Foxy does Norway, Iceland and Dublin on Arcadia

[oldbluefox]

Not the best of starts to any holiday, my mother had been complaining all week and had decided she had thrombosis despite the doctor and nurses in the home telling her it was not. I might add this is a usual routine whenever I or my sister go away on holiday. True to form she got herself admitted to hospital and as usual was sent out after an overnight stay all tests proving negative.
Anyway we had an uneventful ride down to Chilworth Manor for our overnight stay. When booking this cruise I had not realised there would be three other ships leaving that day, including Britannia so accommodation was tight and prices high. Chilworth Manor was much more reasonable so we decided to give it a try. Some of the reports on TripAdvisor and Trivago were pretty scathing so we wondered what we would encounter. As if happens we need not have worried as it was a very pleasant stay indeed and I would definitely go there again.
That was the good bit. We left CM and the satnav took us through Southampton instead of the way we always go along the M27 and know best. It was virtually a straight road in (A33) until we hit the centre and then we made a wrong turn, going left instead of right!! What a performance and something we didn't need after the drama with mother, now back at the home after a false alarm.
Anyway we managed to get to Mayflower and were soon onboard. We were sat having lunch when there was a tannoy call for me. What on earth could that be? I duly rang reception who said security had detected something sharp in my suitcase so I went back to the terminal. Apparently it was my Leatherman multi tool and because it had a locking blade had to be confiscated. I will be able to retrieve it on payment of £15 or so when it will be delivered by courier. Not the best of starts to a holiday.
Since then things have bucked up. The weather has been glorious with bright sunshine all the way. We booked the train in Flamm and that was a lovely ride through truly stunning scenery. At the large waterfall I managed to avoid the enticing gyrations of the damsel in the mist luring unsuspecting men to their deaths. From the deck of the ship Flamm reminded me of a model railway setup with its carefully manicured grassy areas, its stream, the bridge, the train station. What a beautiful spot!!!
Next up was Geiranger and the fjord down to it never fails to impress. However the pretty little village which was Geiranger is no more and for me has been spoilt by a huge campsite across the stream crammed with motor homes. The quaint piers have now been obscured by an extending walkway which stretches out into the fjord. Sadly commercialisation has, for me, destroyed the charm of this lovely little village.
Entertainment onboard has been good. I always enjoy relaxing after a meal with Headliners. How they remember all those routines is beyond me. There was a slight departure from their usual fare with a mini musical produced by Ruthie Henshall called 'Music Makes the World Go Around' which was a cross between Cabaret and Chicago and very enjoyable it was too. We also had a speaker onboard, Dr Tony Waltham who is as entertaining as he is knowledgeable. His speciality is geology. I just wish I had encountered somebody like him when doing 'O level' Geography. He showed one image of a curtain of fire where fissures had opened up leaving a crack in the earth's surface and liquid magma shooting out. He explained this was a phenomenon he would love to see but this photograph really annoyed him. "Look at it!!", said he. "And look at those three bloody women with their backs to it no doubt talking about the price of sugar in Tesco!!!" I must say he had a point.
And now the Arcadia pong. It seems the biggest problem they're having is with people putting Wet Wipes and paper down the toilet and clogging everything up. It seems the crew are forever having to trace the blockage and deal with it resulting in the odd smell of rotten cabbage and yet more notices in Horizon about what does go down the toilet and what doesn't. However there are plenty of carpet driers around so clearly they have a problem, one which they seemed to resolve later in the cruise.
And so on to Akureyri, a pleasant little town surrounded by snow capped mountains . After a misty night we arrived to bright sunshine. We decided to have a late breakfast after all those on tours had gone. It was a short walk into town which comprises an equally short shopping street. Prices were expensive although the quality of the knitted wear was excellent but £42 for a nice knitted hat did not appeal. Turn right at the end of the street and you will find the church. After a climb up the 112 or so steps you arrive at the front door of a church which for the most part of the day is closed. However the views back towards the ship made the climb worthwhile. After that we found very little else of interest so made our way back to the ship. By now the wind had got up so whilst it was nice and warm the wind made sitting out uncomfortable. It also delayed our departure as it was too strong to move away from the dock.
Entertainment that evening was a magician called Andy James. His first show had been rather uninspiring leading to one lady behind us uttering "Get on with it!" However we gave him a second chance and this show was much more entertaining.
Next morning we awoke to the overcast skies of Isafjordur. The day never really improved so we were grateful for the warm weather clothing we had brought with us. In all honesty there's not a lot to see apart from the old town with a few streets of mid and late 19th century houses which seemed to be clad and roofed in corrugated iron. The roads in this area were old and potholed and it seemed gardening and weed control came low down on their list of priorities although some houses were beautifully kept. Apart from these, fine views of the mountains and a good example of a hanging valley there's little else. Best take an excursion if you come.
Overnight we sailed to Reykjavik and were greeted by blue skies although there was mist on the mountain tops. We were on the Ring of Fire tour visiting Thingvellir National Park, a volcano, a Geo-thermal plant and a geyser. Sadly the mist never lifted so no view of a volcano. The last time we visited Thingvellir we walked through the escarpment and were told about the first Icelandic government. On this occasion we stayed at the viewing platform to view the escarpment from afar. The thermal springs and geyser were well worth the visit as was the lunch at Hotel Borealis, a rather rustic place more akin to a community centre than a hotel. However we had the most delicious spicy tomato soup with lovely breads followed by a buffet of cold meats, cheese and pickled herring together with accompanying pickles. It was probably the best mid day tour meal I have ever had. We arrived back in Reykjavik to sunshine although by now there was a very cool breeze.
We overnighted in Reykjavik and were blessed with another fine sunny day. There was a shuttle bus into town which was much like any other city with shops, coffee bars, restaurants. In the town centre there was a beautiful little lake surrounded by houses which gave a good opportunity for a photo stop. From here we could see the top of the cathedral so decided to cut through the residential area, easier said than done. How can you not find a cathedral of such magnitude but we managed it and got tangled up in little back streets, albeit some fine examples of Icelandic corrugated iron abodes. Ultimately we retraced our way back to the main road and meandered uphill. What an imposing building it is! And it was equally as impressive inside as outside with its simple lines. Satisfied we had seen everything we made our way back to the shuttle which was parked outside their concert hall, an attractive building clothed in glass of different colours.
We left Reykjavik in fine sunshine but by now the wind had increased and we experienced a couple of rocky Force 10 rocky days at sea on our way to Dublin. I must say Arcadia does handle rough seas well, so well in fact we overslept that morning and didn't stir until 9.00.
I lost five minutes of my life the other morning whilst the old dear in front of me at buffet breakfast chose a mushroom!!! I must confess to finding patience being a virtue a difficult concept to maintain. Holding doors for people, standing back to allow a wheelchair through, not pushing my way past those who are less mobile but manage to fill a corridor and never an acknowledgment or word of thanks is a true test of tolerance since it seems the words 'thank you ' are redundant to some people. Little rant over....... Thankfully manners amongst the majority do still exist.
The final port was Dublin which was a re-visit for us. This time we decided to have a trail down Grafton Street, the main shopping area. It was pleasant enough as shopping areas go with all the usual suspects, one or two upmarket fashion houses and the ladies' Mecca, M&S. From here we went to see the statue of Molly Malone, the tart with the cart. What is it with people that they feel the need to have their photograph taken by a statue? I mentioned patience being a virtue and this was another fine example where I had to bide my time to get the picture I, and others, wanted, free of those who felt a necessity to do all manner of unsavoury things to dear Mollie. We then walked on, over the River Liffey to the Famine Memorial, a group of statues portraying in graphic detail a sad period in Dublin's history when, in the mid 19th century a million people died and a million emigrated in the Great Famine. Thus the last of the big spenders, having bought two coffees and a newspaper, returned to the ship. It's a commercial port so the shuttle buses were a necessity. All on board we departed shortly after midnight.
Disembarkation was a better organised affair. We all assembled in the Meridian Restaurant and waited until directed by a member of the Ents team to leave in small groups which was a much more orderly than on previous cruises. Overall a very enjoyable cruise.......................and the problem with the pong seemed to have been resolved.

[GillD46]

Sounds a good trip overall. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Dancing Queen]

Great review Foxy, disappointed to hear about Geiranger it has always been a favourite of ours, I guess a lovely spot though for those who enjoy camping.

[david63]

That was the good bit. We left CM and the satnav took us through Southampton instead of the way we always go along the M27 and know best.

If going from Mayflower it is far easier to use Dock Gate 20 (not sure of the post code at the moment) - you don't go anywhere near the centre of Soton.

ecurity had detected something sharp in my suitcase so I went back to the terminal. Apparently it was my Leatherman multi tool and because it had a locking blade had to be confiscated.

Been there, done that, got that t-shirt. What seems to completely get overlooked is that there are several thousand "fixed blade" knives on board the ship, so what difference does one more make?

[qbman1]

The final port was Dublin which was a re-visit for us. This time we decided to have a trail down Grafton Street, the main shopping area. It was pleasant enough as shopping areas go with all the usual suspects, one or two upmarket fashion houses and the ladies' Mecca, M&S. From here we went to see the statue of Molly Malone, the tart with the cart. What is it with people that they feel the need to have their photograph taken by a statue? I mentioned patience being a virtue and this was another fine example where I had to bide my time to get the picture I, and others, wanted, free of those who felt a necessity to do all manner of unsavoury things to dear Mollie. We then walked on, over the River Liffey to the Famine Memorial, a group of statues portraying in graphic detail a sad period in Dublin's history when, in the mid 19th century a million people died and a million emigrated in the Great Famine. Thus the last of the big spenders, having bought two coffees and a newspaper, returned to the ship. It's a commercial port so the shuttle buses were a necessity. All on board we departed shortly after midnight.
Disembarkation was a better organised affair. We all assembled in the Meridian Restaurant and waited until directed by a member of the Ents team to leave in small groups which was a much more orderly than on previous cruises. Overall a very enjoyable cruise.......................and the problem with the pong seemed to have been resolved.

You should go in on Adonia - as she's so small, she can get right up the river and park by the dock gate so we were able to walk all the way back to her along the Liffey from the city centre. There was a massive Calamity behemoth in port that day and they had to use the shuttles.

[Stephen]

Chilworth Manor

Stayed there a couple of times. Service hit and miss and cooked breakfast not the hottest. Prices are good with Trivago currently offering the best deal of £90 per room per night with breakfast included. These will be the basic rooms attached and not in the manor house. They do also offer park and cruise stays.

https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/be ... ent=textad

http://www.chilworthmanor-guests.co.uk/ ... ruise.html

https://www.trivago.co.uk/?aDateRange%5 ... emap=false&

[Kenmo1]

I lost five minutes of my life the other morning whilst the old dear in front of me at buffet breakfast chose a mushroom!!! I

Loved that remark - it made me laugh out loud at the thought.

My memory of Isafjordur is dandelions everywhere.

Thanks for bringing back good memories. I like visiting Iceland.

Maureen

[Gill W]

Thanks for your review, Foxy.

Brought bank memories of Iceland and Dublin. We haven't yet been to Flamm, which is a place I'd like to go to. What a shame about Geiranger, it was a lovely place.

[oldbluefox]

Chilworth Manor

Stayed there a couple of times. Service hit and miss and cooked breakfast not the hottest. Prices are good with Trivago currently offering the best deal of £90 per room per night with breakfast included. These will be the basic rooms attached and not in the manor house. They do also offer park and cruise stays.

We just had the continental breakfast, partly because the cooked breakfast was quite pricey and also because I didn't feel like a big breakfast anyway. However the restaurant manager showed us to our seats and whispered if I wanted a bacon sandwich he wouldn't be looking!!!!

[oldbluefox]

Been there, done that, got that t-shirt. What seems to completely get overlooked is that there are several thousand "fixed blade" knives on board the ship, so what difference does one more make?

Absolutely David. It doesn't make sense at all unless they think some old age pensioner with a penknife is going to run amok!!!
Neither could I understand why it could not be held at Southampton and returned at the end of the cruise. When I looked at the list of miscreants there were only about eight of us so it's not as though it's a mammoth operation. Very few had actually taken up the offer of wanting them returned so I wonder if it's a lucrative trade in Leatherman knives if you know the right people. I wonder what happens to those which are left and not re-claimed. Surprised actually as they are not cheap. Possibly the cost of returning them was more than they were worth.

[Manoverboard]

Don't get stuck behind me in the breakfast queue, I like lots of mushrooms not just the one.

Welcome back and thanks for the report

[oldbluefox]

I lost five minutes of my life the other morning whilst the old dear in front of me at buffet breakfast chose a mushroom!!! I

Loved that remark - it made me laugh out loud at the thought.

It must be common place Maureen. My wife got caught up on disembarkation day by a chap choosing a sausage!!!! Apparently he picked up several of them, examined them carefully before choosing one. I told her it's not as good as my lady with the mushroom.

[Boris+]

I lost five minutes of my life the other morning whilst the old dear in front of me at buffet breakfast chose a mushroom!!! I

Loved that remark - it made me laugh out loud at the thought.

My memory of Isafjordur is dandelions everywhere.

Thanks for bringing back good memories. I like visiting Iceland.

Maureen

My memory of Isafjordur is loads of ice, snow and blowing a gale.

[Quizzical Bob]

Thanks for the revue, Foxy. I see that the pong disappeared on the day you disembarked. Just saying, like....

[oldbluefox]

Thanks for the revue, Foxy. I see that the pong disappeared on the day you disembarked. Just saying, like....

[qbman1]

Is a change of name to "Old Brown Fox" on the cards ?!

[CaroleF]

It sounds an interesting trip and one we'd probably think of doing at some point. Your tales of the buffet underline why I hate going in there, especially at breakfast. Also the fact that the coffee is dire but then it is most places on the ship apart from the Costa outlets. I don't know if Adonia ever does a similar trip but it would be interesting to do it on her. Glad you had a good time, sorry about the knife.

[qbman1]

It sounds an interesting trip and one we'd probably think of doing at some point. Your tales of the buffet underline why I hate going in there, especially at breakfast. Also the fact that the coffee is dire but then it is most places on the ship apart from the Costa outlets. I don't know if Adonia ever does a similar trip but it would be interesting to do it on her. Glad you had a good time, sorry about the knife.

She's doing a North Cape one next June, Carole

[barney]

I'll admit that I've only ever cruised south, but it does appeal as long as the weather is ok.
I don't do cold.
I went to Leeds once to watch football.
I got a nose bleed just past Watford Gap.

Excellent review Bro.

[CaroleF]

North Cape sounds interesting. Thank you for that, I'll have a look.

Carole

[oldbluefox]

I preferred Svalbard/Spitzbergen myself Carole. We went to Ny Alesund which was a fascinating place even though it was small but was a wonderful experience. However I do believe Adonia is going that way, this time to Longyearbyen and Honningsvag via the lovely Lofoted Islands so you will be able to judge for yourself. I haven't been to Longyearbyen but loved Ny Alesund, even though it was b***y cold despite having all my warm clothing on. Honningsvag was small and insignificant but a good experience sailing past North Cape and realising just how far north you are.

[oldbluefox]

One of the beauties of going to places like Norway and Iceland is in getting back home and thinking how cheap everything is!!!

[Boris+]

We've been to Iceland a couple of times now (and can't wait to return). When we are there we don't behave like tourists - and we don't find Iceland that expensive.

[oldbluefox]

£10 to £15 for a beer, £42 for a knitted hat? That's what I call expensive. Whilst away i read an article in Travel magazine which said Reykjavik was the most expensive city in the world for hotels. Maybe Iceland is not expensive if you've got plenty but in my book those prices are expensive.
Btw how do tourists behave?

[Boris+]

Cruising..... we don't buy beer etc when going ashore, and if the souvenir costs a bit more than we pay at home, that is ok. Mainly on our other trips 'up north' we live like the locals, we shop where they shop, and in all honesty it is not so bad. We've had great fun learning to do things their way, and they make the UK look 'backward'. Can't wait to return, the colder the better. Bring it on.