Erex

I do believe that there are some kind of matching going on, but I belive it is just a simple automatic system.

On our Last 11-12 cruises we have always been assigned to a table with other Norwegians.

Since number of Norwegians on a cruise is a tad smaller than Americans, we have had all kind of companies, from family with small kids to very senior.

DW and me normally have a discussion after the first night and this sometimes results in us asking to be moved to an English speaking tables

We’re booked on our first Seabourn cruise (after a number on Regent over the past 15 years) on Quest in June, touring Norway roundtrip from Copenhagen. I've seen only a few posts on this board about this itinerary, and our Roll Call is very quiet, so I thought I’d post to ask if anyone has any recommendations for tours — offered by Seabourn or private tours or activities on our own — on this itinerary.

 

Our ports in Norway are:

Flam

Alesund

Svolvaer (Lofoten)

Tromso

Honningsvag

Olden

Bergen

Stavanger

plus Copenhagen (where we will arrive two days before the cruise)

 

I have never cruised in Norway so I don't know what kind of tours that are offered. Neither do I know how long you are in each port or what kind of tours you normally do.

But here is what I personally would have done.

Flåm

Railway trip. Ticket can be purchased in advance, at the station or follow ship tour.

Depending on time/physical fitness, a hike at the top

Ålesund

Never been there, but a hike up to the view point would be my choice.

Svolvær

I would have rented a boat with a captain and gone fishing.

Tromsø

My oldest is born there, sor personally I would just walk the town and visit all my old "waterholes".

Honningsvåg

If you have never been to North Cape, this is were you need to go. An overpriced tourist trap, but even I would go.

Olden.

Never been there.

Bergen

Would have walked the town, visited the fish marked, but not buy anything there. Over priced if you stop for a salad or something. And I would have taken Fløybanen up to Fløyen for a wonderful view over Bergen (and probably walked down)

Stavanger

Well, here I don't have a choice. I would need to visit my newly bord granddaughter.

Cheers, Atle

PS

Most/all norwegian speak English and very many of the websites have a language button (flag) to change from Norwegian to English

I agree that they don't need to make it smoke free but that doesn't mean that smoking should be allowed on verandahs.

Here I do have mixed feeling. On small ship, no problem. Doesn't take long to get to a smoking area. On a mega ship I would prefer to smoke on the veranda. The elevator waiting times can be horrendous. (using the stairs with a wheelchair is difficul)

I am reminded of the first that occurred on a Princess Ship from smoking on a Verandah some years back. Given that fires at sea are a big deal I am truly amazed that smoking is allowed on verandahs on any cruise ship. And if you do not like smoking or if you are allergic to it as many people are then if someone is smoking 7x24 on their verandah it is a big too do.

I've also read about this accident, but seem to remember that it was never proved to be a cigarette being the cause. Maybe I remember wrong. (I have seen lots of reference to that a cigarette was the cause, but don't think that was what the report said. But someone more knowledgeable will probably chime in)

Currently I only vape and I do have a real problem with anyone putting vaping on the same level as smoking.

Smokers can avoid multi-day crossings. All other itineraries have port stops. They can go ashore and smoke to their heart's content (though I'm certain their hearts wouldn't like it!)

Malama,

What you are suggesting is in the current state of affair too extrem.

There are still too many people smoking and you have to remember that in some countries smoking is still more common than maybe where you are from.

Making it it completely smoking free will mean that no smokers (and their friends/family) will not be cruising.

I assume that is OK for you, but I think this is still too early for Seabourn to do this. And as long as they put "e-cig" on the same set of rules as smoking there are no alternatives for us ex-smokers

Only once were we stupid enough to allow the airliner to talk us into checking the wheelchair at the check in. We were told that someone would push her and everything would be OK.

She got a chair with 4 small wheels without any way to move her self. Someone came and pushed her to the gate and left. And there she sat. No way to get to the toilet and so on.

After that, they have never been able to talk us into leaving the chair any other place than the gate.

The biggest challenge now a days is actually at the arriving end. It can be very difficult to get the chair back at the gate and regularly we pick it up at the luggage area.

This seems to depend a bit on who is flying and we're we fly.

Using a vaporizer does produce a lot of vapor that looks like smoke. However, most of the juice used does not produce much smell.

I did a test in the car. Had with me my DW, DD and DS. This was an 8 hours drive and I had a rest and were sitting (napping) in the back. My DD was sleeping beside me. The two in the front did not realize I was using my Vaporizer. The vapor was blown down on the floor and since they did not see the vapor, they did not register the smell.

If/when they saw me using it, they said that they could smell a sligh odour, but nothing to be worried about.

So I will use my vaporizer outside the smoking areas, but not in public

I don't really have too much problems with the current smoking policy.

Of course it means that instead of going out on the balcony to smoke I have to go outside. It also means that my wife will not join me anymore. It often takes too long to wait for an elevator that have space enough for a wheelchair. But we will work around that by moving some of our cruises to smaller ships.

However, what I can not understand is that I can not use my personal vaporizer on my balcony. There are little or no smell from it and all available research indicates that there are no danger related to passive inhaling

But there are different rules for the US. Even sealed, all liquids (except those medically necessary) must be no more than 3oz and in a clear plastic bag. You can't bring bottles of liquor as carry ons, no matter how much you try to convince the TSA they're medically necessary.:D

You are right. The rules I was mentioning is basically just for EU + a couple of additional countries.

Cheers, Atle

If you know ahead of time, bring a large roll of bubble-wrap with you and make sure you pack the liquor in the missle of your case surrounded by clothes. Unfortunately if you have a connecting flight back in the US you cant buy at the airport overseas as it will be confiscated in the security check :-(

Can't imagine that there are different rules in US compared to rest of the world.

If you buy before the last leg you just ask the cashier to seal it for you. They have special see-through bags that they put the stuff in and this works fine.

(There are some other rules also. Something related on time between the flight or you leaving the airport or something like that. But I have never bothered to learn those since that has never been applicable for me.

Cheers, Atle

Thank you for the referral coupon.

Cheers, Atle

I have tried to email you but I am not sure of your correct email address, if you still require coupon perhaps you could post it again please.

Strange.

Well, lets try another address.

atlesogn at dcpost.no

That is my normal private addrss and should work fine.

Cheers, Atle

We are going on our first Seabourn cruise now the 8th of March.

Just finalized the payment and are wondering if it is possible to get hold of a coupon.

My email is asogn123 at the normal google mail system.

Cheers, Atle

Last cross Atlantic we did, we left the ship in Valencia, the port before end port which was Barcelona.

All that was needed, was an email to RCCL where I asked if I could do this..... and a verification when I came aboard that the ship had this information also.

Apparently they have regularly requests for this.

Of course, you still have to pay for the full cruise

Cheers, Erex