Norway, Sojourn, the good and the bad...1

[PaulaJK]

We have just returned from Sojourn's cruise RT Copenhagen which crossed the Arctic Circle and journeyed as far north as Honningsvag for the North Cape. With apologies to those who found me ungrateful for not writing sooner, the internet connections are quite spotty this far north. I had written one fairly long post and by the time I got to 'submit', had lost transmission. I hope that my comments will answer any questions. The caveat is that these are my impressions and, as always, it would not be difficult to find someone who felt otherwise. Also, I will not compare or contrast this experience with ours on other lines.

We loved our time with Seabourn. There was only one 'bad' and it applied to some of the entertainment staff. Ria and her talented band had to depart Sojourn because headquarters wants American musicians who can "read music". She was replaced in The Club by Liana who performed only disco style music, leaving the dance floor used by less than a handful of couples. Imagine my surprise when at the Captain's farewell party when she sang ballroom dance music, including some Latin!!!...although clearly screaming Proud Mary was much closer to her vocal forte. The guitarist reminded me of 70's coffee club vintage, singing 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' and the like. [I wish he had.] No umph! Also, the pianist in the Observation Lounge blended with the walls. Polar opposite was the 'cast' of singers and dancers who gave excellent performances as did the guest artists--magicians, pianist, flautist, violinist,comedian. I wish that the latter category had included some vocalists.

The 403 passengers on board included 6 well behaved children. 210 hailed from the USA while the UK, Australia, Germany and Belgium were the next large clusters. Fortunately, we did not have any of ST's 'interesting' experiences. Our pax mix seemed courteous and gracious.We chatted with many interesting people....and we weren't afflicted with name droppers or cruise tally touters. SB does such a wonderful job in hosting tables that it is quite easy to meet folks. [We did have 1 man in jeans on formal opt night dancing in The Club and 2 folks came into The Colonnade in bathrobes to collect lunch plates which they then took outside...I hope that SB reigns this in. ]

The staff and crew were of as diverse origins as the passengers. Susan Wood, CD, is a classy, talented, competent woman, omnipresent in meeting and greeting. Brent, the Asst. CD, was warm and fun as well as a good performer. Annabelle, the social hostess, was a charm. Each evening post show, the entertainment staff spent an hour dancing and socializing in The Club which created a convivial atmosphere.

Capt. Buer was an elegant man although he and his senior officers were neither very visible nor very chatty with pax. However, the Hotel Manager [Hubert] and the F&B officers were very visible and friendly. Vlado, the Restaurant Manager, was fabulous. Without exception, we experienced warm, related, efficient, service oriented crew eager to please. Not one bad apple or one bad hair day. Kudos to the Sojourn crew!! While being addressed by name is not a priority to us, amazingly by day 3 the crew was addressing folks by name.

The same kudos most certainly apply to our room stewardess,Andrea who was simply wonderful.

Seabourn Square is a great destination and well used on this not-great-
weather cruise. The [reception] staff there is super competent and gracious. Alas, no Julia this morning to serve me my coffee and yummy fruit danish.

I will end part 1 with a note re: smoking. Except for whiffs of cigar smoke 2 days, I didn't note any issues. I did, however, hear some folks complain about smoking in the Obs Lounge.

If you find my comments too detailed, don't follow...otherwise, tours and cuisine impressions to follow.

[Host Dan]

Thank you Paula! I look forward to the next installment!

Host Dan

[Seabourntraveller]

Originally Posted by PaulaJK

We have just returned from Sojourn's cruise RT Copenhagen which crossed the Arctic Circle and journeyed as far north as Honningsvag for the North Cape. With apologies to those who found me ungrateful for not writing sooner, the internet connections are quite spotty this far north. I had written one fairly long post and by the time I got to 'submit', had lost transmission. I hope that my comments will answer any questions. The caveat is that these are my impressions and, as always, it would not be difficult to find someone who felt otherwise. Also, I will not compare or contrast this experience with ours on other lines.

We loved our time with Seabourn. There was only one 'bad' and it applied to some of the entertainment staff. Ria and her talented band had to depart Sojourn because headquarters wants American musicians who can "read music". She was replaced in The Club by Liana who performed only disco style music, leaving the dance floor used by less than a handful of couples. Imagine my surprise when at the Captain's farewell party when she sang ballroom dance music, including some Latin!!!...although clearly screaming Proud Mary was much closer to her vocal forte. The guitarist reminded me of 70's coffee club vintage, singing 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' and the like. [I wish he had.] No umph! Also, the pianist in the Observation Lounge blended with the walls. Polar opposite was the 'cast' of singers and dancers who gave excellent performances as did the guest artists--magicians, pianist, flautist, violinist,comedian. I wish that the latter category had included some vocalists.

The 403 passengers on board included 6 well behaved children. 210 hailed from the USA while the UK, Australia, Germany and Belgium were the next large clusters. Fortunately, we did not have any of ST's 'interesting' experiences. Our pax mix seemed courteous and gracious.We chatted with many interesting people....and we weren't afflicted with name droppers or cruise tally touters. SB does such a wonderful job in hosting tables that it is quite easy to meet folks. [We did have 1 man in jeans on formal opt night dancing in The Club and 2 folks came into The Colonnade in bathrobes to collect lunch plates which they then took outside...I hope that SB reigns this in. ]

The staff and crew were of as diverse origins as the passengers. Susan Wood, CD, is a classy, talented, competent woman, omnipresent in meeting and greeting. Brent, the Asst. CD, was warm and fun as well as a good performer. Annabelle, the social hostess, was a charm. Each evening post show, the entertainment staff spent an hour dancing and socializing in The Club which created a convivial atmosphere.

Capt. Buer was an elegant man although he and his senior officers were neither very visible nor very chatty with pax. However, the Hotel Manager [Hubert] and the F&B officers were very visible and friendly. Vlado, the Restaurant Manager, was fabulous. Without exception, we experienced warm, related, efficient, service oriented crew eager to please. Not one bad apple or one bad hair day. Kudos to the Sojourn crew!! While being addressed by name is not a priority to us, amazingly by day 3 the crew was addressing folks by name.

The same kudos most certainly apply to our room stewardess,Andrea who was simply wonderful.

Seabourn Square is a great destination and well used on this not-great-
weather cruise. The [reception] staff there is super competent and gracious. Alas, no Julia this morning to serve me my coffee and yummy fruit danish.

I will end part 1 with a note re: smoking. Except for whiffs of cigar smoke 2 days, I didn't note any issues. I did, however, hear some folks complain about smoking in the Obs Lounge.

If you find my comments too detailed, don't follow...otherwise, tours and cuisine impressions to follow.

Thanks PaulaJK for your review...you did have 2 bathrobe people in the Colonnade...not that many compared to when I was onboard!
Susan the CD, did run your ears aground with "Tootle-loo's" all the time? Brent the Ass't CD never was visible and I just love Annabel as she jsut left the Sojourn yesterday and will see her when I board the Odyssey in Dubai on Nov 26th.

Karlo Buer and his "possy" aren't very visible as you said except each morning at 8:30am in the Colonnade for breakfast at there regular table. Hubert the Hotman and Bojzi the F&B Manager were ALWAYS visible.
Can't wait to rejoin the Sojourn at the end of August to wrap up the Baltic Season and then transatlantic to Montreal.

[PaulaJK]

Yes, my ears did run aground......I didn;t care for that phrase but I gather it is her hallmark. I really enjoyed Bobby Broughton as CD.

Fuuny,our different experiences with Brent. He was very visible both greeting pre show/Grand Salon as well as in The Club post show. I found him very warm and was on the receiving end of kisses and hugs. This is why I said very respectfully, that we all can have different expereinces and different impressions.

[Seabourntraveller]

Originally Posted by PaulaJK

Yes, my ears did run aground......I didn;t care for that phrase but I gather it is her hallmark. I really enjoyed Bobby Broughton as CD.

Fuuny,our different experiences with Brent. He was very visible both greeting pre show/Grand Salon as well as in The Club post show. I found him very warm and was on the receiving end of kisses and hugs. This is why I said very respectfully, that we all can have different expereinces and different impressions.

Bobby Broughton will be the CD on the Odyssey embarking in Singapore on Dec 11th.

[jimmyw9]

Originally Posted by Seabourntraveller

Bobby Broughton will be the CD on the Odyssey embarking in Singapore on Dec 11th.

Oh you will have fun with him!

My partner and I did not care for his style last year on our jaunt down the Adriatic. Do you know if Bobby will still be on next March?

Toodle-loo.......and I really hope we do not encounter that!

Jimmyw9

[Seabourntraveller]

Originally Posted by jimmyw9

Oh you will have fun with him!

My partner and I did not care for his style last year on our jaunt down the Adriatic. Do you know if Bobby will still be on next March?

Toodle-loo.......and I really hope we do not encounter that!

Jimmyw9

Bobby will be getting off the Odyssey sometime in March...

I wouldn't put my worse enemy thru a cruise with Miss "Tootle-loo"!

[baychilla]

Only Disco? That sounds cruel.

[PaulaJK]

I have just written a long post about tours only to have a web glitch!
Will return to those later.

I had wanted to add that the evening shows originally were scheduled for 9:45pm but as the cruise progressed seemed increasingly to be scheduled for 6:45pm. Since it was not unusual for a tour to return around 5pm, this cut into relaxing in the Observation Lounge, enjoying sailway, pre dinner leisurely cocktails and music in The Club,etc.To not atttend, cut into entertainment pleasures. The 9:45 slot then turned into short games such as Name That Tune and Battle of The Sexes. Games did not seem to be the CD's forte....and then there was the disco beat of The Club. For ourselves, the 6:45 shows and the lack of evening entertainment might be a deal breaker.

[baychilla]

May I suggest typing your posts up in a word processing program then copy/pasting into CC? That way if the post gets eaten on submission you can just c/p again.

Looking forward to hearing about shore excursions.

[wripro]

Thanks, PaulaJK, for your excellent review so far. Having followed your posts on another board for years I respect your opinions and look forward to hearing more.

[Seabourntraveller]

Originally Posted by PaulaJK

I have just written a long post about tours only to have a web glitch!
Will return to those later.

I had wanted to add that the evening shows originally were scheduled for 9:45pm but as the cruise progressed seemed increasingly to be scheduled for 6:45pm. Since it was not unusual for a tour to return around 5pm, this cut into relaxing in the Observation Lounge, enjoying sailway, pre dinner leisurely cocktails and music in The Club,etc.To not atttend, cut into entertainment pleasures. The 9:45 slot then turned into short games such as Name That Tune and Battle of The Sexes. Games did not seem to be the CD's forte....and then there was the disco beat of The Club. For ourselves, the 6:45 shows and the lack of evening entertainment might be a deal breaker.

The same was happening on the St-Petersburg cruises, as people were so pooped out from their tours they were doing more and more game shows, Liar's Club etc. As I said before, you don't cruise Seabourn for the Entertainment that's for sure.

[Roxburgh]

Originally Posted by Seabourntraveller

The same was happening on the St-Petersburg cruises, as people were so pooped out from their tours they were doing more and more game shows, Liar's Club etc. As I said before, you don't cruise Seabourn for the Entertainment that's for sure.

Yes, I agree. For us, entertainment just isn't that important and we often skip it.

Anyway, thanks to Paula for her review which I enjoyed.

[PaulaJK]

Thank you Baychilla for that advice. I am going to try it because I simply will not be able to make my fingers comment on those tours a 3rd time!

Also thanks to Wripro....probably will need that boost when we get to cuisine.

I am not going to be much help with the liquor questions. The bartenders appeared super competent and were muddling and mixing and shaking at a fierce pace. All fashion [and lovely colors] of cocktails were being enjoyed. Of course, now that I've emphasized the 'colors' of the cocktails, it's not a big leap of imagination to learn that I prefer wine. And I'm not even going to be a help to you here as there was no printed wine list, I didn't make any extensive inquiries and have a simple palate. They did offer several whites [Savignon Blanc, Chardonnays, Petit Chablis] each night as well as reds [Chianti, Cabs]. I found an Italian Pinot Nero that was simple, smooth and good for me.

They poured Nicolas Feuillant [?sp] regularly with no attempt to substitute sparkling wines. A LOT of folks were enjoying champagne. I did experiment
enjoying both a Bellini and a champagne with a dollop of fresh raspberry puree........yum.

At the bars I noticed many different brands including several single malt scotch, numerous vodkas [Belvedere,Chopin, Gray Goose,Smirnoff and several others],liqueurs galore and brandies...also Johnnie Walker red and black. There was a drink made with Bailey's that was very popular........end of knowledge!

[baychilla]

Ahh cuisine. Honestly commenting on that got the natives more than restless on both the Regent and Silversea forums.

[writer100]

Originally Posted by wripro

Thanks, PaulaJK, for your excellent review so far. Having followed your posts on another board for years I respect your opinions and look forward to hearing more.

PaulK, thanks form here,too. I don't understand the entertainment starting at 6:45pm. Unless a majority of the pax are from Argentina and rarely dine before 10:00.

[Seabourntraveller]

Originally Posted by writer100

PaulK, thanks form here,too. I don't understand the entertainment starting at 6:45pm. Unless a majority of the pax are from Argentina and rarely dine before 10:00.

It wasn't like that when Bobby Broughton was the CD...this is a Susan Wood thing obviously pulled from her days at Silver Seas....the 6:45pm Pre-Dinner Show doesn't work IMO. The ship is a deserted ghost town after 10:00pm with occasionally some people in the Club or Observation Bar.

[seabournaddict]

Originally Posted by Seabourntraveller

. The ship is a deserted ghost town after 10:00pm with occasionally some people in the Club or Observation Bar.

Perhaps people are tired after long days of sightseeing and touring? Not something you would be familiar with! On our last cruise, we had a few early shows, which we enjoyed, and they had nothing to do with anyone called Susan Wood. We don't usually leave the Restaurant until around 10pm, and then its bedtime for us. We rarely go to the late shows.

[seabournaddict]

thanks for the review Paula, looking forward to hearing more about your cruise. We are yet to try the "big" ships so enjoy reading "sensible" reports about them. Hoping to be on one very soon.

[PaulaJK]

We arrived at Copenhagen's port about 12:15pm. No herding, colors or numbers,thanks. Boarding began at 12:30 and evenbeing in the 3rd batch of travelers, we were on board by 12:45pm. Smooth as silk.

It's lovely to have the 1st day at sea. Our itinerary booklet had listed Flam as 'A' as in at anchor. That evening we were seated with the Staff Captain. Eager to be ashore in time for our tour, I asked him how long we should allow for the tender. Well obviously I struck his Norwegian sense of humor as he laughed so hysterically he could barely get out his words that he would have the tender take me at 10:10 and I would be on dock at 10:15! Clearly,that A should have been a D. [Later in the cruise he inquired how my tendering was proceeding, again rippling with laughter.] We generally prefer meandering on our own or pvt touring but for this trip chose all ship's tours. We had been reluctant to sign on for Flam for at 6 hours it was the next to longest tour. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of those on this forum who encouraged us to take this trip. We loved it and consider it our finest port. The scenery was magnificent with majestic snow capped mountains, hundreds of cascading
waterfalls, ragging rivers, ravines and valleys. It is a visual chip forever implanted in our minds.

Of course, part of this experience was the wonder of nature. Both in many of the ports and as we sailed the mountains seemed so close that we felt that we could reach out and touch them. It also felt special to be there for the Midnight Sun. A dinner table next to the window looking out on sunshine......wow!

In Alesund we wandered about on our own. We visited the local museum which describes how the city was destroyed by fire in the early 1900's and then rebuilt in what is now called its Art Nouveau style. What fortitude and enlighted engineering those townspeople had!

Perhaps we would have enjoyed Leknes more had we followed Terry's advice to rent a car; several folks did this and were enthusiastic in their reports. We took the Lofoten & Viking Museum tour which was not made more interesting by the guide who sat facing forward and read from her notes. This tour had a problem which became rather frequent and commented upon by many people...too much free time. Here it was in the museum....plus the church & invitation to sing a hymn could have been omitted.

We spent the morning enjoying the charms of Tromso on our own. In the afternoon we did 'Gateway to the Artic'. The museum lightlighted the many expeditions to the North Pole but again, there was too much time to roam. The cable car ride up Mt Storsteinin did provide a panoramic view.

Additional thanks goes to those who advocated layered and warm clothing...most definitely needed in Honningvag where we took the trip to the North Cape. My earmuffs were the envy of many! The ride to and fro is rather long and mostly barren. The time at the North Cape Center seemed quite long [who needed a glass of champagne?] and soon most of us were sitting about simply waiting for the bus boarding to begin. Well, I rec'd the certificate indicating my visit to if that had been on my bucket list, I could have checked it off ! [Yes, I realize which verbs I used.]

Afraid that we were missing something [We don't expect to come this route again.] we were late sign ons for Olden's Nordfjord...wish we hadn't. By now the days were cold and misty, if not raining. Okay, the roads were winding and steep [incidentally, no guard rails] and the bus made at least 3 stops to let you capture the view. We made a BR stop at the ferry station and 10 minutes later went to a hotel for a 45 minute cake & coffee stop. Since we also had 'extra' time, our guide took us to another church.

I have long loved Edvard Grieg's 'Song of Norway' and was enthused about this afternoon tour in Bergen. 4 buses departed the ship simultaneously so much of our time was spent waiting for one group to leave the photos before we could enter, to leave the kitchen before we could enter,etc. There also was more free time, more champagne and a 30 minutepiano recital. On the return trip, our guide toured us around the city. I think that I had expected a more moving experience, perhaps more in line w. Grieg's romanticism.

I have articulted my negatives about the tour content and time distribution but I also wish to mention that the tour staff did a wonderful job of answering questions and organizing the tour departures. No gathering in a theater, no numbers, no confusion, no lines at the gangplank. Buses filled and departed without long delays.