Trip Report
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Trip Report
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The following trip report was written by Bob and Anita, a couple on the cruise from California who we initially met through the Cruise Critics web site. They can be contacted via the Cruise Critics web boards if required. It provides an interesting and alternative view-point of the cruise, and is reproduced here with their permission.
Review of Royal Princess Cruise Norway – Iceland 12 Day Cruise Dates:
June
24,2004 – July 6, 2004 Itinerary: Day 1 - Southampton, UK Day 2 - Day at Sea Day 3 – Bergen, Norway Day 4 – Hellysit, Gerainger, Norway Day 5, - Thondheim, Norway Day 6&7 - At Sea Crossing the Arctic Circle Day 8 – Akureyri, Iceland Day 9 – Reykjavik, Iceland Day 10 – At Sea Day 11 – Belfast, Northern Ireland Day 12 – At Sea Day 13 – Southampton, UK
In a Nutshell: This cruise is a very ambitious itinerary visiting the west coast of Norway stopping at the ports of Bergen, Hellysit, Geiranger, and Trondheim, Norway, as well as crossing the arctic circle to Akureyri, Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland and finally Belfast, Ireland.
The Cruise: Day 1, Southampton: We arrived at Gatwick Airport and were met by Princess representatives after clearing UK customs at the baggage claim after picking up our luggage and transferring them to Princess for transport to Royal Princess via truck. Since we arrived at 6:00 AM, and embarkation was scheduled for 12:00 noon, Princess led us to the adjacent Hilton Hotel, Gatwick where a lounge was set up, complete with coffee, tea, and continental breakfast. About 9:00 Am we boarded busses for the 2-hour trip to Southampton and the Royal Princess. Upon arrival at the dock at about 11:00 AM we were checked in and passports checked and kept by the ship for customs clearances to Norway, Iceland and Ireland. Claim receipts were given for the passports.
Day 2, Day at sea: On this day we sailed northward through the North Sea toward the west coast of Norway. This is a very heavily traveled corridor as Royal Princess passed many oil tankers and other ships. Many oil rigs and platforms are visible from the ship all throughout the day. This was the roughest day at sea with high winds and 6-foot seas. On board a number of activities took place including a special lecture series about the history about the Olympic games, and port lectures about Norway. Unusual to the Royal Princess is two seatings for lunch at 12:00 Noon and 1:30PM in the dining room, rather than open seating. Today is a good day to exchange currency to Norwegian Kroner at the Pursers office, The ship does not charge any commissions for currency exchange. This was also the night for the first formal night with a Captains welcome aboard party before dinner. General dress for this cruise was very formal with men in tuxedos and dinner jackets about numbering about 90% with business suits making up the rest during the formal nights. Most women were dressed in gowns and cocktail dresses, with basic black being predominant giving a very elegant air to formal dinners. Another unusual aspect was the nationality of the passengers. Passengers from the UK outnumbered passengers from the US, with Canada contributing about 100 passengers. Other nationalities included: Spain, Germany, Portugal, Holland, Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Croatia, France, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries, giving a very international flavor to the passenger mix. Day 3 Bergen: Entering the protected waters of Marsteinen fjord, and sailing out of a low pressure system eliminated the persistent rocking and pitching of Royal Princess. Sailing down the fjord revealed our first look at Norway, with homes and farms clinging to the steep hillsides and small fishing ports dotting the shoreline of the fjord. At 11:30 AM we passed under the Stongi Bridge to Bergen, a larger ship such as the Sun or Grand class ship wouldn’t fit under this bridge. The Royal Princess was tied up along the Skoltegrunnskiaen pier at 12:00 Noon. We took the Historical Bergen tour and visited an open air museum, King Haakons hall and Bryggens. This was a Saturday and many locals were out in the City and enjoying the 12C, 70F temperatures and bright sun. Our only opportunity to shop was at the gift shop at the Open Air Museum for post cards and small souvenirs. We heard favorable comments about the Bryggens walking tour and visit to Ole Bull’s villa and the tours to the Funicular aerial tramway. Royal Princess left Bergen at 6:00 PM for our second stop. Royal Princess entered Sunnyslusfjorden, toward Helleyslt, to off load passengers taking an overland tour. After tendering passengers Royal Princess turned 180 degrees and into Geraingerfjorden, considered the most beautiful in Norway. Geraingerfjorden is perhaps one of the most beautiful places on earth. The fjord has steep walls with waterfalls along its entire length, climaxing with the seven sisters waterfalls. Royal Princess anchored off Gerainger at about 11:30 AM and passengers were tendered to Gerainger, about a 10-minute tender ride. Gerainger is a charming little town with about 250 permanent residents. Near the tender docks are gift shops and small restaurants as well as hotels and a small boat marina. Tours meet and depart from shore. Weather was also very nice in Gerainger with sunny weather and temperatures in the mid 60’s F. We took the Fjord center and Mt. Dalisnibba tour offering about 45 mins at the Fjord center with a well done slide show presentation and exhibits of life and nature around the fjords. The drive up to Mt. Dalisnibba is winding, with many switchbacks and turns but our bus driver handled them very skillfully. We were lucky with clear weather and could see all the way down to Gerainger and the Fjord giving us some breathtaking views. On the way back to Gerainger the bus stopped at Lake Djupvasshytta for coffee, tea and traditional Norwegian pastry – fabulous. We returned to Gerainger, caught our tenders back to the ship and Royal Princess left Geirainger at about 6:00 PM. Again passing as we came through Geraingerfjord and making a north turn to Sunnyslusfjorden, toward our next stop. Day 5 Trondheim: The Royal Princess arrived in Trondheim at 8:00 AM, We took the half day Historic Trondheim, Nidaros Cathedral and Open Air Folk Museum. Good Tour with a good look at Nidaros Cathedral which is worthwile if you like gothic architecture and beautiful cathedrals. Nidaros is the closest thing to a national cathedral in Norway since the royalty of Norway visit there for official functions. The Folk museum is great with actual period houses in the area depicting different time periods of Norwegian history. We were left off in downtown Trondheim rather than returning to the ship, to explore on our own – This place is expensive holy smoke how do people live here? Took the Princess arranged shuttle back to the ship. Royal Princess departed Trondheim at 5:00. Weather was partly cloudy and mid 50’s to low 60’s. Days 6&7 – At sea across the Norwegian Sea to Aukureyri, Iceland. Akureyri is the 2nd largest city in Iceland is located in the North portion of the country. The town is charming with a few interesting sites within the city but the great attraction is Godafoss some 30 east of Akureyri. Godafoss is a breathtaking waterfall where the fabled lawmaker meditated and decided that Iceland should convert to Christianity. Back to town visit the Botanical garden which is near the University of Iceland and many native and non-native plants are displayed and raised in the Geothermal hothouses. Shopping is in town about a 15 minute walk from the dock. This was another too-short stay in port as we left Akureyri at 1:00.PM. Weather was overcast scattered showers and temperatures of high 40’s to low 50’s. Reykjavik is the Capital of Iceland and the most populous City. Here you will see such familiar sights as Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds, Burger King and Subway sandwiches. Icelanders really like Pizza and you will see many Pizza parlors in and around town, most notably an Icelandic chain called 76 Pizza. The overwhelming consensus is to take the Golden Circle tour which visits Thingvillar National Park, the Geysir, Godafoss falls and the Korio Crater, this is a very good tour and we highly recommend it. Also included is Lunch at the Geysir hotel, just across the road from the Strokkur geyser and geothermal fields. This “traditional” Icelandic lunch was Potato and Leek soup and Poached Salmon. The hot soup really hit the spot on a cool Icelandic day. There is a gift shop at the Geysir hotel for souvenirs and post cards etc. but again very expensive. On the way back to Reykjavik we stopped at a place called Edun – for snacks and shopping, good Ice Cream shop and if you like strong coffee you’ll LOVE the coffee the Icelanders serve. Our last stop on this tour is the Reykjavik Pearl (Perlan), which is a glass-domed building with an outside observation deck and restaurants, gift shops and a museum inside. There are some great views of the City from the observation deck, and some good photo opportunities, don’t miss the geyser located just outside the building as it erupts every 10 minutes or so. We departed Reykjavik at 5:00 PM
Day 10 – At Sea Calm seas – Royal Princess sailed at full speed to Belfast. Weather, Partly Cloudy temperatures in the Mid 50’s Our stop in Belfast, was an unexpected surprise and pleasurable. Belfast is quickly trying to pump up its tourism since the cease fire and end of hostilities in 1994. Since the Harland and Wolf shipyard downsized (where the Titanic was built), Belfast has needed to seek out other industries to keep people employed. This year Belfast will have 30 cruise ships stop in port and they hope to attract more in the future. We took the Leisurely Belfast tour which visited the Parliament building, the Harland and Wolf shipyards and the Belfast Castle, and the Queens University Botanical Gardens and museum. This tour gives a good flavor to the city and you get a good look at Belfast. Other Tours with positive comments included the Giants steps Causeway tour. Shopping is down town at the Belfast Visitors Center and make sure that you have UK pounds as dollars are not accepted. The Belfast Visitors center has many different types of merchandise including Irish linens, clothing and fine ceramics and crystal ware. Prices are still expensive but not at the level of Norway and Iceland. We departed Belfast at 7:00 PM Day 12 – At sea Royal Princess sailed south through the Irish sea to Southampton – Today you reclaim your passports Day 13 - Southampton Disembarkation – was the easiest we have ever experienced no long waits sitting around but it went very efficiently. Overall A great cruise with very different ports of call and a more experienced and more veteran group of passengers. These ports are not really classic cruise ports so some facilities and access to the places can seem a bit disjointed and confused. The Norwegians are very friendly, and proud of their heritage and country. The Icelanders are very welcoming and very curious about Americans and there were visible tributes to the Late President Ronald Reagan in Reykjavik. The Irish in Belfast so dearly want to give a positive experience in visiting their city.
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