Category: Northern Europe & TransAtlantic

All posts related to our three back-to-back-to-back cruises visiting Northern Europe, the Baltics, and Western Europe.

Disembarkation and Traveling Home

Sunday, October 22, 2023

We had our bags out of the room by 10:00 last night.

I woke up at 6:00 and we were already docked at Port Everglades. We ate breakfast in the Lido.

Everything was going smoothly until we tried to open our safe to remove all our stuff. Chuck tried the combo a couple of times, and then the safe started beeping and would not open. Heart stopped.

We found our room stewards cleaning some rooms that had already been vacated. They said that only Guest Services could deal with the safes. I headed for Guest Services but, on the way, found a couple of officers in one of the halls. They came to look at it and said that it was counting down and once it was finished, we could try again or they would be back and use their code. Once the time elapsed, the officers were back and the safe opened with their code. We got our stuff and went to the Lounge on Deck 2 to wait for our number to be called.

The self-assist people were already leaving the ship with their luggage. We also saw many of the crew leaving too for their well-earned vacations. It looked like the entire BB King Lounge band was departing. A whole new band would be embarking that day and probably performing by that night.

Our number was supposed to be called at 7:45 but the Cruise Director said that the luggage was not yet in the port luggage holding area, so we had to wait. Last time we were in Ft. Lauderdale, I had booked a 2:00 flight and we got off the ship so quick, I decided to book a noon flight today. Wouldn’t you know today we would have issues. Finally, at 8:15, our number was called.

We found all of our pieces quickly and then lined up for Customs. Since this trip began in Europe, we had to meet with the Custom agents face-to-face. The last time, our cruise started and ended in Ft. Lauderdale, so we were able to use the facial recognition system they have in place. Luckily, the line moved fairly quickly. With a quick look at the passport and a “Welcome Back,” we were out the door to the taxi stand line.

Quick taxi ride to the airport and we were able to drop our luggage at the outside Delta check-in. The attendant said we could check all of our luggage for free if we wanted to do so. Chuck checked both of his but I had to hold on to my bag because my carry-on had my camera with its batteries.

Once inside we found the CLEAR line so we were able to get to the front of the Security line. In Ft. Lauderdale, you can keep all your electronics in your bag but you still have to remove your shoes, etc. (non-TSA pre-check). Our gate was just right around the corner from Security so no long walk.

We could have made the 10:40 a.m. flight if we had done self-assist this morning. We need to consider it for next time.

The flight was uneventful and we were picked up on time by the shuttle company. I was glad that I remembered where I had parked the car and that it started after all those days just sitting in the lot.

Once we got home, Pumpkin usually greets us like long lost loved ones. This time, he just glanced at us on his way out the door. The difference – he had live-in staff, instead of drop-in, this entire time so our presence didn’t really matter. Oh well, we were glad to be home. Time to think about getting ready for the upcoming holidays.

Wait! What about Copenhagen, Latvia, Ponta Delgado, and Half Moon Cay? Why didn’t I talk about those ports? As I mentioned, Ponta Delgado was missed because of high winds and waves.

At Copenhagen, I had researched what dock we were going to berth, and it was going to be very near the city center. Because of that research, we booked a private tour. Then, I discovered that we were not going to go there but at a dock much farther away from the city center and our tour operator. Because our day there was very short, I just was not comfortable being so far away from the ship and having to rely on taxis or the shuttle service. We just ended up cancelling and staying on the ship. I should have just booked a ship’s tour on such a short day with the possibility of so many different docks. Lesson learned.

At Latvia, we also had a private tour planned. We docked at the correct dock. Unfortunately, I had started feeling bad the night before a sea day. I went to the ship’s doctor hoping for a steroid shot and some prescription-strength cough medicine. Instead, I got a COVID test (negative) and a flu test (positive – even though I had gotten a flu shot 2 weeks before the cruise). I was given a Tamiflu prescription and a small bottle of knock-off Robitussin. I was also quarantined to my room for 48 hours. The quarantine would have been longer if I had been running a fever but since I was fever free, I was released after 48 hours. So, I missed the sea day and the day in Latvia. Chuck could have gone on the tour but he chose to stay on the ship with me. He had a flu test and it was negative, so he was not quarantined.

Half Moon Cay, the private island owned by the Carnival Corporation (HAL’s parent corporation), was the last port before we arrived in Fort Lauderdale. We have been to the island several times on both Holland America ships and Carnival ships. We just decided to stay on the ship, pack up, and enjoy the balcony one last day.

All in all, we did enjoy this cruise despite the rough weather at times, difficult walks, and my illness. I appreciated all the beauty and history that each city or town had to offer. I especially liked only having one long over-night flight to endure and the relaxing sea days back. Looking forward to the next one.

Until next time –

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius

Sea Days

On this cruise, we had 14 scheduled days at sea and one extra day because we could not make our last port – Ponta Delgado, Azores – due to high winds and waves. Sea Days 1 thru 8 were spaced out in one- or two-day increments between ports giving you time to recharge between exploring the next stop. Sea Days 9 thru 15 were back-to-back as we crossed the Atlantic heading to Ft. Lauderdale.

I like sea days because you can do as much or as you little as you want. The printed daily planner or the HAL app will show you the options of what activities are going to be offered throughout the day or evening – sports, workshops, trivia games, lectures – to name a few. Of course, the spa, the shops and the casino are open and ready for your business too.

If the weather was nice, I leaned toward doing very little except reading and enjoying the sound of wind and waves from the balcony.

However, I did participate in several activities when the weather was not as cooperative.

Lectures –

Wine Tasting –

A movie –

Mariner’s Award Ceremony and Reception. You get to meet some of the ship’s officers and watch the people who have sailed 100 days (Bronze), 300 days (Silver), 500 days (gold), and 700 days (platinum) receive their medallions while drinking free champagne, wine, beer, mimosas, or a non-alcoholic beverage and eat Hors d’oeuvres. Sometimes this ceremony is followed up by a special luncheon.

The Captain
L-R: Mariner Society Director and Hotel Director

Sometimes I just liked to wander around the ship and admire the artwork and the fresh flower arrangements.

I’ve met people who do not like sea days at all. I would hope they never find themselves on a TransAtlantic. I think it would drive them crazy. I’m looking forward to doing another one in 2025.

Brest, France

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Today, we are back in France and instead of visiting a large city, our plan was to spend a few hours in the countryside and a small town with another HAL tour. It’s another sunny day in the 70’s.

Name of the tour: CIDER IS THE NEW WINE

HAL tour description: To learn more about cider and Breton culture, you’ll head to Le Faou — the gateway to the Crozon Peninsula. Le Faou is a town of immense character, widely recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

As you travel, your guide will tell you about this village that dates back to the 11th century, and (s)he will point out the traditional timbered houses in the center. You will also discover Saint Sauveur Church, facing the port. It is made of Logonna stone from Logonna-Daoulas — a small village nearby.

At the Living Museum of Old Crafts & Trades, meet a team of volunteers whose passion is keeping the crafts and trades of yesteryear alive. The fifteen workshops house a potter, linen- and wool-spinners, embroiders, a lace-maker, a clog-maker, a blacksmith, sea-based trades, a basket-weaver, a chandler (rope-maker), and a wood-turner. Your visit focuses on the traditional aspect of cider-making, from the apple to the beverage. At the end of your visit, taste the cider and enjoy a delicious crepe with it.

Back on the coach, you’ll drive to the Terenez Bridge. This curved cable-stay bridge, designed by architect Charles Lavigne, crosses the Aulne River to link the Breton cities of Argol and Rosnoën. Take in the view over Armorique National Park, and take note of the bridge’s architecture, as it won the World Infrastructure Award in 2013.

Our guide was from this Brittany Region, and she had a lot of information about how the Brittany Region is different from the more well-known Normandy Region. This region is very well known for their cider and crepes. We also had a female bus driver. I believe this is the first time we’ve ever had a female bus driver in all of the tours we’ve ever taken.

Our first stop was the Terenez Bridge. It really was unusual.

Our next stop and the one we spent the most time at was the Living Museum of Old Crafts and Trades. We didn’t get to see all of the areas of the indoor/outdoor museum as the docent seemed compelled to pick up and describe every item in each of the sections that she did cover.

Before we left, another docent demonstrated the cider-making process, and our guide translated her French to English. Every time she translated something, the docent said “Voilla!” Our guide explained that many people from this region and others end sentences with Voilla or Ooh la la. I thought she was exaggerating but this docent did it every time.

The cider they served us was very good. I thought it tasted like my favorite Angry Orchard. We were also served a crepe right off the griddle. It was good but I think it would have been better if it had some sort of topping.

The next stop was a pretty village named La Faou. Our guide took us on a “petite promenade” – a short walk through it and talked about life in a small village.

Found it interesting that a crematorium and a pizza parlor were side-by
These metal signs were all over in the sidewalks

I especially liked the Saint Sauveur Church.

Once we made it back to the ship, we spent the evening listening to the Ocean Bar band, eating in the Lido, and then went to the magician and comedian Tom Crosbie’s show. He billed himself as a nerd. He had an uncanny memory and was able to quote direct passages of the works of Shakespeare just by someone giving him the page and verse number of a play, and he could solve a Rubik’s cube in all sorts of manners including being blindfolded. As someone who once took a hammer to a Rubik’s cube, I was impressed with his skill.

Travel Trivia

Brest, France

The meaning of the coat of arms of Brest is half France (the three fleurs-de-lis of the former kingdom of France), half Brittany (semé d’hermine of Brittany). These arms were used for the first time in a register of deliberations of the city council dated the 15 July 1683.

The city of Brest does not have much remaining historical architecture, apart from a few select monuments such as the castle and the Tanguy tower. This is due to heavy bombing by the Allies during World War II, in an attempt to destroy the submarine base the Germans had built in the harbor.

Brest claims to be the largest European center for sciences and techniques linked to the sea: 60% of the French research in the maritime field is based in Brest. 

Brittany’s most famous local delicacy, the Breton crêpe, is the main culinary feature apart from seafood. There are many crêpe restaurants (called crêperies). Breton apple cider is often featured. Traditional biscuits include Traou Mad, which is a full-fat butter biscuit similar to Scottish shortbread.

A strong Celtic background distinguishes Brittany from other parts of France. The Celts were the first historically identifiable inhabitants of Brittany, but they probably intermingled with the earlier peoples who built the great stone monuments, the menhirs and dolmens, that still stand.

Weymouth, England

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Another early morning room service breakfast. We docked at Portland, England. Before anyone could get off the ship, we had to go through the dreaded face-to-face Customs and Immigration check. Only other country that has made us show our passport live in front of Customs agents before today was Ireland. Such a pain.

The ship prints a schedule of when you are to get in line for your turn. People on HAL excursions that were to leave by 9:30 were to line up at 7:45 (that was us).

Walked down at 7:30 and the line had already snaked back from the World stage (the meeting point) pass the BB King Lounge. I know all those people in line were not on HAL excursions. The staff could have easily checked to see if people had shore excursion tickets, but they chose not to do so. People kept coming and getting in line. Ridiculous.

The line didn’t start moving until after 8:00. When we finally made it to the World stage, the agent stared at the passport, stared at me, and finally said Cheers and waved me through. I think the most annoyed woman that I saw was the British lady who still had to show up in person to be allowed into her own country.

Before you left the World stage, the HAL staff put a green sticker on the keycard because you were not getting off the ship without the sticker. There were people trying to get into BB King Lounge for their tour but were turned away because they hadn’t been to Inspection (really should have read the notice). By now the line was almost the entire length of the ship as everyone was ignoring the Cruise Director about their times to line up. I doubt the people who hadn’t read the directions to line up at 7:45 were going to make their HAL excursion.

At 9:00, we walked back to BB King Lounge as this was the meeting place for our tour. Since everything was behind schedule, the Shore Excursions staff asked us to come back closer to 9:30 as the Lounge was getting too crowded. We just came back to our room to wait.

Adding to the chaos on Deck 2 was that the gangway was also on Deck 2. So, there were people in line to see Customs, people trying to get into BB King Lounge for their excursion stickers, people trying to leave the BB King Lounge when their excursions were called, and all the people trying to leave the ship via the gangway. Total confusion. Just as we got to the gangway, we were all stopped by Security as they were having difficulty getting a person in a wheelchair up the very steep ramp and didn’t want people crowding behind them.

If HAL had only enforced the times and kept people out of the line until their time, it would have been far less crowded. All they did was try to keep people in some sort of single file. If the comments I heard were any indication, HAL was going to get an earful about the procedure. I know they can’t control Immigration processes, but they can control their own processes.

We finally found our tour bus and left the port at 10:00. It was a partly cloudy day, so we had a nice view out the window without the blinding sun. The bus was comfortable, and the sound system was very good. Our guide had a thick British accent, but we could understand her. Our HAL tour today was STONEHENGE.

The tour description: Visit Stonehenge, Britain’s most remarkable and intriguing prehistoric monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As old as the great temples and pyramids of Egypt, Stonehenge exerts a mysterious fascination. This mighty symbol of pre-history draws thousands of visitors each year to witness its awesome majesty. Simplicity, solitude and a powerful air of mystery surround this enigmatic and ancient circle of stones set within a grassy landscape. Seen by some as a sacred site, the henge attracts with its uncertain but ancient history, its sheer size and shape and its fame.

Built in several stages from about 3000 BC, Stonehenge is also Europe’s most famous prehistoric monument. Anthropologists can only guess at the rituals that took place here, but the alignment of the stones leaves little doubt that the circle is connected with the movement of Earth relative to the sun and the seasons.

It is thought that the stones, aligned with the rising of the mid-summer sun and set within a landscape of ceremonial structures, may have been built by sun-worshippers or as part of a huge astronomical calendar. Whatever their purpose, it is recognized that the transport, engineering and shaping of the stones — some of which came from South Wales — represented an enormous effort in time, organization and physical labor.

The prehistoric builders possessed a sophisticated understanding of both arithmetic and astrology and built this monument with only primitive tools to help them cut and shape these huge stones. Stonehenge remains as compelling today as it was to the people who built the first phase more than 5,000 years ago.

It commands attention, inspires awe and generates speculation. The mystery of why and how it was built may never be properly solved, but for scientists, historians and visitors, the fascination persists.

Notes: Travel time to Stonehenge is approximately two hours each way.

As we drove through the bucolic countryside, our guide kept up a running commentary about the towns we passed, WWII, pirates, the history of Stonehenge, and her life growing up in the area etc. She was very entertaining and knowledgeable.

Once we arrived, I downloaded the free app to take the self-guided walk around the monument. I highly recommend downloading the app as it was very informative about the history, construction, and significance.

Some people couldn’t believe we were going to see “some rocks.” But we’ve heard so much about it on the History Channel that we were excited to be there. I thought it was fascinating to see Stonehenge up close. Even if you can’t get close enough to touch it.

After we walked all the way around it, we went back to the visitor center and got some lunch at their cafe. We each chose a cheese pasty and a Diet Coke. Once we finished, we walked around outside exhibitions of the Neolithic huts they believed the workers lived in while working on Stonehenge.

Our last stop was the inside Exhibition Center which showed aspects about life during the creation of Stonehenge.

It was a very pleasant day. It was cool but not cold. We didn’t feel rushed and had plenty of time at the monument to enjoy it, listen to the audio, and take photos. We were very glad we took this tour.

Once we were back in Portland, we had time for the driver to take us to the highest point to get a nice overview of the area. Looked like a very nice port town. It played a big role in WWII as a defensive port.

Portland hosted the 2012 Olympic Sailing Event

We got back to the ship about 4:00. There were a group of singers and musicians playing 50’s and 60’s music serenading the passengers. Then at the 4:30 sail-away, three military men gave us a canon salute.

Spent the remainder of the evening listening to the Ocean Bar band, eating dinner in the Lido, playing in the Casino, and listening to the BB King band before calling it a night. Moved the clock forward one hour again.

Travel Trivia

England

England is the birthplace of many scientists who had a huge impact on the globe. Just to name a few: Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking.

Cheese rolling is one of the strangest sports taking place every year in Gloucestershire, in the west of England, during the spring. In this competition, an 8-pound round of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled from the top of the cooper hill and participants chase after it down to the bottom. They are supposed to catch the cheese, but it is kind of impossible so who crosses the finish line first wins the cheese.

Even though there are different traditional dishes in England such as Yorkshire Pudding, Fish and Chips and Shepherd’s Pie, Chicken Tikka Masala is widely considered the country’s national dish, even though the origin of this dish is India.

Pubs are the main hub of various local communities, and they are a place to socialize and have a drink. But you are not allowed to get drunk there, it is illegal.

King Henry III had a pet polar bear which he received from the King of Norway. Kept on a leash in the Tower of London, the bear would swim and catch fish in the Thames.

The “London Bridge is Falling Down” nursery rhyme may be over 1000 years old. It may also point to the many fires and collapses the bridge was prone to over the centuries and take a dig at ‘my fair lady’ or Queen Eleanor who may not have made the best use of bridge revenues.

The first-ever stamp known as Penny Black was issued in May 1840 in England.

The towering British library located in King’s Cross, London is the world’s most extensive library ever.

Weymouth, England

Pronounced: Waymuth

One of the most renowned novelists and poets in English literary history, Thomas Hardy arrived in Weymouth in 1869 aged 28 and is believed to have taken up lodgings in Wooperton Street up until 1871.

Now known as D-Day, the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion in history.

The harbors of Weymouth and Portland were one of the biggest departure points for US troops. It’s recorded that over 500,000 military personnel, including support staff, and 144,000 vehicles were part of the fleet.

The South West Coast Path has two routes around Weymouth and Portland—one around its coast, and one along the South Dorset Downs. The path is the United Kingdom’s longest national trail, at 630 mi.

Weymouth Beach is rated among the best in England.

Weymouth has been used as a location in both film and television, particularly the esplanade which features prominently in the 1958 film The Key, the 1967 version of Far from the Madding Crowd, and the 1963 Hammer Horror production The Damned. Scenes for the 1965 wartime adventure film The Heroes of Telemark were shot in the bay. Other war films filmed in areas in and around the town are The Dam Busters (1954) and the 2017 adaptation of Dunkirk. Appearances on television include the 1980s detective series Rockliffe’s Follies, where Weymouth was the setting for the fictional town of Maidenport. Some scenes from the series Broadchurch were filmed there in 2014 and in 2008, the town was the subject of an episode of the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Paris, France

Monday, October 9, 2023

Other than Berlin, today was our longest shore excursion day. We docked in Le Havre, but we were going to Paris. Since Paris is not on the coast, we had a long bus ride to and from the city. We ordered a very early room service breakfast. We had to take our passports off the ship again.

The name of the HAL tour: LANDMARKS OF PARIS & VIEWS FROM THE SEINE

The tour description: It is a three-hour escorted motorcoach ride from Le Havre to the timeless city of Paris via the autoroute Normandie.

Upon arrival in Paris, meet your city guide and set out to explore Paris. You will stop at the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero area for a photo opportunity, and then view the outside of the Notre Dame Basilica. Transferring to the Trocadero Dock, you will board a bateau mouche-style riverboat and cruise through Paris along the River Seine.

Enjoy lunch along the way. Continuing with your tour in the afternoon, take a panoramic drive past many of Paris’ famous landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysées and l’Opéra. On the way back to Normandy, you can simply relax and take in the rural scenery.

Notes: Travel time to Paris is approximately three hours each way. Due to traffic congestion in Paris, it may not be possible to stop at certain sights. Rest stops will be made en route to and from Paris.

The tour bus was comfortable, but we chose seats on the driver’s side. Mistake. It was a sunny day and I wanted to see the countryside, so I kept the shades open. The sun was blinding. Chuck wasn’t aware. He slept almost the entire way there.

Our guide’s name was Giselle. She was easy to understand. She gave us a lot of interesting information about the Normandy region and Paris itself.

We had one bathroom break enroute to Paris. We bought Pim’s cookies and some peach tea. I had heard Pim’s cookies were delicious, and they were.

It was exciting to come into Paris and see the Eiffel Tower. Our first photo stop. It was a gorgeous day – sunny and in the 70’s.

Then we rode through Paris.

Hotel des Invalides
Napolean is buried here
Les Invalides
National Assembly

I was excited to hear that it was “Fashion Week”. I saw several photographers and models all around the city. I had hoped to see some celebrities, but I never saw anyone I recognized.

Lunch was provided on the River Seine. It was a very fancy lunch. We had an appetizer, Beef Borgnine, and an ice cream dessert all served with very good wine.

The river ride gave us an interesting perspective of the city and the Louve. However, you could not raise the windows and the air conditioning was struggling so it was very warm on our side.

Once the boat turned around to come back to the dock, we were finally on the shady side. It was not until the very end that we realized there was a small outside deck on either side that we could have stood for a while.

Louvre

Once we were back on the bus, we drove past the Obelisk and Parliament, and down the Champs-Elysees gawking at the famous stores.

Petit Palais
Charles de Gaulle in front of Parliament

Our destination was the Arc de Triomphe. Despite the traffic, we were able to make several passes around it.

I really enjoyed the tour even though it was a long day. I had people ask me why would I spend all that time just to have basically a drive-by in Paris? I don’t know that we’ll ever pass that way again and I wanted to see the famous sites. I was happy we went.

Once we got back, Chuck was not hungry, so I went to the Lido. Tonight’s entertainment was a movie on the World Stage. We decided to skip it and call it an early night.

Travel Trivia

France

France is slightly smaller than the state of Texas. But France is the biggest country in the European Union. For a little more perspective, France is twice as big as the United Kingdom and eight times the size of Ireland.

On average, a resident of France eats approximately 500 snails per year. The most common ways to eat snails in France is cooked in butter and garlic.

France ranks in the top ten countries for their amount of cheese consumption. More than 95% of the French population eats cheese.

Some of the most popular cheeses found in France:

  • Camembert de Normandie
  • Brie de Meaux
  • Reblochen
  • Fromage Blanc
  • Roqefort
  • Munster

The French invented camouflage during World War I in 1915. They hired artists to paint both their vehicles and their guns so that they would blend in with the environment around them. They did this by painting lines that would distract from the shape of the object.

The Tour De France is more than 100 years old. The famous cycling race has been running since 1903.

The French drink over 11 million glasses of wine each year. It is also known for creating the most expensive wine in the world. This bottle of wine costs around $21,000.

France has more Nobel Prize winners in Literature than any other country.

Until the nineteen-hundreds, women rarely bought a special wedding dress and opted for their best outfit instead. The tradition of wearing a white dress originated in France with the marriage of Anne of Brittany and Louis XII of France in 1499. She wore a white dress to the wedding, marking the start of the popular Western custom. However, it wasn’t until 1840, when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, that the white dress really took off in popularity and the tradition was cemented.

Paris, France

The Louvre in Paris is the world’s largest art gallery and museum, it has over 38,000 pieces of art within its walls, including the Mona Lisa.

There is one dog for every 7 Parisians.

The most popular way that locals get around Paris is by their underground train system. After Moscow, it’s the busiest underground network in Europe. Count your stations when using their metro as Paris Metro system doesn’t announce their stops like most major cities.

The famous “Bloody Mary” cocktail was invented in Paris at the Ritz Hotel. Legend says that this popular cocktail was made for the famous novelist Ernest Hemingway! Hemingway requested for a drink that didn’t smell like alcohol, so he was given vodka mixed with tomato juice.

The Eiffel Tower was only meant to be a temporary monument. It was France’s way of demonstrating its superior technological and construction skills. When it was constructed in 1889, it was extremely unpopular. Residents and senior figures protested against it, and the media called it a ‘useless monstrosity’.

To officially be a Parisian baguette, the bread must have a specific dough consistency and be of a certain size. The law also says that baguettes must get sold on the premise that they are made. So, bakeries cannot ship baguettes from elsewhere. Lastly, the bread must include just four ingredients: wheat flour, yeast, water, and salt.

Bruges, Belgium

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Since we had an early tour, we requested a room service breakfast. Typically, the order is perfect. Today, they brought two plates of bacon and eggs when I only ordered one plate. Glad we were hungry.

We had a HAL walking tour and a canal ride of Bruges scheduled for 8:30 this morning. The title of the tour: ROMANTIC BRUGES.

The tour description: It’s a half-hour motor coach drive from the port of Zeebrugge to the romantic city of Bruges.

Set out on a guided walking tour through the heart of the city. Once you enter the Old Town of Bruges, you can feel the historic atmosphere. Strolling through the cobblestone streets, you’ll pass by the Dijver, then through this picturesque city to view the Burg, complete with the Town Hall, the Chapel of the Holy Blood, the market place with its guild houses, and the Belfry Tower.

Board a boat for a pleasant 30-minute canal cruise. Take full advantage of this chance to relax and simply soak in all the beauty of medieval Bruges.

Some free time is allowed for shopping or browsing before you return to the coach and drive back to Zeebrugge.

Notes: Tour does not operate on holidays. Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience.

We really liked the cute town. We were lucky to get there early before the crowds arrived. It was an easy walk even though much of the walk was on cobblestones again. We could hear our guide well with the audio headset. But you had to watch that you didn’t trip off the curb or get in the way of the bicyclists and the horse-drawn carriages (or the poop that might fall into the street).

Lake of Love
Trough for the Carriage Horses in the Market Place
Bruges City Hall
Front of St. John’s Hospital

After the walk, we took a canal ride that gave us a different perspective on the town. The boat was a little crowded, but the ride was pleasant.

I liked the donkey statue in the window
Belfry of Bruges

Once the canal ride was over, we had free time to wander around. We bought some Belgium chocolates, a Christmas ornament, and then we went to a café to eat a Belgium waffle and drink espresso.

Handmade Bruges lace
All chocolate

As we were sitting there eating our waffle, we witnessed a woman turn her ankle when she went off the sidewalk onto the cobblestones, and then we heard that a member of our group fell hard and had to go back to the ship in a taxi to see the ship doctor.

As we left, the crowds in the streets were much larger, and it got harder to move around, so I was glad that we were leaving.

I did enjoy the tour but, again, I’m glad we were on the first tour of the day. I knew there were several of the same tours throughout the day and I wonder if they were as much fun as ours because the town got so crowded.

Once we got back, we had another pleasant afternoon on the balcony. Before we knew it, it was time to get ready for another Pinnacle Grill dinner.

I had planned just to get the lobster bisque as my appetizer and then have the crab cake appetizers as my main course since my last Pinnacle meal, I felt so bloated. However, the waiter convinced me that the lamb chops were small, and I should really have them as my main. I did and they weren’t small. I barely finished them and had to skip dessert. Chuck had the 15 oz ribeye, cooked perfectly he said, and he had the key lime pie.

Harry the Piano was doing another show tonight, but we skipped it. Chuck was ready to go play cards. I shuffled off to the room.

Travel Trivia

Belgium

In traditional Belgian culture, it was acceptable for everyone, including children, to drink a kind of light, ‘table beer’ as they drank their water and coffee. In fact, it was the norm until the 1970s, but it was eventually replaced by water and soft drinks.

The town of Spa in Belgium is from where we get the word ‘spa.’Europe’s first modern health resort and casino ‘la Redoute’ opened in Spa in the 18th century, although the famed springs have been reportedly used for health and healing purposes as far back as Roman times.

It was a Belgian who designed the common sides of euro coins. Belgian Luc Luycx’s design was the chosen winner of a European Union design competition. See if you can spot his connected initials ‘LL’ on all numerical sides of euro coins.

Belgium has the most cycling Tour de France victories of any country except France. Famous Belgian tour winners include Eddy Merckx and Philippe Thys. Merckx is the only cyclist to have won the general, points and king of the mountains classifications in the same tour, and is among a small group of cyclists who won a tour on their first attempt.

Belgium is the world’s leading exporter of billiard balls. Nearly 80 percent of the world’s billiard balls are made in Belgium. Saluc AC, established in 1923, has its own chemical plant to make the phenolic resin, which give Aramith balls their characteristic high-gloss, rock-hard finish.

In 1846, Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone.

Belgium is roughly the same size as the state of Maryland.

Belgium is the world’s biggest importer of rough diamonds. About 84% of the world’s most precious gems are cut and polished in Antwerp diamond factories.

Belgium is famous for its chocolate:

  • The chocolate is made from 100% cocoa butter, with a typically higher than average cocoa content and uses high quality cocoa beans.
  • The raw materials used in chocolate production do not originate in Belgium; most cocoa is produced in Africa, Central America, and South America.
  • Belgium can produce up to 600,000 tons of chocolate a year.
  • Belgium has over 2,000 chocolate shops throughout the country, and the reputation of Belgian chocolate remains as high as ever.
  • Brussels Airport is said to retail the most chocolate of any airport in the world.

Bruges, Belgium

In the Bruges area, the first fortifications were built after Julius Caesar’s conquest of the Menapii in the first century BC, to protect the coastal area against pirates.

In World War I German forces occupied Bruges, but the city suffered virtually no damage and was liberated on 19 October 1918 by the allies.

From 1940 in World War II the city again was occupied by the Germans and again spared destruction. On 12 September 1944 it was liberated by Canadian troops.

The medieval architecture in Bruges is mostly intact, making it one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe.

The “Historic Centre of Bruges” has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Bruges’ best-known landmark is the Belfry of Bruges, a 13th-century belfry housing a municipal carillon comprising 47 bells.

Bruges is known for its lace.

Tony Parker, NBA Basketball Player, is from Bruges.

Fred Zinneman’s The Nun’s Story is a 1959 dramatic film starring Audrey Hepburn that is primarily set in Bruges.

The movie In Bruges with Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes was made there in 2008.

The main antagonist of the Austin Powers film series, Dr. Evil, was raised in Bruges.

The 2019 Hallmark movie, Love, Romance & Chocolate, starring Lacey Chabert, takes place in Bruges.

Aarhus, Denmark

Thursday, October 5, 2023

This morning was almost identical to yesterday. After coffee and breakfast, we left the ship at 10:00 with plans to just wander into downtown. Originally, we had planned to take another HAL walking tour but after our “Hike from Hell” in Sweden, we just couldn’t muster up enough enthusiasm, so we cancelled that tour.

Wish I had never discovered these mini donuts

I had hoped that Aarhus had a Hop-on-Hop-off bus like some of the Baltic cities did, but they did not (despite the information you can find about it on the web). The woman in the tourist information booth gave us a map and we followed it to the downtown shopping area. They should invest in painting a blue line like Kiel.

It was a very pleasant day. We passed the very modern library and the very old (12th century) Cathedral and the Theater.

We visited the small Viking Museum. We tried to find another one of their churches, but Google Maps and I just couldn’t seem to communicate.

We passed some interesting statues and some pretty wildlife.

Christian X
Harbor worker

Eventually we made our way back to the ship and I bought an ornament from a vendor near the ship.

We spent the rest of the day reading until it was time for the sail-away.

We chose the main dining room for dinner tonight. We had a table for 2 but it was so close to the next table, it might as well have been a table for 4. Chuck had the halibut, and I had the turkey and dressing. He said his meal was excellent. Mine was only okay. The turkey was dry. We both had the carrot cake. HAL makes very good carrot cake but they don’t serve it very often so I am always happy to see it on the menu.

We had heard good things about the first Harry the Piano show so we decided to see his second show. He was an excellent pianist, but he talked so much between songs that we got bored and left early.

Aarhus was our last Baltic city, and we now make our way west toward our final destination of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Travel Trivia

Denmark

First acknowledged in 1219, the Danish flag “Dannebrog” remains the oldest state flag in the world still in use by an independent nation. 

In the 1840s, some Austrian bakers settled themselves in Denmark and introduced the beloved pastry. For this reason, what most people call “Danish pastry” is actually called “wienerbrød” or “Viennese bread” in Denmark.

The world-famous LEGO® brick was invented by Danish Ole Kirk Christiansen in the town of Billund in 1949.

In Denmark, a person is never farther than 32 miles from the ocean.

Dane Nikolaj Coster-Waldau played Jamie Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Denmark’s size, in US terms, is somewhere between Maryland and West Virginia in size. However, the Kingdom of Denmark has islands, and lots of them. In total, Denmark has 443 islands, 70 of which are inhabited. One of those islands is Greenland, the largest non-continental island on the planet. Adding all the territory together brings them up to 12th biggest territory in the world, between DR Congo and Saudi Arabia.

Denmark’s sales tax of 25% is one of the highest in the world. Denmark also has one of the highest rates of income tax in the world with Danes paying as much as 45% of their income to the government. The bulk of the income tax covers the education system and the healthcare system of Denmark.

Aarhus, Denmark

Pronounced: Or – hoos

The settlement of Aarhus was started in around the year 770 as a trading place of the Vikings, but the oldest recorded history of Aarhus is from 951. The city grew in the 16th century and again during the Industrial Revolution.

A shipbuilding yard from the Viking Age was uncovered upriver in 2002 by archaeologists. 

The center of Aarhus was originally a pagan burial site until Arhus’s first Christian church, Holy Trinity Church, a timber structure, was built upon it during the reign of Frode, King of Jutland, around 900.

Aarhus Cathedral in the center of Aarhus is the longest and tallest church in Denmark 305 ft and 315 ft in length and height respectively.

Since 1938, Aarhus has marketed itself as City of Smiles which has become both an informal moniker and official slogan.

Kiel, Germany

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

I had signed us up for a tour to go to Hamburg but after reading the reviews and deciding we didn’t feel like another long trip, we decided to cancel the tour and just stay in the port town of Kiel.

We walked off the ship at 10:00 and picked up a map at the tourist booth. Didn’t really need the map because the town painted a blue line from the port to the downtown shopping area. Genius.

Lots of statues on the way to downtown.

Memorial to the Naval Shipyard Workers
1889 Bronze sculpture of a Protection Goddess created by Eduard Lurssen

We went into a Woolworth’s. I didn’t even know they were still in business. We also went into a TJ Maxx but it was called a TK Maxx.

We wanted to go inside the St. Nikolia Church, but it was under renovation.

1920’s sculpture depicting victory of good over evil by Ernst Barlach

Once we finished wandering around the downtown area, we made our way back to the port. We walked through a park that had busts of all the people who had won a Nobel prize over the years from the area. I was astonished at how many there were.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1907

Once we got to the port, we began walking on the waterfront. We were looking for the Botanical Gardens but never saw the sign to direct us to it from the waterfront.

We did watch the harbor seal swim into and out of his outside enclosure of the Aquarium. He was quite large. He was also too fast for a decent photo.

We also saw a gentleman getting ready to take a swim in the sea. Off came the shirt. Off came the pants. Off came the underwear. Okay – that is a lot of wrinkled skin. Then, he jumped in and started swimming laps. Good for him. That water had to be freezing. It may have been a sunny day, but it was still chilly and windy.

We really had a nice time wandering around the town and waterfront. The town with all its parks was lovely. The people we encountered were very friendly and helpful. I think we definitely made the right choice for our day.

Once we made it back to the ship again, we went to the Lido for a hamburger for Chuck and chicken fajitas for me.

We enjoyed watching the sail away from the balcony. It was soon time to go to the Casino and then to the Lido for dinner. The stage show tonight was the One Step Dance Company – “In Tandem.” We’ve seen it a number of times so Chuck decided to play some cards. I played some slots and then went back to the room to finish my book.

Travel Trivia

Kiel, Germany

Pronounced: keel

Kiel’s recorded history began in the 13th century, but the city was originally a Danish village, in the 8th century. Until 1864 it was administered by Denmark in personal union. In 1866 the city was annexed by Prussia and in 1871 it became part of Germany.

Kiel was a member of the Hanseatic League from 1284 until it was expelled in 1518 for harboring pirates.

Kiel was the site of the sailors’ mutiny which sparked the German Revolution in late 1918. Just before the end of the First World War, the German fleet stationed at Kiel was ordered to be sent out on a last great battle with the Royal Navy. The sailors, who thought of this as a suicide mission which would have no effect on the outcome of the war, decided they had nothing to lose and refused to leave the safety of the port. The sailors’ actions and the lack of response of the government to them, fueled by an increasingly critical view of the Kaiser, sparked a revolution which caused the abolition of the monarchy and the creation of the Weimar Republic.

Kiel has been one of the traditional homes of the German Navy’s Baltic fleet and continues to be a major high-tech shipbuilding center.

Kiel is known for a variety of international sailing events, including the annual Kiel Week, which is the biggest sailing event in the world. The Olympic sailing competitions of the 1936 and the 1972 Summer Olympics were held in the Bay of Kiel.

The oldest building in the city is the 13th century Church of St. Nicholas.

Kiel’s Holstenstraße is one of the longest shopping streets in Germany.

Stockholm, Sweden (Day 2)

Monday, October 2, 2023

We had no plans to leave the ship today. We slept until almost 8:00, got coffee from the Grand Dutch Cafe, and then some breakfast in the Lido.

After getting back to the room, Chuck decided to go to the gym. I went off the ship to the shoreside souvenir shops and found a Sweden Christmas ornament. When I came back, the room stewards were cleaning the room, so I went to the Crow’s Nest with my laptop to work on my photographs.

We received an invitation to a Mariner reception for this cruise as we did for the Norway cruise. However, this invitation indicated there would be a luncheon following the reception which we did not have on the Norway cruise portion.

We went to the Dive-In grill for grilled chicken sandwiches for a late lunch. Our sail-away back through the Stockholm archipelago was at 3:00. We watched it from the balcony listening to the Cruise Director Karlijn providing commentary. The water was very calm, and I enjoyed looking at the unique homes on the small islands.

We spent some time in the Casino before we went to dinner in the Tamarind restaurant again. As always, the dinner was delicious. Tonight, Chuck had the Five Spice Baby-Back Ribs and the Spicy Thai Shrimp, and I had the Jewels of Sea soup and the Mongolian Bar-b-Que Lamb Chops. For dessert, we shared the Exotic Fruits. We were able to identify dragon fruit, plum, pomegranate, mango, pineapple, and the mango sorbet. We also got our favorite Tamarind beverages – Wasabi Cocktail and Cucumber Mojito.

The show tonight was Harry the Piano. He was described as probably the most gifted improvising pianist in the world. High praise. We gave it some thought but then just waddled off to the room. Food coma.

Travel Trivia

Stockholm, Sweden

Ericsson Globe, located just south of Stockholm’s Södermalm district, is the world’s largest hemispherical building. It has a diameter of 361 feet, the volume is 792 thousand cubic yards, and the inner height is 279 feet. You can see it from pretty much anywhere in Stockholm.

The term Stockholm Syndrome originated from one of Sweden’s most famous crimes. During this six-day bank siege at Norrmalmstorg in 1973, hostages began to identify with their captors. The enormous charm of career criminal Clark Olofsson is considered a key reason for this happening.

The computer game Minecraft and internet radio Spotify were invented in Stockholm.

ABBA The Museum is an interactive museum where you can virtually try on ABBA’s costumes, sing, play, mix original music and become the fifth member of ABBA by performing on our large stage together with Björn, Benny, Frida and Agnetha.

Stockholm’s oldest surviving building is The Riddarholmen Church, a Franciscan monastery built in 1270.

The city became the venue for the award of the first Nobel Prizes, in the year 1901.

The city’s subway is also known as the world’s longest art gallery, with the majority of its stations being adorned with paintings, sculptures and mosaics. The name Stockholm comes from the words stock meaning “log” and holm meaning “islet.” No one seems to know exactly how the town got its tag; one account claims that Vikings trying to determine the location of their new settlement used a log bound with gold, while others point to the masses of logs driven into the waters near Old Town.

Stockholm, Sweden (Day 1)

Sunday, October 1, 2023

This is our first day of an overnight stop in Stockholm. I woke up without an alarm. Slept pretty well last night. Went for coffee at the Grand Dutch Cafe and then watched the sail-in on the Stockholm archipelago until we were ready for breakfast.

Today’s independent tour has been very convoluted. Originally the ship was to dock at 8:00. A group of us were going to meet in the Ocean Bar at 9:00 and walk off together for the meeting point of Guru Tour’s WALK THROUGH STOCKHOLM’S OLD TOWN.

Tour Description: Join us on our Old Town Tour to enjoy the beautiful island of Gamlastan and understand why the Vikings chose this island to create their next capital. Our tour is designed chronologically so you can experience history just like the city did. We will start from the Viking Era, the German influence in the country and the Danish clash which led to the most important Swedish event: the Stockholm bloodbath in 1520 followed by the succession of Gustav Vasa. The tour ends in Stortorget, by the Nobel Prize Museum. 

Then we were notified that the ship would not be docking until 10:00 because of the tidal conditions. One of the women who first contacted Guru Tours kept us informed about the time changes to our tour.

Our guide decided that a 1:00 tour would work, and we would meet at the Royal Opera House. I checked to see how far the Opera House was from the ship. It was over an hour walk so I bought us HAL shuttle tickets.

I kept getting varying reports about how long it would take the busses to reach the drop-off point because of road construction and traffic. We ended up on the 11:00 bus. We were dropped off at 11:30. The Opera House and a park were across the street from the bus drop-off/pick-up point. We had to take our passports off the ship today too which I still hate to do.

King Karl XII (King of Sweden 1697-1718)
Opera House

It wasn’t long before I needed to use the restroom (dang that large coffee). Luckily, I had the FLUSH app on my phone. It showed that the nearest public restroom was at the Museum of Medieval Stockholm. The museum admission was free and there was no charge to use the restroom either (a number of restrooms charge .50 or 1 Euro). Win-Win!

We spent some time looking around the museum and then made our way back to the Opera House. Eventually we were joined by the rest of the group and our guide Christian.

Our walking tour was supposed to be two hours. However, it ended up being three hours. We walked up and down hills of cobblestone. The day was sunny, but the wind was brutal. Christian had a lot of information at each stop. In my opinion, too much detail for me. I think he could have talked less, and we would have been finished in two hours. The majority of the group, including us, were exhausted.

Parliament
Grand Hotel
National Museum
Clock Tower
Nobel Prize Museum
Stortorget Square
Stockholm City Hall

Lots of statues in Stockholm.

Gustavo Erici (King of Sweden 1523-1560)
The Sun Singer – Apollo
Adolf Gustav II (King of Sweden 1611-1632)
Iron Boy (smallest public monument in Stockholm)

About half-way through the tour, we were treated to a parade where most of the people were dressed in animal costumes. Christian said it was a protest, but I didn’t see anyone carrying signs or saying anything, so I don’t know what they were protesting.

One of the things that Christian emphasized was that people who live in Stockholm are almost cashless. They use a sophisticated debit card, or they use a credit card for almost all purchases. In fact, when we got ready to tip him for the tour, he pulled out his personal debit/credit card reader. However, most of us had Euros to give him. He didn’t reject them.

We took the shuttle back to the ship. Walking over all the cobblestones really wore out my legs and back.

I liked the tour except for the length of it. I don’t feel like it followed the tour description of a chronological order. However, we learned some history, some societal information, and some current events. Christian was a personable young man who really loves his adopted home of Stockholm.

I went to the New York Pizza and Deli and brought us back a pizza and a couple of beers to have in our room for dinner. The movie Fast X was showing on the screen in the World Stage tonight. We skipped the movie, took some Tylenol, and called it a very early night.

Travel Trivia

Sweden

In 1909, Sweden became first country in Europe to establish national parks. 

Sweden is known for its sweet tooth, as the country ranks as the fifth largest consumer of chocolates in the world. The average Swede enjoys 14.6 pounds of chocolate each year.

Dynamite, the pacemaker, ultrasound, safety match, astronomical lens, marine propeller, refrigerator, and computer mouse are all famous items that were invented in Sweden or by Swedes who weren’t living in Sweden.

Swedes are well known for their love of meatballs and the dish is highly popular in the country, usually served with gravy and boiled potatoes, so much so that the IKEA furniture store serves them in its stores around the world.

Although Swedish people pride themselves on leading a healthy, outdoor lifestyle that includes eating well, the country holds the record for one of the highest number of McDonalds restaurants per-capita in the world.

One of the most popular flavors of ice cream in Sweden is salmiakki, or salty licorice, which can also be coal black in color.

Halloween has been celebrated in Sweden only since the 1990s and it is celebrated on Maundy (Holy) Thursday just before Easter. Children and teenagers mainly dress up for fancy parties and ghost parties, light lanterns, and venture forth to scare their neighbors and trick-or-treat.