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Trip Planning
I have wanted for years, to see the fijords and glaciers of Norway. Hopefully I will be able to fulfill a dream of my travels! Here I am at the Serrano Glacier, one of only two I have been to in 1999 at the tip of South America. It was on a cruise on the M/V Terra Australis from Punta Arenas Chile to Ushuaia Argentina on the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel around the island of Tierra del Fuego. Ending up in Argentina and Patagonia! Ushuaia Argentina is the farthest south of any city in the world and I have been there!
Here I am on an Alaskan Cruise looking the Hubbard Glacier from the my cabin balcony in 2012. This was the third glacier I had ever seen. I saw two other glaciers in South America, Chile!
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| 1999 - The Serrano Glacier at the tip of South America! |
A diploma stating I had completed the cruise both ways on the Strait of Magellan! |
2012 - Alaska Hubbard Glacier |
My traveling companion Virginia, for the last 12 years, cannot travel anymore since our last trip for my 84th birthday on a cruise along the eastern side of Australia. I received an email from Cunard on their newer ship, the Queen Mary II, and there was a good price for a cruise to various ports of call for a single traveler in Norway. Virginia and I traveled on the Queen Mary II across the Atlantic to New York one time!
A World Map Of Places I have Visited
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Countries I have Visited
So far all the continents except Antartica - Also need to go to Japan, Thaiti and some other places!
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Cunard Norway Confirmation Cruise & Payments
I received all the documents needed to travel to London and then pay for the shuttle to the ship and the cruise on the Queen Mary 2 plus tours.
....................... Cunard Confirmation Cruise Documents & Payments ........................
COVID & Flu Vaccinations - 09.24.2024
I was surprised when I went to the VA Hospital for my annual flu vaccination and the updated COVID vaccination. This is my seventh COVID vaccination!
Overview of the Queen Mary II
RMS Queen Mary II (also referred to as the QM2) is a transatlantic ocean liner.
She is the largest passenger ship built for the Cunard Line since Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1969, the vessel she succeeded as flagship of the line.
The new ship was named Queen Mary II by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004 after the first RMS Queen Mary of 1936. Queen Mary was in turn named after Mary of Teck, consort of King George V.
With the retirement of Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2008, Queen Mary II is the only transatlantic ocean liner in line service between Southampton, England, and New York City, United States, operating for a part of each year.
The ship is also used for cruising, including an annual world cruise.
Check out the Chart Room, an updated cocktail lounge. I think I may have to try this out!
Queen Mary 2 Chart Room
Check out all you need to know about the Queen Mary 2.
....................... Queen Mary II Overview ........................
Water Ways I have Traveled On or Near the North Sea
While writing this blog I was surprised as to how many water ways I have cruised on, ships and river boats around the North Sea over the years! I also did boat rides on the Thames in London and the Seine in Paris, the Amstel River in Amsterdam, plus the Rhine River from Switzerland and along the coast of Germany, ending up in Amsterdam.
Key Cards From Ships I have Traveled On
Here are some of the key cards from the ships that I have sailed on in the last few years. I finally found the room key card from my cruise on the Queen Mary 2 when we did a TransAtlantic cruise from Southampton to New York City. Even the first cruise I took in 1961 on a Windjammer yacht in the Caribbean.
Oceans Seas Lakes Straits Rivers Bays Gulfs I Have Traveled On
I was surprised as to how many ways I have traveled on various water ways! Even the Volga River from St. Petersburg to Mosow!
Queen Mary II - TransAtlantic Cruise - 2019
RMS
In 2019 Virginia and I went to Ireland and did a bus tour around the entire island.
We then went to Scotland and did another bus tour around the entire country, ending up in Glascow. We also visited Hadrian's Wall in northern England.
We then flew from Glosgow to Southampton and boarded the Queen Mary II for a transatlanic cruise to New York.
We had a wonderful time and I am looking forward to traveling on the ship for a second time!
Note:
She gave me an updated code to use when accessing the website. 855 325 7381 Am I now, a "Silver Tier" passenger!
History of the Norway Flag
According to a legend told in Andrew Evans's Norway, a red cloth with a white cross fell from heaven to point out the Danish victory at the Battle of Valdemar in the
The civilian flag of Norway has been used as an unofficial symbol since 1913. The flag was officially adopted on June 19, 1915, to represent Norway, and has been used in international seas since 1 December 1918, when Norway became a separate kingdom in the family of Scandinavian countries. Other symbolic signs and colors in the flag indicate the natural characteristics of Norway.
From 1350 onwards, Norway began to use the coat of arms of a stockfish crowned on the red ground. It was combined with the coat of arms of the Danish kings and was thus part of the Danish Royal standard until this century. At the same time, the Greek royal family was closely related to Denmark, and the rigging was also part of the Greek Royal Flag.
In 1897, an unofficial flag was made with a white cross on a blue field, and this flag became popular until at least the current flag appeared in 1915. Although it was the flag of the Scandinavian cross, it was very similar to the Greek flag, and therefore did not receive official approval.
Overview of Norway
The history of Norway has been influenced to an extraordinary degree by the terrain and the climate of the region. About 10,000 BC, following the retreat inland of the great ice sheets, the earliest inhabitants migrated north into the territory which is now Norway. They traveled steadily northwards along the coastal areas, warmed by the Gulf Stream. They were hunter-gatherers whose diet included seafood and game, particularly reindeer as staple foods. Between 5,000 BC and 4,000 BC the earliest agricultural settlements appeared around the Oslofjord. Gradually, between 1,500 BC and 500 BC, agricultural settlements spread to the entire south Norway, while the inhabitants of the regions north of Trøndelag continued to hunt and fish.
....................... Norway History Overview ........................
Norway Money - Kroner
Norway, like Iceland, does not use or accept Euros, Norway isn't part of the European Union. We always recommend paying for everything using Kroners, regardless of wether or not other currencies are accepted. You will only be able to pay with an Norway money or debit/credit card at most places.
For some reason I didn't read up on Norway monies and went to the bank and got Euros. Back home and I did a search and found out they do not use US Dollars or Euros. I thought this was very strange.
Queen Mary 2 - Electrical Outlets
The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship has both 110V and 220V electrical outlets, as well as UK 3-pin and US 2-pin sockets.
You can find a three pin socket next to a two pin socket.
Some recommend bringing an adapter and a multiple socket to plug more than one device at a time.
Airline Reservations - United to Heathrow - Heathrow to San Francisco
The airline reservations will be made by Cunard when I access their website. They indicate you can only make reservations 310 days or at least 4 days before the trip but do not guarentee the flights across the Atlantic. 1 (800) 728 6273. The help line person was wonderful, so helpful and pleasant.
I decided to call about my seat assignment. I wanted an aisle seat as it is harder for me to get up and especially with a bandaged ankle due to surgery. Also over a ten hour flight as far as the bathroom is concerned. It is a 777 airplane and the clerk was so helpful. He laughed and said, "You are booked on seat assignment 47C so you are already on an aisle seat. He also said I didn't have my FF # attached to my reservation so he would do that also. Again, so helpful!
Doubletree by Hilton - Victoria - April 5th & 6th - Transfer to Ship
The airline reservations will be made by Cunard when I access their website. They indicate you can only make reservations 310 days or at least 4 days before the trip but do not guarentee the flights across the Atlantic. 1 (800) 728 6273. The help line person was wonderful, so helpful and pleasant.
Calling Cunard for Help in Transfers - March 7, 2025
I had just come back from Iceland for my 85th birthday and suddenly was worried about this trip. I am flying into Heathrow Airport in England a day early and will go to the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel and then to the ship the next day. I had paid for a transfer of $90.00 but I wondered if it was from the airport. How would I get to the hotel and then back to the airport to get to Southampton.
I had called Cunard over two months ago to make airline and hotel reservations and they were so helpful. I called today, March 7th, 2025 and received the same help. Pleasant as could be. The woman said not to worry. They will pick me up at the airport and take me to the hotel. The next day they will pick me up at the hotel and take me to Southampton. I must say, Cunard is the best as far as service goes. I will see how things go when I get to the airport.
London to Southampton & Boarding the Queen Mary II - April 06, 2025
Heathrow Airport London $90.00 Transfer to the Ship
Queen Mary 2 - Boarding Requirments - April 06, 2025
At Sea - April 07, 2025
Sailing to Norway Southampton to Stavanger
Stavanger - April 08, 2025
April 08, 2025 - 9:30 a.m. Departure - Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock
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Alesund - April 09, 2025
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Olden - April 10, 2025
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Innvikfjorden - April 10, 2025
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Nordfjord - April 10, 2025
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Bergen - April 11, 2025
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At Sea - April 12, 2025
Return to Southampton From Bergen Norway
Southampton to Heathrow Airport - April 13, 2025
$90.00 Transferr to Heathrow Heathrow Airport London
Chuck's View of San Francisco - April 14, 2025
Back home and my fantastic view of San Francisco from my apartment on the 28th floor of the Fox Plaza Apartments!
Created
on 2021.11.04
referred to as the QM2) is a transatlantic ocean liner.
13th century. Denmark later used the cross of the flag of Scandinavia as a sign of a divine right. Norway, on the other hand, continued to use the Christian symbol after independence.
Updated on
2025.03.26