(50K)
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The entire
cruise route, covered in 13 days. A "single country"
cruise is a very enjoyable experience, and the Royal Princess
is a great way to do it! |
(29K)
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The Royal
Princess, powered by 4 diesels, each with 10,000 hp, was quite
a ship. About 1200 passangers and a maximum speed of over 22
knots. Very comfortable! |
| Each
day the ship posted a chart, annotated with our projected track
and positions at six hour intervals. |
(329K)
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"The
Group". Actually, we guys cleaned up pretty well - of course
the women ALWAYS looked good! |
(39K)
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Our first
formal night. |
(27K)
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On the left,
a USAF flag provided by Peter Green, the only non-USNA member
of the group. '58 flag in the middle and USNA on the right rounds
out the massed colors. |
| A
small pre-dinner warmup in the Horizon Lounge. |
(30K)
|
Another
"formal" night. |
(34K)
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(20K)
|
Lilianna was
one of only 3 women "waiters" in the dining room -
and was exceptional. (She preferred NOT to be called a waitress) |
(42K)
|
The obligatory
"flag picture" in front of the desplay table outside
the main dining room. |
| Peter
and Rosemary celebrated their wedding anniversary early in the
cruise. Note the '58 flag that graced the table at each dinner. |
(306K)
|
There
were several "theme" dinners, this one being Italian
- and the food was wonderful. Lilianna had different outfit for
each one! |
(20K)
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|
The July 4th.
dinner was very festive, and we added another flag to our array. |
(31K)
|
Toward the
end of the cruise we had the "Parade of Chefs" to recognize
their spectacular efforts in feeding 1200 people in two sittings.
The food WAS exceptional! |
| During
the Parade of Chefs, everybody waved their napkins to add to
the festive mood. |
(23K)
|
As
we departed the evening meal, members of the show's dance company
were often standing by for the ship's photographer to capture
candid pictures which, for a semi-substantial amount, you could
purchase. |
(41K)
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|
Made from
fruite and vegetables, the decorations on a table at the entrance
to the dining room were very special. |
(53K)
|
On the 4th.,
we find the same table outside the dining room covered with colored
napkins in this design. Quite impressive. |
| The
ice art was breathtaking. |
(37K)
|
Cindy
attended an exhibition of the ice carving. |
(28K)
|
(39K)
|
The two submariners
critique the dolphin. It passed! |
(226K)
|
Breakfast
and lunch were normally taken in the Lido Cafe, on the 8th. deck
(aft). This view is in the port at Southamption, prior to departure. |
| A
quick stroll on deck prior to underway |
(206K)
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This
woman was 90 years old, and having a BALL, dancing, during the
departure festivities. Music, drinks, and snacks made the afternoon
swing. |
(142K)
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(245K)
|
Diane and
Rosemary enjoyed the topside underway party, too. |
(30K)
|
Entering the
North Sea, we enjoy breakfast in the Lido Cafe. |
| It
takes some getting used to, cruising down a fijord with huge
walls of green on both sides of the ship. |
(39K)
|
A
backdrop of a formal staircase was set up for some of the formal
portrates that were to be taken on the evening of our first formal
dinner. This picture was taken earlier in the day. |
(33K)
|
(43K)
|
The Horizon
Lounge provided a wonderful view of almost 360 degrees from aft
on the 9th. deck. Cindy attended a Jazzercise class here one
morning. |
(31K)
|
Before most
of the dinners, we met in the Horizon room for a drink and to
share stories of the day's activities. |
| While
the women mostly looked good, the guys just ate peanuts and drank.
It was strange to pay $4.25 for Chivas and $4.85 for a glass
of house white wine! (Jamison's was only $3.85 |
(34K)
|
The
mountain we will "climb" (in a bus) can be seen faintly
through the morning mist in the upper-right part of the picture. |
(30K)
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(31K)
|
This ship
was slightly larger than ours, but managed to fit in the fijord
with us just fine. |
(39K)
|
After driving
up about 75 switchbacks, we reached the top of a "mountain"
from which we could just see the fijord where the ships were
anchored. |
| There
are frequently multiple ships in a signle port, but the tour
companies seem to handle the crowds very well |
(28K)
|
Coming
down the mountain, we pause at a scenic overlook. |
(24K)
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(39K)
|
These falls
are known as the Seven Sisters, and come complete with a story
of how the "suitor" on the opposite side of the fijord
had problems with some of them. |
(34K)
|
This is the
Suito, and the shape of the Whiskey bottle, near the bottom,
enters into the story about the Seven sisters. |
| As
we cross the arctic circle (northbound) at 0630, the pool is
prepared for our initiation into the Polar Bear Club. (Those
are ice cubes in the plastic bags) |
(33K)
|
We
joined the brave ones and are now full members of the Polar Bear
Club. Check out the clothing of those NOT in the pool if you
want to get an idea of the temperature! |
(70K)
|
(30K)
|
The midnight
sun is a sight that must be seen to be fully appreciated. The
sea appears very dark because the camera automatically "stopped
down" to compensate for being pointed directly into the
sun. |
(44K)
|
Ship's launches
were used when adequate pier facilities were not available. The
hard part was finding places where the water was SHALLOW enough
to anchor. Often the fijords had more than several hundred feet
of water! |
| The
small, rather simple, white house is designed to allow easy expansion
off either end as the family grows. |
(25K)
|
Here
we can see a slightly larger family home and how they have extended
it |
(31K)
|
(24K)
|
This is one
of the largest homes of this type that we saw. Unfortunately,
some is hidden behind the tree but you get the idea. |
(34K)
|
We prepare
to visit a copper mine and walk about 400 meters into the earth.
Only part of the mine is currently open to tourists. |
| Copper
was first mined from this location in 1654. Mine operations ceased
about 10 years ago, I think. |
(31K)
|
The
port of Honningsvag, about half an hour by bus south of North
Cape. |
(30K)
|
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|
One of the
Lapps (they prefer the term Sami) located near North Cape. They
bring their raindeer north for the summer grass. |
(27K)
|
We reach the
northern-most point in Europe. I'm glad we didn't come during
the Arctic winter. |
| This
close to the North Pole I would expect to find a lot of Santas.
I think this was the largest gift shop north of the Arctic Circle. |
(46K)
|
Cute
little dolls, but they look like they are from Sweden rather
than Norway. |
(36K)
|
(72K)
|
Madonna and
troll |
(46K)
|
Mike & troll (Mike is on the left). |
| You
should see what the troll was doing with his right hand! |
(48K)
|
This
is a better picture of how bright it really is when you are well
north of the Arctic Circle in June. Note the sharp shadows on
the bulkhead behind Cindy. |
(39K)
|
(28K)
|
The Horizon
Lounge before dinner |
(41K)
|
This cable
car in Tromso provides a spectacular view of the entire island
upon which the cinty is located. |
| The
people of Norway just LOVE to pile up stones when they visit
to tops of the "mountains". I'm not quite sure why
but it may be a Viking thing. |
(32K)
|
The
snow field above Tromso was smaller than usual, due to a very
warm spring. |
(34K)
|
(27K)
|
Coming down
on the cable car we see the Arctic Cathedral and the Royal Princess
in the background. |
(37K)
|
The Arctic
Cathedral was impressive |
| The
organ pipes in the Arctic Cathedral are arranged to look like
a sailing ship. It was difficult to capture with the camera but
the effect was impressive in person. |
(32K)
|
The
altar and main window in the Arctic Cathedral. |
(33K)
|
(36K)
|
Back at sea,
midnight, prior to crossing the Arctic Circle southbound. |
(32K)
|
All you surface
ship guys will recognize, and be able to properly name, the item
to the right of Cindy in this picture. We are located on the
top weather deck, well forward on the ship. The afternoon was
beautiful. |
| Are
they discussing plans for the next cruise? :-) |
(28K)
|
We
take turns using the camera on this beautiful day of sunshine! |
(33K)
|
(20K)
|
The Princess
logo gets touched up at the end of the swimming pool area. |
(28K)
|
This was a
fairly calm day. When the seas were high, the waves in the pool
were about a foot high - REALLY! |
| Our
shore tours always included local guides, of which this little
gal was one of the cutest. Just the SLIGHTEST bit of her tummy
button showed when she gestured to point out the sights. |
(35K)
|
One
of the "authentic" sod roofs. Not sure how the cut
the grass to maintain it, or how they prevented the wood below
it from rotting. |
(47K)
|
(33K)
|
They stopped
a train we were riding on so we could have a closeup look at
these falls. |
(39K)
|
Norway is
FULL of falls, all fed by melting glacial ice, it seems. Some
90% of their electrical power comes from hydroelectric sources. |
| This
stave church is one of about 12 remaining from the 12th. century.
Very impressive! |
(33K)
|
A
closeup of the detail on the church. |
(56K)
|
(28K)
|
Is that the
face on an angel, or what? These girls were SO cute! |
(25K)
|
The open-work
on their costumes was lovely, as was the music. |
| Two
cars run from Bergen to an overlook far above the city. There
is a single track except at this midway point where they pass. |
(62K)
|
This
dancer performed the part of the doll on a music box - very well
done act. |
(59K)
|
(22K)
|
Scottie MacLean
- a very funny comedian. Best line - "The nice thing about
dating a homeless woman is that at the end of the eveing you
can drop her off anywhere" |
(22K)
|
One member
of a dance duo that performed in several shows. |
| Jim,
the Cruise Director, was everywhere all day, setting things up,
coordinating activities and putting out the daily paper. In addition
he sang in some of the evening shows. |
(30K)
|
After
we returned to England and debarked, the Royal Priness sailed
with a new group of passangers. Smooth Sailing! |
(35K)
|