AT SEA OFF NORTH COAST OF NORWAY

     

Yellow arrow in red circle is our position at noon today.

        As you can see we are off the north coast of Norway today at noon and have another 100 miles to go before arriving at our next port at Honningsvag, Norway.  We should be docking there sometime between 6:00 and 7:00 pm.  There are some excursions there after our arrival but not us.  Our tour is tomorrow morning when we go to the North Cape.  The ship will be over nighting here.

        It is a cool, cloudy day today with a high temperature in upper 40's.  The damp wind makes it seem even colder.  Although we are getting another mostly smooth ride the waves are 3 to 6 feet today.  I got my workout in this morning while Rebecca watched Fox News on tv.  She is still experiencing pain from her broken rib so has not been able to exercise on the treadmill.  After I got cleaned up we walked around the ship taking some photos.  There was a wine tasting as you will notice from the photos.  We had our lunch in the Compass Rose dining room today instead of up in the La Veranda buffet.  This afternoon I am going to a "Future Cruise Presentation" in the theater given by Gudrun, the cruise consultant on board.  We spoke with her briefly this morning as we do want to book a "future" while on board.  We do not know where we want to go yet but will be going somewhere next year.  There are some financial advantages to book while on board the ship.     

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Background Info:        

        This is the northern most city on the mainland of Norway and was declared a city only in 1996.  The population here is only 2400 making it one of the smallest cities in Norway.  Honningsvag is actually located on a cove on the southeast side of the island of Mageroya, just off the north coast of mainland Norway.  The famous, North Cape and its visitor’s center, is on the north side of this island but Honningsvag is the port of call for cruise ships mainly during the summer months.  The ice free ocean (southwestern part of the Barents Sea) provides rich fisheries, and also important, is tourism for this small community.

        Even though Honningsvag is located at the northernmost extreme of Europe and just above the Arctic Circle, it has a subarctic climate thanks to the Gulf Stream.  The summers are cool (July average high of 59 degrees) and short.  Winters are softened by the ice free ocean with average temperatures at or just above freezing.  In fact, winters here are warmer than those in Oslo much further to the south.

Today's photos were taken around the inside of the ship to give you an idea of "our home for the month".

                                                                        Library

                                                         One of the atrium sitting areas

                                                      Observation Lounge bar

Observation Lounge on top deck with good viewing.

                                                     Gami, the restaurant manager

                                                              Jan, a bartender

                              Mark, a head waiter who we knew from previous Regent cruises.

The veal parmesan they prepared for us last night.

                                              Cheese table for the wine tasting event

Compass Rose, main dining room

                                                Sylvester, the maitre 'd of Prime 7 (steakhouse)

                                  Amaresh, Gami, & Donald.  Donald is food & beverage manager.

                                                 Michaela, Wine Cellar Master, at wine tasting

                                                    Cheese table for wine tasting

Compass Rose, the main dining room

                                                 Table where the Captain entertains at dinner

                                                                       Casino

"Coffee Connection" where they make all kind of coffee drinks

                                                  snacks in Coffee Connection

                                                      Odul, the Executive Concierge

                                                               Excursion desk

                                                                Game room

                                                                     shops

Internet computer room.  WiFi throughout ship

                                                Horizon Lounge on aft area of ship

                                              Deck area outside of the Horizon Lounge

                                                                    "Selfie"

                                                       Observation Lounge bar again

                                          They have new furniture in the Observation Lounge

Pool bar with some hardy souls out drinking on a cold day

                                                       Pool Deck (48 degrees outside today)

                                           Atrium stair area looking down from top floor.

                        Our suite with 306 sq ft living area plus an additional 50 sq ft balcony.

Walk-in closet

                                                  Bathroom with both a shower and tub.

                                           Sitting area with tv, small refrigerator, and desk.

                                                                      Voyager Lounge bar

                                                                Voyager Lounge

                                                                       Casino

Theater (there is an upper balcony too)