Norwegian Fjord Cruise June 2018
Graham & Elaine
Last updated 5th July 2018
Friday 22nd June 2018 – Home to Dunfermline.
This trip will be a slightly different one for us, we’ve teamed up with Pete & Ann Crowe to take a cruise into the Norwegian Fjords sailing on Fred Olsen’s ‘Balmoral’.
Pete & Ann arrived at ours on Tuesday of this week so that we could visit the Lincolnshire Show together on Wednesday; we then had a day at home getting ready for this trip.
We left home at just before 10:00 this morning and made our way through Lincolnshire to the A1 and had a reasonably easy journey up into Northumberland where we turned left onto the A68, it’s a slower route than staying on the A1 but it’s a much, much nicer route. After one brief coffee stop and another stop for a light lunch we continued North finally turning onto the Edinburgh ring road; this is where we encountered our first real issues with traffic, we knew we would be hitting the ring road at around rush hour on a Friday but not that we had chosen the same day as the Royal Highland Show! It certainly wasn’t as bad as it could have been but we did have to queue for some time to get across the new Forth road bridge.
We arrived at our hotel in Dunfermline at around 17:20 and once we’d settled in we took a walk to the local (Glen Tavern) pub for tea and very nice it was too (a fairly typical pub with very good food at very reasonable prices). After a quick drink in the hotel bar and a good chat with the hotel owner it was time for bed ready for our adventure to start in earnest tomorrow.
Saturday 23rd June 2108 – Rosyth to MS Balmoral.
Or plan for this morning had been to visit some of the sites in Dunfermline but we were advised by our host that the annual Gala was taking place today and that, as a result, we might have trouble parking. She also suggested an alternative for us if we couldn’t get parked.
We took a drive down in to the town and there were people everywhere so having tried one car park we decided to cut our losses and head for Culross (the suggested alternative) a very pleasant little waterside town. We had a walk around the town, visited the Abbey and had coffee and cake before making our way to the docks to board the ‘Balmoral’.
The signposting to the docks wasn’t the best but once we’d worked out where we were it was a very easy process. We were directed to a parking spot, our luggage was taken from us and we were through the security checks and on board in no time.
Graham and I had chosen to book a Junior suite as it has a bath tub which means Graham can cope whatever the weather (the showers are sometimes a bit of a problem) and very nice it is too. Pete and Ann are a few decks away from us but also have a very good cabin.
We have now attended the compulsory evacuation drill and had a drink or two in the bar and we’ll shortly be heading for our first dinner on board.
Sunday 26th June 2018 – Rosyth to Lysefjord, Norway.
Last night’s dinner was very good despite the restaurant being very busy and this was followed by a visit to the Neptune Lounge (the Show Lounge) where the entertainment crew put on a song and dance show with music from a variety or eras.
As today was a sailing day we were up a little later than usual and started by having breakfast in the Balindalloch restaurant (the same one as we’re having dinner), the food was fine but the service a was a little lacking; although they offer table service the staff seemed less than willing to wait on us trying hard to encourage us to use the buffet. We stuck to our guns and had waiter service.
Much of the rest of the day has been spent visiting different parts of the ship to see what’s what and where is where. We had a light(ish) lunch in a different restaurant where they would still have preferred us to use the buffet (we didn’t). More visits to various lounges followed including a trip to the show lounge where there was a gentleman giving a classical piano recital which was very good.
One slightly odd thing we have discovered is that although we have paid in advance for the all-inclusive drinks package the system they operate is confusing as we’re entitled to free coffee in some areas but not in others and free spirits in some bars but not in the restaurants so if you want a brandy after dinner you either have to pay for it or wait until you get to the bar where you can get the brandy but not the coffee to accompany it!
This evening was designated a formal night so we donned our finery before meeting up in our cabin so that we could take some photographs as we entered Lysefjord. From there we made our way to one of the lounges with an open view from the back of the ship where more photo opportunities awaited.
Dinner was next on the agenda (a very good beef wellington) before we again visited the show lounge to see what was on offer. Tonight we were entertained by a multi-talented singer/musician who played a variety of wind instruments including a watering can, not quite what I expected but…
As we have to make an earlier start tomorrow we called it a night and left Pete & Ann at around 23:30.
Monday 25th June 2018 – Lysefjord to Bergen, Norway.
The ship docked in Bergen at around 07:30 this morning in a heavy covering of cloud and mist so although we could see the town we couldn’t see too much of the surrounding mountains which was a shame.
We met Pete & Ann for breakfast at 08:00 and tried out one of the smaller restaurants, the food was okay but, once again, the service could have been better (it didn’t help that most of the glasses had come out of the dishwasher covered in bits of something!).
We had pre-booked a short tour for today so we met up again at around 09:30 for the buses to be allocated and then walked outside to pick up our coach. The tour lasted 2 hours and showed us a number of sites around and about before dropping some of us in the town where we had the opportunity to take the funicular railway to see the view from the top of the hill. Unfortunately the cloud had stayed really low and there was a fine drizzle in the air so we took the guides advice and decided not to bother (there was apparently nothing to see but more cloud). Instead we walked to the fish market where we decided we needed to find the local facilities only to discover that to spend a penny in Bergen actually costs a pound (10 Kroner) and that the fees can only be paid by credit card, it will be interesting to see what the narrative is on the card statement (Bergen public toilets perhaps?).
Next we decided to have some lunch at the fish market as they were offering platters where you chose your fish from the stand before they cooked it and served it to you. We had, between the four of us, a huge piece of halibut, a tuna steak, a couple of pieces of whale meat and quite a few scallops. This was accompanied by some potato salad, rice and some greenery plus some bread and the whole lot cost us a mere 1200 kroner (around £120)! Still it was worth it not just for the fresh fish but for the experience.
After we’d eaten we took a walk back to the ship via the old town, Bryggen, which is a World Heritage site and it was definitely worth the effort (although it was a long walk for Graham). After a refreshing drink at the bar we returned to our respective cabins to have a rest and freshen up before attending the welcome cocktail party which takes place before dinner.
The cocktail party was short and sweet and this was followed by dinner and another show, this time a dance programme which I enjoyed although Graham wasn’t so enamoured.
Tuesday 26th June 2018 – Bergen to Flam, Norway.
After a fairly early start and another hearty breakfast we joined a tour which first took us on a coach through some beautiful scenery with mountains, waterfalls and rivers in abundance. This included a brief drive along a narrow road which included a number of very tight hairpin bends with a stop at one of the bends to view a really lovely waterfall.
Next we were driven into the town of Voss where we had a very nice buffet lunch at a lakefront hotel before making our way across the road to the station to catch a train (actually two trains). We joined the train and were able to watch the views passing us by as it delivered us to Myrdal where we were to pick up a second scenic train to Flam. Now, this train ride is sold as being one of the most scenic in the world and I’m guessing that watching the train on the tracks that run through the mountains would be worthwhile but, unfortunately, the views from inside the train aren’t quite so spectacular as they are often very fleeting and unless you’re in exactly the right spot on the train you really can’t see that much. Assuming we’re asked for feedback I will be letting them know that I think the tour is being over sold (it’s not necessarily down to the cruise company more so the rail company). This said we’ve all had a good day which was helped greatly by some stunning weather with blue skies and warm temperatures all the way.
Once back on the ship we spent a happy hour or so watching the mountains pass by whilst having a drink. The ship also took a fairly short detour into Naeroyfjord which is apparently one which most cruise ships can’t enter (they’re too big). It was a trip in, a turn around and then back out again but it was definitely worth making.
This evening we’ve been invited to a complimentary visit to one of the specialty restaurants which will make a nice change.
Wednesday 27th June 2018 – Flam to Olden, Norway.
We had a very pleasant time yesterday evening, the food was good and we had a couple of bottles of very nice wine whilst we sat at the very back of the ship where the doors had been opened up to allow a really clear view of the passing scenery. This was followed by a trip to the bar on the next deck up where we also sat and watched the scenery slip by. All very nice.
We had an early start this morning as we needed to pick up our pre-booked tour at 09:00. This time the tour included a coach trip through more stunning mountains, around more hairpin bends and past some beautiful lakes with superb reflections of the surroundings. This was followed by a very good set lunch in a restaurant overlooking Geiranger Fjord which is said to be one of the prettiest there is. Next was a ferry crossing to Hellesylt where we were able to sit out on the open decks to watch the world go by (lots more mountains and even more waterfalls). It was then back to the coach for a drive around the other side of the mountain where we stopped for a brief time at what is said to be the deepest lake in Europe at around ½ mile deep. All of this sightseeing was very much helped by the glorious sunshine we’ve enjoyed today.
We arrived back at the ship at around 17:00 and sailed shortly afterwards as we, once again, sat in the Lido lounge overlooking one of the most open views the ship has to offer whilst having a refreshing drink.
We are back in our allocated restaurant this evening at 20:30 and it seems they have a Scottish themed menu so that should be interesting.
Thursday 28th June 2018 – Olden to Alesund, Norway.
Last night’s meal was indeed interesting and very good too. After we’d eaten we went along to the show lounge to watch the entertainment team put on a pretty good song and dance show covering a number of genres including some show tunes.
It was only when we started to discuss what time we should meet for breakfast that we realised there had been a cock up in respect of our tour tickets for today. Our tours were all pre-booked some months ago and once we’d decided which tours we wanted to book I rang Fred Olsen to find out how we could be sure that all four of us could travel together on the same buses/trains etc. and I was assured that as our records showed we were travelling as a group all we needed to do was hand over our tickets at the same time and we would be allocated the same coach etc. Although this had worked perfectly up until now we realised last night that Pete & Ann had a departure time of 09:30 whilst ours was 10:30 !
As there were no tour staff available last night I went along early this morning to see what could be done and the answer was, in short, nothing. As our tour includes a train journey the tickets have all been allocated so there is no facility to make changes which means were going to be going on different tours which is a bit of a pain but at least we still get to go.
Unfortunately the weather this morning was not on our side, it started raining just before we joined our tour and it didn’t stop until around 15:00. This tour was another one based around views and scenery so the first part was a bit of a dead loss as most of the views were obscured by low cloud and bucketing rain. As the rain had eased a little we did make one short stop to view a rather nice waterfall but the rain started again in earnest so it was back on the bus and on to our lunch stop which for us turned out to be a cafeteria and souvenir shop (Pete & Ann got to go to a restaurant in an hotel which sounded much better). The tour then continued along the Rauma valley & river which was just about visible on the way up. We were then taken to a railway station to catch a train back down the valley and, thankfully, it stopped raining and brightened considerably whilst we were waiting for the train so the views on the way back were much better. One thing that was a little peeving was that the train did not, after all, have allocated seats and our bus was half empty so Pete & Ann could quite easily have been transferred to our tour if the staff had been bothered (I will be feeding this back to them).
Our coach picked us up again once we’d reached the end of the line and we finally arrived back to the ship at 17:30 where we met up with Pete & Ann for a quick drink before returning to the cabin for a rest and to get ready for our second and last formal night.
Friday 29th June 2018 – Alesund towards Rosyth.
We had another very pleasant evening yesterday having started by having a drink in one of the bars before taking our seats for a very nice meal where we chatted with our new found friends Jim & Teresa (from the next table). After we’d eaten we made our way along to the show lounge to see what had been listed as “a crew show” which is, apparently, something Fred Olsen lines do on a number of their ships i.e. provide an opportunity for their multi-national crew to show off their talents and in some cases their national dress and national dances. I for one wasn’t sure what to expect but it was actually very good.
As Graham and I had had a very long day we said goodnight to Pete & Ann at around midnight and had just reached our cabin when a very petite older lady dressed in just her pyjamas came into the corridor asking for help. Naturally we went to see what the problem was and she said her husband had fallen from the bed that she couldn’t get him up, and she didn’t know what to do. We followed her back to her cabin and her husband had indeed ended up on the floor and in a very difficult position too. From the position he was in it was obvious that neither Graham nor I were going to be able to lift him so I made a call to the crew to ask for some help. The lady had explained that her son and his wife were on board but she’d tried their cabin and they weren’t in so she had no idea where they would be. Before long two burly crew members turned up to help and just as they did the couple’s son and daughter-in-law returned so we left them alone to sort themselves out. By the time we got to bed it was around 01:00 which was rather later than we’d hoped but we couldn’t possibly have ignored the plea for help (we have seen the family this morning and the gentleman concerned was, thankfully, okay).
As we are now heading back to Rosyth we’ve had a day at sea so a slightly later start was on the cards. Breakfast over we found ourselves somewhere to sit (the ship is more crowded today with everyone being on board) and have whiled away the day chatting, having lunch (more food!), having coffee and chocolates and chatting some more. This evening we will be going along to a short farewell cocktail party in the show lounge before going to the specialty restaurant called ‘The Grill’ for our last evening meal on board and as we are due to dock at 06:30 and will be disembarking at around 07:30 we need to make sure don’t make it too late a night!
Saturday 30th June 2018 – Rosyth to Falkirk.
Well that’s it, the cruise is over !
Our last evening meal on board the Balmoral was, as I mentioned, taken in ‘The Grill’ a speciality restaurant which costs a little extra and from our point of view the additional cost was well worth paying. The menu was little more refined than in the other restaurants, the service was a lot better and the food excellent. We also paid extra for a couple of bottles of their premium wine and these were both very good too. As we didn’t finish eating until quite late we missed the final show so instead sat in the Lido bar watching the wash of the ship disappearing behind us.
As disembarkation started at 07:30 this morning we had a very early start and we were all back to the car and loaded up by around 08:30.
We had decided some time ago that driving straight home was not a particularly great idea and Pete had also suggested that we take a look at both the Falkirk Wheel boat lift and the Kelpies (massive horse head metal statues) whilst we were in the area so we had booked a hotel on the outskirts of Falkirk.
As check in time wasn’t until 15:00 and we had no rush at all to get here we took a drive around part of the Trossachs making a stop for coffee at a loch side café before driving on a bit further and stopping again, this time at a farmhouse café, for lunch. From there we found our way (despite the SatNav’s best efforts to lose us) to the Falkirk wheel; it is a fascinating piece of engineering and we spent a happy hour or so watching the boats being lifted, two at a time, to the upper level of the canal. From there is was just a short drive to the Kelpies where as a disabled driver Graham was allocated a parking space (we had to pay a refundable £3 deposit) right in front of the statues. As there was a really good view from outside the visitors centre Graham sat and took in the view from there whilst the rest of us had a wander around.
After a short stop for fuel we made our way to our hotel to find that they have a wedding on today complete with kilts and a piper, it all looks very nice but I just hope they don’t live up to the Scottish reputation on the drinking front !
Sunday 1st July 2018 – Falkirk to Home.
Thankfully there was little noise from the wedding yesterday, we really didn’t encounter any of the guests except for a slight takeover of the bar whilst we were having a drink before dinner (I think they were between the daytime and evening sessions). The restaurant attached to the hotel proved to be very good with really nice food and huge portions (I wish we’d known that before we ordered bread and olives as well as starters and mains!). As we were all feeling pretty weary after our early start we pulled the plug on the evening fairly early so that we’d be ready for the drive home today.
We left the hotel shortly before 10:00 and took a different route home to the one we’d used last week. It’s one we’d not used before and the first part of the journey took us through some very pretty countryside and we stopped twice along the way for coffee before we had to do the inevitable and join the A1. All in all we had a fairly easy journey all the way arriving home at around 17:00. The evening was spent comparing notes on our trip and enjoying a final indulgent meal (a takeaway curry) before the diet starts tomorrow!
Monday 2nd July 2018
Pete & Ann left us after breakfast this morning after what we all agreed had been a good if slightly tiring trip, it was then back to reality and an attempt to tackle the enormous pile of laundry we’ve brought home with us, so until next time………