Venture Expedition...or is it? Edinburgh to Tromso

[highplanesdrifters]

We had a delightful 3 days in Edinburgh despite rain, crowds from a marathon and bank holiday.  Will share tidbits on a sea day. 

 

Also happy to be once again in Scotland and back on Venture.   In spite of the issues below we all look forward to having a great time.

 

Now on to this Expedition Nonsense. Had I  known what I  know now I would have never booked this trip. Although billed as an Expedition Voyage, it looks to be 60-70% ocean cruise. Excursions are a mixed bag of eye watering priced ones, some included, some expedition. A beach trek for $350 wins the price for absurdly overpriced.   Some of this echos the recent excellent trip report from @kej1.  Had I known what was ahead I could have canceled the trip and booked a proper expedition or made private arrangements for excursions. FYI, this was priced as an Expedition,  not an Ocean Voyage or Reposition. Information about excursions was dribbled out in the last few months. 

 

It begs the questions: 

What is Seabourn trying to be or do they even know?

What "Expeditions" will actuall bey hybred expedition/ocean cruises. 

How will we know which is which? 

 

Happy to field any queries about this trip.

 

Here are screenshots of the Aberdeen excursions and itinerary. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[galeforce9]

@highplanesdriftersthank you. Look forward to reading your posts.  If you get chance would like to see all the shetland isles options/what is included please 

[highplanesdrifters]

@galeforce9

 

Let me know if you would like full descriptions.  Happy to screenshot them for you.

 

This is our third time in Shetland.  What a missed opportunity for amazing expedition excursions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[koalabear6314]

We will be boarding the Venture in Tromso at the end of June, and I think we can beat you on the ridiculous pricing of the paid for tours. There are only 3 actually offered at our first stop with the visit to a fish factory during the morning costing $375 per person ! 
$750 for two of us to go on a factory tour … you must be joking. 

[highplanesdrifters]

57 minutes ago, koalabear6314 said:

We will be boarding the Venture in Tromso at the end of June, and I think we can beat you on the ridiculous pricing of the paid for tours. There are only 3 actually offered at our first stop with the visit to a fish factory during the morning costing $375 per person ! 
$750 for two of us to go on a factory tour … you must be joking. 

 

That's insane.  @koalabear6314  you win!!!   It is at the point where it's insulting.

 

I would recommend going to the Polar Museum. Small but lots of information and artifacts.  It's walking distance from where you should be docked.  The church is OK, but I wouldn't spend a lot of time or money on it unless you're in to churches. 

 

Please give us a report when you board. 😃

[galeforce9]

7 hours ago, koalabear6314 said:

We will be boarding the Venture in Tromso at the end of June, and I think we can beat you on the ridiculous pricing of the paid for tours. There are only 3 actually offered at our first stop with the visit to a fish factory during the morning costing $375 per person ! 
$750 for two of us to go on a factory tour … you must be joking. 

@koalabear6314 

@highplanesdrifters

Shocking!   Great recommendation from highplanesdrifters.  I also recommend catching a local bus round to the cable car across the bridge.  Go up on the cable car then walk to the Arctic cathedral and back over the bridge.  Afterwards have a Mack brewery beer at the olhallen pub.  

[galeforce9]

9 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

@galeforce9

 

Let me know if you would like full descriptions.  Happy to screenshot them for you.

 

This is our third time in Shetland.  What a missed opportunity for amazing expedition excursions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for posting.  agreed!  Regular visitor to shetland after my first trip there on quest in 2018. Think I’ve spent around 4-5 months there since then 🙂.  

[galeforce9]

Stonehaven is a stone’s throw from Aberdeen and dunnotar is on the doorstep of stonehaven!  Can’t believe the price. 

[Redking]

4 hours ago, galeforce9 said:

Stonehaven is a stone’s throw from Aberdeen and dunnotar is on the doorstep of stonehaven!  Can’t believe the price. 

Agree. Unbelievable. Aberdeen is my Alma Mater, so I've seen Kings and Macher Colleges for free over a four year period 😂

[Redking]

@highplanesdrifters that's really disappointing. Following along as I'm trying to get a handle on the best options for expedition cruises and Seabourne is on the list. Just had a terrible experience on a Scenic Eclipse II Transpacific "Discovery" voyage. It was neither luxury or discovery, so won't be stepping foot on that again.

[BOB999]

I think I'm in between the posters in this thread (board on 6/9) in Tromso.  

 

I'm actually looking at the King Crab excursion only for the crab "feast" at the end.  The included excursion mentions time for shopping at the end, wonder if there is a crab reataurant nearby instead.

[highplanesdrifters]

8 hours ago, Redking said:

@highplanesdrifters that's really disappointing. Following along as I'm trying to get a handle on the best options for expedition cruises and Seabourne is on the list. Just had a terrible experience on a Scenic Eclipse II Transpacific "Discovery" voyage. It was neither luxury or discovery, so won't be stepping foot on that again.

 

Yes, very disappointing.  Sorry to hear about Eclipse. I guess we'll take it off our list.  We are looking to try other lines and have Ponant Japan booked in March 25.  We did a similar itinerary on Silversea Cloud in 23.  It was Fabulous!  A true expedition.   Excursions for all shapes and sizes.  Granted Cloud is a but long in the tooth, but I'd rather have an old ship and good excursions.  I'll write more extensively later.

[highplanesdrifters]

5 hours ago, BOB999 said:

I think I'm in between the posters in this thread (board on 6/9) in Tromso.  

 

I'm actually looking at the King Crab excursion only for the crab "feast" at the end.  The included excursion mentions time for shopping at the end, wonder if there is a crab reataurant nearby instead.

 

We depart in Tromso so I can't speak to the excursions and have never had crab there.  It's a bit of an industrial town, but trying to come of age.   I'd be in your camp. Ditch the tour find a good crab restaurant. 

[highplanesdrifters]

We had a nice zodiac cruise yesterday at Stroma.  Interesting geology and a few birds. When I say a few, I mean a few. Nothing of the nearby flocks and nesting sites chock full of seabird colonies

 

Lucky with the weather. Stunning day.  Happy to be on the water.

 

King of the hill.

 

 

 

Shag and razorbills

 

 

Razorbills. I was able to get this shot because our driver was stuck on the rocks.  We played bummper cars with the rocks all morning. She was as bad as the legendary Hanna on our PNG trip who stranded us on a sandbar with crocs approaching...more than once. 😁 

When about the interesting geologic faults that intersect on the island on Stroma she said there are none.  We joked that we needed the Geologist.  She said I am the Geologist.   Sums it up.

 

 

Again, just a stunning day.  A great example of the geologic upthrust.

 

 

Stroma is currently empty of humans except for the owner and his sheep.  It is dotted with the remains of homes from another era. Very eerie.  Sad we couldn't take a stroll about.

 

 

 

Our fist Puffin of the trip...maybe our only.🤣

 

 

 

Edited May 29 by highplanesdrifters

[highplanesdrifters]

In the afternoon we did a whiskey and Whisky tasting.  Good fun and nice variety.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Ullapool

 

We have done the kayak here on a previous trip. It was an easy paddle with great scenery. Highly recommend.

 

We signed up for the Geo park but learned yesterday that it was a death march on slippery rocks. With everything else sold out we opted to spend some OBC and head to Singleton..mind you, not because we need to taste any more whisky.  It does go to the "charming" village of Beauly.

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Back to Stroma for the rock geeks. As many may know, Scotland is a Geologist delight. 

 

Too late to edit addition.

 

Stroma is bisected by a fault which runs in a north-south direction through its centre, intersected by another fault running in an east-northeast direction across the north of the island.The soil on either side of the fault line is significantly different; the eastern and southern parts of Stroma are covered by fertile clay. fed by bedrock minerals, while less fertile boggy ground predominates on the west side.

 

Stroma is separated from the mainland by swift and  treacherous cureents and tides.  There is an underwater tidal project of note.  Gee, they wouldn't let us take the Submarine there.🤣

[reposado]

Enjoying your pictures you might as well convert this thread to a live trip report at this point. 

[highplanesdrifters]

37 minutes ago, Nops said:

To place some previous posts in perspective. We are having an excellent experience on the Venture. Our zodiac driver around Stroma was skilful and knowledgable, despite the huge range of questions being fired at him. My expectations are certainly being met. I also feel that posters should be circumspect in their language. The description of the potential trip to the Geo Park is offensive and has no place in a genuine critique.

 

So pleased you had a good and knowledgeable driver. It can make or break a zodiac ride.   Luck of the draw.  Was it Brent or Brandon, fabulous drivers and so knowledgeable . Sorry you were offended by the death march comment, just being cheeky as is my style.

 

As mentioned,  we are also having a great time.  It's just not the expedition we paid for and are used to.

[highplanesdrifters]

7 minutes ago, reposado said:

Enjoying your pictures you might as well convert this thread to a live trip report at this point. 

 

Thanks for the compliment.  I wasn't sure how live I would make this thread and didn't want to make promises to folks on the internet that I don't know.😁

[highplanesdrifters]

Ullapool 

 

Coming from an arid climate at 7,200 feet Scotland is a feast of the senses. Sea level moist air,  forests of green and fields as far as the eye can see. I am happy to just absorb the moisture and breathe. Every human we have come in contact with should be a model for civilized society.  OK, maybe there were a few unruly punters on holiday in Edinburgh that could have had one less pint. They did provide entertainment though. 😄

 

On to the excursion of the day.  Singleton Distillery in Glen Ord.  Yes it was a bit commercial and for the holiday makers. I am a sucker for "how it's made".

 

A quick and dry zodiac ride to Ullapool. Seabourn Venture has some competition. 

 

 

What a greeting!

 

We started with a scenic drive through the countryside and highlands.  

 

 

A quick stop in Beauly. Sadly no time for a kilt fitting at a Royal Warrent shop.

 

 

The Flora here takes my breath away. This is a "small" beech. 

 

 

Look at the size of this baby!

 

 

This Singleton Distillery dates to the 1800s. Look at the bark on this birch. I know little about the brand but enjoyed the tour.  I suspect it's a mass market name.

 

 

Historic meets modern.

 

 

 

 

The original office of the taskmaster before bar codes took over.  What will all the candle makers do? - Ayn Rand

 

 

Thirty foot tall casks going down to a lower level.

 

They said we could take pictures, honest.

 

 

Yes this is Scotland. The weather God's were with us.

 

 

 

Tours are dependent on guides. We hit the jackpot. Our amateur historian put award winning documentaries to shame.

 

 

There are issues with the tours,  like no food all day. No worries we found a chippy in Ullapool. 

 

 

Thanks Ullapool for a beautiful day.

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Sorry, I don't know what'd going on with the font size and I dare not try and fix it.

[highplanesdrifters]

After our trip to Chippy land dinner would have been overkill. 

 

A few cocktails at the Constellation Lounge and the off for a few sushi bites.

 

 

Sushi was quite yummy and the Club was empty!

 

 

 

Nick Martland our cruise director was having a little practice.  What a voice. Watch out Ross!

 

[BasandSyb]

On 5/29/2024 at 2:19 AM, BOB999 said:

I think I'm in between the posters in this thread (board on 6/9) in Tromso.  

 

I'm actually looking at the King Crab excursion only for the crab "feast" at the end.  The included excursion mentions time for shopping at the end, wonder if there is a crab reataurant nearby instead.

We are onboard and haven’t seen any excursions for Tromso - assumed there were none given it’s a turnaround day. Just checked the source app and nothing showing. 
 

Highplaneddrifters - agree with you about this cruise being betwixt and between.

 

Couldn’t fathom the rationale for the Ullapool visit.

[SwankPooch]

Nick was a singer in production shows