Well the Anticipation has been finally realised after an initial stressful 24 hours!
SAS decided to leave the checked bags of half of their passengers in Dublin including mine, so my initial impression of Norway was not very positive! This stress has now faded however as the majesty and remoteness of this truly wonderful environment has calmed me down considerably! As I walked along a beach beside the Arctic Ocean just a few hours ago, looking at Glaciers thousands of years old and hundreds of metres high, the concern of not having my favorite fashion with me, faded into insignificance!!!
I will also give Oslo a second chance when I return there next week and will let you know of my impressions!
On arrival on Monday evening in the Hotel in Oslo I met some of my travelling companions. Mainly White, middle aged, well travelled and very articulate! Ones’ typical A,B1, B2’s. 180 passengers on the ship from the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Many Scandanavians and a handful from South Africa. The majority are regular cruisers, but a few Virgin Cruisers, like myself. ( Silverseas pet name for us first timers! ) Quite a number of solo travellers, both male and female and everyone very jolly and friendly. Stories of previous cruises abound, with subtle points being scored..” Oh, you only did the 32 day one, we did the 48 day one”. You get the picture!!!
An ancient 757-200 eventually got us here in Tuesday morning after being on the tarmac in Oslo for 90 minutes as we were told ” There’s a light on in the control panel and we are trying to turn it off….” Information overload for me, but the Bloody Marys and Prosecco that were served while we waited ( 08.30) patiently helped while away the time! I sat beside two sisters from Sweden, charming company, who like myself, were visiting Svalbard for the first time. One of them told me of her Round the World cruise of 4 months in 2020, which was curtailed by the arrival of Covid after their departure, necessitating them spending 6 weeks at sea, as they were not allowed dock anywhere, while the World came to terms with this new mysterious virus.
Towards the end of this three hour flight, the clouds parted, and we caught a glimpse of the Barents Sea- finally we were within the Arctic Circle! We could see snow covered mountains and Glaciers stretching for miles over towards Russia and the Steppes! Excitement was mounting!
We landed in Longyearbyen the northernmost settlement in the world! 78/15 N. Population 2,100, slightly less than the Polar Bear population in Svalbard! Signs all around the town show Polar Bears, which means “Be careful,”! There are research stations further North , but no communities.
We spent a couple of hours here in the town, as the Ship had 6 hours to be sanitized after the previous guests departed. There was an interesting Musueum and a number of Specialised Expedition shops selling just about anything one might need in line of apparel and equipment. There was a fur shop also, but I passed on that as I needed some basics from the supermarket and everything is SO expensive!! Here’s hoping SAS will reimburse me!
While in the town, I meet a charming young man from Enniskerry, who has just completed a Wildfife Guiding course of 9 months and is now working with a local Tour Operator. He so very kindly offered to help me with SAS but to no avail. So great to meet such fab young adventurous Irish people in remote areas of the world.
So eventally 48 hours after leaving home I am escorted to my Suite on board and meet my attentiondent John and my Butler Rhodec, both from Phillipines.! Life in Grove Lawn will never be the same again!!
.
Answering the call to the Artic 