Our Norway Adventure planned by Real Cruises

Our Norway Adventure

Planned by Real Cruises

March 9th, 10th 2010 - Depart LAX-London-Heathrow (LHR)

• Depart LAX Virgin Atlantic
• From Heathrow you catch the Heathrow Express which is a high speed non-stop train to Paddington station which in the heart of London city. Then to catch a black cab from the station to the Hotel which will be around 10 to 15 minutes and its also a good way to se a little as you drive to the hotel.
• Arrive at The Ruben's at the Palace.   
  
• Tour London as long as we hold up !  Starting with this.....  Big Bus and River Tours  and cruise the River Thames
  
• Ask Concierge at hotel as to the best way to get to the airport in the AM
  

March 11th, 2010 London to Oslo

• Depart London -  on SAS  arriving Oslo at 10:25
  
  
  
  
• Catch up with Jason and the gang

March 11, 2010 – Oslo

·       Motorcoach City Tour of Oslo

o       Tour will meet at 12:00 Noon at SAS Airline Ticketing area. 

o       Please get something to eat prior to the tour as it is 3 hours and we won’t have time for a lunch break.

o       Tour will include visits to Viking Ship Museum, Vigeland Park, and Holmenkollen.

o       For those who are arriving into Oslo early, we will pick you up at the Clarion Bastion Hotel to join the tour.

·       Check-In at Clarion Bastion Hotel – Oslo

o       From 3-6 PM you can make your own waffles

o       Every evening they offer an evening buffet with one warm dish from 6-9 PM

·       Evening on your own

March 12, 2010 – Oslo to Kirkenes

·       Motorcoach Pickup at Hotel to Oslo Airport at 6:30 AM SHARP

·       Flight from Oslo to Kirkenes      Departs 08:55  Arrives Kirkenes  11:05

·       Transfer from Kirkenes Airport to Rica Arctic Hotel

·       Pickup for Snow Hotel Visit, Dog Sledding and Dinner 4:00 PM

o       Tour will last 5-6 hours. Dress warm. Facility will provide gear for dog sledding.

Dinner consists of:

Starter:  reindeer sausage, grilled, served with LUMPE ( typical Norwegian “potato pancake”

             Maincourse: Salmon and cod prepared by open fire, baked potato

            Dessert: Ice cream, forest berries

They also have a Vegetarian Steak for those who would prefer non meat

March 13, 2010 – Sailing on MS Midnatsol

·       Breakfast at Rica Arctic Hotel

·       Transfer to Pier at 10:00 AM

·       Board MS Midnatsol                               

                          Day 1 Kirkenes-Vardo-Batsfjord-Berlevag

                                Depart Kirkenes for the southbound voyage.  Crossing Varangerfjord, Norway's only east-facing fjord and a fabled bird-watching site, you'll arrive in Vardo, the easternmost point of the country.
                          Next the ship will round the Varanger peninsula, where archaeologists excavated a community believed to date from 9000 BC.
                          In the evening, the ship calls at Batsfjord, which also boasts the remains of a Stone Age settlement, and Berlevag. Look out for the Tanahorn mountain, which long ago was a Sami sacrifice site.

                                Rest of the evening on your own    I think we will be spending a lot of time in the 2 deck Panoramic Lounge  

March 14, 2010 – Sailing on MS Midnatsol

                        Day 2 Honningsvag-Havoysund- Hammerfest-Oksfjord-Skjervoy-Tromso   

                            The ship arrives at Honningsvag in the early morning. After calling at Havoysund, she will stop for 1 1/2 hours in Hammerfest, the world's most northerly town.
                            Despite its remote location, it was the first Norwegian town to have electric street lighting and its own power station.

                            Your Norwegian cruise continues south to Oksfjord, whose glacier calves directly into the sea. After crossing open water, you will stop at the old trading post of Skjervoy.
                            You'll dock in Tromso just in time to savor its nightlife.

                        ·       Mandatory US Agents 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Mane AMFI Conference Room

·       Cocktail party 5:00 PM Panoramic Lounge.  

        Cocktail Party is Mandatory!

  

March 15, 2010 – Sailing on MS Midnatsol

       

                 Day 3 Harstad-Risoyhamn-Sortland- Stokmarknes-Svolvaer-Stamsund

                        The island groups of Lofoten and Vesteralen have some of the most stunning scenery you will see during this Norway travel adventure.·      

                        A Taste of Vesteralen Tour – 8:00 AM

                        Before your arrival, you'll see the captain skillfully maneuver the ship through the shallow waters of the Risoyrenna Channel, where sand banks are visible through the green water on both sides of the                            channel. The ship will negotiate the narrow Raftsund Strait leading into the breathtaking Trollfjord, before arriving in Svolvaer and Stamsund. Later, the ship heads east across Vestfjord toward Bodo.

                    ·       Group Workshop – Valhall Amfi Conference Room 2:00 PM

March 16, 2010 – Sailing MS Midnatsol

                Day 4 Ornes-Nesna-Sandnessjoen- Bronnoysund-Rorvik

                    From Ornes, you'll travel through crystalline waters, filled with spawning cod from January to April, and go by lush agricultural fields.   

                    Nearly every towering peak you'll see is associated with a local legend. Crossing the Arctic Circle once again, you'll pass the idyllic island of Sandnessjoen.  

                     On the approach to Bronnoysund, which you reach this afternoon, you'll spy the mythical Seven Sisters Mountains.

                    Make sure you're on deck when the ship departs Bronnoysund-you'll be impressed by the captain's steady hand! Today's last port of call will be Rorvik.

·       Rest of Day on your own

March 17, 2010 – Sailing MS Midnatsol

                Day 5 Trondheim-Kristiansund-Molde-Alesund

                    Arrive in Trondheim early, with time to visit Norway's largest medieval church, Nidaros Cathedral, and the restored Archbishop's Residence.
                   

·       City Tour of Trondheim – 8:00 AM SHARP    

                    You'll then sail out through the beautiful Trondheimsfjord, past Hitra, island of deer, and lonely Grip.
                    At day's end, you'll call at Molde, before arriving in Alesund late in the evening in time for a stroll on shore.

March 18, 2010 – Arrival Begen 

                 Day 6 Torvik-Maloy-Floro-Bergen

                    During the night, the ship will call at Torvik, Maloy, and Floro. The World's Most Beautiful Voyage is drawing to a close.

                    Yet still ahead lies mile after mile of spectacular west Norway scenery: holly trees on Svanoy, the mouth of Sognefjord, and the beautiful archipelago on the approach to Bergen.
                    You will disembark in Bergen.

·       Arrival into Bergen – 2:30 PM

·       City  Tour of Bergen – 3:00 PM     

·       Evening on your own

        Spend the night at The Neptun Hotel

March 19, 2010 – Spend the day touring Bergen

            Spend 2nd night at the Neptun Hotel

March 20, 2010 - Bergen to Flam

• Board the train to Flam 08:40 For Norway in a Nutshell Tour
  
  
  
  
  
  
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One-way trip from Bergen to Oslo
Travel direction Bergen-Voss-Gudvangen- Flåm-Myrdal-Bergen	13.12.09- 30.04.10 D
	Day  1
Train from Bergen	08:40
To Voss	09:53
Bus from Voss	10:00
To Gudvangen	11:00
Boat from Gudvangen	11:30
To Flåm	13:40
	Day 2
Train from Flåm	09:00
To Myrdal	09:40
Train from Myrdal	09:50 R
To Oslo	14:32

The Bergen Railway is the approximately 500-kilometre-long railway line between Bergen and Oslo. It is Northern Europe's highest stretch of railway, roughly 100 km of which runs through wild mountain terrain.
The twisting tunnels that spiral in and out of the mountain bear witness to the most daring and skilled engineering in Norwegian railway history.

The Flåm Railway is one of Norway's major and most spectacular tourist attractions. The train journey provides some of Norway's wildest and most magnificent scenery. On the 20 km-long train ride, you can see rivers that cut through deep ravines, waterfalls cascading down the side of steep, snow-capped mountains and mountain farms clinging dizzily to sheer slopes. The Flåm Railway makes a photo stop at the beautiful Kjosfossen waterfall.

                    Arrive at Flamsbrygga hotel

March 21, 2010  Flam to Oslo

• Continue our train journey from Flam to Oslo via Myrdal
  
  
  
  

• Arrive Clarion Hotel Christiania in Oslo   spend the afternoon with seeing Oslo a little more.  Shopping anyone?
  
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• Our last night in Norway...................  :-(

March 22, 2010  Oslo to London, London to LAX

• SAS Departs 07:55  arrives London 09:25
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• Virgin Atlantic  Departs London 11:25  arrives LAX 15:55

        Through customs, pick up car, 2 hour drive home.     Hug Loved Ones.....Talk for 2 hours, collapse...........................................