The Best of 2014

In July this year I started this blog as a place to keep my growing collection of cruise ship photos. Since then I've had some great feedback and the blog has already grown into what I hope is an interesting and informative place for my readers. So far over 70 ships have been featured, with many more planned.

To mark the end of the first (partial) year I've put together a few of my personal favourite posts from the past 6 months.


In July, Seabourn Legend made her final call into Bergen before being transferred to the Windstar Fleet to make way for newer tonnage. She is a ship I remember well from the film Speed 2: Cruise Control, which, although absolutely dreadful in many respects, provided fantastic access to the ship and her interiors.

http://shipsinbergen.blogspot.no/2014/07/seabourn-legend.html

She visited Bergen on a fantastic summer day, and I was lucky to catch her departure through the fjords whilst out on a boat trip, which gave me the opportunity to see her underway.


Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 has called several times in Bergen over the past few years. This August she came alongside at Jekteviksterminalen, and I was able to get some nice photos of her alongside.
http://shipsinbergen.blogspot.no/2014/08/queen-mary-2.html

In just a few days I will be on board QM2 for her eastbound Transatlantic from New York to Southampton, so check back for a full interior tour soon.


An interesting move by Costa Cruises has been to invest heavily in upgrading their older ships, rather than replacing them with newbuilds. My first opportunity to get a good look at one of their refurbished ships was with a call by Costa neoRomantica in July.
http://shipsinbergen.blogspot.no/2014/07/costa-neoromantica-deutschland.html

I was able to see her alongside, and to watch her sailing by the Nordnes peninsula later in the afternoon. Also in port that day was MS Deutschland.

What to expect in 2015...

I'm looking forward to the year ahead, with over 260 cruise ship calls scheduled, including the debut of Viking Ocean Cruises, with the christening of their brand new flagship Viking Star taking place in a ceremony in Bergen.

2015 should also see the blog grow to include photo tours of the remaining ships in the Hurtigruten fleet, as well as Fjord Line's two cruise-ferries Stavangerfjord and Bergensfjord and a voyage report from a transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2.

So until then, thank you all for your support and feedback, and a very Happy New Year!
Location: Bergens fjellstrekninger, 5014 Bergen, Norway

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MS Stavangerfjord - Ship Visit and Photo Tour

Image
Last week I went on board Fjordline's cruise-ferry Stavangerfjord, for a whistle stop tour of her passenger facilities during her impressively fast turnaround in the city. MS Stavangerfjord approaches Bergen, Norway To find out a bit more about her design, construction and service, take a look at my previous post here , with photos of Stavangerfjord approaching Bergen taken last December. Otherwise, keep reading to have a look around her public rooms, cabins and suites... A plan of Deck 7, showing the layout of Stavangerfjord's public spaces (credit: fjordline.com) With a few exceptions, Deck 7 contains all of Stavangerfjords public spaces. The gangway leads directly to the middle of this deck, adjacent to the reception desk. First impressions are good, with an attractive entrance area and smiling staff to welcome you on board. The Reception Desk Directly opposite the reception desk is Bungalow Wine & Tapas Bar, with the fresh food on display making t...
Read more

Queen Mary 2 - Photo Tour and Voyage Report (Part 2)

Image
The tour continues with the Britannia Restaurant. The main dining room on board, this is used by all passengers travelling in standard cabins, whilst the smaller Princess Grill and Queens Grill restaurants are reserved for those travelling in suites. The Britannia Restaurant really is an impressive room, with a large double-height central section surrounded by tall columns, and tiered upper levels joined by a sweeping staircase at the forward end of the room. The Britannia Restaurant The restaurant is open for a la carte breakfast and lunch with an open seating. For dinner, tables and dining times are assigned to guests in each stateroom, and remain unchanged throughout the crossing (though we were able to switch to a larger, more attractive table after speaking with the Maitre d' on the first afternoon). Sitting at a larger table provides a great opportunity to get to know your fellow diners during the trip. Dinner soon becomes the main event of the days on board. ...
Read more

MS Trollfjord - Photo Tour

Image
Up next in the series of photo tours on board the ships of Hurtigruten is MS Trollfjord. Regular readers of this blog will know the drill by now; MS Trollfjord is one of a fleet of 11 ships that together offer daily departures from Bergen on the Express route along the coast of Norway. The ships serve a dual roll as both cruise ships and cargo ships, and are vital in connecting many of the smaller communities in the northern part of the country. Scroll down to take a look around her interiors and public decks. Hurtigruten's MS Trollfjord alongside at Hurtigruteterminalen, Bergen EXTERIOR A sister ship to Midnatsol , Trollfjord is one of the newer and larger vessels in the fleet. She makes for a handsome sight whilst moored alongside at Hurtigruteterminalen, Bergen. With her slightly squat but attractive profile she is a well presented ship. A few streaks of rust along her superstructure will be repainted during upcoming routine maintenance Built in Norway in 2002,...
Read more