Random Thoughts

We are home and pretty much back to normal. We had a good time and traveled to many new places.

The Noreigien fjords were beautiful. The weather was OK...last few days were sunny and that did make the last port seem more spectacular.

We enjoyed both stops in Bergen. The weather was better on the second stop so the views from the mountain were better.

The Eclipse is a very nice ship and our AQ cabin had a great balcony. We love Blu.

Getting on the Ruby felt like old home week! Very comfortable ship and fairly easy for Charlie to get around.

We really enjoyed the Shetland Islands. I guess I didn't know much about this stop so everything was interesting.

We made 2 out of the 3 stops in Iceland and I enjoyed Akureyri more than Reykjavik but that probably had a lot to do with the weather. I was very disappointed with the Blue Lagoon.....it was just a tourist trap!

We did a short tour in St. John's and enjoyed it very much. We then went to Kelly's Pub but we were disappointed that the singer was not there.

Everything in both Norway and Iceland was outrageously expensive! Didn't buy much on this cruise!

Charlie did pretty well but I can see a difference. He definitely is having more difficulty with dressing, eating and fine motor skills. I hate this disease and what it is doing to him!! We have 2 cruises planned for next year. As long as we can, we will keep traveling.

'Till next time...........

Ruby Princess

We have sailed on the Ruby before and really enjoy her. Commodore Giuseppe Romano is very visible around the ship and it is obvious that the staff adore him. That makes for a happy staff and it certainly is evident!

Since we had a lot of On Board credit, we signed up for the Chef's Table. It was a lot of fun and a good dinner but did not seem as good as the last time we attended.








Fancy dessert


Our picture with Nicolas Furlan, Maitre d'Hotel, and Paolo Merio, Executuve Chef.



It was great to see Gretchen and Joe Rezash. Unexpected surprise!


Atrium





Movies under the Stars


Aft Pool


Wonderful spot to spend an afternoon.....


Charlie's favorite pastime.

St. John's Newfoundland

Friday, September 19th

This is our last port, before we arrive in Brooklyn, of what has been a really great cruise! We are taking a short tour that will cover some of the sites we have not seen and then we will head to Kelly's Pub...a place we really enjoyed on our last visit to St. John's.

We left the ship looking for a small vehicle for our private tour.


This was our "luxury vehicle" and obviously not private!

Our first stop was at Cape Spear to see the famous lighthouse, WWII bunkers and the most easterly point in North America.


Built in 1836, this historic lighthouse is the oldest in existence in Newfoundland and it is the most easterly point in North America.








WWII Battery installed by the American and Canadian Permanent Board on Defense in 1940 to protect the approaches to St. John's harbour by installing heavy artillery at Cape Spear.


We had a short stop in Petty Harbour which our guide felt was a beautiful harbour. I really didn't see much there.....











As a long standing witness to history, Signal Hill is recognized as a Canadian National Historic Site. It is here that the French fought and surrendered to the British in 1762, near the end of the French and Indian War. It is also the site where the first transatlantic wireless transmission was received in 1901.


View of our ship and St. John's from Signal Hill


Cabot Tower. Castle like structure located at the highest point of Signal Hill, the tower was built in 1897 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's discovery.


Sailaway from St. John's is pretty special. Locals line up on Signal Hill to wave goodbye and fire a rifle salute as we leave.










Last stop....lunch at Kelly's Pub. Unfortunately, no music today.


We really had a great day. Weather was good and after getting over the shock of the school bus, the tour was good. Two sea days and then home. Charlie misses Itsy....we are ready to come home!

Reykjavik, Iceland

Monday, September 15th

Today was our last chance to see Iceland. This was part of the tour package that Charlotte Nelson had arranged. This tour took in the major sites of the Golden Circle Tour and the opportunity to swim in the Blue Lagoon.

Our day did not start out with very good weather!


Rain drops thru the window


View of the Rift Valley featuring Iceland's largest natural lake and the buildings tied to the formation of Icelandic Parliment in 930 AD.


View in to Thingvellir National Park established in 1930. We decided not to walk in the park in the rain!



Gullfoss Waterfall, whose rushing water tumbles over a natural tiered "staircase" to plunge down a deep ravine.


As you can see....the weather has not improved....aren't I beautiful!


Our next stop was at the geyser field......does not compare to Old Faithful but was pretty impressive!


Strokkur Geyser......like Old Faithful, Iceland's famous geyser erupts at regular intervals.





In the afternoon, the weather started to clear. It was amazing driving thru so many lava fields


Moss growing on lava.


Last stop of the day was at the Blue Lagoon. This is a man made lagoon of mineral rich water heated by a nearby geothermal plant.


I was really disappointed with this! It really seemed more like a tourist trap! Charlie was smarted than me....he did not go in. I guess I was disappointed with this because we swam in a place much nicer in Baden Baden Germany when we visited Alexandra and her parents.

We had a good day but I think I was expecting more than we saw. Probably the bad weather contributed to my enjoyment. Of our two stops in Iceland, I liked Akureyri better.

Bergen x 2

Wednesday, September 10th

This will be our second stop in Bergen on this trip. Today we were part of a walking tour arranged by Rhonda from Cruise Critic. This tour took us through the old Brygen waterfront district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves wooden buildings from the days of the Hanseatic League.

Buildings are leaning.  There is a major project being undertaken to shore up the buildings.

Charlie with a pile of dried fish.....

Going up in the funicular to the top of Mt. Floyen.

Rhonda and Hump sharing a snack at the top.

Beautiful view although I have to agree with Lars Myren that the view was more spectacular from Mt. Ulriken.

There is our ship.....

Last beer in Norway!

Another great day!  Hopefully the weather will continue to cooperate as we continue on toward Iceland.

Boarding the Ruby Princess

Monday, September 8th

This morning was probably the easiest boarding we have ever had!  We arrived at the terminal at 11:15AM and we were on the ship and in our cabin by 12 noon!  The Ruby is familiar to us as we have been in her and some of her sister ships before.

Went to the show tonite...there was an Irish comedian that was very funny.  Hope to see him again later in the cruise.

Tuesday, September 9th

Today was a sea day.  Charlie went to a lecture on criminal investigation.  I was in seventh heaven!!......played Mah Jongg in the morning and in the afternoon!  A lot more dedicated players on Princess than on Celebrity.

We went to a production show tonight.  "Color the World".  It was very good but seemed very familiar.  Think we saw it on the Royal last December.

Tomorrow will be our second stop in Bergen.  Just doing a short walking tour.  

Having a good start to our second cruise!,,

Southampton......day between cruises

Sunday, September 7th

This morning we disembarked from the Eclipse and took a cab to the Premier Inn.  Since we were there before 10AM, we left our luggage and took a train to Winchester.  We had never been there before so we thought it would be a good idea.  

When we arrived in Winchester, we were looking at a map, when a gentleman approached us and was very helpful in providing ideas on what to see....he then offered us a ride to the city center.  I was a little nervous to accept but he was an elderly gentleman very well dressed and turned out to be very kind!

He dropped us off at the bottom of High Street at a statue of King Albert the Great. Scholar, soldier, statesman, King Arthur restored Winchester after the Dark Ages and made the city his capital.

Across the street from King Arthur, we visited the Abbey House and Gardens.  This is the official residence of the mayor built on the site of a nunnaminster founder by King Arthur's wife, Queen Ealhswith.

We walked thru Cheyney Court Gardens....just beautiful!

Our walk lead us by the Winchester Cathedral. Would have liked to visit the inside but we really didn't have the time.

Winchester was once a walled city and we walked up High St. To see the West Gate that is all that remains.  The view down High St. Was beautiful thru the gate.

The Great Hall.....the only surviving part of Winchester Castle, once home to the Domesday Book, this 13th century hall was the center of court and government life.

The Round Table, closely associated with the legendary King Arthur, has hung here for over 700 years.

Queen Victoria

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Eleanor's Garden

After our tour of the Great Hall, we decided to head back to Southampton.....but on our way to the rail station, we just had to stop at a local pub for a beer!  We struck up a conversation with 2 locals and thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the local pub!  

It's real interesting hat this was a spur of the moment tour and we really had a great time!!  Then it was time to return to Southampton....check in to our hotel and get ready for our pub dinner with some of our new cruise mates...

We had a very nice dinner and met some very nice people.....

Tomorrow we board the Ruby.  Hopefully the volcano in Iceland will not interfer with our cruise!