose of icing, and having your picture taken with, King Neptune, provided that one is willing to yell "skol".

 

 

 

 

Edited August 11, 2019 by boblerm

[boblerm]

Jeannie won at Bingo! 68 smackaroos! 

But it costs $30 to play, so.... 38 smackaroos! 

[1982CruzStart]

Thanks for taking us along on your cruise. Fantastic pictures and commentary. Really enjoying both your and Susan's threads.

[Zqueeze1]

Panko crusted shrimp is one of our favorites and we cannot get enough of them. I’m telling The Boss she needs to make her version of them this week. 

Z and TB