Harstad - Magdalene Fiord - The arctic ice Barrier - Longyearbyen

June 27

Arrived in the small town of Harstad to a nice day after a nice day at sea yesterday when we crossed the Arctic Circle.

Nothing to comment on Harstad is a pleasant place about 250 km. north of the Arctic circle about 20000 people, similar size to Burnie.

After sail away we cruised through some beautiful Fiord’s and magnificent scenery before we headed North on our way to Longyearbyen which will take two and half days.

We are getting used to the 24 hours of daylight, our cabin has quite good blackout curtains so sleep has been easy. Sunset 2 am sunrise 2 am.

June 28

Sea day today was highlighted by the Captain’s celebration of crossing the Arctic Circle. This involved raising glasses of champagne and the beginning of the Arctic games.

A big copper dish of ice where you are invited to take off your shoes and step into the ice water and kiss a fish and down a shot of (Advocahr - spelling ?). Here we are!

Then we has a fishing competition in the spa we both did well! Great time enjoyed by all with the freezing temperature of 3 degrees but with the wind chill factor below freezing Ccccolddd! 

June 29

What a start to the day,after Tony had an hour in the gym, we had breakfast in our room while we sailed past many mountains and glaciers on our way to Magdalene Bay Fiord where we spent over an hour. 

Lovely day of 3 degrees but fortunate with weather. The ship was located within about 100 meters either side and in front of several magnificent glaciers surrounded by towering snow capped mountains.

Magdalene Bay is about 450 miles north of Arc. Circle. What a sight!

We then sailed North to the Arctic ice flow .......

This was quite an experience, being able to see all the ice in front of us that stretches right to the North Pole. We were then about 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle and about the same distance to the North Pole.

Crew even put a boat down to collect some ice to put on show.

After about an hour we then did a youey and headed to Longyearbyen.

At dinner this evening we spotted a large pod of whales and expect to see more as we cruise on.

June 30

We arrived at Longyearbyen and set of to explore.

A very unusual town only 1800 people live here not a tree in sight but lots and lots of snowmobiles all around town.

Its a mining town and I’m sure would be quite depressing to live in.

We did some window shopping, the winter gear here is unbelievable and also very very expensive have found a free WiFi area so taking every advantage.

So until next time after we cruise to Hammerfest and Murmansk in Russia.

Copenhagen - Kristiansand - Bergen- on route to Harstad

 Fri. 24th

We’re all aboard Insignia and have toured the ship. It’s in great condition, only 580 on board and our stateroom is very comfortable.

The ship has a classic type ambience almost Victorian quite different to any other we have sailed on.

We set sail from Copenhagen on route to Kristiansand a very nice City (85000 pop.)located S.E coast of Norway.

Our first night was in moderate seas (2.5 meters) but no trouble and arrived early on Friday morning to give us ample time to explore the area.

It has a long pedestrian street (mall) and were greeted by the local band, there was a busy market and the locals seemed quite relaxed.

Norway appears to be very expensive and has a very high cost of living.

A lovely place and very clean.

Sat 25th.

After sail away we had dinner with some nice people one of whom is the Marine Biologist  on board and will lecture on whales and dolphins during the cruise. He went to uni in Townsville.

The food has been excellent so far, thankfully we do a lot of walking ashore and the gym is first class so control is a factor.

This morning we woke to a smoother sea on route to Bergen. Wow what a sight!

Bergen is on the  West Coast and for the last hour before we docked we witnessed some of the most magnificent scenery so far. The unique houses located on the foreshore are truly something don’t seem to have roads to them but all have boathouses presumably for transport. 

Bergen is Norway’’s second largest City (275000 plus 30000 students) and has wonderful waterways around granite outcrops and the waterfront has very unique wooden buildings.

Being a Saturday meant their were many locals buying at the fish market, fruit and vege stalls. There were 5 ships in port so the place was very busy.

One of our highlights was our ride on the funicular railway to one of the many mountains surrounding and overlooking Bergen.

The view of the City was magnificent and to top it off we walked back down to the City area a distance of around 5 km. amidst trees and parklands and further down of the houses in narrow lane ways. What a view. 

We then did a HOHO (remember a hop on hop off bus) and discovered what  a beautiful City Bergen is. 

The Bryggen Museum is an area of condemned wooden houses that are being renovated and are now filed with shops of all different kinds, truly a wonderful visit highly recommended to all.

June 26

Our first sea day and woke with a glassy sea Woo Hoo!

Attended the first of six Seminars with Chris speaking on his subject of Whales and Dolphins.

A cool temp. of 10 degrees but a lovely sunny day.

The sea depth is 380 meters and we cross the Arctic circle today on our way to Harstad arriving tomorrow.

Our seafaring cruise continues !!!!!

Time to go to Sea

This is not going to be a daily event so please don't be concerned, just loving this free wifi and after today it ain't going to be easy!

We had a good day yesterday, good weather about 19 bit of a cold breeze at times but not too bad.

We took a casual stroll around the area where the Hotel is and discovered the pier where we join Oceania Insignia today.

Its only a little walk about twenty minutes but with all our luggage will get a cab.

We joined the HOHO yesterday (hop on hop off bus) and did two tours and saw some wonderful things. Saw the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace went to Holman the hippy town where smoking dope is legal and they gather in groups in there meagre habitats.

There is also an area near here where the elderly and low income earners live.

Very small homes hardly stand up in them.

We had lunch at Nyhavn a lovely area on the canal where there are lots of restaurants and other things! WOOPS

Sorry more like this!

and this, very nice.

Well now its time to get organised for our day today, hopefully with lots of sunshine and SMOOTH SEAS
Bye now until next time.

Our first try from Copenhagen

Well, we've made it to our first stop and have access here, don't expect to get it so good so often so will try it out.

Luckily our flight left Brisbane without problems such as ash from volcano and had a beautiful flight to Singapore and after a long delay of 4 hours took off for Copenhagen and arrived safely at 7 yesterday.

We were fortunate to get access to our accommodation at 9 am and after a shower and change took off to the City.

Spent a couple of hours at Tivoli Gardens which opened our eyes somewhat because we'd been here in the eighties and had forgotten what the park was made up of.

Many features such as big dippers many of those Dreamland type themes.

A beautiful garden lots of lakes etc. We then went onto the ChristiansborgPalace looking for Princess Mary, alas she must have been busy looking after kids!

Visited many of Copenhagen's historical buildings but started to get a bit jaded and went back to Hotel for a brief nannies nap.

Will try to get some photos in later in week.

Until then cyu later.

Trip Itinerary

This is our trip coming up.

What do you think?

OCEANIA CRUISES -INSIGNIA/MARINA

“LANDS OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN”

COPENHAGEN TO DOVER 

23 JUNE -11 JULY 2011

“NORTHERN LIGHTS”

DOVER TO DOVER

15 JULY - 29 JULY 2011

ITINERARY TONY & GLORIA MARSDEN

Mon 20 June 14.45pm dep. Brisbane SQ0236

20.50pm arr  Singapore Singapore

Tues 21 June 01.00am dep Singapore SQ0352               07.50am arr Copenhagen Singapore

Tues 21 June 2 night Adina Apt Hotel Copenhagen

Amerika Plads 7 Indre Osterbro

Copenhagen 2100

                  Phone Gloria 0438 310 655

Thurs 23 June – 11 July 18 nights Oceania Cruises - Insignia

Cabin 7095

Day	Port	Arrive	Depart
Jun 23	Copenhagen, Denmark		6:00 p.m.
Jun 24	Kristiansand, Norway	11:00 a.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jun 25	Bergen, Norway	10:00 a.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jun 26	Cruising the Norwegian Sea
Jun 27	Harstad, Norway	10:00 a.m.	4:00 p.m.
Jun 28	Cruising the Arctic Ocean
Jun 29	Cruising Scenic Magdalene Bay
	Cruising the Polar Ice Barrier, Norway	5:00 p.m.	8:00 p.m.
Jun 30	Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen), Norway	9:00 a.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jul 01	Cruising the Arctic Ocean
Jul 02	Hammerfest, Norway	10:00 a.m.	2:00 p.m.
Jul 03	Murmansk, Russia	11:30 a.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jul 04	North Cape (Honningsvaag), Norway	10:00 a.m.	11:00 p.m.
Jul 05	Cruising the North Sea
Jul 06	Cruising the North Sea
Jul 07	Geiranger (Geirangerfjord), Norway	7:00 a.m.	1:00 p.m.
	Hellesylt, Norway	3:00 p.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jul 08	Cruising the North Sea
Jul 09	Oslo, Norway	8:00 a.m.	3:00 p.m.
Jul 10	Cruising the North Sea
Jul 11	London (Dover), United Kingdom	6:00 a.m.

Mon 11 July 4 nights London Think Earls Court 181 Warwick rd

Kensington 

Gloria 0438 310 655

Fri 15-29July 14 nights Oceania Marina

Cabin 8032

Day	Port	Arrive	Depart
Jul 15	London (Dover), United Kingdom		8:00 p.m.
Jul 16	Cruising the North Sea
Jul 17	Edinburgh (Leith), United Kingdom	8:00 a.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jul 18	Invergordon, United Kingdom	9:00 a.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jul 19	Lerwick (Shetland Islands), United Kingdom	8:00 a.m.	4:00 p.m.
Jul 20	Alesund, Norway	10:00 a.m.	11:00 p.m.
Jul 21	Hellesylt, Norway	8:00 a.m.	12:00 p.m.
	Geiranger (Geirangerfjord), Norway	1:30 p.m.	5:00 p.m.
Jul 22	Cruising the North Sea
Jul 23	Belfast, Ireland	12:00 p.m.	11:00 p.m.
Jul 24	Douglas, United Kingdom	8:00 a.m.	10:00 p.m.
Jul 25	Dublin, Ireland	8:00 a.m.	11:00 p.m.
Jul 26	Holyhead, United Kingdom	8:00 a.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jul 27	Cork, Ireland	8:00 a.m.	6:00 p.m.
Jul 28	Fowey, United Kingdom	8:00 a.m.	2:00 p.m.
Jul 29	London (Dover), United Kingdom	5:00 a.m.

Mon 29 July 18.30pm dep London SQ0319

Tues 30 July 14.20 pm arr Singapore Singapore

Tues 30 July 3 nights Marina Bay Sands  10 Bayfront Av SINGAPORE

Gloria 0438 310 655

Fri 2 Aug 09.55am dep Singapore SQ0245

19.30pm arr Brisbane Singapor

HOME SWEET HOME

Well, Time is getting close!

Now only a week until we board our Singapore Airline plane on route to Copenhagen Denmark.

It s beginning to get exciting as we have now made all our bookings from Home to Home.

Gloria has returned from her enjoyable trip to see Jeremy, Rachel, Annabelle,Samuel and Hamish in Melbourne. The children are all growing up and loved their TuTu spending a few days with them on her way to see her Mother.

Her Mother (Granny) in Burnie is reasonably well given her 95 years of age and although she has some health issues seems to be enjoying her Umina Park environment. She loves seeing her daughters who are doing a marvellous job travelling to Burnie to make sure she is comfortable.

Yesterday we had a lovely time watching Joshua play his weekly game of Rugby League (can you believe it) and he played particularly well as did his team the Helensvale Hornets under 9's. They lost but who cares it is a wonderful experience and I hope he can keep it up.

Tomorrow is a long weekend and we will have them for the day.

Well until the next post Bye