This page will show the start of the cruise and the stops in Oslo, Norway and Runavik, Faroe Islands.
We'll take a car north to IJmuiden. Our host in the apartment can arrange that. We'll have to balance the time between our need to vacate the apartment and arriving too early to board. One of those things to be solved when it comes up.
Well after confirming the trip we received an offer by email to upgrade our cabin for a nominal fee. We jumped on it, just to see what luxuries are afforded in Neptune Suites. We'll comment on them as we go. One perk it gives us is preferred boarding. Pictures later.
We'll get accustomed to this ship - it shouldn't be hard since we've cruised several times on her sister ship Oosterdam. Zuiderdam can accommodate just under 2,000 passengers - not too big.
20240610 at sea to Oslo
Today, we'll cruise over the wrecks of ships sunk in the greatest gunnery battle in history (Jutland) on our sea day en route to Oslo. The locations of the 25 wrecks are shown here. Ten thousand men died in these waters that day.
20240611 Oslo
It's a brief stop, only 0700-1500, so we'll tour selectively. We've selected Oslo Highlights which includes Vigeland, a huge setting of statuary never explained by the sculptor. Some 1,200 statutes of varying sizes, all showing some milestone or event in the lives of humans.
Our tour will go on through the town to see the notable or historic locations. And perhaps we can find a pub near the terminal for a good Scandinavian beer.
More here … when we do it
We moor in the harbor at Runavik (upper right in picture) for shelter in the variable weather of the Faroes.
We're told the population of the Faroes (all 18 islands, two uninhabited) is 56,000 people and 70,000 sheep. Maybe more. Sheep, that is. The Faroes is a part of Denmark.
I'm concerned the 2,000+ persons onboard will overwhelm the town.
We are warned against eating in town - the natives eat a dish made of sheep's brains and another of fermented dried cod ("lutefisk" in Sweden). Trust me, we will avoid it. There must be something more usual and a beer - after all this is a Viking port.
We're on a tour called Torshavn, (very inventive, eh?) to see the sites.
