Roll Call: Silver Whisper 6/17/11 - 7/2/11 Norway Coast (#4118)

[LauraBK]

Hi!

We booked this cruise in February - it's our first cruise on Silversea (well, our first cruise ever) - we're excited to see who else will be on board :)

This is the same itinerary that Terry from Ohio recently reviewed!

[GeneBK]

Eight months since LauraBK posted....not a single response....perhaps a ghost ship will be sailing the fjords?

Not quite, I'll be there.....

......but I'm hoping i'll be almost invisible...

[LauraBK]

Hi Gene!

I thought this post was lost ;)....I believe the ship is full, so maybe more folks will post as it gets closer.

We were just reviewing the excursions again, considering Overland to Geiranger. Have you booked yours?

We're so looking forward to it!

[GeneBK]

LauraBK--

The similarity of our loggin names is certainly a coincidence....

My wife and I cruise often, absolutely love the sea, and love wandering when in port. However, once a year, I take a "solitude cruise"...travel alone to withdraw into a private world. Not easy on a cruise, but I'm reasonably accomplished at it.

Hence, no excursions for me....off the ship early, back late....wandering in solitude. This is my third fjord cruise, so I know the territory a bit.

We have done an overland from Helleysilt to Geiranger, but it was very different, involving a five mile hike through the countryside. The SS offering sounds like a lot of bus riding, but I'm sure the photo opportunities would be excellent. In particular the photo stop during the descent down to to the village of Geiranger offers one of the classic Norway "postcard" scenes--the narrow fjord below with your ship anchored waiting for you.

On the other hand, staying with the ship for relocation midmorning to Geiranger offers a couple hours of wonderful fjord scenery as the ship threads through the fjords. However, Helleysilt is tiny and Geiranger is small and a bit commercial--not much to explore except wonderful hiking.... but all options are uphill. Admittedly, if you stay aboard, the fjord scenery is a repeat of the same path taken by the ship (part in the 6:30-7:30 a.m. range approaching Helleysilt, part after the 5.00 p.m. departure from Geiranger), but sunlight changes and personally I can't imagine ever tiring of sailing a fjord.

Hope the weather is good....it's an excellent itinerary. Enjoy

GeneBK

[LauraBK]

Thanks for the additional insight! After mulling it over we decided to go with the Kayaking in Geiranger. We thought as you did, that there was too much time on the bus an we wanted a more "once in a lifetime" experience.

I hope you have a wonderful time an I appreciate your help. Now we just have to wait another two months :)

[TLCOhio]

Hi! We booked this cruise in February - it's our first cruise on Silversea (well, our first cruise ever) - we're excited to see who else will be on board :) This is the same itinerary that Terry from Ohio recently reviewed!

THANKS, Laura, for the "plug" on my live/blog postings from last summer's Norway Coast/Fjords cruise routing that you will be enjoying. Good luck to you and Gene as you cruise gets closer. Below is the visual on that great vista that Gene mentioned on the viewpoint overlooking Geiranger. Hopefully, there will be others who sign in on these boards who will be joining you on this cruise. Some folks are a little "shy" to post on these boards. Fortunately, we had lots posting here before our cruise. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 38,170 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.
www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923


This is the super scenic view from immediately above Geiranger that shows the Silver Cloud and Costa ships tendered. A little before this picture, we were to go to Mt. Dalsnibba as a photo stop from this 4,920-foot vantage for the snow-covered surrounding mountains, icy glaciers, crystalline lakes and Geirangerfjord far below. We went there, but it was totally “socked in”. It was so thick, you could barely find your bus on this day on top of the big mountain crowded with lots of buses from the Costa ship. But this view, at a lower level, makes up for that problems and provided a wonderful vista.:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tlcohio/FjordsFinalPortLongView.jpg


Here is a closer view to this Geiranger harbor with two ships tendered there.:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm271/tlcohio/Fjord2ShipsCloser.jpg

[Needhamite]

Laura,

Sorry that I did not see your original posting from last August or I would have surely let you know that you were not the only CC-er on this voyage. We also booked more than a year in advance. My wife (Pat) and have had a Norwegian cruise on our to-do list for many years. Terry's reports from last year's trip certainly reinforced our excitement about this itinerary. We can only keep our fingers crossed that we have the same favorable weather that he and his party enjoyed last July.

Welcome to Silversea - you will have a wonderful trip. This is our fourth time on the Silver Whisper. She is by far our favorite vessel.

In addition to cruise ships I am also a big train fan so the Flaam Railroad has been on my bucket list for decades. Therefore, we could not pass up the Overland to Gudvangen excursion. I will happily put up with many hours of bus riding if it means I can get on trains like those in Flaam and Myrdal.

Greetings also to also to GeneBK who, I see, is a fellow New Englander. Let's see who else will be sailing with us into the Midnight Sun.

-Peter

[LauraBK]

Hi Peter!

We are not too far from New England either...NJ to be exact :)

My husband loves trains as well and we will be on the Overland to Gudvangen excursion! I heard the Flam Railway was not to be missed.

I am very excited about the Whisper, she seems to be a favorite.

We will have 1 and 1/2 days in CPH which sounds wonderful as well.

Glad you posted!

[LauraBK]

We're getting close..just wondering if anyone got their final papers?

From what I have read on the boards - they should be coming very soon.

[Needhamite]

Laura,

My agent usually has my Silversea documents 3 to 4 weeks before embarkation date, so I am not expecting to hear from them for another couple of weeks.
The closer the voyage gets the harder it is to wait. I've been so antsy lately that I had to do something. So, I went out yesterday to buy a little Danish and Norwegian pocket money.

-Peter

[TLCOhio]

Terry's reports from last year's trip certainly reinforced our excitement about this itinerary. We can only keep our fingers crossed that we have the same favorable weather that he and his party enjoyed last July. -Peter

THANKS, Peter, for the mention. I'll do my best to send ahead an e-mail to the "right people" to guarantee great weather for you folks. It worked well for us last year. Look forward to getting reports on how your cruise works out. Don't be shy if you have an added questions on the various places you are visiting. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 39,780 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.
www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[daddyo]

LauraBK

You may want to check out this website. Someone on Cruise Critic recommeded last year before we were on the Cloud last July.

www.webcamsinnorway.com

[meow!]

Eight months since LauraBK posted....not a single response....perhaps a ghost ship will be sailing the fjords? ...

For those of you lucky folks going on this voyage, it is "well occupied" though not full. Its discount has decreased to 45% (down from 60%, and is now nearly at maximum price), and only verandahs and midship verandahs are still available. It is at around $800 per diem for these categories. Enjoy and post your reports to share with the rest of us!

[LauraBK]

LauraBK

You may want to check out this website. Someone on Cruise Critic recommeded last year before we were on the Cloud last July.

www.webcamsinnorway.com (http://www.webcamsinnorway.com)


Thank you for this information! Like Needhamite we are getting antsy, this will give us something else to review.

[LauraBK]

Just got it today :)

Not too much longer now, anyone else ou there joining us?

[meow!]

Update: Even midship verandahs on your voyage are gone, leaving only some bow-verandahs. So expect your ship to be perhaps 90% full. Bon voyage.

[CruisinPashmina]

We'll be on board! Took a similar cruise on the Cloud, about 15 years ago. Wonderful! Still dreaming about the beautiful views. Hope to meet fellow CCers....anyone staying at the Marriott in Copenhagen?

[Needhamite]

We'll be on board! Took a similar cruise on the Cloud, about 15 years ago. Wonderful! Still dreaming about the beautiful views. Hope to meet fellow CCers....anyone staying at the Marriott in Copenhagen?

Great to hear from another CCer. DW (Pat) and I will also be staying in Copenhagen pre-cruise but we will be at the Scandic Palace. It's just three weeks, now.

-Peter

[LauraBK]

We'll be on board! Took a similar cruise on the Cloud, about 15 years ago. Wonderful! Still dreaming about the beautiful views. Hope to meet fellow CCers....anyone staying at the Marriott in Copenhagen?

We arrive in CPH on the 16th, but we're staying at the Nimb.

[Needhamite]

Well, we finally have our travel documents. (It was just a minor mix-up in the travel agent's office but I was beginning to think that I must have left some fields blank on the on-line passenger information forms.) Now to get down to some serious wardrobe planning. The Norwegian weather the past couple of weeks hasn't been too bad. Hope that it holds out for us.

Any last minute hot topics that we need to hash out?

-Peter

[CruisinPashmina]

Needhamite, Even tho we have taken this cruise before, we remember the scenery, but not the weather! You made a reference to Norway's recent weather being good. What source did you use? All I have been getting is either all charts I don't understand, or info in Norwegian, or most discouraging; in English which morphs into Norwegian. I'm obviously missing an easy way to get basic weather information for coastal Norway and Copenhagen.

Can anyone please help?

[newlondon]

Just go to weather.com and search the international section for Bergen, Tromso etc. It will give a pretty good forecast. Remember it rains in Bergen 300/365.

[Needhamite]

CruisinPashmina,

I have not done anything scientific about this but a month or so ago I just added Copenhagen and Tromso to the weather report area on my Google start-up page. Now every time I use Google, I see the temperature for those two cities along with four days' worth of sun/cloud logos and temperature ranges. I know that these two cities are not necessarily representative of all the ports in a country as long as Norway but I am encouraged to say that I have seen many more pictures of suns than of clouds. The daytime highs of late have mostly ranged from the mid-forties to the lower sixties.

As far as Bergen is concerned, as Newlondon has noted, plan for rain and hope that you will be pleasantly surprised.

-Peter

[Needhamite]

Laura,

Since this thread has not attracted a significant number of passengers we don't have the numbers for a formal Cruise Critic Meet 'n' Greet session. However, if you would like to put a face to the CC ID, I will be floating around the ship (in seventh heaven, no doubt) on our first cruise day (Saturday) wearing a while T-shirt with Silversea's logo on the front and five "Best Cruise Line" award medallions on the back. If you would like get acquainted, we would be happy to meet you, If you would like to remain anonymous, that's fine, too.

We certainly hope that you fully enjoy your first cruise! And have a happy anniversary celebration.

-Peter

[LauraBK]

Laura,

Since this thread has not attracted a significant number of passengers we don't have the numbers for a formal Cruise Critic Meet 'n' Greet session. However, if you would like to put a face to the CC ID, I will be floating around the ship (in seventh heaven, no doubt) on our first cruise day (Saturday) wearing a while T-shirt with Silversea's logo on the front and five "Best Cruise Line" award medallions on the back. If you would like get acquainted, we would be happy to meet you, If you would like to remain anonymous, that's fine, too.

We certainly hope that you fully enjoy your first cruise! And have a happy anniversary celebration.

-Peter

Hi Peter,

It would be our pleasure to meet on board! I will try to post a picture of my husband and I so we may find each other A little easier (I don't know what we'll be wearing yet). We just picked up our Danish and Norwegian currency and are packing today. Bon Voyage, we'll see you on Saturday :)

Laura & John

[Needhamite]

We got home from this voyage late Saturday evening (July 2) and I still have not had time to organize my thoughts. I can say, however, that this was a fantastic cruise. The weather was much better than it often is on the Norwegian coast. Many days were overcast but we had few instances of real rain and the days of full sun (particularly Tromso and the second call to Leknes) were absolutely startlingly beautiful. I hope to have the time to provide a full review but for now, at least, I am happy to report that Silversea certainly knows how to do this itinerary right. (Unfortunately, it looks like next year's voyage to the North Cape is missing Flaam, Trondheim and the Lofoten Islands - all high points of this voyage.) I am very glad that we made this trip this year.

I hope that LauraBK, GeneBK and any other CC-ers on this cruise also had a great trip.

-Peter

[duct tape]

I love that trip, the Lofoten islands are a piece of Paradise! So glad you had a good time.