I read with interest Fred Steinberg’s article about cruises along Norway’s coast with Hurtigruten (June ’10, pg. 18) and would like to add a few comments. My wife and I traveled on the line’s ship Midnatsol from Kirkenes to Bergen in June 1994 and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
Fred Steinberg’s article “Plying the Waters along Norway’s Western Coast” (June ’10, pg. 18) was of particular interest to me since I had just returned from a cruise with Hurtigruten, one aboard the Nordkapp.
My wife and I took a world cruise with Cunard Line, the first leg of which was from New York City to Southampton, England, on the Queen Victoria, Jan. 12-April 22, 2010. At the end, we sailed from Southampton to New York aboard the Queen Mary 2, April 22-29.
We had also cruised with Cunard in January 2004, March-April 2006, January-April 2007 and March-April 2008. Each time, our bills were settled when the cruise terminated; the company put all of its charges through at the end of the voyage. This enabled us enough time to pay our bills upon our return home.
ITN asked for advice for mobility-impaired cruisers (Feb. ’10, pg. 68). After I stopped being able to negotiate stairs without excessive pain, I stopped going on river cruises.
Even if you see a map of the ship and are assured there is an elevator or perhaps a chair lift to the top deck, there is no guarantee that you can get off at any port stop without negotiating at least one flight of steps up to the city streets.
We take a couple of cruises a year and like to make our own flight arrangements. The key is to leave a few days early and not only get our jet lag under control but have time to see the port. Leaving early also helps if weather causes delays or luggage is lost.
To see various regions of New Zealand without the hassles of driving, my husband, Keith, and I decided that the expedition-style ship of the Australian company Orion Expedition Cruises (New York, NY; 877/674-6687) was what we were looking for.
The following is supplemental advice for your first trip to Egypt, based upon experiences from an April ’10 trip I made with my wife and several friends. These tips and observations cover topics that either were not addressed or, more commonly, did not receive sufficient emphasis in the guidebooks and Internet resources we consulted pretrip.
These tips only complement your guidebooks. Guidebooks contain lots of good information and useful suggestions that are omitted here (e.g., don’t drink the water).
by Walt Huse, Fort Myers, FL
A cruise on the Douro River, in the heart of Portugal’s port wine district, offers visitors many opportunities to taste both red and white port wine as well as explore several historic places.
Aroll of the drums! A blare of the trumpets! It’s time to announce the winners of our “Where Were You In 2009?” quiz.
My wife, Gerry, and I have found the “Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships” by Douglas Ward (Berlitz Publishing, 800/432-6277 — $29.99) very useful. It is published annually.