19th July Oslo This was a late (but scheduled) arrival for us, berthing at 11 am. But another spectacular cruise for some 60 miles sailing up Oslofjord docking in the heart of Oslo. Any closer and the ship would be berthing in the main reception area of the Radhuset City Hall, a very austere looking building overlooking the port of Oslo. One of the main attractions of Oslo is its museums, and oh boy do they love their museums and galleries. Our daily programme lists 24 museums and galleries and that doesn’t include Sculpture parks, churches and Cathedrals. The museums range from the Resistance Museum to more seafaring based ones which include the National Maritime, the Kon Tiki, and the Fram Museums. The Fram was the vessel that Amundsen and Nansen made their Arctic and Antarctic ... read more

16th July Tallinn Capital of Estonia, it’s post independence renaissance has bred new life to this city. The old town has a beautiful tableau of gabled roofs and turrets. The spoiler was the four other cruise ships in, offloading some 12000 passengers plus us into the cobbled streets. Again a few pics to give a flavour of the city. We had a great lunch with local beer in restaurant/cafe and we didn’t hear an English voice. Magical!!!... read more

13th July This was a change to the itinerary, Mr Trump decided to visit with Mr Putin so we had alter the dates!! Finland Helsinki Finlands capital, daughter of the Baltic its a city that has many Neo Classical buildings, loads of museums. Their very big on museums in the Baltic!! An easy city to walk, the Market Square at the end of the Esplanade where there are loads of stalls selling local produce and souvenirs. The imposing Uspenski Cathedral overlooks the area and the a short walk brings you into Senate Square where unfortunately all the tours from everywhere congregate. A short walk brings you back to the railway station with another austere facade.... read more

Our first Baltic cruise takes into the Baltic with hopefully the highlight being 2days in St Petersburg Apologies for time delays but Internet on board is as usual poor and EXPENSIVE 8th July Southampton in the July sunshine, what could be better than a sail away from the UK in 31 degrees of sunshine. Within 24 hrs of leaving home we were in think fog in the North Sea and it was 15 degrees with the promise at the end of the day of a Force 7 gale. What a difference a day makes!!! Well at least the restaurant was quiet. 10th July Skagen After the travails of the previous day and a bumpy night it was our first port of call Goddag from Skagen. This is what’s called a ‘filler’ port, a half day visit ... read more

Stavanger 20th November We dock next to Gamle Stavanger, the old town, tiny wooden houses, cobbled lanes typify a living museum. Stavanger originally a fishing port, there were 70 canneries in the 1920's, the last one closed in 1983. The demise of the sardine industry coincide with the discovery of oil and it soon became the centre of Norway's oil and gas industry. Stavanger is not just an industrial town, the city is a charming mixture of old wooden houses and has a developing tourist industry. Old Stavanger has a charming selection of old wooden houses, narrow streets, old fashioned lampposts and various workshops have sprung up and Norwegian art is on sale. Stavanger Domkirke, the Cathedral built under the direction of the Bishop of Winchester is the best preserved medieval church in Norway, it has ... read more