Norway Magic 6/6/2015

[lizajane]

I just thought that a lot of Americans (and most of the posters here are from the USA) would have a hard time to figure out all the different European associations, unions, communities etc. It is confusing if you live here! And then Norway is not in the EU, but part of the Schengen treaty which lets you travel without border controls. While the UK is an EU member state, but not part of the Schengen treaty. It is pretty crazy..

I am not totally sure about the no VAT. But I remember that I researched it a while ago and came to the conclusion that this cruise should not have a VAT problem. When I researched it, I read that it is mainly an issue with cruises leaving from Spain as ultimately it seems to be up to the country of the home port.

I will ask when we get to the terminal or on the boat before buying anything, though!

 

[Flossbolna]

I will ask when we get to the terminal or on the boat before buying anything, though!

good idea!

 

[sweetlovin]

Does anyone know for sure if there is a formal and/or semi-formal night planned for this cruise?

Formal night is always the 1st sea day, so June 7th will be formal night

 

[dee47]

June 6 Casual
June 7 Formal
June 8 Casual
June 9 Casual
June 10 Semi Formal
June 11 Casual Freezing the Night Away with Anna and Elsa
June 12 Casual

 

[lizajane]

June 6 Casual
June 7 Formal
June 8 Casual
June 9 Casual
June 10 Semi Formal
June 11 Casual Freezing the Night Away with Anna and Elsa
June 12 Casual

Is that confirmed dee? Someone else said there was just one dress up night on this cruise.

 

[thinkoflaura]

Hi all!
I've been out of the loop for a couple months because of work... I blinked and we are less than 90 days from our cruise! Yipppeeee!!!

Trying to catch up on what I've missed here (and to introduce myself to the new people who joined after I did)... what is this I'm seeing about a refund from DCL? Anything worth asking our Dreams Unlimited agent about?

And is it fair to assume the "Freezing the Night Away" party is in place of the pirate party on past cruises? We always go all out on Pirate Night, but not sure about this one... Anyone planning to dress up for the "Freezing" party -- aside from little girls in Anna/Elsa costumes? My DD9 wants to dress up like a troll, but I'm not very crafty... I have no idea how to pull that off!!!

I'll be traveling with my DD9, DH and my mom -- you'll see her scooting around the ship on her little electric tricycle and flirting with all the waiters!

DH, DD and I signed up for the Herdalsetra Farm Tour in Geiranger and the Hardanger Fjord with Lunch tour in Bergen. (Mom will take the Bergen Panoramic bus tour.) And we are probably going to do our own thing in the other ports. What's everyone else planning?

 

[sweetlovin]

A few of us are going on the Anna Elsa excursion in Alesund. In Geiranger, I am going on the RIB boat booked separately from DCL and then walking around the town and heading to the chocolate factory. (yummy) I think a few others booked a separate bus tour with stops to get out and take pictures. (Not through DCL) In Stavanger, a few of us booked a cruise again separate from DCL. Right now, I am on a DCL tour for Bergen that has the Funicular, but might just take the Funicular on our own. We are trying to go paragliding in Bergen, but the people are not very responsive with emails. So I am not sure if that will pan out.

 

[thinkoflaura]

In Geiranger, I am going on the RIB boat booked separately from DCL and then walking around the town and heading to the chocolate factory. (yummy) I think a few others booked a separate bus tour with stops to get out and take pictures. (Not through DCL) In Stavanger, a few of us booked a cruise again separate from DCL. Right now, I am on a DCL tour for Bergen that has the Funicular, but might just take the Funicular on our own. We are trying to go paragliding in Bergen, but the people are not very responsive with emails. So I am not sure if that will pan out.

tell me more about the chocolate factory!

have you (or a lot of people here?) been to these ports before? Would love to know which ones are easiest just to pop off the ship and wander around... that would be great for mom!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

A few of us are going on the Anna Elsa excursion in Alesund. In Geiranger, I am going on the RIB boat booked separately from DCL and then walking around the town and heading to the chocolate factory. (yummy) I think a few others booked a separate bus tour with stops to get out and take pictures. (Not through DCL) In Stavanger, a few of us booked a cruise again separate from DCL. Right now, I am on a DCL tour for Bergen that has the Funicular, but might just take the Funicular on our own. We are trying to go paragliding in Bergen, but the people are not very responsive with emails. So I am not sure if that will pan out.

Did you book a private cruise in Stavanger or did you book the regular Lyesfjord cruise? The Land and Sea port adventure was sold out by the time Silver CC members could book.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

tell me more about the chocolate factory!

have you (or a lot of people here?) been to these ports before? Would love to know which ones are easiest just to pop off the ship and wander around... that would be great for mom!

Chocolate Factory: http://geirangersjokolade.no/?lang=en

 

[dee47]

Is that confirmed dee? Someone else said there was just one dress up night on this cruise.

Well, it's about as confirmed as talking to a DCL rep can be at this point

 

[Flossbolna]

Would love to know which ones are easiest just to pop off the ship and wander around... that would be great for mom!

From my research (never been to Norway myself, but to Sweden, Denmark and Finland and I am expecting that towns in Norway will kind of follow a similar pattern as the rest of Scandinavia and most of Europe ) it appears that with all ports we will be more or less in the middle of the town center and we should be able to just walk off the ship and be in the town.

In Stavanger we are at Strandkajen which is to the left of the port basin in this map: http://www.stavanger-guide.no/portofstavanger/city/city.pdf

In Bergen we are supposed to be at Bontelabo 2, which is on this map where all the "J"s are in yellow circles, north of the main port basin: http://www.visitbergen.com/Bergen/Dokumenter/Om oss/Publikasjoner/2015/Bergenskartet_2015_web.pdf From there it should be less than 1/2 mile to Bryggen where all the old houses are.

However, Bergen is not a small town, so other things will be further away. To a certain degreee that should apply to Stavanger as well.

Alesund and Geiranger are really rather small, so should be easily accessible by foot.

Both Bergen and Stavanger have hop-on-hop-off busses that depart from the cruise terminals as well.

 

[sweetlovin]

tell me more about the chocolate factory!

have you (or a lot of people here?) been to these ports before? Would love to know which ones are easiest just to pop off the ship and wander around... that would be great for mom!

I have not been to the ports, but I saw the chocolate factory listed on a map and it is right at the RIB boat location. Little town. I booked the Lyesfjord cruise in Stavanger.

 

[lizajane]

Well, it's about as confirmed as talking to a DCL rep can be at this point

Kind of like talking to the bus drivers at WDW.

 

[thinkoflaura]

Did you book a private cruise in Stavanger or did you book the regular Lyesfjord cruise? The Land and Sea port adventure was sold out by the time Silver CC members could book.

inspired by many posts, I started googling other options beyond the DCL excursions, and I found a lot of similar private options at a fraction of the cost.

I privately booked a Lysfjord cruise through Rodne http://www.rodne.no
And this company in Geirangerfjord has affordable bus/boat (or bus/rib boat) tour options: http://www.geirangerfjord.no/english

Can't wait to pop into that chocolate shop too!

I love hearing all your plans, so please keep posting ideas!

 

[sweetlovin]

inspired by many posts, I started googling other options beyond the DCL excursions, and I found a lot of similar private options at a fraction of the cost.

I privately booked a Lysfjord cruise through Rodne http://www.rodne.no
And this company in Geirangerfjord has affordable bus/boat (or bus/rib boat) tour options: http://www.geirangerfjord.no/english

Can't wait to pop into that chocolate shop too!

I love hearing all your plans, so please keep posting ideas!

That is the two I booked as well. The RIB boat at 1pm and the Lysfjords cruise at 10am (I think)

 

[bobsledwheels]

I am very jealous of all these B2B2B cruisers!! Would love to do a B2B let alone a double!

Does anyone know if fish extender is still open?

 

[Suzannelise]

Hi everyone, as of today we will officially be on this cruise! Hurray! I am so excited to see that there will be a lot of girls on the ship in the age range of my daughter (9), what a hoot it will be to see the army of Elsas and Annas! I am also relieved to see a few families will be going with only one parent, because my husband can not get the time off. My 20 year old niece will be on the trip with me as well. I am so excited and a little nervous about not knowing exactly what to expect. Can't wait to meet you all....

 

[BernadetteMW]

Can I join even though I can't book for 12 more hours? I'll be going with my mother-in-law and my dd who will be almost 6 at the time of sailing. I'll be booking tomorrow unless it's sold out (unlikely). Fortunately it doesn't seem to be the popular choice today, so I'm not too worried about that. This cruise will be the end of our trip to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. My husband, father-in-law, and 2 boys are going to spend that week exploring Brussels and France.

I'm REALLY hoping for some Frozen tie ins. My daughter now answers to the name "Elsa"!

My daughter will also be nearly 6! She plays Ana so maybe they'll pair up!

 

[DahliaRW]

My daughter will also be nearly 6! She plays Ana so maybe they'll pair up!

My daughter would be thrilled to have another friend! She's a bit nervous about going to the clubs without her brothers (who are not cruising with us).