Buzz’s comments on his cruise
Round trip from/to Copenhagen circumnavigating Iceland on the Seabourn Ovation
June to July 2023
This was a great cruise – all new ports for me. I met many interesting people and Seabourn
remains my first choice in Cruise Lines
Day Date Itinerary
WED 21JUN PHL-YUL Air Canada Express 8858 9:30
AM to 11:22 AM – Pleasant regional air jet.
YUL-CPH United Airlines 8692
6:00 PM to 7:00 AM 22JUN – Pleasant Business class on a Boeing 787-900.
THU 22JUN - SUN25
JUN. Copenhagen – Interesting city with
a rich history. Diverse architecture
varying for the age of the buildings going back over hundreds of years. Very clean but lots of graffiti. Leaving bottles and empty beverage cans for
the homeless to pick up is good practice since they can get money for picking
them up and turning them in. I was there
for the summer solstice celebration and for the high school graduation
celebrations where the graduates went from party to party in trucks that
provided a public viewing of the graduates in their special graduation
hats. Restaurant food was good and
reasonably priced. Taxis were very
expensive and there were no ride sharing alternatives. There was a good train and
metro system that I used to get around.
Moxy Copenhagen Sydhavnen Hotel
– Disappointing very small room that did not have a phone, clock, safe, in room
coffee, or
refrigerator. No closet only a couple of
hooks and hangers. No desk only a small
shelf next to an outlet for my laptop.
Hard to believe this brand was added to the
Marriott umbrella. A good event was that they honored my request for an early
check in and the staff was very helpful with information about how to use
public transportation. Only a few
restaurants within walking distance. The
burger place directly across the street was good and reasonably priced.
FRI 23JUN I booked a tour on Trip Advisor: Social
Sailing - Copenhagen Canal Tour - Exploring Hidden Gems : I toured
Copenhagen's canals for 2 hours in an open 30 foot
boat with 12 people on this canal cruise tour on the Northern Harbor. We passed
but did not linger to view a special event as High School graduates put on
their special graduation hat and jumped naked into the water. Beer, wine and lemonade were available for
purchase on board.
SAT 24JUN I booked a tour on Trip Advisor: Good
Morning, Copenhagen: Feel The Danish Hygge &
Happiness: We wondered the cobblestone streets of Copenhagen with a local,
taking in—slowly—the city’s old-town charm, timber-framed houses, quiet green
spaces and historical buildings.
SUN 25JUN23 Sail from Copenhagen, Denmark
After boarding the ship, I attended a hosted dinner with Joe
Altamira, the Entertainment Manager, the Solo Travelers Get-Together and
WELCOME ABOARD PARTY.
MON 26JUN23 Gothenburg, Sweden I went on a Shore
Excursion: Northern Islands &
Gothenburg City: A guided walking tour of Gothenburg. In the heart of the city we passed Götaplatsen, with
its famous Poseidon Fountain by Carl Milles. We drove passed the Museum of Fine
Arts, the Concert Hall, the Opera House, and the Maritime Center, as well as
the Lisberg Amusement Park. The Ockero municipality
is spread over 10 islands and is connected to the
mainland by a 25-minute ferry ride. Ockero is home to
many fishing boats and boathouses. We drove around the islands of Ockero and Halso. We entered the old Ockero
Church, dating back to the Middle Ages. At the local
folklore center, we got a snack, including coffee and a pastry, before you head
to Hono and Foto
Islands. As you cross the bridge between
Foto and Hono, take in the
extensive and breathtaking view of the archipelago. We returned to Gothenburg
by ferry afterwards.
I had a hosted dinner with Jared Svoboda, Seabourn Vocalist. I attended Team Trivia, A Conversation with
Jennifer Eremeeva discussing the Viking age and
Showtime Tonight featuring Adam Barry, a Irish
Multi-Instrumentalist.
TUE 27JUN23 Sea Day - I had a hosted dinner with
Chris Harley, Cruise Director. I
attended A Conversation with Jennifer Eremeeva: An
Introduction to Icelandic Cuisine, Team Trivia, A Conversation with Tamar Larsen:
The Swedish Theory of Love, A Conversation With Andrea Furjak:
The Scoop on Champagne – It’s not just for New Years
Eve Anymore, and Showtime Tonight: Sir Tim Rice: Circle Of My Life
WED 28JUN23 Sea Day - I had a hosted dinner with
Natalia Vivino, Seabourn Vocalist. I attended A Conversation with Jennifer Eremeeva: Milestones in Icelandic History, Team Trivia, and
A Conversation with Tamar Larsen: Introduction to Icelandic Culture.
THU 29JUN23 Djupivogur,
Iceland – A small town of about 550 people with fishing as the main
industry. I went an excursion: Djupivogur Culture: A Walking Tour: We visited the Audun's Stone & Mineral Museum. Audun
-- a local man -- used to collect rocks and stones as a hobby; now, it could more aptly be described as an obsession. When his
collection grew to epic proportions, he invested in a rock-cutter and polishing
equipment. The next step was to open a stone and mineral museum so that he
could store, and of course share, his very interesting geode collection. What
is very plain and uninteresting on the outside can be dazzlingly beautiful on
the inside, once the rock is cut and polished. All the
rocks and minerals on display here were found locally.
The east coast of Iceland abounds with agate, quartz crystal, zeolyte and many other minerals. In the Old Harbor area,
contemplate the unusual outdoor granite artwork placed around the waterfront.
The sculpture consists of 34 to-scale, oversized eggs dotted along the water's
edge, each of which represents a local bird species. The largest egg represents
the throat diver -- a bird commonly seen in and around Djúpivogur.
The visited 'the tank' -- a stone's throw away from the egg sculptures. Once
used as a storage facility for fish-liver oil, the round tank gracing the
harbor has been thoroughly cleaned and restored, and is now a venue for
performing musicians. A local vocalist performed a cappella for us. The local guide was excellent and described
the history, culture, and economic evolution of the town.
I had dinner at the Thomas Keller Grill. I attended Team Trivia, A Conversation with
Jennifer Eremeeva: Viking Women and Their World and
Showtime Tonight: Adam Barry: AIN’T PATRICKS DAY.
FRI 30JUN23 Vopnafjorour, Iceland – A small
town of 660 people with fishing as the many industry. I went an excursion: Dettifoss:
Europe's Most Powerful Waterfall: A Mindful Living Tour: Visit Dettifoss -- Iceland's greatest and most majestic
waterfall. This journey takes you along paved, partly-gravel and rocky roads
1.5 hour bus ride each way. There was about a mile walk from the bus to the main waterfall on uneven
rocky, sand with water streams path without handrails and another quarter mile
each way to the second waterfall.
On my walk it started in a light rain but
became heavier as I approached the main waterfall.
I had a hosted dinner with Adam Barry, featured entertainer. I attended the Oyster and Caviar feast.
SAT 01JUL23 Akureyri, Iceland – The second
largest city in Iceland with about 20,000 people. I went an excursion: Akureyri,
Falls & Farmland: Leaving Akureyri, cross the
waters of the fjord and travel along the slopes of Vadlaheidi
Mountain, via the Fnjóskadalur Valley passing Vaglaskogur Forest -- one of Iceland's rare woodlands. This
is part of an extensive soil and vegetation reclamation project. I traveled to historic Godafoss
-- waterfall of the heathen gods, which figures prominently in Iceland's
12th-century Book of Settlement. It is a mighty rush of water
that has carved a pretty gorge for itself and symbolizes the conversion to
Christianity of the Icelandic people.
I continued to one of Iceland's most famous turf houses at Laufás. The 19th-century turf farmhouse here was built in the traditional Icelandic style of stone and
turf. It is an interesting regional museum and features original implements and
equipment so essential to life in past centuries. There is also a beautiful
country church (1865) on site. The Icelandic turf house was the product of a
difficult climate, with the natural material offering superior insulation
compared to buildings solely made of wood or stone. I returned to Akureyri
for a short panoramic sightseeing tour of the city, including an outside view
of the modern central church and a stop at the Botanical Gardens
.
I had a hosted dinner with Tamar Larsen, Conversationalist. I attended Team Trivia, A Conversation with
Jennifer Eremeeva discussing the How Snorri Saved Civilization: The Icelandic Sagas and Showtime
Tonight Latin Quarter.
SUN 02JUL23 Isafjordur,
Iceland – This
is a town with about 2800 residents. I
went an excursion: Life & Culture of Isafjordur: I visited the Osvör
19th-century fisherman's hut, restored in 1988. This
is an authentic, refurbished fishing station that lies just south of the Arctic
Circle. It depicts the life of fishing crews through the ages. At an artfully decorated,
historical church, I attended a live music performance and hear some folktales. The road to the Tungudalur
Valley offered sweeping views of the Buná River and
the Snaefjallastrond mountain chain and a sub-Arctic
landscape carved out by glaciers over the course of millennia. In the oldest
part of Isafjörđur, I visited the Heritage Museum,
which contrasts life in the modern era with the harsher times of yesteryear. I
tasted Brennivín -- a potent schnapps unique to
Iceland -- with dried fish and shark meat.
I had a hosted dinner with Chaitanya Nagpal,
Learning and Devopment Manager and Barry Hulley, Human Resources Manager. I attended Team Trivia Showtime Tonight
featuring Harry the Piano.
MON 03JUL23 Akranes
– A nice town of about 7000
people. I had the formal night dinner at
the Sushi restaurant. I attended Team
Trivia, Seabourn Society Cocktail party with the Captain and Showtime Tonight
featuring West End star Steph Parry.
TUE 04JUL23 Heimaey, Westman Islands, Iceland – It was too rough to tender into
the port so my planned excursion was cancelled.
I had dinner at the Thomas Keller Grill. I attended Afternoon Matinee With Harry The Piano, A
Conversation with Tamar Larsen: Wise Women of Iceland, A Conversation with
Jennifer Eremeeva: Norse Mythology, Team Trivia, 4th of July
celebration and the Popcorn Movie: Armageddon Time.
WED 05JUL23 Sea Day - I had a hosted dinner with
Marvin Windvogel, Destination Services Manager. I attended Team Trivia, A Conversation with
Tamar Larsen: Hygge In
Denmark, A Conversation with Jennifer Eremeeva:
Milestones in Norwegian History, Showtime With Cruise Director Chris: From
Elton John To Opera and Showtime Tonight: Harry The Piano: At The Drop Of
Another Hat.
THU 06JUL23 Sea Day - I had a hosted dinner with
Harry the Piano, featured entertainer. I
attended Team Trivia, Two Conversations With Tamar Larsen: Polar Explorer Fridtjof Nansen and Contemporary Norwegian Culture; Jenteloven, Oil Money, and the Values of Its Social Welfare
State, A Conversation With Jennifer Eremeeva: King
Haakon's War: The Occupation of Norway 1940 - 1945, Showtime Tonight: Detroit
City Sounds featuring Motown classics.
FRI 07JUL23 Kristiansand, Norway – I went an
excursion: A Walk through Historical Kristiansand: Charming Kristiansand is the
fifth-largest city in Norway. The history of Kristiansand spans more than 370
years. I saw areas that embody this long history, from the stunning Kilden Performing Arts Centre, which opened in 2012, to the
Old Town's timber buildings and houses dating back to the 1700s. Even though
many of the houses are painted white, this area's
history is rather colorful. I saw the
fortress built the 1670s and the Gothic-style cathedral from the late 1880s. I
stopped at the fish market and the marketplace next to the cathedral packed
with flowers and fresh farm produce.
I had a hosted dinner with Starr Lysdster,
Seabourn Singer. I attended Team Trivia,
Champagne & Caviar Sailaway Featuring Serenade, A
Conversation with Tamar Larsen: The Art Movement of Skagen,
and Showtime Tonight: featuring West End star Steph Parry
SAT 08JUL23 Skagen,
Denmark - This is a pretty town that is a popular
summer resort. I attended Team Trivia
and Showtime Tonight: Stage and Screen featuring songs from musical theater
productions and hit movies.
SUN 09JUL23 Debark Ship Copenhagen, Denmark
CPH-YUL
Air Canada 827 12:20 PM to 2:00 PM
YUL-PHL
Air Canada 8863 7:50 PM to 9:30 PM
More information on
Seabourn Cruises click here.
To
return to my non-SCUBA Vacations page click here
To return to the
home page click here