MS Caribbean Princess is a Grand Class cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises, with a capacity of over 3,600 passengers, the largest carrying capacity in the Princess fleet. It has 900 balcony staterooms and a deck of mini-suites. Refurbished in 2011.
Ocean view Stateroom P337 (center of 5th deck) near glass elevators.
The last week of packing and preparation was interrupted by Annette's accident on hwy 68 between Mankato and New Ulm. Surely it was a miracle that she was not seriously hurt when her car flipped, hit the ground and then rolled upright.
In the ER room they looked her over and did X-rays. No broken bones or lacerations. The soreness will take time to go away, but the cruise will help her recuperate.
June 17
Overnight stay at Comfort Inn, Bloomington Park (14 days) and fly $122.99 reserved on Visa. Non smoking, queen bed, first floor room; complimentary breakfast by the pool and free airport shuttle.
June 18 Delta MSP to Detroit and Detroit to London (Delta Gold Skymiles with Am. Express). Delta reservations on American Express for double purchase price Skymiles.
Annette required Oxygen on the airplane. UCare rep Jeff said (6/7/12) if we use a non-provider like Oxygen-To-Go that we need to get itemized receipt for our 2 week payment and UCare reimburses 80/20%. Annette's stroller/walker/wheelchair was checked in curb side MSP for pick up in London. Delta provided wheelchair assistance at all entrance/exit points.
June 19
The showtime was held in the Princess Theatre
Where we met our Cruise Director, Dan Styne:
Who introduced our guest performer David Copperfield:
Followed by the Caribbean Princess Singers And Dancers:
June 20 At Sea
Our room was located next to the art galley so we were surrounded with nice works of art:
Also, our room was just off the atrium with an international cafe where we often ate a light lunch...
Fred's favorite was the Greek Salad:
And we played cribbage
... to the music of the ship's musicians.
At 2:30 pm a Martini Demonstration took place here at the atrium.
There was no shortage of volunteers for sampling the
finished product.
More music...
prompted a young lad to dance.
Our dinner was at assigned seating in the Coral Dinning Room
where we met our friendly table mates.
Fred usually started off with a fruit plate
often followed with a medium well steak.
The Love Boat Dream was a popular favorite.
After dinner, Show Time presented "Do You Wanna Dance."
There was a touch of Ireland to round off the evening.
After Showtime, passengers gathered at the atrium for Captain's Welcome and Champagne Waterfall Party.
Before retiring to our room we looked over some of the art paintings in the Art Gallery.
June 21 Bergen
Already at 6:30 am the harbor guidance tugs of Bergan began escorting our ship (This shot was
taken through our stateroom window.)
The tug guided us for over 3 hours:
Around 10 am we docked in Bergen:
Annette and I took a walk around the historic old town (later followed with a water cruise of the scenic Lysefjord waterway).
Bergen has played a crucial role in Norwegian history and culture since Olav the Good founded the city in 1070. Perched between the sea and seven hills, Bergen has witnessed Vikings setting sail on voyages of exploration, trade and war. In the Middle Ages, its old port was a major trading hub for the Hanseatic League, the band of Germanic merchants whose trading empire encircled the Baltic and North Seas.
In the 19th century, Bergen was home to such cultural luminaries as the virtuoso violinist Ole Bull and the composer Edvard Grieg.
The city retains much of its 18th- and 19th-century charm. Top attractions in Bergen include Bryggen with the Fish Market
After our walk it was back to the bus
... where Annette loaded her walker chair.
From the bus, more scenic viewing...
En route to Hellesylt:
June 22 Hellesylt (tender) 8 am 10 am
Steak and eggs breakfast in the Coral Restaurant.
June 22 Gerianger (tender) 12 pm 6 pm
Fred went ashore and signed up for a rib boat tour ($40 at the dock). He was the only passenger on the boat so he had a one on one guided tour. Like the spear it's named for, Geirangerfjord thrusts nine miles into Norway's mountains. Over 900 feet deep, the narrow fjord is lined by sheer cliffs that rear some 2,000 feet above its surface. Waterfalls, such as the Seven Sisters and Bridal Veil Falls, plummet from cliff to fjord.
No wonder travelers have come to call for over a century and a half.
Geirangerfjord is often described as the "most beautiful fjord in the world."
Back on the ship, we had lunch together on the Lido Deck and relaxed in the Sky Walk Lounge on Deck 18..
GO ON TO NORWAY CRUISE PART II
In the ER room they looked her over and did X-rays. No broken bones or lacerations. The soreness will take time to go away, but the cruise will help her recuperate.
June 17
Annette required Oxygen on the airplane. UCare rep Jeff said (6/7/12) if we use a non-provider like Oxygen-To-Go that we need to get itemized receipt for our 2 week payment and UCare reimburses 80/20%. Annette's stroller/walker/wheelchair was checked in curb side MSP for pick up in London. Delta provided wheelchair assistance at all entrance/exit points.
June 19
Shuttle to Southampton. Checked into our room P337 and were sailing by 5 pm.
June 20 At Sea
finished product.
where we met our friendly table mates.
June 21 Bergen
taken through our stateroom window.)
Bergen has played a crucial role in Norwegian history and culture since Olav the Good founded the city in 1070. Perched between the sea and seven hills, Bergen has witnessed Vikings setting sail on voyages of exploration, trade and war. In the Middle Ages, its old port was a major trading hub for the Hanseatic League, the band of Germanic merchants whose trading empire encircled the Baltic and North Seas.
Bergen is worth exploring. Just to browse around the old streets and alleyways is an experience. Here, people have lived and worked for centuries. Small wooden houses lie higgledy-piggledy, cobble-stoned step ways climb steeply, and a love of flowers spills over everything.
... where Annette loaded her walker chair.
Then at the Lysefjord, the most southern major fjord in Norway, we enjoyed two hours on the water,
Then we viewed historic Bergen from the harbor.
Then, back to our waiting Caribbean Princess
We worked up an appetite. The Coral Dinning Room provided smoked duck breast, fresh fruit, Mahi Mahi, steamed veggies and topped with the Love Boat Dream for dessert.
After dinner we relaxed with David Copperfield.
June 22
Steak and eggs breakfast in the Coral Restaurant.
Hellesylt is the gateway to the scenic wonders of the Geirangerfjord district. Traveling overland from this old Viking port, the traveler can visit Jostedalsbreen National Park, home to Norway's last remnant of the Ice Age. Trek to Briksdal Glacier, and touch its massive beard of ice. The dramatic landscape also offers stunning vistas of mountains, waterfalls, and fast-flowing rivers teeming with salmon.
At over 4000 feet above sea level, the summit of Mt. Dalsnibba offers dramatic views that stretch from Jostedalsbreen National Park to the waters of Geirangerfjord.
Note: Hellesylt is a cruise-by port. Only those passengers participating in Hellesylt tours were transferred to shore by ship's tender.
June 22 Gerianger (tender) 12 pm 6 pm
For dinner that evening we joined our table mates in the Coral Dining Room. The Red Snapper really went over well with Fred. Before Showtime we stopped at the atrium for a rum drink served by our lovely Hungarian waitress. The evening concluded with Magical Showtime and Richard Griffin
GO ON TO NORWAY CRUISE PART II
