Summer 2011 Part 2

Sunday 10th July 2011 (contd.)
Nordnorge and Trondheim

Still at the quayside however was the star of the recent television programme about the Hurtigruten ships: the NORDNORGE herself.

NORDNORGE

There were two hours before she sailed at noon, so I could be a happy visitor on board and enjoy seeing this lovely ship.

Reception

She was built in 1997 at 11,384 tons, with 2 bow thrusters and 2 stern thrusters, to carry 623 passengers (and 45 cars) with a service speed of 15 knots. Like the other ship, the cabins are on decks 2, 3, 5 and 6, with restaurants and lounges on decks 4 and 7.

I climbed the gangway towards reception on Deck 3, and was welcomed and given a security card for my time on board. Up on Deck 4 the stern Restaurant Halogaland was closed, but an arcade on the starboard side led past toilets, a baby room, a play room,

Children's Playroom

Another piece of art work

internet points and a shop and café. Ahead was the Stella Polaris Bar across the full width of the ship. Up on Deck 7 at the stern was the Sun Deck where passengers were settling in with rugs and books and forward of this was the full width Observation Lounge. Forward of this was the Panorama Lounge Torghatten, which I thought was just wonderful – truly a panoramic view of the sea around and ahead.




Vestfjorden Salon

The Mail (Post) flag

An interesting design

Cartoon

I smiled at the carpet details

Swags

I thought the art work, the furniture and furnishings on board were all lovely, complemented by the shining woodwork, glass and mirrors everywhere.

This really appealed to me

artwork detail


The Card Room

The Interior Design Plans

Polished staircase

It seems a great deal of thought has gone into the comfort and elegance of the ship’s interiors and I liked it a lot. In fact I sat in one of the lounges to write up my diary notes, and enjoy my surroundings, before going ashore to watch NORDNORGE sail at noon.


NORDNORGE

Goodbye NORDNORGE

Trondheim port road sign

Trondheim map

Back in town I walked to see the 1,000 year old Nidaros cathedral, which is Scandinavia’s greatest medieval building and dedicated to Norway’s patron saint St. Olav. The west wall is an amazing sight, even under a grey sky, near one of the city’s rivers.

Trondheim Cathedral

Also nearby I walked across a bridge to see the old fishermen’s wooden homes, which have brightly coloured paintwork fronting the river and are still homes but also cafes, restaurants and little shops, which appeal to the locals and tourists alike.

Front view of a Bank

Riverside buildings

An interesting drain cover

Amnesty International riverside offices


Riverside homes

Walking back along the riverside I saw a dog enjoying a swim from a tiny riverside beach – he was on a very long rope lead, presumably so he didn’t get swept away in the current. Rain was threatening as I reached my hotel again, and within minutes there was the most tremendous thunderstorm with torrential rain blotting out all views from my window, and the noise of thunder competing with the noise of the rain.

I am here visiting Trondheim for the first time, prior to sailing on the Hurtigruten ship NORDSTJERNEN tomorrow, and it is the most extraordinary feeling to know that my Father visited Trondheim several times during his career at sea with Blue Star Line as a Junior Engineer on board the 1927-built ARANDORA STAR. The ship cruised to Norway, Scandinavia and Mediterranean ports in the English summer and to the West Indies during the English winter. Father’s ship was here on 17th June and 27th July 1931, 25th July and 3rd August 1932, and 31st July and 9th August 1933, which I can see from his Board of Trade Discharge Book and the Company brochures of the time. This is obviously where my own sea-going genes come from, when many years later I joined Union-Castle Line, and here I am following in Father’s footsteps.

Ships seen: Richard With, Nordnorge, a Coastguard vessel

To be continued...

Summer 2011 Part 1 To the Land of the Midnight Sun

Saturday 9th July 2011

Gatwick Airport was left far behind as I flew north to Oslo with Norwegian Air, and transferred to their local short flight on to Trondheim. I saw snow on the mountains below me, making me realise just how far I had travelled. The airport bus drove through numerous tunnels and beside Norwegian Woods (cue music…) to the little coastal city, and I was soon walking to my hotel for 2 nights’ stay in this Hurtigruten port of call. I have never been so far north on land before, and this town of about 170,000 people was spread over a large area. It was centred around the port, as it had been for centuries of course, so the old Hanseatic traders’ warehouses along the riverside and other shop fronts made for interesting viewing as I headed for a local restaurant in the evening heat.

As I peeped out between the blackout curtains later that night I could still see the bright light of this 20 hour daylight, and realised I was truly in The Land of the Midnight Sun!

Trondheim view at 10.22 p.m.

Trondheim at 2.43 a.m.

No ships seen

Sunday 10th July
Another early start to the day, but worth it as I headed down to the port to see the two Hurtigruten ships alongside the quay.



The 1993-built RICHARD WITH was there and due to head south at 10 a.m., so I was able to make a quick visit on board her. She is 11,205 tons, can carry 623 passengers (and 45 cars) with a service speed of 15 knots.

Richard With Reception

an original mural

B Deck Arcade

Polar Restaurant

Restaurant light

Bridge view

Coffee offer

Closing the cargo door

Up with the gangways

As she prepared to sail I could see a few people coming into sight from a building along the quay, and was astonished to see that they were passengers for the ship, presumably having been into town. It was 1 minute to sailing time and they appeared in no hurry to get on board; more and more people came from the building and soon there was shouting and frantic hand waving from someone on the gangway. One or two late-comers actually waved back, which must have irritated the ship’s staff. Eventually all the stragglers embarked, the gangway was taken up, and the ship sailed off into the calm waters of the fjord on her voyage south to Bergen.

Watching Richard With sail


Richard With sailing

Ships seen: Richard With (Hurtigruten)

To be continued...

MARCO POLO Cruise 29th April 2010 Part 2, the final one

MARCO POLO cruise 29th April 2010
Part 2 - the final one

Saturday 1st May 2010
May Day in the UK and Europe, and today we arrived in Antwerp and were alongside just before 10 a.m. ready to enjoy another public holiday in another country. How lovely – this is my first visit to the beautiful Belgian city of Antwerp.



We’d sailed up the River Scheldt with its twists and turns, watching lots of other river craft. After disembarkation we met a friend of Bruce’s who walked us around a lot of his city, starting with the ex-warehouse area leading to the Castle.


Our walk then led us to the 1952-built HAKON JARL ship, of the famous Norwegian Hurtigruten service, but now an hotel and restaurant ship under the name of DIAMOND PRINCESS. From the bow she looked good, with a royal blue hull, but the rest of her was not a pretty sight, but she is still afloat. We went on board and were allowed in Reception but that was all, as the other facilities were closed, including the Lipstick Café.



Continuing on from the Bonaparte Dock we walked around the MAS Museum (Museum Aan De Stroom) building of red brick, with its white ‘hand’ symbol over the walls, which celebrates one of the stories of the founding of the city of Antwerp. It’s to be a combined ethnographical, folklore and maritime museum when it opens.













We enjoyed the architecture and crowds, including the May Day Parade taking place in the main square.

The flags on display outside City Hall fluttered in the breeze, as did the red flags being carried by the marchers.


It was all cheerful and noisy, with the inevitable dog fast asleep on the cobblestones outside a bar.


We had lunch of beef or rabbit casserole at an old hostelry and enjoyed these local dishes tremendously in a very convivial atmosphere.


Philippe showed us the entrance to the Castle, the Zoo, and we visited the Central Station, the Cathedral with its bell tower and three huge Rubens paintings, saw an old cinema, part of the old city wall, the old Mission to Seamen building being renovated and of special interest to me as I am a supporter and local committee member of the re-named Mission to Seafarers; we also saw the Guild Houses, the Butcher’s Hall, the narrow entrance at number 16 of the Old Corn Market to the Vlaeykensgang, the Farmer’s Tower, the Bourla Theatre, and all the while the sun or rain came down on us. It was a fascinating time and place to visit.












Back near the Cruise Terminal we admired the Art Deco exterior of the Pedestrian Tunnel under the canal and went down the 1930s original wooden escalator, looked through the tunnel and came up on the other wooden escalator.



The tunnel and escalator are all Listed. This brought us back to the walkway leading to the ship, so reluctant farewells and grateful thanks were made to Philippe and his family for a wonderful introduction to this fascinating city.


We enjoyed another pleasant evening and dinner on board MARCO POLO, as we sailed overnight back to Tilbury.

Ships seen: Jervis Bay, Baccarat (our bunkers), a Cosco ship, Terntank, Pinta, Steam Ship Wolk, Viking, Primera, Multratug II, Rhine Princess, Sir Winston, Fairplay 22 (tug), Ternland, Kapitan Kudlat

Sunday 2nd May 2010
Heavy rain was falling as we tied up at Tilbury, so breakfast was a rather sombre occasion. Bruce and I were due to go south to Portsmouth for more travel adventures with other friends, so after general goodbyes we left the ship and headed for the train station.

On reflection I thought the ship design and layout was interesting and everything appeared well cared for, although the Restaurant organisation was not quite as our group would have wished. For such a short trip we really did expect to have a good amount of sea-time together (especially for meals) so it was a shame that all our dining requests were in vain. Still, I really enjoyed sailing on the famous MARCO POLO and thought it was good value for money. I would certainly love to sail on her again and for a longer trip, and would certainly recommend MARCO POLO for an interesting ship trip.