A Journey on the Journey (Norway

Categories

• “Celebrate good times, come on!  Yahoo!”

 

 

 

 

As the 7 piece orchestra trumpeted the famous Kool & the Gang song “Celebration”, the staff and crew parade kicked off the signature White Night party onboard Azamara Journey.  It truly was a celebration, as we were departing our final Norwegian port of Stavanger after an intensive 2 week cruise exploring this Scandinavian country from south to north and back again.

 

Our itinerary was bucket list worth.  We traveled north from Hamburg, calling first at Bergen, then Flam, Geiranger, Svlovaer (for the Lofoten islands), Tromso; and finally reaching the top of the earth at Honnigsvag, before turning back down south for our final ports in Olden and Stavanger, and ending in Copenhagen.  Every bit of it was magical.

 

 

Ports of Call

 

Bergen

Bergen gets 89 inches of rain per year, and the day we were there (June 25th) they broke their all time record of rain of 24 straight days. Nevertheless, it is a charming town with a funicular (great for non rainy days), a beautiful harbor area and an historic fish market.  Despite the rain, our first taste of Norway was a treat.

  

 

 

Flam

In Flam we opted for the quintessential train ride on the Flam Railway.  Named one of the most beautiful train rides in the world, the journey begins at sea level at the base of Aurlandsfjord and twists and turns its way through 20 tunnels through some of the most gorgeous eye-popping scenery imaginable.  Streams and waterfalls compete with winding mountain roads and idyllic villages for your attention.  The two hour round trip was a highlight of the cruise.

  

 

 

 

Geiranger Fjord and Geiranger

Before entering Geiranger Fjord, Captain Johannes Tysse, (a Norwegian by birth and a great ambassador for his native land), accompanied by the chef and hotel director, boarded a small rescue boat and ventured to two small villages to buy goat cheese and strawberries.  The strawberries found their way to our pillows dipped in chocolate and the goat cheese was destined for soufflé appetizers.  Both were delicious.

 

Upon entering the Fjord we were treated to up close-up views of the Seven Sisters Waterfall and their suitor, the Bachelor.  We were able to get up close and personal because the Azamara Journey is a small ship, just 30,000 tons, with only 690 passengers.  Captain Tysse delighted in maneuvering two complete 360 degree turns in the Fjord, affording everyone as many pictures and ooh’s and ah’s as they desired.

 

When we were sated with the waterfalls, we tendered into Geiranger itself.  I was traveling with a friend, and we had planned excursions with a couple from Australia we “met” online before the cruise. We opted for a private shore excursion, met our driver and were on our way. 

   

 

The lush and green fjord landscape soon gave way to rugged mountain terrain by way of exhilarating hairpin turns.  Passing glacier lakes and rock formations, we arrived at Mt. Dalsnibba, about 5000 feet above sea level and enjoyed spectacular views.  

 

Svolvaer (Lofoten Islands) Docked right in town, my companions and I exited the ship and walked to Hertz to pick up our rental car.  From there we drove south to the tip of the islands, enjoying spectacular mountain, lake and fishing village scenery along the way.  It is an easy drive and very doable without a tour guide.  The landscape was ethereal at times, and always breathtaking.

  

 

After returning to the ship, we sailed north through Trollfjord, which gave Geirangerfjord a run for its money in the beauty department.  Most of the larger ships can’t get into this tight passage.  We were now well within the Arctic Circle and the Land of the Midnight Sun.  

  

 

Tromso

A lovely city nestled in the Arctic Circle, Tromso sports an aerial tram for those panoramic views, the Polaria aquarium and museum and the Arctic Church.

  

 

Honnigsvag 

We met our tour guide Ralph and headed out bright and early.  There were 5 of us today, as we were joined by cruise director Eric De Gray.  Again breathtaking scenery, although this was a little more stark as we were nearing the northernmost inhabited part of the earth,  After a visit to the visitor center and a snack, we made our way back to town stopping to admire some Sami reindeer along the way.  A late lunch of enormous fresh king crab capped off the afternoon.

  

 

Olden

Back to our foursome, we clambered onto a local shuttle, which took us past the gorgeous Lake Olden to the starting point for a hike to the Briksdal Glacier. 

  

  

The afternoon’s adventure was experiencing the newly opened Loen Skylift.  The cable car climbs 3300 feet in under 5 minutes, and we were treated to 360 degree vistas and a look at our ship in miniature back in town.

  

 

Stavanger

This was a delightful little town, and we chose to spend a few hours walking around independently enjoying the many restored wooden houses and shops.  We also had an excellent parking spot, another advantage of a smaller ship.

  

 

The Ship

 

Both Azamara Journey and her sister ship, the Quest were built in 2000 and acquired by Azamara Club Cruises in 2007, when the brand was born under the umbrella of Royal Caribbean international.  Both were completely updated and “reimagined” in 2016, decorated in soothing gray and cream tones. A new ship, The Pursuit, joins the fleet in August 2018.

 

Dining: The main dining room is Discoveries.  In addition, there are two specialty restaurants, Prime C (steak and chops) and Aqualina (fish and Mediterranean).  There is a charge for specialty restaurants, unless you are a suite guest. The Patio Grill doubles as an outdoor casual dining venue at night while the Mosaic Cafe serves pastries, snacks and coffee. Windows Cafe is the buffet area. Tapas are served in the 10th floor Living Room every night and a caviar bar is also available.  

 

Cabins:

There are four cabin categories:  inside, outside, verandah and suite.  The first 3 are a compact, but very functional approximate 175 square feet.  There is plenty of storage and closet space.  Bathrooms are small by industry standards, but they work.  Suites are further broken down into 4 categories: Club Continent (smallest), Club Ocean, Club World and Spa, with various amenities for each, including butler service.

 

Amenities:  

Enjoy a cocktail at the many bars and lounges throughout the ship, including the very popular Sunset Veranda.  It’s a beautiful place to dine al fresco as well or just sit and enjoy the scenery.  A small casino has machine gaming, along with a lovely bar and piano music.  Indulge in a spa treatment and the thalassotherapy pool or work off those goat cheese soufflés at the fully equipped gym. 

 

Entertainment:  

The entertainment staff on both ships consists of a talented cruise director. a cast of singers and dancers and a 7 piece orchestra.  (Note: as of spring 2018, a new entertainment venture will be instituted, which may change what we experienced). On Journey, CD Eric De Gray mesmerizes his audiences with his powerful voice,  both in his cabaret show and ensemble offerings.  In addition, guest entertainers ranging from soloists, comedians, magicians and virtuosos are onboard to fill out the evenings’ entertainment.

 

Azamazing Evening: Almost every Azamara cruise features this complimentary and exclusive excursion for all guests.  These evenings feature local music, talent and culture of the region each cruise is visiting.

 

White Night Party:   A signature Azamara event, held on deck poolside, it features an enormous, sumptuous buffet.  While dining al fresco at tables gleaming with white linen and candlelight, guests are entertained for two hours by the entire cast with popular songs and dancing under the stars.  It is a magical evening.

 

Other:  

All gratuities are included, as are selected wines at lunch and dinner, and standard cocktails and beer.