Here’s the post we wrote on the day we arrived in Tromso, Norway:
Part 5…Unpublished photos from the Azamara cruise to Tromso, Norway…
Part 5…Unpublished photos from the Azamara cruise to Svolvear, Norway…
Here’s the post we wrote on the day we arrived in Svolvaer, Norway: https://worldwidewaftage.com/day-8-norway-cruise-svolaer-norway/
Here’s the link for the post we wrote on the day we spent in Svolvaer, Norway.
Part 4…Unpublished photos from the Azamara cruise to Stavanger, Norway…
Here’s the link for the post we wrote on the day we spent in Stavanger.
Part 2…Unpublished photos from the Azamara cruise to Haugesund, Norway…
Here is the text from our day in Haugesund, Norway.
Part 1…Unpublished photos from the Azamara cruise to Alesund, Norway…
For expediency and ease, we’ve decided to post some of the photos from our Norway cruise each day rather than go back and add them, one by one, to each post. At the end of each day’s regular post, we’ll include the link to the newest posting of the photos, or you will find them, one by one, after each new day’s post of our experiences in Nevada during this nine-day stay. Captions will be added when possible.
Here is the post with the text from our day in Alesund:
More will follow tomorrow.
Day 16…Norway Cruise…Sea day…One day and counting…Packing day…
Note: I cannot add more photos today, other than the above, due to the poor WiFi signal aboard the ship. Once we arrive in Nevada in early September, we can post our photos from Edinburgh and this cruise. Of course, we’ll continue to try to add photos each day! We are sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps, when this cruise ends, we can start posting photos while on the upcoming Celebrity cruise in 4 days. We’ll continue taking photos and writing text daily, if possible.
This morning, before 8:00 am, when the laundry room on our deck was about to open, Tom was waiting outside the door for it to open to get our clothes washed and dried. Others were there waiting, and he was the second person in line. With six washers and dryers, with one of each not working, it was good he got the early start.
Now, as I write here at 10:40, the laundry is done, folded, and ready for packing, which we’ll complete by the end of today, leaving our bags outside the door tonight to be picked up for tomorrow’s disembarkation. We’re scheduled to depart the ship by 8:30 am and have booked a shuttle to the airport in Amsterdam. Our flight isn’t until about 2:10 pm.
Fortunately, the flight is only 3½ hours long. Icelandair has screens and free movies at each seat which helps the flying time pass quickly. Once we arrive in Reykjavik, we’ll take a taxi to the hotel. Having toured the city in depth on a past cruise, we don’t intend to do any sightseeing during the less than 18 hours in the city.
On Friday, we’ll board Celebrity Summit at noon and be on our way. It will be different to be on a ship with about 2000 passengers as opposed to the 567 passengers on this ship, Azamara Journey. Surely, in no time, we’ll be used to the differences and blend in as we always do, enjoying many features of the quality cruise line.
Celebrity may not be relatively as upscale as Azamara, but it has everything we need and works well for our choices of activities and events. Now that we have the trivia bug, surely, we’ll get involved in those events as well. With $450 in cabin credit with drinks, tips, and WiFi for two included, we’ll find a way to use up our balance as well as the balance on this ship.
At this point, we don’t book specific tours since walking long distances is very difficult for me. We’ve spent plenty of time walking as much as I could in the various ports of call in Norway and will do so again as we embark on this next cruise. It’s very disappointing that I can’t walk far after the two surgeries on my legs four years ago.
But this disability is not keeping us from carrying on with our travels with gusto. I do the best I can do. It’s not as if my legs get tired, but instead, they get extremely painful due to nerve damage. However, I can do many aspects of our travels considering how far I can walk at any given time.
Neither of us feels as if we are missing out. Our lives are rich and fulfilling with the joys of nature, socializing, and visiting new places throughout the world. We plan to continue on for as long as we possibly can. Life is good, and we are content.
Tomorrow, we’ll prepare a post when we arrive at the airport in Amsterdam, awaiting our flight.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, August 16, 2013:
Day 14…Norway Cruise…Trondheim, Norway..Final port of call…Another great evening of conversation and entertainment…
Note: I cannot add more photos today, other than the above, due to the poor WiFi signal aboard the ship. Once we arrive in Nevada in early September, we can post our photos from Edinburgh and this cruise. Of course, we’ll continue to try to add photos each day! We are sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps, when this cruise ends, we can start posting photos while on the upcoming Celebrity cruise in 4 days. We’ll continue taking photos and writing text daily, if possible.
Today, our ship will dock in Trondheim, Norway, as a result of me not feeling up to it, we didn’t get off the ship in Trondheim, although we continued with the daily activities aboard the ship.
After trivia, at 5:00, we headed to our cabin, dressed for the evening, and were ready to partake in the events of the evening with one entertainment venue after another; it was pretty enjoyable.
Each evening at dinner in Discoveries Restaurant on Deck 5, we’ve sat at a sharing table, often with others we’ve shared with on other evenings and, like last night, with mostly new people we hadn’t met in the past. With only 567 passengers on this cruise, it’s easy to repeatedly run into the same passengers.
After dinner, we headed to the Spirits Bar in The Den, chatted and listened to live music, and then to a live show in the Cabaret. The performer was a comedian/magician who proved to be quite entertaining. At 10:30, we returned to the Spirits Bar for another fun round of general knowledge trivia, which we once again lost.
Neither of us is great at trivia, although we usually get many answers correct. Some passengers play in larger groups, which significantly improves their odds. But, more often, we play alone, giggling over our missed answers and lack of ability to recall music and pop culture from the 70s and 80s. With both of us being parents at a young age, with the accompanying responsibilities, we didn’t pay much attention to what was happening in the world. But, we often surprise ourselves with some answers.
Win or lose, it’s fun to play, and we’ll continue to do so on the remaining days and nights on this cruise and our upcoming cruise beginning on August 18.
Tomorrow, we will write about our visit to Trondheim and again try to post a photo or two. We’re not expecting much luck on that front, but the nine days in Henderson, Nevada, is coming up quickly, and we’ll be able to get caught up at that time. Following is the information from Azarmara’s brochure about Trondheim:
“Trondheim, situated in Norway, is a historic city known for its rich culture, strong architecture, and picturesque landscapes. It serves as a hub of education and research, with the renowned Norwegian University of Science and Technology located here. Trondheim’s charming blend of modernity and tradition, along with its vibrant arts and music scene, makes it a captivating destination for both residents and visitors..”
As typically happens at this point on a cruise, passengers start coming down with colds and flu. This has often happened to us. So far, so good, but fingers crossed we don’t get anything on this or the next cruise. We avoid close contact with others and frequently wash our hands. There’s only been one case of Covid-19 so far, and we continue to hope and pray there is no more.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, August 14, 2013:
No photos were posted on this date ten years ago today. For the text, please click here.
Day 13…Norway Cruise…Bodo, Norway…Car rental in Nevada?…
Note: I cannot add more photos today, other than the above, due to the poor WiFi signal aboard the ship. Once we arrive in Nevada in early September, we can post our photos from Edinburgh and this cruise. Of course, we’ll continue to try to add photos each day! We are sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps, when this cruise ends, we can start posting photos while on the upcoming Celebrity cruise in 6 days. We’ll continue taking photos and writing text daily, if possible.
This cruise ends in four days. Have we loved it so far? The food, the people, the ambiance, and the entertainment have been excellent but not necessarily better than we experienced on other cruises. Would we sail on Azamara again? Yes, but only after they improve their WiFi.
My frustration over being unable to upload photos to our daily post has been annoying. It will require me to spend a lot of time when we get to Nevada on September 1, editing and uploading the many photos we’ve yet to post. Although the only things we’ll want to do in Nevada are collect mail at our mailing service, renew our driver’s licenses at the busy DMV in Henderson (we have appointments), and spend time with Richard and a few friends in Las Vegas.
After that, we’ll be able to relax. I aim to get the photos uploaded in the first few days, leaving my mind free to relax and enjoy the time spent in our state of residency. Yesterday, we rented a car in Las Vegas, which we hadn’t planned to do, instead using Uber for our few appointments. But prices had dropped since we last checked several weeks ago.
We were surprised by the lower car rental prices when we arrive on Thursday, August 31, Labor Day weekend. But we were all over it when we could rent a car for nine days for under $400. Formerly, prices were running around $100 daily, which was quite an improvement.
Now, as this cruise winds down, we feel more like relaxing and winding down for our next adventure, the cruise to Greenland. Today, we’re doing laundry in the provided washers and dryers down the corridor from our cabin. They even provide laundry pods, all at no charge, which is an excellent perk for us instead of paying for laundry.
On the upcoming Celebrity cruise, with our Captain’s Club rewards, we are entitled to two laundry bags during the entire cruise. We’ll likely have clothes to wash once we arrive in Nevada, but we’ll figure that out. For us, laundry is always a concern when we don’t have a home we’re returning to at the end of any cruise or tour. Of course, a washer is a priority at all of our holiday homes, although a dryer is not.
Today, our ship is docked in the village of Bodo, described as follows from Azamara’s brochure:
“Bodo, nestled on Norway’s northern coast, offers a captivating blend of natural wonders and modern charm. Embrace the midnight sun during summer and witness, witness the Northern Lights in winter, and explore scenic landscapes. With a rich maritime history, vibrant arts scene, and access to Lofoten Islands, Bodo is a gateway to Arctic adventures and a destination of captivating allure.”
Last night, we had a fun evening in the Den (Spirits Bar) when the cruise director and his assistant provided delightful entertainment. However, we drifted off to our cabin by 10:00 pm to watch a movie and relax, ending in a great night’s sleep.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, August 13, 2013:
Day 12…Norway Cruise…Harstad, Norway..
Note: I cannot add a single photo today due to the poor WiFi signal aboard the ship. Once we arrive in Nevada in early September, we can post our photos from Edinburgh and this cruise. Of course, we’ll continue to try to add photos each day! We are sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps, when this cruise ends, we can start posting photos while on the upcoming Celebrity cruise in 6 days. We’ll continue taking photos and writing text daily, if possible.
The past 24 hours were relatively uneventful. We had delightful conversations with other passengers, wandered about the area and the ship, and enjoyed a few excellent meals, as always. We attended a few live entertainment venues, one, a fantastic comedian in the Cabaret on Deck 5, and live music in the Living Room and Spirits Bar.
The entertainment aboard ships is generally quite good, and we partake, especially when we hear from other passengers that a particular show is worth watching. Typically, we don’t attend every night’s entertainment in the Cabaret, but so far, when we have, it’s been good. We prefer listening to live bands at night in the various venues and even the songs played by the DJ in between sets.
Today, we are in Harstad, Norway, and will venture out later in the day once we get today’s post uploaded and after I’ve had lunch in the buffet around noon. For several days, Tom has been having breakfast while I have lunch. There seem to be more options for me at lunchtime than at breakfast. Tom goes to breakfast alone while I am getting ready for the day but joins me at lunch in the buffet, even if he’s not eating anything.
Today our ship is docked in the town of Harstad, Norway, which is described as follows in the ship’s brochure:
“Nestled in northern Norway, Harstad is a coastal town renowned for its stunning fjords, cultural richness, and outdoor activities. Explore historic sites like Trodenes Church and Museum, indulge in local cuisine, and take in picturesque landscapes. With a blend of history and natural beauty, Hardstad offers an enchanting Artic experience that captures the heart of Norway’s north.”
Almost every afternoon at 4:00 pm, we head to the Living Room for two trivia games, one at 4:00 and the other 30 minutes later. Each day’s topics are different and unrelated. Since we’ve been away for so long and missed so much of pop culture and music, we’re not as good as we were as a team 20 or 30 years ago. Plus, I suppose as we’ve aged, we’re not as good as we may have been years ago.
It’s not as if either of us have any signs of dementia. We don’t. Actually, our memories are excellent of what we’ve been doing over the past almost 11 years since we began traveling. But, prior to that, it is a little less clear. Perhaps, with all the stimulation and new information we’ve absorbed all these years of travel, the past has become less at the forefront of our minds.
Although we’ve yet to win a game among the many passengers who playing in large groups, we still enjoy playing and do a lot of laughing between us when reviewing our wrong answers, let alone our shock when we answer many correctly. In any case, its fun to play, and we will continue to do so until the end of the cruise.
Today is Saturday, and we disembark the ship next Thursday when we fly to Reykjavik the same day, sailing away on Celebrity Summit the following day. No doubt the fun will continue as it has over the past two weeks since we boarded Azamara Journey for the Norway cruise.
Soon, we’ll head to Window’s Cafe on Deck 9 for my lunch. Tom doesn’t usually eat again but is happy to sit with me, which I appreciate very much.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, August 12, 2023:
Day 10…Norway Cruise…More from Tromso…Last night’s fantastic evening in Tromso…
Note: I can only add the above photo due to the poor WiFi signal aboard the ship. Once we arrive in Nevada in early September, we can post our photos from Edinburgh and this cruise. Of course, we’ll continue to try to add photos each day! We are sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps, when this cruise ends, we can start posting photos while on the upcoming Celebrity cruise in 8 days. We’ll continue taking photos and writing text daily, if possible.
Last night was an exceptional evening. We embarked on what Azamara refers to as an Az-Amazing event, which is an entertainment venue that was explicitly arranged for cruise passengers, described as follows:
“Sit back and enjoy a tailormade show with some of the best artists in Norway. Tonight will be a musical trip “through the country” with traditional, heart–moving songs and jaw-dropping showstoppers accompanied by live local musicians! You’ll travel in time and visit some old classic songs, and continue the journey into more modern times with Norwegian specialties and curiosities.”
The show was entertaining, but organizing over 500 passengers boarding buses for the ten-minute ride to the venue was time-consuming and challenging to organize. We didn’t envy the staff who tried to get everyone in their seats in the theatre for the presentation to begin.
The show was pleasant and cultural, and we took some photos we’ll upload when we have a better WiFi signal, which we’re looking forward to being able to do. Knowing we were departing the ship at 6:30 pm, we didn’t have dinner but instead ate at The Patio cafe on Deck 9 around 2:30 pm. We ordered bun-free burgers, and Tom added a bun-free hot dog. I added a salad and thought this light lunch would hold me.
But, when we returned after the event, I was hungry again, and the only food available was pizza and puff pastry-type appetizers. A kind food and beverage manager ordered a cheese plate for me, which was perfect for a late-evening snack with my glass of red wine.
Then, while seated in The Living Room on Deck 10, we watched a fantastic show with the assistant cruise director, Jose Alpizar. Azamara’s cruise directors are all required to be entertainers and entertainers; he was! We loved every moment of the show. We visited with a few passengers, and by midnight we went to our cabin for a good night’s sleep.
This morning I didn’t have breakfast since I wanted to enjoy that lovely lunch again at the Patio Cafe, and we’ve both limited ourselves to eating only twice a day, either breakfast and dinner or lunch and dinner. Neither of us has gained an ounce on this cruise, and I hope to be able to be as diligent on the next cruise, upcoming on August 18.
It’s hard to resist eating more often, but certainly not worth it to gain weight when both of us have been trying to lose a few pounds after gaining a few since Covid. I have lost a bit but still have a ways to go to be back to my usual self and able to fit into some jeans I left behind in South Africa, hoping they’ll fit me when we return in ten months. It’s not easy since my metabolism has slowed in the past few years, especially after taking several drugs that caused weight gain while I had the Covid headache and facial pain.
Now that I’m still pain-free, I can stay medication-free for the former awful symptoms. I am so grateful, more than words can describe.
That’s it for today, folks. Tomorrow, we’ll write about the next port of call, which we’ll visit once we arrive in the next few hours.
Thank you for your continued patience with our lack of photos.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, August 10, 2013:
