LIVE from the Rotterdam’s Best of Norway: August 17-31, 2024

[0106]

@newtocruiseinblue

[VMax1700]

50 minutes ago, 0106 said:

@kazu@VMax1700 This info is for you.  Still no crackers with the cheese platter! One measly piece of toasted bread 😩

😭😭BYOC (Bring Your Own Crackers!) 

I pack my own supply now.  It has become a habit, a bad habit.

p.s. the cheese selection looks rather poor, too. 🙄

 

[0106]

5 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

the cheese selection looks rather poor, too

I’ve had better.

[newtocruiseinblue]

49 minutes ago, 0106 said:

@newtocruiseinblue

Nice!!!!! Thank you!

[cunnorl]

6 hours ago, 0106 said:

@kazu@VMax1700 This info is for you.  Still no crackers with the cheese platter! One measly piece of toasted bread 😩

No crackers onZuiderdam  either. I brought my own! Bought some great ones in the grocery store in Greenland. 

[Sea42]

5 hours ago, 0106 said:

@kazu@VMax1700 This info is for you.  Still no crackers with the cheese platter! One measly piece of toasted bread 😩

Good cheese does not need a cracker!

[0106]

Hello from Bergen, the rainiest city in Europe with about 239 rainy days a year.  This morning we left the ship for a 3 hour walking tour with Tommy arranged through Tour by Locals.  It was $50 pp for the four of us.  The HAL walking tour was $100pp and the HoHo bus was &45pp. We were wet through to the bone by the time we returned to the ship but we enjoyed seeing the city and he was an excellent guide. Seattle had s there sister city and I understand why.  Here is a gift they gave them on the 900 year anniversary of the city’s founding.

We saw many cute houses.

 

The Fish Market

 

 

UNESCO site Bryggen remaining wooden houses

 

 

 

Theater 

[shippmates]

I enjoy seeing your pictures.  I had a moose burger in the fish market.  It was so good.  Enjoy the rest of your time in Norway.  Thank you for sharing.

[epanchenko]

I am on this cruise.  Weather in Bergen was not good, as stated.  I did not do an excursion here.  We went up the mountain via the funicular.  We hiked a bit, but with the weather we cut it short.  We then went to the art museum(s).  Nothing to write home about, they had a Munch exhibit that was interesting.  We headed back to the ship early, the weather was too annoying.

[grannyshell]

Thanks for the wonderful pics. I love a rainy day so I'll be right in my element. Tina, did you need kroner to shop or were the merchants ok with plastic? I'm so looking forward to Bergen. My grandparents sent me to stay with their friends there for 6 weeks as high school graduation gift but that was 52 years ago! 

Edited August 20 by grannyshell

[StLouisCruisers]

Tina @0106 you're a trooper for sticking it out in all that rain!  So glad you enjoyed the day though anyway.  We've been pretty lucky on our stops there and most of the time we get some sun or a lot of sun.  Thanks for letting us in on your daily activities.

[0106]

19 minutes ago, grannyshell said:

did you need kroner to shop or were the merchants ok with plastic

I used my credit card for all of my purchases, even flowers from a street vendor. My friend got some kroner at the atm so we could tip the guide.

[0106]

21 hours ago, julia said:

could you please post pics of your aft cabin? 

I was going to take pictures for you after our cabin had been cleaned but I forgot.  The room is now draped with drying clothing.  Photos of cabin 8203 from HAL Facts are accurate.  Please ask if you have a specific question about the aft cabins. 

Edited August 20 by 0106

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

2 hours ago, 0106 said:

Hello from Bergen, the rainiest city in Europe with about 239 rainy days a year.  This morning we left the ship for a 3 hour walking tour with Tommy arranged through Tour by Locals.  It was $50 pp for the four of us.  The HAL walking tour was $100pp and the HoHo bus was &45pp. We were wet through to the bone by the time we returned to the ship but we enjoyed seeing the city and he was an excellent guide. Seattle had s there sister city and I understand why.  Here is a gift they gave them on the 900 year anniversary of the city’s founding.

We saw many cute houses.

 

The Fish Market

 

 

UNESCO site Bryggen remaining wooden houses

 

 

 

Theater 

 

I'm sorry the weather did not cooperate today, but I'm glad you had a nice tour in spite of the rain.  Bergen is a lovely town, and we've enjoyed many visits there.  The times it was raining when we were there were not as wet as what you experienced.

 

[dfish]

I've been to Bergen twice.  Once it rained so I spent my time shopping.  The next time it was sunny and warm so we went up the funicular and hiked.

 

Thanks, Tina @0106, for this thread.  You are bringing back great memories for me.  We really enjoyed Norway.

[0106]

Norway is gorgeous. I’m sorry I don’t have pictures of our sailaway from Bergen.  It was beautiful despite the constant rain.  
 

We had dinner in the Pinnacle.  There has been talk on the forum about a new entreeI decided to take one for the team.I ordered it without any sides so I cannot show you the actual presentationIt was as terrible.  When the waiter asked about my meal, I told him I was disappointed.  He offered to bring me another meal; I declined. I had ordered a half portion of the asparagus and mushroom risotto to replace my sides. The manager quickly arrived to my table.  I told him that the legs were obviously frozen, the shells were bendable but the crab was dry.  I also told him that eating with my hands was not the experience I expected in the Pinnacle. He stated that the managers of the Pinnacle across the HAL line were surprised about the addition too and he would relay my comments to the upper management.  I was not charged.

[0106]

Welcome to Flam!  

[epanchenko]

Leaving Flam

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

11 hours ago, 0106 said:

Norway is gorgeous. I’m sorry I don’t have pictures of our sailaway from Bergen.  It was beautiful despite the constant rain.  
 

We had dinner in the Pinnacle.  There has been talk on the forum about a new entreeI decided to take one for the team.I ordered it without any sides so I cannot show you the actual presentationIt was as terrible.  When the waiter asked about my meal, I told him I was disappointed.  He offered to bring me another meal; I declined. I had ordered a half portion of the asparagus and mushroom risotto to replace my sides. The manager quickly arrived to my table.  I told him that the legs were obviously frozen, the shells were bendable but the crab was dry.  I also told him that eating with my hands was not the experience I expected in the Pinnacle. He stated that the managers of the Pinnacle across the HAL line were surprised about the addition too and he would relay my comments to the upper management.  I was not charged.

 

I'm sorry the king crab clusters were such a disappointment.  The presentation did not look appetizing to me.  I'm glad he did not charge you for the crab clusters.

 

[0106]

Flam is beautiful! We took an HAL excursion calledCoach &Train Express recommended by several on the board.  Different views, described as explore the panoramic splendor of the fjord country by road and rail.

We began our journey on the historic Flåm Railway and journey from sea level to 3000 feet on a 12-mile ride.


 

Church from the 1600s

Switch back roads 

The train stops at the 280-foot Kjosfossen Waterfall 

A hulder is a seductive forest creature found in Scandinavian folklore. She looks like a normal human woman except for her tail, which will give her away. She would lure men into the woods with her song and depending on their character would either kill them or marry them. She was neither good nor bad, instead she would respond to the intentions and actions of the person who encountered her. If a hunter was kind to her she would assist the hunt.

 

On the way to Voss

 

[0106]

Voss

 

 

 

In the way home in the coach 

 

 

[dfish]

Beautiful pictures, Tina!  Thanks!

[Sallycruiser 06]

Thankyou so much for taking time to record your blog! Your photos are lovely. 

[cat shepard]

Tina, your pictures are spectacular! Thank you. 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

6 hours ago, 0106 said:

Voss

 

 

 

In the way home in the coach 

 

 

 

Wow!  Such beautiful pictures.  We took the train 19 years ago.  Such beautiful scenery in the area.