Monday, 26 June 2017

Day 43 - So that was Tromso

 

Still in the arctic circle so still with midnight sun.  Ironically, we seem to be sleeping well and certainly much better than on previous cruises.  Not once have I been up at 5:30, escaping to deck 5 and doughnuts, clutching a book.
Sunday in any port is a bit of a gamble, so it was somewhat disappointing that Tromso was effectively closed for the day.
We berthed on the port side again
No HoHo bus system and the little train in town was apparently disappointing.
A $5 each way shuttle to the harbour in town.
As is usual in Norway, no photo ID required and just a walk off.
From our balcony, we could clearly see that boarding the shuttle seemed to be a very slow process, even though there were three or four coaches in.  We suspect that was because many passengers had opted to not pre-purchase tickets.  Probably waiting to see what the weather was like.  (Warm and they might have walked into town.  Wet, use the shuttle.)  Sadly, the shuttle people, instead of dealing with this well down the queue, left it until the coach door, so passengers were stuck in the drizzle, and boarding was slow.
Later, a ship’s crew member obviously approached them and moved him down the line and boarding was so much quicker.  After a relaxed full English breakfast, we just hung around until the queue had shrunk.  By the time we went down, it had all but gone but people were already returning to the ship.  No wonder.  This was not exactly a highlight stop.
The damp and drizzle was bad enough, but hardly anywhere was open.  A pleasant enough place had the day been different.  The only photo highlight was the statue of Admussen - with a disrespectful seagull.  Some cruisers walked the bridge towards the cable car, but we haven’t found anyone who thought it was worthwhile, due to the low cloud.  Maybe this is a port where a tour might be the best option.
Somewhat disappointed, we headed back to the ship but it was too busy deck 5, so we headed for the buffet and I managed with just a bowl of soup.
Back at the cabin, trying to keep up with progress of the F1 GP from the sports news channel (it wasn’t being shown live).
Robert was there for afternoon trivia but still no win.    
A lively discussion at dinner as the two other couples had got stuck into politics last night (well, the men anyway) and it rolled over.  Huw is from a dedicated Labour area – and votes Conservative, Ben from one of the strongest conservative electorates and is strongly Labour!  To talk to either of them generally, ignoring the politics and you’d swear it would be the other way around.
We had seen the production show before so didn’t go and Hugh and Pauline did go and had to stand.  With just over 3,200 passengers, a theatre capacity of maybe 800, they can’t seem to schedule it so that most people can see the popular production shows.  Whilst many will skip so called comedians, singers, magicians and musicians, the majority will give the production shows a go, especially on these 14 day cruises.
We wandered into the casino and this time, it was watching the roulette and the way people play.  More $100 bills going to the benefit of Princess Cruises.  Huw and Pauline stopped on their way back and we chatted to them for a fair time before another midnight light bedtime.
We’d  booked at the last minute for tomorrow’s coach tour from Gravdal only to have the Captain announce not long after, that it might be a rocky night with expected winds of 30km, 82% chance of rain tomorrow and the possibility that this, our only tender port, might not be possible.  We’ll just have to wait and see, but as at bedtime, the seas still looked fairly smooth.    
 

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