Carnival Pride 10th June 2022 - Final Part

Saturday 18th June 2022 Today is called our Fun Farewell day at Sea, here on board CARNIVAL PRIDE. We left Bergen yesterday evening and are now heading south toward the UK. There is a clear sky outside and the sea is calmer, and when I looked out of my cabin window to enjoy being at sea I noticed a bird with black wing tips flying along. He was some distance away from us but flying on a parallel course for some time. I noticed him particularly because he was going faster than us! We four friends have arranged to meet for Sea Day Brunch together but first we met at 10 a.m. in a bar for coffee, before going into the Normandie Restaurant. After that meal my diary says we went to a General Knowledge quiz. I believe we did well, but not enough to win the trophy. It seems I've been nominated as the person to take our team trophy home, so I shall be happy to do that. We are doing 21 knots and the outside air temperature is said to be 58F, so all is well with our sailing south.

Heading home

Inch of Gold

Funnel

Sunset Garden

In the Sunset Garden Time then was spent having a rest, a walk around the ship for fresh air, and discovering the Sunset Garden walkway around the back of the theatre on Deck 3. I also noticed a stall selling the well-known Inch of Gold, that seems very popular on some ships. I think we all needed a snack then and an ice-cream in a cone just for a change. I met an Irish-American lady and her travelling companion again in one of the Piazzas and enjoyed having a chat with her. She is really enjoying her trip overseas and we all like hearing her gentle accent when we meet. Her companion seems to enjoy reading whatever book she is carrying that day, so we all smile and greet each other before reading or talking. Then it was home and packing my little suitcase ready to leave outside my cabin tonight, before preparing for drinks and dinner this evening with my Fun Friends. In the Normandie Restaurant we enjoyed our meal as usual and thanked the staff who had looked after us during the cruise. Of course I had to hand back the cushion that one of my friends had borrowed from the Serenity area on board for me, and I'd enjoyed its use for many meals. We spent some time enjoying the music in the Ivory Piano Bar before each heading home and setting personal alarms for an early start tomorrow.

Sunday 19th June 2022 My alarm went off at 5 a.m. and after dressing I went up to the Lido Buffet for a quick breakfast. We were safely in Dover and my suitcase had hopefully been taken ashore for me to collect once the ship had been cleared. I met one friend in the buffet and said fond farewells to him before heading back down to my cabin to collect my jacket and then head up again to meet another friend. He and I had arranged to travel on an early train from Dover train station so we headed ashore to collect my suitcase from the passenger shed, then get a taxi to the station. The platforms were very busy but the 8 a.m. train arrived, heading from here in Dover to London. I was to get off at Ashford International Station, after another fond farewell with my train friend. Once there I had enough time before my connecting train, for coffee and croissant in a station cafe. On my final train I enjoyed the sunshine on the journey, until I could get off to take a taxi to my home. There I was, happily back home again, after a very enjoyable Fun time on board the CARNIVAL PRIDE with my Fun Friends.

CARNIVAL PRIDE 10th June 2022 Part 8

Friday 17th June 2022 This morning we arrived in Bergen at 7 a.m. It was raining hard and it got worse. This is so disappointing for many of us, but maybe it will change later.

Three of us met for Dining Room breakfast at 8 a.m., as it is due to close at 8.30. Two of us decided to walk into town, despite the weather, so we met and after crossing the old railway lines just beyond the terminal buildings, we headed off towards the Rosenkrantz Tower.

Bryggen is an historic harbour district, established as a trade centre by the 12th Century. I read that in 1350 the Hanseatic League established an Office in Bergen and eventually established four overseas Offices, Bryggen being the only one preserved today. The area has been damaged by fire many times over the years but always rebuilt after each one. This is happening today and what we can walk around and see. This area is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979 and the website says: " The buildings are made of wood in keeping with vernacular building traditions. The original compact medieval urban structure is preserved with its long narrow rows of buildings facing the harbour, separated by narrow wooden passages." This was a very interesting place to visit, with many of the owners outside their establishments.

Then we went to the Maritime Museum. I was particularly interested to see some of the wall posters showing ships visiting the port in 1930 to 2021. That must have included Father's visits on the ARANDORA STAR way back in those early days. I was interested to see an old lifebelt from the Hurtigruten's NORDSTERNEN which I enjoyed sailing on in July 2011.

I remember I also saw a 1931 photograph of FINNMARKEN; that reminded me that I visited the new 2002 FINNMARKEN in April 2002 in Southampton as I have a delightful china coffee mug that I was given on board. Anyway, back outside on the quayside here in Bergen there were crowds around the stalls buying all sorts of local products. It was still raining hard and this was when my friend and I decided it was time to go home and dry off on the ship.

Back on board was so lovely after the weather outside and my wet outside gear was soon hanging up to dry in my bathroom whilst I went in search of a good pot of tea. Passengers were due back on board by 4.30 but I could hear no preparations for our departure and it seems that one of the excursion coaches had been delayed. It finally arrived back at 5.15 and the poor passengers had to make their way back from the quayside outside the fencing and get on board. They looked very pleased to be climbing the gangway onto the ship. I met my friends for dinner that evening and we enjoyed that as usual, as well as the show. I see from my diary that we were in a bar on deck 2 that evening at 10.15 and the sun came out from behind a few clouds and shone on my face. I have one photo of my wristwatch at midnight and it was still sunny. Life is amazing isn't it, when we are lucky enough to travel. The clocks on board go back tonight and we have a sea day tomorrow so that will get us back to British Summer Time when we dock in the UK on Sunday morning. Ships seen: Carnival Pride, Havila Capella which is unable to move at present for legal reasons, Europa 2, Norwegian Star, Northland To be continued...

Carnival Pride 10th June 2022 Part 7

Thursday 16th June 2022 Today the ship has arrived in Olden, which is far inland and north on the map, and 'the gateway to the glaciers' according to one plan. The fjord looks beautiful here at the furthest point of it, with high snow-covered mountains towering way above us. There are shops near the terminal area and a village further along so we have plans to walk along the waterside this morning and enjoy the cold and the views.

The valley in fact goes a long way further inland from where we are berthed but is not navigable for us. When we arrived on deck this morning we discovered that the cruise ship ISLAND PRINCESS is at anchor on the far side of the fjord and her passengers have to go ashore by tender, so we feel very fortunate to be where we are. One friend is working today but later told us that there had been a power cut in the night for about half an hour. He had noticed that our speed had dropped and so he got up and dressed, to check with staff. They said that our speed had dropped to only about 3 nautical miles an hour before recovering, but all was well eventually. He also discovered during the day that there was no on- line internet access via the ship and he had to use his own phone to be able to work. That was thoughtful of him to check during the night. After breakfast three of us went ashore for a brisk walk, which of course had to start in one of the small quayside shops to buy local products. Then to avoid having to walk on the main road we used the local paths that had been created. As we walked towards the end of this part of the fjord we were amazed at the steep height of the snow-capped mountains beside us. I noticed one map described this area as the Gateway to the Glaciers. It was certainly cold and the air still but fascinating, as we are far north and seem to be far inland in the Norwegian landmass. Our walk led to another part of Olden with a few more shops near the water, and we could see the local church even further along the valley.

After taking a few more photographs and admiring the mountain views, we headed back to the ship for a late lunch on board. Something I found during the afternoon was decoration along the top and surround of one of the passenger corridors. It was so attractive - it looked like braid, or possibly made of china, but it caught my eye and I had to photograph it. Touching it carefully with one clean finger gave me no clue as to what it was, but I enjoyed seeing it.

We sailed mid-afternoon and enjoyed a delightful scenic time on deck, wearing warm clothing of course, and looking at the mountains as we sailed away, and the waterfalls tumbling into the fjord.

We all met again for drinks before dinner. This evening we have booked to eat in David's Steakhouse, and this was a beautiful and enjoyable experience with particularly delicious food. There was no opportunity for photographs as other passengers were arriving or leaving this dining room. Overnight we sail south and are due to visit Bergen tomorrow for the day. I've been there before and always enjoyed my visit. When my father was at sea as an engineer in the early 1930s he visited there with the ARANDORA STAR and took several photographs of the quayside near where they berthed. I now have many of those photographs and have taken my own pictures in the same place during my visits. I like the idea of continuity and 'Following in Father's Footsteps'. Ships seen: Carnival Pride, Island Princess To be continued...