Day 6 with Fred Olsen to Norway

 

 Well the clear blue skies of the last two days are no longer with us. Showery today but it didn’t detract at all from another marvellous day. Docking at Stavangar we had breakfast followed by a short walk to board the fast boat that was to take us on a tour of the archipelago around Stavangar and the beautiful Lysefjord.

The fiord has a cliff wall  rising some 300’ out of the waters which we followed for  two miles pausing directly under a fascinating waterfall that soaked us even more than the rain  had managed to do  so far. Wild goats came down to look at us and we stopped at a cabin to consume hot coffee plus waffles, cream and strawberry jam.

After lunch on the ship we explored old Stavanger with its white boarded houses, fantastic gardens and cobbled streets. Extremely quaint and dating from 17th, 18^th and 19th centuries they are still lived in today they made a fascinating tour before we returned to the ship to sail at 4. 30  to sail to Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands. The sun is back!

For bookings follow this link to the Cruise Line The UK’s cruising specialists.

See you tomorrow!

 



A Right Royal Look at Queen Mary 2

Top cruise blogger Danielle Fear, aka Cruise Miss, offers her views of her tour around the Cunard flagship.

First impressions of Queen Mary 2 are numbing. I had been eager to visit this ship for quite a long time so to finally be on board in Greenock was a little surreal.

We embarked on Deck 3 and were instantly drawn to the Casino. It reminded me of something you would find in a ‘Wild West’ movie, it had that kind of feel about it but with more class. From here, we made our way towards the Britannia Restaurant, which is where we would meet for lunch later in the day. More importantly, right outside was the elevator cluster and our gateway to the rest of the ship! 

 

I always prefer to start at the top and work my way down and we arrived mid-ships to a vast open space that was host to several tables and chairs for the small beverage section on the port side and then a fair few sun loungers for catching rays on the starboard side. It was a huge space, one I expect would be very lively on a hot summer’s day. 

 

From here we made our way down her starboard side and came across the sign, ‘Danger These Animals May Bite’. We had reached the doggy deck! Sadly, the kennels were off limits but we wandered along until we reached the end and were ultimately greeted by a stunning view - this is what I had been waiting to see.

The aft section of Queen Mary 2 (left) is nothing short of breathtaking and I could envision myself spending many perfect sea days here, with tier after tier of inviting sun loungers, hot tubs and pools. Pictures certainly do not do it justice. We had a quick peek in the Princess Grill then made our way through The King’s Court buffet style dining option and side-stepped into the Chef’s Galley, which is home to a small burger café.

We next entered the Winter Garden, which would certainly be my favourite inside space in which to sit and relax. It was bright, full of character and the waterfall that covered one entire wall set the tone perfectly. Our look around the Canyon Ranch Spa was quite brief as there were quite a few people using the various facilities. However, what we did see was impressive and the gym seemed to go on forever!

As we made our way to our next stop, the Planetarium, we were met by the famous ‘Stars On Board’ wall of fame. I didn’t have time to read every one but it was heart-warming to see all the familiar faces that have graced a Cunard ship over the years. including Walt Disney, Ella Fitzgerald and the Kennedys.

Once 12.25 arrived it was time to head back to the Britannia restaurant for a three-course lunch. The service was wonderful and the food delicious. After lunch it was time for a quick cabin tour before disembarkation. We had the pleasure of viewing a Queens Grill Cabin, which was very nice indeed, smaller than I expected but very well decorated. The bathroom was a good size, as was the walk-in wardrobe and kitchenette area. We also viewed a balcony cabin and an inside cabin. The same decoration ran throughout all of them, and they were a good cut above many other cabins  I have seen in my time.

Overall, Queen Mary 2 may well be the ultimate vessel. She has more space on board, both inside and out, than any other ship I have been on; her interior design is an art deco enthusiast’s paradise; and I really did feel like I had stepped back in time the moment I went aboard. She has soul and character and is entirely her own vessel, a trait I think many of today’s ships struggle to achieve, regardless of how unique their features may be.

She is dated to a specific period in time in many ways but her touches of modern life and glamour bring everything together perfectly. 

 
Look for more pictures on the Cruise Miss Facebook page on this link.

Day 6 to Norway with Fred Olsen

World of Cruising's arch blogger Steve Newman continues his trip with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines from Liverpool to Norway and back...

You can’t come to Norway without seeing the fjords and this cruise takes in some of the finest. Today, we sailed up the Hardangerfjord with waterfalls tumbling some 1,000ft down until we came to the small settlement of Eidfjord, the gateway to Norway’s largest National Park. 

After disembarking, we took a ferry/pleasure-boat back up the fjord to explore one of the deep side inlets to reach Ulvik, 'The Pearl of Hardanger.'

Famous for its fruit-blossoms in May, the temperature in the village was in the 20s celsius and the clear blue sky set the off the snow-capped mountains perfectly. For a taste of Norway we went to the village’s famous cider factory where we were abe to sample raw cider, apple juice, Apple Brandy and sweet and dry ciders with our meal.

We returned to the ship by a small ferry - an experience in itself as a flock of sheep kept us company on the short trip across! Not due to sail for a couple of hours as we neared the ship, I could swear I heard the Jacuzzis on the outside deck bubbling!

See you tomorrow... 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK’s cruise-agent specialists.



Fred Olsen Thinking 'Espionage'!

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering a winter sunshine cruise with a difference this December, perfect for those who have always wanted to find out what the ‘real’ James Bond is like!  

Black Watch’s 10-night ‘Africa & Algarve’ cruise, departing from Southampton on December 10, will offer an intriguing theme of ‘Espionage’, through the line’s award-winning onboard enrichment programme, Vistas. This fascinating topic will be hosted on board by Cold War specialist, Major General Peter Williams, as the cruise visits the attractive coasts of Portugal, Spain and Morocco, where it visits Tangier, with its legendary reputation for international spying.

After studying History at Cambridge University, Major General Williams spent more than 30 years in the British Army (Coldstream Guards) and enjoyed an unusually varied career. As an Infantryman, he carried out ceremonial duties in London, spent two years in the mountains of Oman, served twice in Northern Ireland and commanded an armoured infantry battalion based in Münster, Germany. In the early 1990s, he wrote speeches for the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, an American General. During the Cold War, he specialised in intelligence. After studying Russian and German, he spent more than four years in the 1980s in Berlin and East Germany, in effect working as a military spy.

This spy-themed cruise visits some very attractive ports in Portugal, Spain and Morocco. First is Portugal’s elegant capital, Lisbon. Its many palaces, gardens, churches and cafés offer a mix of attractive architectural styles; the Ponte 25 Abril is very similar in design to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The next port, Portimăo in the Algarve, is a relaxed seaside town at the centre of the local sardine industry, so there is no shortage of fine seafood restaurants and cafés to enjoy, alongside the pretty harbour.

Next stop is Gibraltar, ever-popular with visitors from the UK, who enjoy its British ambiance, but with much better weather than we enjoy at home! The next port, Ceuta, is an autonomous Spanish enclave in North Africa; here, Monte Hacho offers panoramic views of the city and its coast, with views across to Gibraltar. It is a unique blend of African and European influences.

Tangier, in Morocco, is the next port, and is ideally-suited to a cruise with an ‘Espionage’ theme. It is said to have a legendary spying history, and has often been used as the location for spy fiction and films – including two James Bond films, and, most recently, ‘Inception’ in 2010, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio.

The last call on this sunny winter cruise is the Spanish port of La Coruna, with its array of architectural styles, from the medieval to the modernist. The Torre de Hercules, believed to be the world’s oldest lighthouse, towers over the shoreline. There is also a scenic old quarter that is well worth a visit, with fine galleries and museums. Black Watch then returns to Southampton.

Prices for this most unusual cruise start from £899 per person, based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin Grade ‘I. This price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes, as well as all Major General Williams' Vistas talks and lectures.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's cruise-agent specialists.

Day 5 of Off to Norway with Fred Olsen

Our man Steve Newman continues his voyage from Liverpool to Norway with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines with a 2nd day ashore...

Bergen is one of the most fascinating and compact cities I have been to. A short walk from the ship brings you to the funicular railway that takes you up Mount Flojen, with amazing panoramic views of the city and the mountains that surround it.

The jewel in the crown, though, is the ancient row of Hanseatic League warehouses with their brightly coloured frontages. Behind them, spreading eastwards bounded by the Ovregaten, is the Bryggen district full of tiny boarded houses and ancient alleyways, antique bric-a-brac shops, artists galleries, jewellery makers and a host of small bars overflowing on to the pavements.

After you’ve explored this area, walk down to the harbour and sample some of the great seafood from the stalls clustered around. It's what the locals do, so it must be a good idea!

It was 20C today so, when we got back to the ship, we found the jacuzzis and pool in full use. It seemed rude not to join in.

See you tomorrow...

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK’s leading cruise-agent specialists.



Churchill's Grand-Daughter Highlights New Tauck Talks!

Guests on several Tauck itineraries visiting London this year and in 2014 will learn about Sir Winston Churchill, regarded by many as the most influential figure in British history, from a source intimately familiar with his life – his granddaughter Celia Sandys. An internationally acclaimed author and speaker, Sandys is a noted biographer who has published five books and hosted television specials chronicling Churchill’s life. 

Tauck CEO Dan Mahar explained: "Sir Winston is one of the most fascinating figures of the twentieth century. Not only did he lead England through its ‘darkest hour’ as prime minister, but he was also a Nobel Prize-winning author, an escaped war prisoner, a House of Commons member for 60 years, and a landscape painter of considerable talent."

The daughter of Churchill’s eldest child, Diana, and Cabinet Minister Duncan Sandys, Celia spent considerable time as a teenager with her grandfather in England and during extensive travels abroad. Her most recent book, “We Shall Not Fail – The Inspiring Leadership of Winston Churchill,” describes the leadership principles that enabled her grandfather to lead England to victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

And, through an exclusive agreement with Tauck, Sandys will speak to guests travelling this September on a special single-departure Tauck itinerary, the new six-day “London Event.”  Sandys will also be featured on three different itineraries next year; the May 2014 version of the Tauck London Event, “A Week in London & Paris,” and a new 14-day river-cruise itinerary, “Cruising the Seine plus Versailles, Paris and London.” The Seine itinerary includes a two-night stay in Paris, a nine-night cruise along the Seine, and a two-night stay in London at The Savoy, where guests will attend the Churchill presentation by Sandys. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's river-cruise specialists.

Day Four to Norway with Fred Olsen

Steve Newman continues his impressive voyage from Liverpool to Norway with Fred Olsen Cruises...

Well that has to be one of the most impressive things I have ever seen. The day of our visit here in Bergen was National Day in Norway and 90 per cent of the women dressed up in fabulous traditional dresses. 

The parade went on for two hours, with masses of red Norwegian flags and people wearing their national costume with immense pride.

We also took in the famous fish market and the harbour but, as we had decided to take the excursion tomorrow around the city, we went back to the ship for lunch. 

We watched the fireworks in the evening from the Sun Deck and they were superb, as was our meal. Once again, the quality of the meal, and the wines to go with it, were spot on. Definitely a recurring theme!

More tomorrow...

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's cruise-agent specialists.

See you tomorrow!!