Ships in Bergen

I have now arrived back in Bergen follwing a two week break. Here is one final reader submission from the time I was away, with photos of Braemar calling into Bergen on Saturday 02/08/2014. Reader Submission: Braemar Docked in Bergen Braemar has had a varied career so far, operating since her construction in 1993 for no fewer than 6 different cruise lines, including Crown Cruise Line, Cunard and Norwegian Cruise Line. Reader Submission: Braemar alongside in Bergen Since 2001 Braemar has sailed sucessfully for her current owners Fred. Olsen Cruises. In 2008 she underwent a major refit and extension at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. This included the addition of a new 102 foot mid-section, dramatically altering Braemar's profile and increasing her passenger capacity of 727 to 950. Reader Submission: Braemar in Bergen  An interesting time-lapse video of Braemar's lengthening can be seen on youtube here . Reader Submission: Braemar departs ...

I am currently away from Bergen and due to return next week. Whilst I have not been able to photograph ships in the city during this time, here are a number of reader submissions showing several cruise ships in and around Bergen over the past week. ALBATROS Reader Submission: Cruise Ship Albatros departs Bergen Reader Submission: Cruise Ship Albatros departs Bergen  AIDALUNA Reader Submission: Cruise Ship AIDAluna departs Bergen COSTA MEDITERRANEA Reader Submission: Cruise Ship Costa Mediterranea departs Bergen Reader Submission: Cruise Ship Costa Mediterranea departs Bergen VEENDAM Reader Submission: Cruise Ship Veendam departs Bergen

Serenissima is a small cruise ship with classic lines and an elegant profile. Operated under her current name since April 2013, she now sails a variety of routes around Europe. Serenissima alongside at Festningskai, with Oriana visible behind at Skolten Syd Originally built in Norway in 1959/60 as Harald Jarl, Serenissima has had a long and varied history of service. A complete history can be found on her owner's website here . A gangway leads to Serenissima's passenger decks Serenissima's bow, with the navigation bridge visible to the top left of the photo  Serenissima alongside at Festningskai, Bergen

Last week Holland America's Ryndam docked in Bergen. The following photos were taken alongside at Bontelabo. Ryndam alongside at Bontelabo Due to be retired by Holland America in 2015, Ryndam will undergo a refit and commence service under the P&O Australia Brand. Ryndam pushes away from her mooring Holland America Line's Ryndam departs Bergen Ryndam makes her way into Byfjorden to continue her cruise Ryndam has visited Bergen several times over the summer season. Click here to see photos of her sailing under the Askøy bridge earlier this month.

Yesterday afternoon two cruise ships called at Bergen; Costa neoRomantica and Deutschland. COSTA NEOROMANTICA Built in 1993 for Costa Crociere as Costa Romantica, she has a length of 219 metres and an original gross tonnage of 53,000. Costa neoRomantica alongside at Bontelabo In 2009 a small fire broke out in one of her generators off the coast of Uraguay, which led to the ship sitting dead in the water for 24 hours with no electricity, running water or functioning toilets (a situation which parent company Carnival would have to deal with on several occasions across their fleets in the following years). After the incident repairs were made and Costa Romantica soon reentered service. Costa neoRomantica's bow and forward superstructure In November 2011, Costa Romantica underwent an extensive 90 million Euro upgrade and refurbishment. This included substantial additions to the ship, with the creation of two new half-decks at her forward end, increasing her gross tonnag...

On Friday afternoon I took the opportunity to take a few photos in and around Bergen. A selection of ships were in port, including Fred Olsen's Black Watch which departed for Newcastle at around 17:30. Black Watch departs Bergen Built in Finland for Royal Viking Line, Black Watch entered service in 1972 as Royal Viking Star. She has changed ownership several times throughout her career, with periods sailing as Westward for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and as Star Odyssey for Royal Cruise Line. In 1996 she transfered to the Fred Olsen fleet, with whom she has been sailing ever since. Black Watch heads towards the Askøy Bridge Approaching the city centre later in the afternoon we passed Hurtigruten's Vesterålen underway. Vesterålen Departing Bergen Named after the first ship to sail with Hurtigruten in 1893, Vesterålen was built in Norway in 1983. She has a length of 108 metres and a passenger capacity of 510. Vesterålen, operated by Hurtigruten Coming into the...

Today Fred Olsen's Balmoral docked at Bontelabo, having arrived from Olden this morning. Balmoral's aft superstructure Balmoral was built in Germany and launched in 1988 as Crown Odyssey for Royal Cruise Line. Following the acquisition of Royal Cruise Line by Norwegian Cruise Line in 1989 she continued for a period to sail under her orignal name, before becoming Norwegian Crown in 1996 and transferring to NCL's main fleet. Balmoral docked in Bergen Following several changes in ownership, Norwegian Crown was sold to Fred Olsen Cruise Line, who took delivery in 2007 following a major reconstruction and refurbishement. This included the insertion of a new 30 metre mid-section (a great time-lapse of this 'cut and stretch' can be found on the BBC website  here ). A view of Balmoral's mid-section The 30 metre section added in 2007 can be seen in the space between the lifeboats In 2012 Balmoral was chartered for a commemorative voyage for the 100t...

Today a total of 5 cruise ships called at Bergen. Two of the less frequent visitors to the port were scheduled for late evening departures, meaning I was in town to take the following photos of  Club Med 2  and MV Explorer. CLUB MED 2 Completed in 1992 in Le Havre, France, Club Med 2 cuts a striking profile as a large sailing cruise ship.  Club Med 2 moored at Festningskai, seen behind a variety of private yachts Her traditional diesel-electric power plant is supplemented by seven computer-operated sails, unusual for such a large ship. With a length of 194m, this makes  Club Med 2  one of the largest ships of this type in the world. Club Med 2 pulls away from her berth Club Med 2 departing Festningskai, Bergen After reversing out of her berth and passing between two offshore supply vessels, she made her way out of the harbour to turn and continue northwards towards Olden. Club Med 2 reverses out of her berth Club Med ...