LIVE Norwaylady escape the winter on Equinox B2B 23.03-11.04.24

[Norwaylady]

Hello there and welcome to a new live! 

It’s time to hit the show on the road⚓️😎🤩

 

We are Jarle & Alexandra from 🇳🇴 Norway. 

For those who haven’t seen us live before, you can check out some of our older live posts. 

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2970340-live-norwaylady-sails-on-edge-world-cruise-from-rome-to-singapore-3010-to-251123-26night/#comment-66313255

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2880218-norwaylady-goes-b2b-alaskahawaii-on-eclipse/#comment-63931944

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2925773-live—-norwaylady-goes-b2b-on-sil-27march-to-10april-in-the-caribbean/#comment-65062836

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2939286-norwaylady-goes-b2b-in-the-mediterranean-on-infinity-245-10623-live/#comment-65415622

 

We are deadly tired of winter 🥶 and snow ❄️ storms! 

 

King winter has not yet declared its time to end the season🤪❄️🥶

We have shuffled snow every week since we returned from Edge🫣😅

 

This sailing, b2b is an easy going experience. 

1. -Warm climate 
2. -No big planning involved 
3. -Ocean swimming comfortably warm 

 

So we are sailing on our good friend Equinox! 

We have sailed on her several times and we have a little crush on her🥰

 

Our sailing is 10+9. 

 

[Norwaylady]

So we are now comfortable seated at SAS *Gold Lounges at OSL. 

Time for some breakfast and coffee before we start our flights for today. 

 

Check-in was a breeze. Passport, ESTA and address to our hotel was registered online yesterday and we only needed to pick up our boarding passes, drop off bags and show our passport. 

This time we are flying SAS and United. 

We have 2 bags 15+16kg. 

 

We are flying OSL-LHR-EWR-FLL. 

So this means we need to proceed thru immigration and customs in New York/EWR. 

Not super happy about this, but it was a bit limited availability on flights and a price tag we were happy about….

 

We have SAS Go to LHR and United Premium Economy on our long haul flight from LHR-EWR. It’s the first time we try United on international flights. So looking forward to see if their international product is better than domestic US flights. 

From EWR-FLL it’s United domestic flight. 

[Norwaylady]

The splurge of suite class is not happening on this sailing🤣🤣🤣

El cheapo Norwaylady has decided and is not willing to pay a hefty hefty premium price for a suite this time. (I told you on Edge, not going to happen unless we get a price we want to pay 💰🤣) 

 

So we are back to “normal” procedure, Concierge class😎 deck 10. 

We have the same cabin for our b2b sailing. 

This was an onboard booking, so we received some OBC and the price was right for us. 

[Norwaylady]

Before I forget, you know I’m on Instagram. 

It’s a closed account, but feel free to follow me. 

I post from around the world and 🇳🇴 Norway. 

 

https://www.instagram.com/al_be_ra_bo?igsh=bWR3NWkzZW52eXNt&utm_source=qr

[Norwaylady]

The last few days has really gotten busy🤣🤪🫣🙈

 

As you know, our house is due for a major renovation and update to 2024…. 

Well, it’s suddenly kicked off🤣🤣🤣

 

Our new windows and balcony doors was expected to be delivered after the Easter 🐣 

Well, well…. I have a surprise for you! 

Friday 15.3: ring ring ring 📞

Hello! This is your window factory…. We are notifying you, that your order is ready and will be delivered on Monday 18.3🤓

 

Oh, a, iiiiiiik! 

We need to work this weekend😝😅🔨🔨

Due to our location of our house and our location of the balcony and big windows. It can’t just be delivered. 

It needs to be lifted upstairs to the balcony and upstairs in our garden area. 

And we needed the lift to take down the old big windows to the ground….

 

 

So it was a hectic weekend preparing for the delivery and installation of the new big windows. 

On Monday morning we received our new windows and doors… 

But are things going smoothly? 

Well, guess what? 

NO

 

Our delivery was made by a smaller trailer and no lifting arm😑

So they dropped off 1.2tonn of windows and glass doors to us… 

A lifting trailer could not be there before next day🫥😵‍💫

So it needed to stay the night at our car park and we had to survive another night by our “elegant” plastic windows upstairs in the living room🤭🫡

 

On Tuesday morning a lifting trailer arrived! Hurrah hurrah🥳🥳🥳

So then our new windows was lifted up and the old ones were taken down. 

 

 

 

New windows on the balcony was installed (they are not completely installed😝 but they are attached and standing in the correctly position) we will get new wooden frames and everything installed after our holiday. Then will the rest of the outside of our house go thru a major upgrade. 

New roofing, wooden panels, more insulation and new windows and doors. 

 

Typically I had a bigger meeting thing for work on Monday afternoon/evening. So no time to do anything else than work… Tik-tak tik-tak…. We are leaving soon😝

 

To top it off, Mr Norwaylady had a final home exam on a course at the university in HMS 10.Credits🤓 Hallelujah what a timing😅 Task given out on Monday at 15.00. 

Deadline for delivery today 09.00am. (He delivered it finished online at 00.30am😴) 

 

After the hurricane of demolition and reinstall of windows upstairs, it needed to be cleaned up and made up to normal life. 

(Not a good timing to have guests😂😂) our friends from Italy 🇮🇹 wanted to come to Oslo during Easter 🐣 They knew we were going on a cruise, but it’s really not a problem to let them stay in our house and pet the cats 🐈‍⬛🥰 Miss Marple & Hannah Hortensia are super happy with this arrangement😍

So then housekeeping needed to do their magic ✨ aka Norwaylady🙃

 

Mr Norwaylady was looking like a bandit! 

Ohm, you need a haircut before we leave😵🫣🤭

So multitasking him to the hairdresser, I’m taking the car to be washed and ready to be parked for a while…. (All that salt from the road needs to get off… the salt is eating the 🚗☠️☠️☠️) 

Running the last errands and packing up our bags. 

So it was little sleep for me before departure😴

I can hear my sun lounger calling out for me😎☀️✨

[chemmo]

Soooo looking forward to vicariously enjoying a bit of Caribbean sunshine with you…

[Norwaylady]

So back to travel! 

 

This airfare is payed by cash. 

It’s a SK/UA routing round trip. 

It was around 1200$ for both of us in economy on short haul and premium economy on long haul flights. (Crossing the Atlantic) 

It’s 2 checked bags each+ star alliance gold extra bag in our ticket. 

 

We started on time in OSL for boarding. 

SAS is operating today’s flight to LHR on a Airbus319. 

So a smaller aircraft. 

Flight has SAS Plus and SAS Go. 

Departure 07.55am. 

 

We Are seated on row 14AC on SAS Go. Food and beverage for purchase. Coffee and the is complimentary. 

Flight was completely full. So no empty seats. 

 

Boarding was completed 10.minutes before departure. 

Our flight deck came on the PA system and made an announcement: due to air traffic controllers in LHR, we have not received clearance for departure from OSL. 

LHR are claiming poor weather, but according to weather reports and live cam, it’s no weather alert…. 

But we are not allowed to leave from OSL until later….😖 approximately 60.minutes🫣 We will try to push through for earlier time…. 

 

Oh my! Not a good thing when you have a connecting flight at LHR.

Our next flight departs 12.00. 

So we have some time to linger on. Luckily our flight leaves from the same terminal😇 

After 20.minutes the captain announced that we had received an update on our departure time for the better🥳🥳🥳

 

So we would be taking off at 08.20 and head to London as soon as possible. 

Fingers crossed for a smooth flight and arrival close to our original arrival time😇

 

We are now airborne and flying to London🇬🇧

WiFi is functional and free for Star Gold guests. 

 

Onboard menu SAS

 

[Norwaylady]

The flight was uneventful, all according to plan. Service in Scandinavia style. 

A bit bumpy all the way. But Captain said that he would not set the seatbelt sign on permanent, if it kept at this level of turbulence. 

But please wear your seatbelt and remain seated unless you need to powder your nose…. 

 

Crew did service well and everyone was happy🥰 

Due to our slot time, we were on the ground 09.12 local time 🇬🇧 UK. 

Yes, that meant 25.minutes before our scheduled time😅 yes, all good! 

 

Transit thru security and United transit desk went quick and we had no lines🥳🇬🇧❤️

Now are we comfy seated in United Polaris Lounge at LHR. 

 

Mr did locate a 🍺 beer and a little something for the ducks🤭🦆🦆

 

Selection of food is breakfast style American and some continental style. 

Not mega impressed for it. 

The bar has everything. Drinks, wine, cocktails etc. Full service. 

 

Our flight leaves 12.00 to EWR. 

[hcat]

Hello...So far all very interesting..esp the big window installation!

 

Will be following along.

It's the Ist day of Spring here in NY.. quite nippy with wind chill temps in the teens! (maybe we came back from Florida too soon?)

 

Safe travels!

Edited March 21 by hcat

[Altamar]

Welcome to New Jersey! Looking forward to your live review 👍🏻

[kabmab]

So happy to follow you two on these cruises and enjoy your great posts!  Safe travels and wonderful (and warm) cruising!

[Norwaylady]

Our boarding started on time 11.15. 

 

Our flight is UA017 operated on a B767-300. 

It’s 3/4-class onboard. Polaris biz, United premium plus, economy more leg room and ordinary economy. 

 

Biz is 1-1-1, Polaris

Premium Plus is 2-2-2

Eco is 3-3-3

Flight time 7h52m according to captain. 

 

Seat is wide and legroom is good. Large IFE screen. Noise cancelling headphones. 

It’s a pillow and blanket from saks fifth avenue. 

Amenity kit from Therabody. 

It contains hand cream, lip balm, socks, sleep mask, cleansing towel for face, earplugs, tissue, toothbrush and toothpaste. 

 

 

Flight is almost fully booked. Some single seats in eco. 

Rest is fully loaded. 

 

Both bags is listed as loaded🙃

 

Now it’s time to get the last passengers onboard and off we go! 
 

next stop EWR

[vickykay]

Looking forward to once again following your review!

[Georgia_Peaches]

Safe travels!  Looking forward to another of your live reviews!

[Susanb10567]

Following along…heading on the Equinox this July..

[maggie.1008]

Will be following along for another smashing review 🛳🥂

[mauimary]

Fun to log on to CC while sitting here on a rainy day in NW USA drinking my coffee and see that you are traveling again.  Warm Caribbean weather after all that snow will be a great welcome I’m sure and give you renewed energy to tackle a home remodel.  Have a wonderful time. Thank you for sharing with all of us. 

[dlh015]

Following along of course!!

 

Smooooth sailing!!!!

[FRMPEI]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. We are sailing out on Silhouette on Monday so I will be walking down to the 17st Causeway bridge on Saturday at 4:00PM to watch/video/photo Equinox as you leave Post Everglades. Have a great Cruise.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

[mahdnc]

Have a nice cruise!  I look forward to reading your posts.

[Salt Lifer]

Looking forward to following along!

[Lena11033]

Looking forward to following along

[Barwick Cruiser]

I wouldn’t miss this for anything! Both legs have great ports, I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic holiday! 🥂from 🇨🇦

Cathy

[KKB]

Along for the ride again--entertaining & interesting as always.

Have a wonderful time!!

[Ken the cruiser]

Have a great cruise! I’m sure it will be a lot toastier than the one we were just on! 😂