Cruise to North Cape
June 2013
We stayed in Poole at the RNLI college for the two days before the cruise which was great and just an hour from the port. Excellent accommodation and food, with great views.
On the Sunday we drove around to Southampton and arrived at about 11.15. Being at the Mayflower we checked in straight away choosing the queue for wheelchairs as this was the short one, nice having a choice! We passed the security and into the large room to await the boarding time. We had got an upgrade to a suite so we could go to the area set aside with coffee cakes and papers. Boarding started at about 12.00 and we were taken on first as suite passengers. Of course this was slowed down with there only being one lift for wheelchairs and scooters, this took an extra 7 minutes to board, (an absolute disgrace, who do I write to). Once on board we were directed to the Oriental Restaurant, for free champagne and a buffet. Our butler soon found us and said he would come when the cabins were ready. We eventually went with him up to the cabin at about 13.30. We could have gone sooner but when free champagne is on offer one does not rush.
The cabin was large with a separate sleeping room which is divided from the room with a glass door and a curtain. This was very useful with the 24 hour daylight we were to have in the cruise. There was a large coffee table, two armchairs and a large couch, 2 TV's all all the other usual stuff. And of course there was a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates.
After our drill we went out on to deck 7 for the sailaway and more free champagne, can anyone see a thread here. Arcadia had been on QE terminal and went off in front of us and we passed Oceana in Ocean terminal and she followed us out.
We started the cruise as we meant to go on and the butler came back at 5.45 to pour our G&Ts, a long standing cruise tradition, the G&T's not the butler. At about 7.15 I went down to bag my seat at the bar in the Lords Tavern. This is our 2nd G&T time. As usual at the bar the same people would come each evening at about the same time so another group of people to get to know.
As ever we had a table for 8 in second sitting. This was in the Peninsular restaurant, the first time we had been in a middle restaurant on either Oriana or Aurora. We met our table companions and once again we scored. We had a great table. There were 3 David's and a Steve, and a Linda, Margaret, Jo, and Chrissie. After a couple of days we were like old friends.
The food was of the same excellent standard as ever, especially the excellent fish & chips. Which 6 of the 8 people on the table had. I know some people have complained about fish and chips even being on the menu but I find that you cannot eat full meals every night on a long cruise and it made a very pleasant change. The waiters were very friendly and efficient. Oh and the food was HOT.
We soon settled into our routine with breakfast being taken in the cabin some days, that is full breakfast served by the butler. On other days we went up to Al Fresco. Or Al's as we call it. Following our tradition I had no lunch in the MDR but occasionally I had the mushroom croissant in Tiffanys. I often went here for my coffee and found the service to be excellent. We were disturbed a couple of times by quizzes as there was tennis on in the pub.
As we moved north it got a little cooler and when we were in Stavanger it was a little windy, definitely a day for a fleece. We had arranged to meet two friends who were on Oceana, who was following us around. We had coffee overlooking the harbour. We sat outside, being brave and then the waitress pushed a button, the awning came down and there were heaters underneath and we were as warm as toast. The coffee was good, a touch expensive but not as much as I had thought. We had a lovely chat and then moved on. As the day wore on it got warmer and the wind died down, I had to take off my fleece.
We had the first sail away of the cruise and it was very good with the Ents staff doing their thing on the pool side. Oceana was parked back to back with us and they were joining in with our sail away, which I think was a bit of a cheek. Go and get your own, I say. Must be P&O cuts 2 ships 1 sail away party.
On then to Olden a port we had been to before, not a lot there but the scenery was spectacular. We wandered all through the village and out the other end past the school and on round the end of the fjord. I got some good shots of Oriana tied up and Oceana, still following us, at anchor. She was tendering and when we got back on there were long queues for the tenders. I think 3 coaches had just come back from a trip. Interestingly we had dropped one of our tenders and were helping ferry their passengers back to the ship. The weather in Olden was lovely, warm and no wind.
The next day we were in Alesund, again very pleasant weather and we wandered about. We had lunch in the museum of Art Nouveaux. It was quite expensive but plenty of coffee. This is an interesting little port with a number of things to look at. It had a small shopping mall and we find it interesting to look at the prices. We always just look as we rarely buy anything when cruising. We generally end up with money left over.
Then we moved further north to Trondheim, as you would expect the weather got, well warmer, now up to 19c. We got the shuttle bus in which was accessible for my scooter if a little hairy getting on. We started at the Cathedral and worked our way down the town towards the ship. In the central square we sat outside and had lunch of pizza and coffee, which came with a refil. The pizza was £20 but very large so we had half each. I got the impression this was common practice. Lots of time for people watching, all very friendly. I worked out that it was not far to walk back to the ship so we set off. Then the rain came, well it is Norway. It was fairly light and after stopping for another coffee we got back without much concern. There was a long bridge over the railway station which gave access from the dock to the town. An easy walk.
After that we had a nice sea day 29th June. On our way north we had to change our course so that the satellite could be seen by the dish as the funnel was in the way. After the Lions rugby match we returned to the normal course.
North again to Honningsvaag. There is not a lot there. However in the morning the weather was brilliant, 20c and no wind. So we went for a wander and saw 2 reindeer. Being a Sunday did not help of course. Then the rain started. Good job the ship was so close and the village small. Of course the main point of being here was to take a trip to the North Cape, the most northerly point of mainland Europe.
Part Two in a day or two
Gan Canny
Dai
