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!

Serrano Glacier Diploma Alaska Hubbert Glacier!

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!




   Places I have Visited Along the Way


World Map

So far all the continents except Antartica - Also need to go to Japan, Thaiti and some other places!

  1. Australia
  2. Canada
  3. Mexico
  4. Nicaragua
  5. Guatemala
  6. Costa Rico
  7. Panama
  8. Peru
  9. Chile
  10. Argentina
  11. Uruguay
  12. Brazil
  13. Columbia
  14. Puerto Rico
  15. Bahamas
  16. Jamaica
  17. St. Kitts
  18. St. Maarten
  1. Dominican Republic
  2. Ireland
  3. Scotland
  4. England
  5. Finland
  6. Russia
  7. Germany
  8. Netherlands
  9. St. Kitts
  10. Switzerland
  11. Portugal
  12. Spain
  13. Italy
  14. France
  15. Austria
  16. Hungary
  17. Turkey
  18. Jordan
  1. Egypt
  2. Algeria
  3. Morocco
  4. Zambia
  5. South Africa
  6. United Arab Emirates
  7. Oman
  8. India
  9. Sri Lanka
  10. Cambodia
  11. Thailand
  12. China
  13. Fiji
  14. Singapore
  15. Indonesia
  16. New Zealand
  17. United States
  18. Iceland - 2025
  19. Norway - 2025




   Cunard Norway Confirmation Cruise


Norway Trip

Page 1 - Booking Summary

Norway  Tour

Page 2 - Booking Summary


Norway Trip

Page 1 - Booking Hotel & Flight

Norway  Tour

Page 2 - Booking Hotel & Flight






   Cunard Norway Payments and Cunard Care Insurance


I called the help desk a second time at (800) 728 6273 to make a parcial payment and also ask about the insrance plan. I had trouble with the Cunard website and the help line person was wonderful, so helpful and pleasant. I wondered about the Cunard Care Insurance and was told it was only $160.00 to cover the cost if I became ill or in an accident. Many trips the insurance has been around $500.00. Of course I instantly said "Yes" and the personnel laughed as to my fast response. So, the only thing left to do as far as I am concered is making the last payment in December.

Norway Trip

Page 1 - Booking Summary

Norway  Tour

Page 2 - Payment of $446.00 & Cunard Care


Norway Trip

Page 3 - Second Payment - $2,000.00

Norway  Tour

Page 4 - Final Payment





   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!

COVID & Flu Vaccinations




   Overview of the Queen Mary II

RMS Queen Mary II (also Queen Mary II! 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 updated cocktail lounge. I think I may have to try this out!


Queen Mary II Chart Room

Chart Room



Queen Mary II!

Kings Court - Buffet



Queen Mary II!

Britannia Restaurant - First Seating


....................... 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.

Water Ways I have Traveled On




   Various Water Ways 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. I was surprised as to how many ways I have traveled on various water ways! Even the Volga River from St. Petersburg to Mosow!

  1. 1947 - Buntjer's Farm - Rock River - Row Boat - Pecatonica Illinois
  2. 1961 - Bahamas - Great Bahama Bank -Windjammer Cruises
  3. 1970 - San Francisco - San Francisco Bay - Ferry - Angel Island
  4. 1982 - Fiji - Koro Sea - Ferry - Suva to Labasa
  5. 1984 - Italy - The Grand Canal - Gondola Tour - Venice
  6. 1986 - England - Thames River - London
  7. 1986 - England - English Channel - Hover Craft Ferry - to Calais
  8. 1986 - France - Siene River - Paris
  9. 1989 - Thailand - Chao Phraya River - to Ayutthaya
  10. 1989 - Thailand - Andaman Sea - to Pucket
  11. 1992 - Hong Kong - South China Sea - Sea Link Ferries - to Macau
  12. 1992 - Egypt - Nile River - Queen of Sheba - Luxor to Aswan
  13. 1992 - Egypt - Lake Nasser - Tour Boat - Aswan to Temple of Philea
  14. 1994 - Brazil - Amazon River - Rio Amazonas Boat - to Peru
  15. 1996 - Russia - Lake Ladoga - M/S RUSS - St. Petersberg to Kizhi
  16. 1996 - Russia - Volga River - M/S RUSS - Kizhi to Moscow
  17. 1996 - Russia - Moscovy River - Tour Boat - Moscow
  18. 1997 - China - Yangtze River - Wuhan to Chongquin
  19. 1999 - Chile - Strait of Magellen - Terra Australis - to Argentina
  20. 1999 - Argentina - Drake Passage - Terra Australis - to Ushuaia
  21. 2000 - California - American River - Water Rafting
  22. 2002 - Hawaii - Mamala Bay - Mamala Bay Cruise - Honolulu
  23. 2002 - Hawaii - Pearl Harbor - Pearl Harbor Cruise - Honolulu
  24. 2003 - Guatamala - Lake Atillan - to Santiago Atitlan
  25. 2004 - Turkey - Bosphorus Strait - Boat Tour - Istanbul
  26. 2004 - Netherlands - North Sea - River Countess - to Hoorn
  27. 2004 - Netherlands - Amstel River - River Countess - Amsterdam
  28. 2005 - Louisiana - Mississippi River - Paddle Wheel Boat
  29. 2006 - Zambia - Zambezi River - Boat Tour - to Victoria Falls
  30. 2007 - Vietnam - Ha Long Bay - Junk Cruise - Quang Ninh
  1. 2007 - Vietnam - Red River - Boat Tour - Hanoi
  2. 2007 - Vietnam - Mekong River - Boat Tour - Ho Chi Minh City
  3. 2008 - Peru - San Juan River - Private Boat - to Nicaragua
  4. 2008 - Nicaragua - Lake Nicaragua - Ferry - to the Island of Ometepe
  5. 2009 - San Diego - San Diego Bay - Lord Hornblower - San Diego Bay Cruise
  6. 2009 - San Diego - Sea of Cortez - Carnival Elation - to Cabo San Lucas
  7. 2009 - Brazil - Iguacu Falls - River Rafting - to Argentina
  8. 2009 - Argentina - Rio de la Plata River - Buquebus - to Uruguay
  9. 2011 - Panama - Gatun Lake - Panama Canal - to Gamboa
  10. 2012 - Alaska - Gulf of Alaska - Sapphire Princess - to Vancouver
  11. 2013 - San Francisco - San Francisco Bay - Alcatraz Tours - to Alcatraz
  12. 2013 - New Zealand - Pomare Bay - Russell to Paihia
  13. 2014 - San Francisco - Gulf of the Farallones - Bay Tours - to Farallones
  14. 2015 - Jamaica - Caribbean Sea - Contellation Epic - to Miami
  15. 2015 - Portugal - Porto River - Private Boat Tour - Porto
  16. 2017 - Singapore - Singapore Strait - MS Volendam - to Indonesia
  17. 2017 - Indonesia - Java Sea - MS Volendam - to Bali
  18. 2018 - Sardinia - Mediteranian Sea - Viking Star - Rome to Spain
  19. 2018 - Germany - Rhine River - Viking Alruna - to Netherlands
  20. 2019 - Jordan - Dead Sea - Five Star Mariotte Hotel
  21. 2019 - England - Atlantic Ocean - Queen Mary 2 - to New York
  22. 2020 - United Arab Emerites - Dubai Creek - Ferry - Dubai
  23. 2020 - Dubai - Persian Gulf - Celebrity Constellation - to Sri Lanka
  24. 2021 - Malta - Sea of Crete - Vikiing Sea - to Crete & Rhodes & Santorini
  25. 2022 - Spain - Mediteranian Sea - Celebrity Beyond - to Gibraltar
  26. 2022 - Spain - Strait of Gibraltar - Celebrity Beyond - to the Azore Islands
  27. 2022 - Azore Islands - Atlantic Ocean - Celebrity Beyond - to New York
  28. 2023 - Dominican Republic - Caribbean Sea - Celebrity Constellation - to Miami
  29. 2024 - Australia - Coral Sea - Celebrity Edge - Sydney to Cairns
  30. 2025 - Norway - Norwegian Sea - Queen Mary II - Future Cruise



Ships I Have Sailed On!




   Queen Mary II - TransAtlantic Cruise - 2019

RMS Queen Mary II (also Queen Mary II! referred to as the QM2) is a transatlantic ocean liner.

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!


Queen Mary II!


Note: I noticed on my Cunard webpage, I wasn't listed that I had traveled on a Cunard ship before this trip. I told the woman setting up the airline and hotel for me, that I was on the Queen Mary II in 2019. It took her a while to find the information after I gave her the booking and other information form the other cruise. She did find the information and updated my category for more upgrades on the cruise line.

She gave me an updated code to use when accessing the website. 855 325 7381 Am I now, a "Silver Tier" passenger!




   Chuck's 84th Birthday in Australia - 02/04/2024

Australia Birthday : I celebrated my 84th birthday on a cruise along the eastern coast of Australia, from Sydney to Cairns. Here I am on the stern of the ship as we began to sail from the harbor with a view of the famous Sydney Opera House!


Queen Mary II"


On my 84th birthday cruise I was on the Constellation Edge, a ship I had sailed on a few years before this cruise. A new ship, but more costly as far as basics are concerned.


Celebrity Edge




   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 NorwayFlag 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.

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 ........................




   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.

Airline Ticket




   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.

Hotel




London to Southampton

Boarding the Queen Mary II - April 06, 2025

Stavanger

Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport London

Transfer to the Ship

$90.00 Transfer to the Ship





At Sea

April 07, 2025

Stavanger

At Sea

Sailing to Norway

Norway Destinations

Southampton to Stavanger





Stavanger

April 08, 2025

Stavanger


Stavanger


April 08, 2025 - 9:30 a.m. Departure - Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock

Stavanger


Stavanger

xxx

Stavanger

xxx





Alesund

April 09, 2025

Stavanger


Alesund


Alesund

xxx

Alesund

xxx





Olden

April 10, 2025

Stavanger


Olden


Olden

xxx

Olden

xxx






Innvikfjorden

April 10, 2025

Stavanger


Innvikfjord


Innvikfjord

xxx

Innvikfjord

xxx






Nordfjord

April 10, 2025

Stavanger

Bergen

Nordfjord

xxx

Nordfjord

xxx





Bergen

April 11, 2025

Bergen


Bergen

Bergen

xxx

Bergen

xxx





At Sea

April 12, 2025

Stavanger

At Sea

Return to Southampton

At Sea

From Bergen Norway





Southampton to Heathrow Airport

April 13, 2025

Stavanger

Southampton to Heatrow Airport

$90.00 Transferr to Heathrow

 Heatrow Airport - London

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!

v



    Created on: 2024.05.18 Chuck Buntjer's Home Page Updated on: 2024.11.24