Bit of a blog - Ambience - Grand Canada Sept 2022

[NorbertsNiece]

Walkabout in Tórshavn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Check out the turf roofs!

 

From wiki :

 

Tinganes is the historic location of the Faroese landsstýri (government), and is a part of Tórshavn. The name means "parliament jetty" or "parliament point" in Faroese.

 

The parliament met there for the first time in the Viking ages when Norwegian colonists placed their Ting (parliament) on the location in 825. It is one of the oldest parliamentary meeting places in the world, along with Tynwald hill on the Isle of Man and Þingvellir in Iceland. The Løgting has since moved to the north of the city, but the home-rule government still sits here.

 

The building on the outermost point on the small peninsula of Skansapakkhusið is currently the government's main building. The small main street on the peninsula is called Gongin and is home to the oldest parts of the city. Many of the houses on Tinganes were built in the 16th and 17th centuries and are still in use today.

 

The peninsula divides the Tórshavn harbour in two parts, Eystaravág and Vesteravág.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Tórshavn’s old town, consisting of Reyn and Undir Ryggi, is home to two dozen or so small, black-tarred wooden houses with white-framed windows and grass roofs. People still call these 14th century houses their homes today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

I saw a church spire and decided to head towards it, passing an old cemetery. Grab a coffee on the way. Paname café is lovely and is adjacent to a super book shop selling postcards and stamps!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

I walk up a not steep hill to Vesturkirkjan, a Lutheran church. Consecrated in 1975. The highest on the island at 40.9 metres it rises above the city as a landmark and its shape seems to be inspired by a ship with a sail. The tower is shaped like a pointed pyramid cut in two vertically. In 2006, a monument by the sculptor Hans Pauli Olsen was erected in front of the church in memory of Sigmundur Brestisson (961-1005), who initiated the Christianisation of the Faroes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Walking back down I pop into a supermarket to get a price comparison. Two coffees at Paname had cost just short of £10! Current exchange £1 = 8.55 krone. ALL red buses in Tórshavn are free to dissuade residents from using their cars thereby protecting the environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

In the Observatory for sailaway. I have an Expedition Coffee (Bailey's), he has a Tropical Watermelon (or two!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Grandma's chicken noodle soup. I make better sorry Sidney 😉

Sticky toffee pudding 😋

Pimm's waiting for tonight's show. Got here early. Lesson learnt from yesterday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Received this email :

 

Ambassador Cruise Line

 

Dear Guest,

 

After the very sad passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II last week and confirmation that her funeral will be held on Monday 19th September, Ambassador has taken the decision to close the Head Office on this day. 

 

For any guests sailing with us on the day of her funeral, we understand that many will wish to watch the funeral and to pay their own respects to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and so we will be showing the service on board for those wishing to come together. Further details will be announced on board. The service will also be available on our cabin TVs for those who would prefer to watch privately.

 

Our office will be closed on this day, to allow our staff to spend time with their friends and families to pay their own respects and tributes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our country's longest serving Monarch.

 

Our Reservations, Guest Services, Trade Sales Support teams and telephone lines will be closed, and will reopen as normal at 09:00 on Tuesday 20th September. 

 

Our Always Here 24/7 number will be operational on Monday 19th September should any guests have any urgent issues. 

 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your understanding and invite you to join us in celebrating the long and glorious life of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

 

Kind regards,

Guest Services, Ambassador Cruise Line

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 5 / 34 Sea day

 

Good morning and thanks for following.

 

Our clocks went back an hour last night. We get a daily activity sheet delivered to our cabin the night before. Here's today's activities copied from the app.

 

Marine Traffic location not updated.

 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Dickens in Centre Court.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

There's music everywhere. I think we've found our evening place. Botanical Lounge.

Marina and Alina

 

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

How many elevator cabs are there?  And do you know if they were decorated like this before Ambassador got the ship?  [I rarely take the elevator, in a sometimes losing effort not to gain the cruise 5 lbs, so I might have missed this really attractive part of the décor...]

[wynkys]

Thank you very much for your wonderful reporting style and I look forward to following along.

It is a real pleasure to read about life aboard a more traditional type ship in these days of mega floating amusement parks.

[paulatsea]

Do they have any pre-dinner music at 6-8pm in any of the bars ? Or background piped music ? 

Edited September 17, 2022 by paulatsea

[NorbertsNiece]

9 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

How many elevator cabs are there?  And do you know if they were decorated like this before Ambassador got the ship?  [I rarely take the elevator, in a sometimes losing effort not to gain the cruise 5 lbs, so I might have missed this really attractive part of the décor...]

 

Hi 👋  there are 9. Three forward, three midships and three aft. I will ask about the decor and get back to you 😀

[NorbertsNiece]

24 minutes ago, paulatsea said:

Do they have any pre-dinner music at 6-8pm in any of the bars ? Or background piped music ? 

 

Hi 👋 hope this helps 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 6 / 34 Sea Day

 

Good morning and thanks for following 😊  

 

At his noon address yesterday the captain said he was going slightly faster as he anticipated having to slow down around ice bergs as we approach Narsarsuaq. We've actually slowed down today as there's fog out and it's only just lifting and the sun is making an appearance. 

 

Am not able to pick up our current location as Marinetraffic info is over 24 hours behind now.

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Sick bags out in lifts etc. Does not bode well I fear.

[Britboys]

Thanks for all your posts, very interesting.

The menus certainly look more interesting than those I've just had on a P&O cruise - they have cut theirs considerably and repeat many dishes.

Shame the cakes in the coffee shops are additional cost but the prices are very reasonable.

It always amazes me how the on-board shops stock snacks and chocolate. I'd never think of needing extra food!

I have thanked you for your posts on Torshavn, rather than liking them. I can't really like anything to do with the Faroe Islands whilst they continue with mass Whale & Dolphin culling.

Hope the weather improves for you all.

[paulatsea]

1 hour ago, NorbertsNiece said:

 

Hi 👋 hope this helps 

 

 

Thanks - perfect.

[NorbertsNiece]

Captain's noon update. Slight deviation to route to avoid rough seas. Bearing 242⁰.

[NorbertsNiece]

Had lunch for a change in The Buckingham restaurant. A much calmer experience than the buffet. Seating not an issue.

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Visited venues hitherto missed.

 

Out on the Lido deck there's an ice cream vendor. I forget the price. They're running a quiz on the big screen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 17, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

We've made reservations for all 3 specialty dining experiences. This is 'Sea and Grass'.