QE2 Land Of The Midnight Sun

[whylion]

The sea days on the cruise is very similar to the transatlantic days in terms of speakers and entertainment. And they're usually formal, I guess because it takes longer to squeeze into your dressy clothes (especially towards the end)

[spinnaker]

:D Tux may well be a bit tight by the end! Glad the sea days are similar to those on a TA.

 

Karen - I'm afraid I don't know anything concrete about the ice levels at that time of year, though I guess the further north you go the more likely it is there will be significant amounts of ice ? Hope you can do one or the other though - they both sound great.

[pnhmrk]

I had a nasty fall on ice a few years back and am now extremely nervous about walking on [ice], but would really like to go. Is there likely to be any?

 

Karen - I've been keeping quiet because I just don't remember well enough - if it was warm enough for shorts there definitely wouldn't have been ice, I seem to remember snow when you got up as far as the cape.

 

I haven't had the fall, but I'm not keen on walking on ice either - I think I'd have remembered if it was any more than the tops of puddles being frozen.

[ryndam]

We sailed this cruise on QE2 in 2003. Having sailed QE2 in Mauretania cabins before, we splurged and booked Caronia cabins on this trip. Our C2 room on 3 Deck was massive, one of the largest rooms we have sailed. Huge closets. Large bathroom. And the single sitting in the Caronia restaurant, at least for us (there were 6 of us traveling together) was a much superior experience than the set dining times of the 2 sitting Mauretania restaurant. Comparing menus of the various restaurants (all the menus are posted outside each dining room), we noticed that Mauretania was the "basic selection". The entire Mauretania menu was offered in Caronia, with usually an additional soup, appetiser or entree course that was not on the Mauretania menu. Likewise, the Caronia menu was offered in the Grille restaurants, with usually (but not always) another additional entree or dessert selection on their menu choices.

 

We thought the Lido selection was disappointing. On most other lines (i.e. Holland America or Crystal for example), the breakfast and lunch menu in the Lido is virtually identical to the menu in the dining room. Not so on QE2. The cafeteria line in the Lido presented a more limited selection than the dining room. Since we were always assured of our own table, and our assigned waiter in the Caronia, we generally ate there, and bypassed the Lido.

 

That said, we always made a point of stopping by the Lido around midnight for a snack of cheese and fruit. A different assortment of cheeses and fresh berries and fruit was offered every evening, which made the perfect end-of-evening compliment before heading off to bed. There was one evening promoted as the "Gala Buffet", but I don't recall the details. Must not have been too impressed.

 

Concerning missing scenery during dinner, I only recall one time that we had to leave the dining room to watch the scenery pass. It was the evening that we were sailing from Geirangerfjord. Even though we passed the same waterfalls on our trip to Geirangerfjord earlier that day, the weather was foggy in the morning and the falls were obscured. Many in the dining room took a short break up to the Boat Deck to watch the falls as we passed them again in the early evening. Just bring your camera with you to dinner, and then you won't have to go all the way back to your cabin to retrieve it.

 

Weather ran the entire thermometer. It was very warm when we sailed from Southampton, and unseasonally warm in Edinburg. We "layered" in Geiranger. Jeans, hiking boots, flannel shirt, sweater and leather jacket. Gloves, scarves and wool hat with ear covers were needed earlier in the day, and removed as the air warmed up. There was much ice on the glaciers. Similar weather in Trondheim and Alesund.

 

It was bitterly cold the entire time we were above the Arctic Circle. Especially when the ship was moving. I have great pictures of the Midnight Sun, at midnight at the North Cape. Just find some sheltered nook on the Boat Deck, huddle together, take the pictures, and head back inside. It was very, very cold.

 

By the time we were in Bergen, it was shorts-and-tee shirt weather again. And unseasonally warm again, back in Southampton.

 

We booked Cunard's tours at the North Cape (it would be virually impossible to arrange this independently) and in Geiranger (for Birksdale Glacier). All other ports are compact enough to venture out on your own, unless you feel the need for the security of the ship's tour escort to accompany you.

 

On sea days, there were so many lectures and activities, there were actually a couple of days that we found ourselves seated in the theater from 10:00am - 3:30pm, taking only a lunch break between speakers. There was really not enough time in the day to do everything that was offered. One of the most comprehensive speaker series that we have experienced.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed the cruise. It was a full ship. There were only 200+/- Americans onboard, the vast majority of passengers were from the UK. It was a very different experience being on the QE2 this time, with activities, entertainment and menus geared more toward British and continental tastes and expectations, rather than for a predominately U.S. audience. The Golden Lion Pub was SRO every afternoon and evening. We enjoyed the piano players (albeit on that original Queen Mary piano that really needs a good restoration!) in the Chart Room before dinner and had a great time in the Yacht Club after the evening's show.

 

The QE2 has been making this trip for so long, everything is incredibly organized and runs seamlessly. You will enjoy.

[spinnaker]

Thanks for the detailed lowdown ryndam. Particularly good to hear that everything is so well organised.

 

I have now booked the cruise for next year and am already counting the days!

[spinnaker]

Does anyone have any info they can share on these places please? I've got some good info now on the other ports of call (thanks all) and am keen to get some insights into these. I've done some online research but it is always better to get the inside track from people who've visited them on a cruise - and are there any excursions worth doing at these places?

 

Thanks,

Spinnaker

[pnhmrk]

Does anyone have any info they can share on these places please?

 

Hellesylt is only a dropping off point for anybody taking a full day tour - she only stops there for a couple of hours, you won't even be able to get off. The main part of your day is the sail up Geiranger Fjord. That is wonderful in good weather and miserable if it's raining. (If you take a full day tour then you still get to see the scenery on the return trip). There's not a lot to do in Geiranger its self - a couple of souvenir shops, a waterfall and a small church well up the hill. If you walk up to the church you'll get some good views of the ship as you return.

[spinnaker]

Thanks pnhmrk - your info is much appreciated.

 

So that just leaves Stavanger & Longyearbyen if anyone has any info they can share on these places?

[spinnaker]

Does anyone have any info on these places they could share please?

 

Has anyone visited them on 'The Land Of The Midnight Sun' cruise? (or any other?)

 

Any info much appreciated.

[spinnaker]

Reading one of your posts on another thread I noticed that you have been to Norway a couple of times on the QE2. I am taking the Land Of The Midnight Sun cruise next year and would very much appreciate any comments, thoughts, advice, (review?!) etc. you may have on any aspects of the cruise or ports of call as I try to gather as much information as possible to ensure I get the most from the trip.

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Matt

[Kindlychap]

Reading one of your posts on another thread I noticed that you have been to Norway a couple of times on the QE2. I am taking the Land Of The Midnight Sun cruise next year and would very much appreciate any comments, thoughts, advice, (review?!) etc. you may have on any aspects of the cruise or ports of call as I try to gather as much information as possible to ensure I get the most from the trip.

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Matt

 

It's a lovely cruise, that I would be happy to do annually!

 

You've already seen that there is another thread on the same cruise, albeit a different year, with a port to port guide? Well here are my brief thoughts...

 

Bergen.

 

The third time I'd been to Bergen in fourteen months. Nice enough place, but not really as exciting as it could be. The much praised fish market is interesting for a short while, but the real treat are the Bryggen warehouses and Mount Floyen. We were there on a Sunday, and there isn't too much in the way of shopping - and nothing outside the Bryggen that we noticed that was actually worth travelling for.

 

My wife was deeply disappointed when we docked in Bergen last year - it was the first place she saw in Norway. If it is your first port - then wait until the next day and then you'll have more of an idea of the real Norway.

 

Geirangerfjord.

 

Stunning. Cruising up the fjord is wonderful, and the first time we did my wife woke up, and looked out of the windows and realised that I was actually right about Norway! The weather is not dependable, but we've been twice and had superb weather the first time, and nice weather the second. Geiranger itself isn't the most interesting of villages - but the setting is so stunning you won't be looking at the village.

 

Mount Dalsnibba is a tour worth taking - the views are stupendous - as is the shorter Eagles Bend. We did the former the first time, the latter the second.

 

Cruising past the Seven Sisters and the Suitor is fabulous. And meeting one of the small Fjord ferries and hearing it sound it's whistle three times, and then to hear Queen Elizabeth 2 respond with three magnificent blasts, each so powerful the balcony shakes.....

 

Magical. One of the most beautiful places in the world. Perhaps suffers from too many cruise ships (there is often more than one anchored) so perhaps we should restrict it to Queen Elizabeth 2!

 

Flaam.

 

Another lovely fjord. Another village whose setting is the making of it. Not the equal of Geiranger, but still a wonderful place.

 

The railway is the one and only tour to do. Don't waste your money on Cunard's trip unless you are adamant that you want the round trip by train/coach/bus. Instead buy a return trip from the ticket office and enjoy a spectacular ride.

 

It doesn't matter which side of the train you sit - the views swap from left to right on a regular basis.

 

The train is electric - not steam....

 

Trondheim.

 

Cathedral city, quite far north. It's also a University town. There were three in our party, and none was particularly enthusiastic about the town. The cathedral is worth seeing, but it is not one of the world's beautiful churches.

 

Aalesund.

 

Under rated in my view. There really isn't much here - but what there is has a charm of its own. There is a cafe at the top of Mount Aksla which is well worth reaching (stunning views of the Queen Elizabeth 2) and the town tour is worth taking - and if you get the guide we had last year, is very interesting indeed. The girl we had this year was serviceable, but no more.

 

But the jewel is just walking around, taking in the place. There is a lovely little museum in the old apothecary shop.

 

It is completely shut up on Sundays.

 

There is much made of the Norwegian sweater place by the Hurtigruten dock (the other side of the town from where the big ships dock) but it is tiny. Don't trek over there just for that!

 

Honnigsvag.

 

We stopped here for the North Cape, not at Skarsvag which was advertised. This was in fact a benefit. The town is much larger (for those who are not going on the tour) and the location makes little difference to those on the tour.

 

We didn't bother with the tour, and had a lovely time wandering around Honnigsvag. We went to the museum, which is small but well presented, and just enjoyed that North Norway atmosphere.

 

I have been to North Cape on a Hurtigruten trip. Much better than Cunard, as it had a guide. The North Cape itself is better from the sea than the land, and the North Cape museum and monument is not inspiring. However the situation is beautiful - just because I felt it looked better from the sea doesn't (of course) imply that it wasn't beautiful on land! I suppose it is one of those trips that one would do just to say it had been done - although they keep quiet about the fact that the real northern most point in Europe is in fact a few miles to the East!

 

Longyearbyen.

 

Another stunning place. The scenery is wonderfully impressive, and the fact that the location is inhabited, less than 700 miles from the North Pole, is impressive in itself. The town is lovely and clean, and surprisingly well equipped. It has a very new museum (at which the shuttle stopped) and a friendly Church where you can stop for a cuppa (another stop on the shuttle route). There are no organised tours, as there are insufficient coaches, and leaving the town is unwise in view of the local polar bear population. At least leaving without a high power rifle is unwise!

 

I gather guns aren't frowned on at the airport!

 

Longyearbyen is one of those places that not many people have visited.

 

Stavanger.

 

Much nicer than Bergen, but with the same feeling. It's smaller of course. The old section of the town merits a wander, with lots of old wooden houses, and the maritime museum is interesting.

 

There was beach volleyball going on when we were there! Odd, and it got in the way.

 

We went on the cruise to Lysefjord. Very well worth while, although Pulpit Rock is a disappointment from below - it looks like the rest of the fjord until you're told. Can't comment on the shopping. (My wife is not a great shopper, and nor am I!)

 

 

Overall a fabulous time. The North Sea can be dodgy, but of four crossings, three have been like millponds. I like crossing the North Sea, especially at night when you can sit looking out at of the window looking at all the oil rigs!

[spinnaker]

Kindlychap - thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed reply. Particularly interesting to note which tours you thought were / weren't worth doing, and which places you thought best / worst.

 

Bergen is our final port of call, so while we should get a better feel for the real Norway with our first port, Stavanger, it is good that I am now prepared for the fact that the final port may well be the least inspiring of them all - so I shall enjoy the others to the full and won't be disappointed if this one doesn't live up to their standards!

 

One question if I may - you say that the cruise to Lysefjord is very well worth while - what exactly does it enable you to see / do, and is there time to do this and to wander the old section of the town and visit the maritime museum? If not, which would you recommend, the cruise or the wander, to someone who has never been to Stavanger before. Also, where is the best place from which to view Pulpit Rock as you say it is a disappointment from below - or isn't it really worth the effort anyway?

 

Many thanks,

Matt

[Morgans]

Re Stavangar - we loved it. It is an easy walk from the ship's berth and a lovely small town to wander around. As I recall there was a small market next to the church which was fairly interesting and many shops - if you like spending. The most interesting thing was our visit to the old town (which lies parallel to the harbour, very near the ship) Here you can wander through the wooden painted houses and we even visited (wait for it!) the canning factory which is now a museum...thoroughly interesting. You even get shown how to pack sardines, albeit rubber ones!!!!! You can imagine how we laughed but it made an excellent topic of converstaion on board in the evening. Attached to the museum are the old traditional houses where the workers used to live about 50 years ago or so. The young guide opened one up for us and gave us our own little private tour which was thoroughly fascinating. It's a lovely port of call - keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't rain, as of course that can make all the difference.

We also liked Bergen - would recommend that you do the round Bergen bus tour which starts fron outside the Fish Market near where the ship docks. Included in the cost is a trip up the Cable Car (not the funicular) this goes much higher, up Mount Ulvik(?) Tremendous views from the top over the fjiords but you would need a fine day, which for Bergen can be a bit of a gamble. Once, back at the bottom the bus will take you back to the Market where you can stroll to the ship.

We liked Norway very much but beware prices. They are very , very high but you will have a marvellous time....

[Kindlychap]

One question if I may - you say that the cruise to Lysefjord is very well worth while - what exactly does it enable you to see / do, and is there time to do this and to wander the old section of the town and visit the maritime museum? If not, which would you recommend, the cruise or the wander, to someone who has never been to Stavanger before. Also, where is the best place from which to view Pulpit Rock as you say it is a disappointment from below - or isn't it really worth the effort anyway?

 

Many thanks,

Matt

 

Well, we did all three. And we're quite lazy so don't rush!

 

The cruise is (obviously) at sea level whereas the classic view from Pulpit Rock is at the top of the cliff. It is apparently a fair old walk to get to the top, and isn't for the lazy or unfit. As I fall into both categories we didn't explore that idea, and nothing that Cunard does helps you one iota.

 

I have heard terrific things about the view from Pulpit Rock - and when I said disappointment from below it is mainly because it looks much like the rest of the lovely scenery.

 

In short, I reckon that the morning Lysefjord cruise followed by lunch on board, then the maritime museum and the old quarter would give you a lovely day. It's just what we did!

[Kindlychap]

I'm not sure why Bergen is always the port chosen on the short cruises. Stavanger is so much nicer - it really is.

[spinnaker]

Can anyone tell me, please, how long it is likely to take to disembark in anchor/non-anchor ports? We will be in Mauretania class accommodation so I understand we may well be some of the last off the ship and I want to book the much praised (on this board) train ride in Flaam - I just don't want to pick a time and find we can't get off in time, though the earlier the better to allow us time to explore elsewhere.

 

Thanks,

Matt

[Kindlychap]

Flaam is a proper port, and the ship will be alongside.

 

But normally the process is that Sun/Signal decks get passes that bypass all queues, whereas the rest have to get a tender ticket and wait until the tours have left.

 

I have only ever been on the Signal Deck on a cruise, so can't help with the length of the queue.

 

But you want to get off as soon as reasonable, and hotfoot it to the booking office (which is obvious) and get your tickets.

 

Then think about anything else.

[Kindlychap]

If you are on the tour you don't have to worry.

 

But bear in mind that a lot of people will be on tours, waiting in the theatre, so the queue to get off isn't going to be really that long.

 

If you are really keen, then be up early ready for the announcement that you can go aboard.

 

We don't - we're too lazy - but have never had a problem worth worrying about on a proper docking port. Bear in mind that they clearly don't anticipate problems, as there is no priority for the penthouses.

[pnhmrk]

If you are really keen, then be up early ready for the announcement that you can go aboard.

 

Be ready before that! If you're on decks four or five then wait in the Grand Lounge, Decks One, two or three then wait in the Queens Room (Your programme will confirm this). Get a ticket for the first tender away and be ready to go as soon as you're called.

 

Have never had a problem worth worrying about on a proper docking port. Bear in mind that they clearly don't anticipate problems, as there is no priority for the penthouses.

 

We had a problem once - at Bilbao - there was only one gangway for getting both on and off the ship. That, coupled with the fact that it was very steep and they had to stop all the passengers every time they had to get a wheelchair on or off, meant that although we'd got off fairly quickly (by being amongst the first off) we had to queue for over an hour to get back on! That was on her maiden call, as I've heard nothing else since then I assume they've got it sorted.