Cruise Experience 2012

13th June-Olden

After another short journey overnight along the Norwegian coast ORIANA was once again moving in land navigating through the fjords, on this occasion to reach her destination the village of Olden, she would have to traverse 3 fjords firstly the Vagsfjorden  followed by the Nordfjorden where ORIANA had to pass under a overhead cable which hung 60 metres above sea level leaving the ship with only 5 metres clearance at her funnel.

 ORIANA's funnel later in the day.

Finally before arriving at Olden ORIANA passed through the Storfjorden.
Waking shortly before 7am our first action of the day was to watch the ship's information channel to see ORIANA's current status and position and it was quite an incredible sight to see on the map screens how far the ship had travelled  inland.
Switching to the ship's bridge cam channel the view from the bow showed Olden just up ahead.
Getting ready for the day our first stop for the day was breakfast in the Peninsular and as we were there the various announcements were made from the bridge relating to arrival.
ORIANA was secured along side and with the all the arrival formalities completed we were free to proceed ashore which we would be doing as soon as breakfast was over and we had taking some time to take the  view from the deck.
While we were in rush many of the other passengers were on early departing tours so were heading off to their various meeting points around the ship before going ashore and then to the tour buses.

Also ready on dockside ready to take passengers on a tour of the surrounding area on a tour train quite similar to a train we had seen two days earlier in Bergen.

  Disembarking the and walking a little way into the town it was clear to see that even tough it like Geiranger the day before was a small village it was very different and having its own charms among its typical Norwegian wooden buildings.
While many of the passengers were off on their tours there was still a number of passengers like us walking through Olden armed with cameras.

Unlike the previous two days there ORIANA was the sole visitor in the fjord and it was her alone who towered over the traditional buildings some of which seemed almost to cling to the mountainside

Walking on we were greeted by a number of small  numbered red buildings curiously placed in rows while not sure we mused that perhaps they were used by visitors or locals for leisure time perhaps a holiday hut or such like.

As we passed through Olden and to the opposite side of the fjord to get some starboard side views of  ORIANA we met a few other passengers walking doing much the same as us and  also some hikers, curiously a building nearby featured a wall adorned letters of the Runic alphabet it could be truly said that in Norway like many other countries much of the tradition was kept alive in various forms.  

On the opposite side of the fjord for the first time of the day we got an excellent full side view ORIANA
who looked absolutely stunning in the few rays if sunshine which broke through the low cloud cover.   

 Despite having been used the previous day at anchor ORIANA's crew were testing her tenders and lifeboats in amongst the overpowering nature of the fjord the small crafts made for a curious sight circling round the fjord.

Heading back towards the ship it was quite a humbling moment looking towards ORIANA and the contrasting colours of the surroundings to appreciate being in a country like Norway especially the rural areas, it felt like it was it's own isolated little world far removed form the sometimes frantic and busy lives many of us live, in many ways reflecting life on board ORIANA for her passengers.

Stopping off at the small souvenir shop on the back to ORIANA we took the last couple of shots ORIANA from the shore.

Returning on board shortly before lunch ORIANA was still fairly empty most of her passengers ashore she took on an oddly empty feel many of her bars now open the remainder of the passengers could be found there enjoying the comfort serenity of the rooms offered.
At lunch there was again very few passengers present in some ways the restaurant taking on a rather lonely persona as the majority of its 500+ seats were empty contrasting sharply to dinner where most of the seats would be full.
After lunch and with several hours left before ORIANA's departure we decided on trying another first, the ship's spa and taking a swim on in the ship's pools.
An relaxing and worthwhile experience the spa with it's views out over the ship's bow and the relaxing music offered the perfect retreat to and space to unwind and relax from the warm waters of the Jacuzzi or the laying on the loungers looking out the forward windows.
While outside in the pool and outer Jacuzzis gave the chance to be in the most curious position of being outside amongst the snow topped mountains whilst enjoying temperatures in the pools of  20 degrees + and with most still ashore or inside we virtually had the deck and pool to our selve.
After an hour or so and the temperature lowering it was decided to cut short time on deck and perhaps resume tomorrow.
By now ORIANA's passengers were now returning on board either independently or from the tours.
Changed and once again with camera's we returned on deck for ORIANA's departure, firstly to the terraced decks where some passengers too were enjoying relaxing in.

 Moving to what had became our favorite vantage point forward of the deck tennis courts we found Captain Pembridge on port bridge wing in preparation for departure.

As the Captain waited a passenger standing nearby bizarrely asked the him if he knew 'everything' to which the Captain replied he liked to think so!
Strange encounters aside ORIANA's lines were slowly let go and hauled back on board and with a blast of the ship's horn she slowly began to slip away from the berth.
Moving astern and thrusting out into the centre of the fjord ORIANA began swinging her bow until she was in position to begin her departure.

 Heading back the she had come hours earlier ORIANA began making her way back out towards the North Sea the ship cruised onto the final destination of the week another of Norway's cities, Stavanger.

Photo Copyrights João Abreu & Steve Martin.