Archive for September, 2010

At last, sensible internet on a cruise ship. You’ll need to dig deep into your pockets, but by doing so, you’ll be connected 24/7.

Pay $239, and you will never have to log out during your weeklong cruise. If you’re sailing more than a week, $399 covers you.  Read more... (330 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

An elegant lunch - with a view.

The photo above was snapped yesterday from the balcony of stateroom 720 on Seabourn Sojourn during a transit of Norway’s UNESCO World Heritage Geirangerfjord. Avid cruisers know that small ships such as Seabourn Sojourn, carrying a maximum of 450 passengers, can easily navigate the Norwegian fjords and dock or drop anchor in small ports of call where the big ships can’t.  Read more... (335 words, 2 images, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

Waiting to welcome cruise passengers in Finland. Picture is from the Kirsti Museum, illustrating how people lived in Old Rauma from the end of the 19th century until the 1970s.

Beyond The Baltic: Cruising Finland’s Gulf Of Bothnia

New cruise destinations along the Gulf of Bothnia allow cruise passengers to explore beyond the marquee ports that typically characterize Baltic cruises.  Read more... (343 words, 1 image, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

Beyond The Baltic: Cruising Sweden’s Gulf Of Bothnia

New cruise destinations along the Gulf of Bothnia allow cruise passengers to explore beyond the marquee ports that typically characterize Baltic cruises.

When in 2007, Silver Shadow docked in Örnsköldsvik, practically the whole city and a band showed up to welcome passengers and to view the rare spectacle of a cruise ship docked within walking distance of the city center.  Read more... (336 words, 1 image, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

This week, I am on a familiarization trip sponsored by Cruise Norway and partners. I am traveling with cruise line shore excursion planners, managers and coordinators from several cruise lines. The photos below recount our half-day in Flåm, where we will spend another half day today before setting sail for Skjolden-Sognefjord this afternoon.

Gry Mundal, of the Port of Flåm, speaks with cruise line shore excursion planners in the Flåmsbana Museet, the railroad museum.  Read more... (203 words, 12 images, estimated 49 secs reading time)

I am traveling with cruise line shore excursion planners, manager and coordinators on a Cruise Norway familiarization trip. This morning we traveled by bus from Ulvik to Flåm.

The freshest fish I've ever eaten: trout caught this morning across from the Oppheim Hotel in Vossestrand.

Switchbacks on Stalheimskleiva Road, which twists and turns through 13 hairpin bends, offering views of the Sivlefossen and the Stalheimsfossen waterfalls. It is one of, if not the, steepest stretches of road in Northern Europe. Stalheimskleiva is open from May to September.  Read more... (92 words, 3 images, estimated 22 secs reading time)

Lunch with a view.

The photo above was snapped yesterday from the balcony of stateroom 720 on Seabourn Sojourn during a transit of Norway’s UNESCO World Heritage Geirangerfjord. Avid cruisers know that small ships such as Seabourn Sojourn, carrying a maximum of 450 passengers, can easily navigate the Norwegian fjords and dock or drop anchor in small ports of call where the big ships can’t.  Read more... (318 words, 2 images, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)

View from Brakanes Hotel in Ulvik

I am currently on a familiarization trip with cruise line shore excursion planners, coordinators and managers. The trip is organized and sponsored by Cruise Norway and its partners.

Last night, we traveled for about an hour by boat from Eidjord to Ulvik. As you can see from the photos, Norway’s weather in early September is spectacular.  Read more... (372 words, 5 images, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

The Silver Shadow heads Down Under in early 2011

As Silver Shadow circumnavigates Australia during a 30-day cruise in early 2011, the luxury line has adventures on the menu.

Outback, koalas, wombats and wallabies: The continent’s wildlife will be in focus during Silversea’s first-ever cruise around Australia.

Underlining the ambition to allow guests to experience the unique aspects of Australia close-up, Silversea’s guests will enjoy an enrichment program headlined by speakers who know the ins and outs of the continent.  Read more... (297 words, 1 image, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

Vøringsfossen, Norway's best known and most-visited waterfall.

This week, I am traveling with shore excursion managers and planners on a familiarization trip sponsored by Cruise Norway and partners.

Fly Like An Eagle

Yesterday, we traveled by helicopter from Bergen to Eidfjord, an exhilarating 30-minute trip. I can certainly recommend that anyone cruising Norway pony up for at least one helicopter excursion.  Read more... (261 words, 3 images, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)