Norwaylady

We are slowly moving towards Istanbul 😎

Greek 🇬🇷 isles are really a winner ✨ Istanbul is a real potpourri of Arabic and European influence. Both the Queen and I have visited several times. So our plans are not the grand tourist attraction… we have visited many times🙃 We will start our journey thru the narrow canal around 16.00 local time. I’m getting ready 🤩

It was salmon, prosciutto melon, salmon mousse canapés and bbq meat sticks, schrimp tempura and something else tempura. It looked delicious and nicely plated. But I was feeling full from my late breakfast😅 (bad planning😝) They had plenty of time and it was not rushed at all🥰 Captain Ioannis said a few words about the sail in to Istanbul and the weather forecast for our stay there. It was definitely not overcrowded and plenty of space for everyone🥰

Captains Club Welcome toast was delayed. Invitation said 11.45. But they were not ready 11.50. So the concierge/captains club was tripping around outside the door… The captain and senior officers were lined up to welcome everyone inside. Live music, canapés, drinks 🍸 All as I should be🥂💙⚓️ (But I must bite big time😂😂😂 people are so afraid of approaching me😅) Top cruiser, 50sailings 3900 points an American 🇺🇸 man. Acrobatics did a small show. CD Ernest was the conductor of the event, presenting the captain and concierge’s onboard.

Sea day! I went off for a walk at 08.30. The grand touring route. Surprisingly quiet. Very few chair 🪑 hogs. I walked for a good hour. Not very hot and a little windy 🌬️ After my walk it was time to go downstairs to see if the Queen was ready for breakfast. It was a quick turnaround for me and off to the buffet🙃 Not a full house today😇 I picked up my usual breakfast and found a table outside on the terrace😎 The Queen had her go to things🙂 Now the Queen is parked on a sun lounger overlooking the pool on deck 11. (Everyone is happy🥰) I had a talk with Mr. The ventilation contractor had visited and they would send us some offers for ventilation systems that would fit our house and our needs. Since it’s getting renovated to new construction standards, we need a ventilation system. Both to get fresh and healthy air inside, but also as balanced ventilation that keeps and reuses the warm air inside. So we can minimise the need for heating during winter. So lots of things going on at home😅🤓 Mr was now waiting for the electrician. So things on our list is moving✔️ It’s Captains Club Welcome Toast at 11.45 today.

The seafood orzo is really good 👍🏻 Yesterday it was 10/10✨

Cruise Compass Day 3 Sea Day

Dinner…. We received a very nice surprise from Irwin when we were walked to our set time table🥰 It’s all the way back on deck 5. So we are literally seated on a window on the ocean🥳👍🏻 Really really nice location for a view and small section. Surprise number two was our sommelier. It was Juliana from last year🥰😂 Well, hello to you! Our waiter started the show as we were first timers onboard😝 I think Juliana gave him a little vink😂🤪🤭 Suddenly it changed into we know the process…. We are off to a good start and we are very happy camper’s😊 Today’s menu: We went for salad, trout and seafood orzo. Dessert menu: We went for panna cotta and lava cake. All good and tasty👍🏻 Coffee arrived as espresso and espresso macchiato🙃 After dinner we picked up some water in Al bacio on the way home. And now it’s bedtime 🛏️

Broken Strings, Welcome cast! Not bad, not smashing🤗 I’m not sure how I feel about CD Ernest🤔 is he love it or list it🤭😆 Time will tell🙃 After the show we walked over to the Martini Bar to see the flair show✨ They are way more up to fun than on EQ (no pun intended… they were just not on fire 🔥🤭) IMG_3750.mov Look who robbed the flight???? Hello? Oh well, she had a sip of premium drinks 🤭🍸

After little break on the sun longer, I had to go downstairs. ( you know what happens when you are busy😱😶‍🌫️🫣 no time for 💅🏻) So then I had a call to Mr (making sure the house was still standing, cats 🐈 🐈‍⬛ alive and happy) He was home petting the cats and working out a plan for the next day’s renovation process… And I could do nails 💅🏻💃🏻 The Queen arrived a little before 18.00 so she had time to change clothes and get ready for the evening💃🏻 Tonight’s show is production show Broken Strings.

YES😂

After the breakfast bonanza…. It was time to go downstairs to get ready to leave the ship and “do” Thessaloniki 💙🇬🇷 It’s Greek Easter 🐣 So it’s closed, closed and closed😝 (do I recall the feeling from Martinique😂🤭🤔) But you can still go for a walk and have a feeling of the city💙🇬🇷 It’s the second largest city in Greece 🇬🇷 So it’s a vibe of large city✔️ Lots of restaurants, bars and cafes. (And shopping 🛍️) The Queen needed to pick up something from the pharmacy… O’hello there…. 🇳🇴 cod liver oil🤭 We walked from the ship to the city centre. It’s flat 10.minutes walk from the gangway. We took a walk in the shopping district, several nice windows to have a look into (think of all the cash 💰 I’m saving😂😂) We walked around town, visited the church of St Sophia, down to the White Tower of Thessaloniki and took the oceanfront home to the ship. After the church visit, we decided to have a Greek snack and coffee. I dragged the Queen 8500 steps around town, so I’m happy with the outcome🙃 Fan mail from Irvin on our door 🚪 Now it’s time for a little break on a sun lounger😎

Why do I want to torture myself🫣😅😝🫣 Late arrival, means crazy crazy times in the buffet🤪🤪🤪🤪 We arrived in the middle of the peak🫣 Yep, you know the feeling🤪 long lines, crazy busy and the crew running around to clear tables and trying their best to get tables to people carrying plates😝 My first thing is go back, all the way back. Always less crowded and more options to find a table. First check and choice are the terrace✔️ BINGO A empty table outside! I’m guarding the table and send off the Queen for breakfast hunting. The Queen wanted mdr breakfast (until I told her… they are open from 07.30-09.00😅) Then she was buffet will work tomorrow😂😝 (something tells me she regretted that) Her face said a thousand words when we entered OV😝😂😝 keep it simple👍🏻✔️ yep my yogurt😂

Good morning from the sea😎 We are on our way to Thessaloniki 🇬🇷 We are docking 10.30. Time to bring the Queen to breakfast in the buffet😝

Cruise Compass Day 2 Thessaloniki

We waited for around 10.minutes time before the alarm went off🔥 Really not a problem💙 We received a 2-tablet on I-95 road of the back of the dining room. Tonight’s service was from: Good service and a touch of first night madness😂😂✔️ Tonight’s menu: We had shrimp cocktail, escargot, fish and lamb. All tasted good and freshly cooked. Dessert menu We had ice cream, chocolate and pistachio. The chocolate ice cream was nothing to write home about🫣 the pistachio on the other hand was 😋😋😋 We ordered double espresso and espresso macchiato. All hot and spot on correct ✅ After dinner….. you know what time it is😝 BED TIME😴😴😴😴

Tonight’s show is Andrei Cavassi. The ladies are ready to “claim” their usual spot😂😂😂🥂 We meet our housekeeping on our way out of the door 🚪 Very friendly, she would take care of our requests. Empty minibar and a sharp container to the Queen👍🏻 So this is a good start😇 Before the show, Captain loannis presented some of the senior officers on stage. CD Ernest welcomed the audience and kicked off the evening. The show tonight is a cello show with the orchestra. Great show, good mix of old and new music 🎵 He will be back for a matinee show on the first sea day⚓️ Martini Bar Crew is very alive🥳 The 20.00 flight was on 🔥 live music very alive in grand foyer We are Select dining, guess who was standing by the stand??? Irwin the doorkeeper from Blu last year😂💙⚓️ He was 😱🤩🥳😘 HELLO ladies💙 I asked politely if it was possible to get us a set table 20.30? He said he would try😉 Tonight is the beeper day😂 NOT a problem. We are happy campers😅💙👍🏻

It was coffee O’clock time for the Queen☕️ So we went downstairs to Al Bacio. We are off to a great start ✔️ After our coffee break it was time to head upstairs to see if our suitcases had arrived✔️ YES So then it was time to unpack and get ready for the evening💃🏻💃🏻

No luggage at 15.00… So we went to OV to get some food. The lunch bonanza was taken away. So dessert was still served and salad, pizza etc. I spy some familiar faces of crew members from last year 💙⚓️💙 Salad on the terrace wasn’t bad😂😎🥗 The Queen was happy🥰 everyone was happy🤩 Captain Ioannis has just finished safety training in public and we are soon ready for departure⚓️🇬🇷💙

We went straight to our muster station. Ping, ping ✔️✔️ It’s a very long time since I stayed in a blue card balcony on Millennium class😅😆 Nothing wrong or bad about it as of now. But those extra centimetres in concierge and aqua class are seriously making a difference to how big or small the stateroom feels🙃 Bed was made up as two separate bed on arrival😊 That’s a first time from arrival😉 Door sign is up, so just need some luggage and we will be all set up🏡

Paperwork on arrival in the stateroom Dinner suggestion…. (No way I’m eating dinner at that time😅)

What day is it??? Cruising Day🇬🇷💙⚓️ Not a bad view to wake up to💙 After a good night sleep 💤 the ladies was ready for breakfast. Breakfast was served between 7-10 on the mezzanine floor. It’s a buffet style breakfast. Greek breakfast and continental/american. So Greek 🇬🇷 yoghurt, olives, fruit, pastries etc. Continental bred, butter, ham, cheese, jam, muesli etc. American scrambled eggs, bacon. Juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc. So a very good breakfast for everyone💙👍🏻 The bed was comfortable and the room has everything you need. Fridge, ac and a view🤩🇬🇷💙👍🏻The room was spotless. No dust on hide away areas (yes I do a little round😂) Really a bargain in the city centre. Walking distance to everything. At 10.30 we checked out and dropped off our bags. Our car will arrive 13.00 to take us to Piraeus. The Queen wanted to go for a little walk. Some souvenir shops are open… So of we went😜 I wanted to do a grand walk, but The Queen was not there😜 So we had a slow walk in the Plaka. We had some Greek 🇬🇷 delights….😋 Then it was time for the return to our hotel. Driver texted me 12.30 to say he was on his way and that we needed to walk 20m to left to be picked up. Due to pedestrian areas regulations. (Same as on arrival) Driver arrived 12.45, so we jumped onboard and off we went to the port⚓️ We arrived on the pier 13.05. Bags dropped off asap and checked in at 13.12. The line thru security is after the check in area. The line was around 15.minutes wait. Then it was all clear to go out and walk onboard⚓️💙⚓️

After dropping off the bags 💼 and checking out the room, it was time for a little walk and dinner 🍽️ The hotel is very centrally located and everything is in walking distance. Since it’s Easter 🐣 the majority of restaurants are closed. So we took a walk and found one. We went for grilled sardines and Greek 🇬🇷 salad 🥗 After dinner we went back to our hotel. The party girls (not)🥳😂🥳 had to visit the rooftop terrace🤩 What a view 🤩😁👍🏻 It’s approved💙✨💙 We had some coffee on the terrace and soaked into the view of Acropolis✨

Driver arrived 18.40 on site. Friendly driver, clean car and everything was 👍🏻 The drive from the airport to our hotel was 35.minutes. It’s Greek 🇬🇷 Easter 🐣 So it’s public holiday and very quiet. (No traffic) All stores and museums etc are closed. We stay at a 3* hotel, Athens Center hotel Square. It’s very central. Friendly staff during check in. Decent sized room and view🤩 Price for 1 night including breakfast was 1083 NOK.

Lufthansa uses the SAS lounge in Oslo. SAS lounge is okay. In my earlier lives, you will see more details from the lounge and what they offer. It’s a fast track security service if you travel in Biz or hold a Star*G card. Security check is normally easy at OSL. No priority is normally 5-15.minutes waiting time. The most busy times are from 6.00-8.00 and from 15.00-18.00. If you travel during 20.6-18.8 it’s school holidays. So it’s more families and “untrained” travellers on the airport. The most crazy period of this holiday for departure is from 20.6-15.7. If you are flying eu/shengen, it no immigration in Oslo. Since you are flying LH, you will clear immigration at the airport where you are leaving Schengen area. So if you fly OSL-FRA-NRT/HND. You will clear immigration to leave Schengen in FRA at transit. If you leave/arrive Schengen in Oslo, you will do immigration. I usually just walk straight through the automated gates. Usually no lines or only 2-3 minutes wait. Depending on your passport, you can use automated gates or need to do manual checkpoints. If you hold a Schengen passport, you can use the automated gates.