Oriana to the North Cape - Part 2

[daib GC]

Oriana X312
Cruise to the North Cape
Part 2

So we are on our way south now and we leave Honningsvaag at about 20.00, no early departure here. We actually have to go north to go past North Cape. The Captain is going to take us close in for a good view. He does tell us the ocean is very deep at this point, can't think why he would need to tell us. The fog descended and we could see nothing. Well that is until 23.30 when a hole appeared in the fog and there it was the most northerly point of mainland Europe. On the top of the sheer cliff is a huge globe or from our viewpoint a pin prick on top of this near 1000ft cliff. Our latitude is 71 10' 21" north. And in the port in the morning it had been 20c. It was an amazing site with the cliff towering over the ship in that clearing in the fog in a dull daylight at midnight. We saw the flashes of cameras high above us as those on the top took pictures of Oriana as we took pictures of them. We put the fact that the fog cleared down to the fact that Captain Camby clearly walks on water.

The next day we were in Tromso and a shuttle definitely needed as the town centre is a couple of mile away. I had some difficulty as the shuttles were service buses and nowhere for my scooter. We did see one with a ramp but after my experience in Trondheim I decided to have a lazy day on the ship. The weather was again excellent well in to the early 20's and so we found a good spot by the terrace bar and soaked up some sun. The Ents staff then proceeded to give us a lively send off from Tromso. They do work hard and in all that heat. It was the Great British sailaway, a novel idea. Flags and Jerusalem with a bit of Tom Jones and Rod Stewart thrown in.

We now had a days sailing to get to our next port. I do not go to many shows but my wife wanted me to say something as she felt that the Headliners group had been excellent. She enjoyed a number of shows sitting in the front row and felt as if she was in the West End. One of the Headliners, Carl De Marco, did a couple of his solo shows and she enjoyed those immensely. I did go and see Maurice Grumbleweed. It took me back 35 years to the Isle of Man when we saw the group. They were brilliant then and his show, somewhat less frantic was equally as good. A very professional entertainer, with a good voice a quick wit and the ability to play his instrument.

The reason why I went to the shows was because the casino, my usual haunt was as quiet as the grave most nights. I have never seen a casino so quiet. In fact it was far too large for the people using it. Anyone who knows Oriana will be aware that she has the smallest casino in the fleet by a long way.

I have not mentioned yet the long days, for much of the cruise we were above the Article Circle with its 24 hour daylight. Fantastic to be out on deck between 12 and 1 and still light. In fact I got some fantastic sunsets with amazing colours. Each one slightly different. But of course they were not sunsets as the sun never went below the horizon. The other weird thing was that it was so warm even at the North Cape at midnight. The lack of wind was the main factor.

Gieranger was the next stop, I hesitate to call it a port as the settlement itself Is tiny and appears only to be there to service the cruise industry. Having said that it was the most spectacular port of all, as any who has been there will testify. You may know that it is a tender port and possibly the easiest to use, the water was perfectly still and the sun beating down. The way you get to the tender on Oriana was the best i have encountered as you just took the lift down to deck 3 and drove straight out to the tender. on other ships at least 2 lifts were needed.

The local authorities have it well sorted at their end as well with a number of separate jetties to deal with each ship at anchor. With us on that day were a large MSC ship and an old friend to some, Artemis now working for a German company with the name Artania. Must have saved a lot of money only having to change 3 letters. The tender ride was short and smooth and getting off was easy. Of course my scooter went with me. The town of Gieranger was tiny with one main street of at least 8 shops. Some had grass roofs, they needed cutting. There was also a fairly large hotel. On the bus trip later the guide thought it a monstrosity. It took all of 10 minutes to see everything. That was with dawdling. We had booked on a trip at 12.15 up a mountain so we had a coffee and sat. The coach arrived and the very helpful driver put my scooter in the luggage hold under the coach.

So up the mountain we went with over 100 hairpin bends and a climb of over 5000ft it was interesting. The guide was Leonardo, an Italian nut who lived in Belgium the rest of the year. He was quite a wit, did not like the Germans and told jokes, with the Swedes being the butt of them. The drive was truly spectacular to the roof of Norway. The last mile or so had been built by the villagers as a tourist attraction. It worked. One or two people had been quite nervous on the way up, not a surprise. On the top it was cold!!!!! But fantastic views. A pit stop was made on the way down.

The sail out from Gieranger was the best. Our balcony was well used here.

So now off to Bergen. It lived up to its reputation and in the morning it rained. Interestingly with all the current discussions the captain announced the night before that they were going to change the departure time. We got an extra hour. We were intending to go up the funicular railway, that did not happen. We scootered around town for a couple of hours, looking at the fish market and the old houses of the Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf area. Being Bergan the sailaway was a little damp and was cancelled.

We returned home with two sea days over the smoothest North Sea I have ever seen, and I live by the North Sea. Mill pond was not in it. There were more people out sunbathing than I have seen in the Med.

Overall an excellent cruise, good ship, brilliant crew, good entertainment and good company. What else could you want.


Happy Cruising

[Suekersh]

Thanks Dai, great report. I just hope we are as lucky with the weather as you have been.

Sue

[oldbluefox]

So pleased you had a good cruise Dai and thanks for your reports. It brought back many memories.

[CaroleF]

Really enjoyed the detailed report, thank you.

Carole

[Kendhni]

Thanks for the report Dai, very interesting reading.