Cruise Experience

Day 5- 24th July-Olden
Setting a southerly course from Geiranger overnight ORIANA headed on the shortest section of the cruise between 144 km to Olden.
ORIANA was at around 17 Km from Norway’s coast, which is standard company procedure, before making her approach to the Fjords.
Unlike Geiranger the day before the sky was remarkably clear as ORIANA embarked the local pilot before commencing the short journey up Nordfjord to Olden.
After what had turned out to be a late night the previous night we decided to have breakfast in The Conservatory buffet restaurant on deck 12 which allowed for some excellent views over the fjord while enjoying breakfast.
Similar to the day before the fjord boasted more rugged natural beauty for the discerning traveller to view, watching as we sailed I remembered reading that the only true way to study and admire the fjords were while approaching them from the sea and sailing through them.

Scenes from sailing into Olden.

After finishing breakfast I headed quickly up to the sun deck above to watch the final stages of the approach to dock, arriving on deck I found that ORIANA was not the first to arrive, as in the fjord was AZAMARA JOURNEY tendering.
With some passengers ORIANA taking photos one lone passenger on AZAMARA JOURNEY’S aft facing balconies repaid the compliment by taking many of ORIANA.
With ORIANA ready for the final approach to dock Captain Pembridge again took conduct of the ship to begin swinging the bow to port.
While watching the swing I heard from another group of passengers nearby someone say that AZAMARA JOURNEY looked like a small version of ORIANA!
With the turn complete ORIANA slowly headed astern as she gently manoeuvred alongside the small dock.

AZAMARA JOURNEY .

Approching the berth.

Edging nearer the dock it was possible to see that there were several boats each attended by a dockside worker one heading towards ORIANA’s bow and the other staying near the stern, which at first I was curious to see what the boats were used for as we neared the dock their use became clear with ORIANA lowering the mooring ropes the workers in the boats taking the smaller guide ropes to his colleagues on the shore.

The ropes are pulled ashore.

With ORIANA secure alongside and all security checks completed Captain Pembridge gave the customary announcement.
Although the announcement varies between captains in general it follows the same format, firstly welcoming all to the port of call and then informing all which decks the ships gangways are located before wishing the passengers a nice day a shore and what time to be back on board.
Although personally I had no plans for taking any shore excursions in Olden there was none the less many different ones on offer ranging from the a gentle scenic coach around Olden and its municipality of Stryn which like other areas of Norway offer stunning views of fjords, lakes and mountain areas to more active tours including hiking in the surrounding mountains or even a tour of the Nordfjord by a high speed rigid inflatable boat for those who enjoy a more adventurous method of exploring.
In the local area by far the most visited natural sight is the Briksadal glacier which is located within deep the Oldedalen valley about 25 km south of Olden.

The Briksdal Glacier,Copyright VistNorway.com.
On this particular day at least 3 different tours from ORIANA visiting the glacier one group even rafting on the nearby Briksdal Lake.
Before deciding to take a slow walk ashore I took the time to take a walk along ORIANA’s decks to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on board.
While walking the decks it became more apparent that the weather also was beginning to improve allowing for the first time since we had arrived in Norway to see the height of the mountains in their entirety.The sight from the decks was another of breath taking beauty with the small buildings contrasting with the epic scale of nature.

A view of Olden, Copyright P&O Cruises.

To me Olden had a similar feel to it as Geiranger although physically there are very few similarities between the two; it had a similar secluded out of the way feel and also an air of tranquillity and peace which to me are two of the most important aspects a destination.
While walking through the streets we came across some small souvenir shops selling typical Norwegian souvenirs from fridge magnets depicting scenes from across Norway as well as the traditional Norwegian sweaters which although on a warm day like this would not be much use but in the middle of the Norwegian winter it would surely be required wear.
Since at this time schools in Norway were on their summer breaks many some of the shop keepers were being aided by their children whose level of English impressed my fellow passengers, who also impressed to hear of the other subjects taught in the Norwegian school curriculum.
Continuing walking through the streets I saw some of the ship’s Asian crew members taking of advantage of their time off.
I thought despite working long days and being so far from home they seemed to enjoy being together and speaking together in their own language for the short amount of they have on shore away from serving passengers.
It is often said that when exploring or doing something productive and enjoyable that time passes quickly and on this day that seemed to be true, before I realised it the time was 12:30 and feeling rather hot and thirsty headed back to ORIANA.
Just as with boarding in Southampton ORIANA’s security team are ready at the gangways to ensure only passengers and crew board and to ensure that nothing is brought on board that is in contradiction to company procedure.
To this end all passengers are required to pass through a portable metal detector and have any handbags, cameras, cell phones ect put through a x ray machine.
Once checked in back on board ORIANA it was straight to The Peninsular Restaurant for a lunch, although not feeling too hungry it is a shame not to enjoy the all-inclusive food so decided on taking the option of a light salad with a refreshing beer to wash it down.
After lunch a unanimous decision was made to remain on board ORIANA for the remainder of our stay in Olden.
By now the weather was glorious and quite a contrast to what I had been told to expect in Northern Europe.
Maybe it was because of the fine weather ORIANA’s upper decks had taken on a relaxed feel with some interesting sights to be found around the pools from posers to older passengers in bathing suits, ORIANA as always offering a cross section of society.

It wasn’t only ORIANA that was enjoying the good weather in fjord but also many others smaller pleasure crafts which were sailing backwards and forwards around the fjord.

Slowly throughout the remainder of the afternoon the coaches from the tour excursions and the passengers made their way back on board.
As the time approached 16:30 ORIANA’s pre departure checks began to be made and dockside stevedores stood by the mooring lines ready to release them on word from the bridge which was given by Captain Pembridge.
Followed shortly by ORIANA’s horn blast and then thrusting off the berth at 17:01 retracing her route back out the Nordfjord.

Views as ORIANA departs.

After preparing for dinner which was for this evening an informal dress code it was into the restaurant for dinner during the course of this meal we had the opportunity to speak the head waiter who was more than willing to share many stories of his may years with P&O having served on both the previous ORIANA and CANBERRA among others.
Another feature that cruising around Norway offers are the relaxing evenings cruising through the stunning fjords offering a stunning background for evening cruising activity.
Having not had taken as much time as I could have the previous evenings to enjoy and savour the evenings watching the scenery pass by.
While walking around the deck after dinner it was interesting to see passengers all engaged in their own activities, from groups having a friendly gathering at the terrace bar while couples enjoyed dinner at the terrace grill with the fjord offering a stunning background. Having felt for some reason quite tired on this evening and not really interested in the guest speaker who was giving his talk in the Pacific lounge.
So instead I headed to my favourite venue The Crow’s Nest for some hopefully beautiful views out over the fjord.
With cocktail in hand and with the sounds of Jorge the cocktail pianist I gazed admiringly out the fjords at the moment all that could be said was life on ORIANA is a true joy and pleasure to enjoy.

Evening sights from the Nordfjord.
Nearing the end of the fjord at around the 8pm before leaving we passed another Carnival group ship, one vastly different and smaller than ORIANA -SEABORNE PRIDE from The Yachts of Seaborne which entered service in November 1988 after being named by actress and former U.S ambassador Shirley Temple Black.

SEABORNE PRIDE, Copyright: The Yachts Of Seaborne.

ORIANA first blew her horn to salute the smaller ship with SEABORNE PRIDE reply being barely audible from the lofty heights of ORIANA’s crow’s nest.
To those on board the smaller ship ORIANA’s sharply angled bow must have looked an impressive first sight of P&O’s finest emerging from the fjord.
Once leaving the fjord and SEABORNE PRIDE behind ORIANA turned to port and headed south to ORIANA’s last destination on this cruise Eidfjord.
Increasing speed to 23 knots to cover the 219 km remaining until the next port the sky slowly darkened as the night wore on yet the midnight sun still shone in the relatively clear summer night as another day on ORIANA was about to begin.

Photos Copyright: Steve Martin.