9.8.2022 At sea
09/08/22 20:07
After a good nights sleep ( yesterday was quite exciting with all the procedures to done in preparation for the actual embarkation )
I woke up well in time to get prepared for my allocated breakfast slot.
Yesterdays dinner time and todays breakfast time was stipulated by Hurtigruten but from today onwards you can book the time very convenient via the "Hurtigruten App" which works perfectly on the ships own WiFi network.
Mealtimes, excursions etc can all be booked via the app and all necessary information you might need is available at your fingertip.
With the app Hurtigruten follows one of their promises to be environmentally friendly by eliminating as much paper as possible.
One can even arrange to have ones room only been made up and towels etc changed via a sign you leave at your door handle.
Who needs fresh towels every day ? One doesn't even do that at home.
Since we left Vancouver yesterday evening we passed through the Strait of Georgia and the Johnstone Strat ( between Vancouver Island and the mainland ) during the night. Would have nice to travel this during the day but as I have learned this is necessary based on the changing currents in these waters.
At around 11:00 - 11:30 am we reached the area around Port Hardy where we have been greeted by the pilot who came on board for the next miles till Prince Rupert. A mandatory requirement by the naval authorities they told us.
For the first few hours the weather was not that great. Fortunately no rain and only at around 11:00 it started clearing up a bit and one could see a few of the little island in the strait.
Another interesting observation is that whilst the Roald Amundsen is a Norwegian Ship ( and really registered in Norway { Trømso } ) it seems that I am travelling on a German ship. Having checked at the ships reception I learned that about 65% of the passengers are from Germany. The rest from France, UK, etc.
Everything on the ship is written or announced in both English and German.
Its "quite interesting" to listen to conservations of the German passengers or observe how they are staring at other people or making comments completely negating the fact that they might be understood by for example myself.
Another observation are the COVID rules on board: wearing masks in the public areas like for example the restaurants, before going into the restaurants one has to wash ones hands etc.
Information lectures started today so that one can familiarise with the booking of the various expeditions ( almost all of them are included in the passage, how they are been organised etc. Another lecture was given by the "hotel manager" about the various amenity's on the ship. Will I be bored ? No, I have already booked various on-shore expeditions, small boat tours and the like.
I will report back on the days they are happening.
Interestingly two of the originally planned on-shore excursions had to be cancelled. The two little communities, one of them has only 97 inhabitants didn't want a whole ship with roughly 300 passengers flooding their little village as they are understandably afraid of COVID.
Hurtigruten organised two alternatives instead so that one doesn't "loose out".
Lunch: I am skipping that today. After a good breakfast and hardly any exercise > not necessary.
Dinner I booked for 18:00 but before will be at 17:30 the "Captain's Welcome" with a welcome drink and his introduction of his crew and the expedition team.
Lasts but not least: before I go to bed tonight I have to adjust my watch to UTC-8 as starting tomorrow morning at 2:00 we are on "Alaska Daylight Time" . Very important as all meal times etc are from that point onwards on "AKDT"
Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here
I woke up well in time to get prepared for my allocated breakfast slot.
Yesterdays dinner time and todays breakfast time was stipulated by Hurtigruten but from today onwards you can book the time very convenient via the "Hurtigruten App" which works perfectly on the ships own WiFi network.
Mealtimes, excursions etc can all be booked via the app and all necessary information you might need is available at your fingertip.
With the app Hurtigruten follows one of their promises to be environmentally friendly by eliminating as much paper as possible.
One can even arrange to have ones room only been made up and towels etc changed via a sign you leave at your door handle.
Who needs fresh towels every day ? One doesn't even do that at home.
Since we left Vancouver yesterday evening we passed through the Strait of Georgia and the Johnstone Strat ( between Vancouver Island and the mainland ) during the night. Would have nice to travel this during the day but as I have learned this is necessary based on the changing currents in these waters.
At around 11:00 - 11:30 am we reached the area around Port Hardy where we have been greeted by the pilot who came on board for the next miles till Prince Rupert. A mandatory requirement by the naval authorities they told us.
For the first few hours the weather was not that great. Fortunately no rain and only at around 11:00 it started clearing up a bit and one could see a few of the little island in the strait.
Another interesting observation is that whilst the Roald Amundsen is a Norwegian Ship ( and really registered in Norway { Trømso } ) it seems that I am travelling on a German ship. Having checked at the ships reception I learned that about 65% of the passengers are from Germany. The rest from France, UK, etc.
Everything on the ship is written or announced in both English and German.
Its "quite interesting" to listen to conservations of the German passengers or observe how they are staring at other people or making comments completely negating the fact that they might be understood by for example myself.
Another observation are the COVID rules on board: wearing masks in the public areas like for example the restaurants, before going into the restaurants one has to wash ones hands etc.
Information lectures started today so that one can familiarise with the booking of the various expeditions ( almost all of them are included in the passage, how they are been organised etc. Another lecture was given by the "hotel manager" about the various amenity's on the ship. Will I be bored ? No, I have already booked various on-shore expeditions, small boat tours and the like.
I will report back on the days they are happening.
Interestingly two of the originally planned on-shore excursions had to be cancelled. The two little communities, one of them has only 97 inhabitants didn't want a whole ship with roughly 300 passengers flooding their little village as they are understandably afraid of COVID.
Hurtigruten organised two alternatives instead so that one doesn't "loose out".
Lunch: I am skipping that today. After a good breakfast and hardly any exercise > not necessary.
Dinner I booked for 18:00 but before will be at 17:30 the "Captain's Welcome" with a welcome drink and his introduction of his crew and the expedition team.
Lasts but not least: before I go to bed tonight I have to adjust my watch to UTC-8 as starting tomorrow morning at 2:00 we are on "Alaska Daylight Time" . Very important as all meal times etc are from that point onwards on "AKDT"
Some pictures of todays endeavors your can find here and to track my tour click here
