Olivia: Wow!! What fabulous photos! The scenery reminded me of New Zealand. Can't wait!

Packing is always a bore - if I think 'hot' it'll be freezing and if I think 'freezing' it's bound to be boiling! I'm limited to what I can lift by myself. I think the best idea is to get Michael to lend me a parka and throw in a tracksuit and jeans. Footwear? Any suggestions? Lee

We have booked all of our excursions. The overland tour to Gerainger with Birksdal Glacier is not available so we signed up for the basic overland tour. We added tours in Bergen, Tromso, and Oslo that we we are interested in "just in case" but are leaning towards doing those three on our own or shared taxi. All told, it came to $1940 which is a bit much.

I'm all booked too.

Hellesylt - Overland Tour to Geiranger with Hike
Longyearbyen - Glacier Hike on Larsbreen
Honningsvag - Deep Sea Rafting and Ice-Bar
Tromsoe - Tromso City Tour and Cable Car to Mt. Storsteinen
Flam - Scenic Sognefjord Hike and Flam Railway Ride
Bergen - Mt. Floien Hiking Tour
Nevlunghavn - Captain Dag's Homecoming
Oslo - Hiking Tour in the Nordmarka Forest

I think I'm going to need some new hiking boots!

Do we have to book Dag's homecoming tour?

Leslie - they offer tixs, no charge.

Thanks Joanna - I hadn't yet looked at the booking form before I posted.

We booked:

Hellesylt - Overland Tour to Geiranger with Hike

Longyearbyen - Glacier Hike on Larsbreen

Honningsvag - Deep Sea Rafting and Ice-Bar

Gudvangen - Overland Excursion to Flåm

Nevlunghavn - Captain Dag's Homecoming

Oslo - Hiking Tour in the Nordmarka Forest (assuming there will also be time to see some of Oslo)

planning to do Bergen, Tromsoe and Oslo (after the hike) on our own.

I consider a walk to my mailbox a "hike"...happy hiking all you kids :app: :app:

The best part of booking the tours today is....

only 120 days before we sail!

Scott: Look forward to talking about "Reston" our old stomping grounds - great memories -

Joanna,

Reston remains very nice. See you in June.

I've signed on for Captain Dag's Homecoming and the Deep Sea Rafting and Ice-Bar in Honningsvag.

No Bar Too Far

LOL :app: <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" />

Oh, for heaven's sakes, don't miss the Ice Bar!!! When we did this trip (sort of) on Ninja, we were supposed to get to Honnigsvag and the North Cape during the daytime, however, we ran into a humongous ice field coming back from the polar ice cap. In order to avoid damage to the ship from all the little bergie bits, we had to go very slow and therefore we were delayed 12-14 hours arriving in Honnigsvag. We got there at 2 am --we had to stop, as the ship needed fuel. Everything was closed up tighter than a drum in the little town, but the captain lowered the tenders anyway and told us we could go into the town if we wanted to. As the tenders started arriving at the little downtown dock, we could see lights starting to go on in a building on the dock, and then a neon sign started blinking "Ice Bar". The proprietor opened the bar and the little connecting gift shop for us at 2:30 am -- what a country!!!

Yes,
Don't miss it! Bob and I went with Peggy and others into Honnigsvag at 2:30 am. But I was so sleepy I didn't go into the Ice Bar. I always regretted it!

I'm signing up for this excursion as well, since I missed it the last time on NINJA!

Yep, me too.

Another pin for my map of great (or not so great which in a way makes them more memorable) bars of the world!

But, what's this? We come all that way for an included 'non-alcoholic' beverage?

Peggy: What a great experience. Must definitely get my social secretary (Michael) to book the Ice Bar - funny how the roles are reversed these days! Save me a seat Suzie! Now how did I know you'd be there first??

I'm interested in the Deep Sea rafting but what to wear? It says to wear waterproof clothing - bit of a worry - they're not expecting us to fall in are they? I don't own any really warm gear, let alone waterproof!!

No-one answered my plea for help in the footwear department, so it looks as if I'll be coming barefoot (but definitely not pregnant)!!! Lee

Lee, they take care of that for us:

Your comfortable and approved floatation suit will protect you against low temperatures, and serve as a body-sized life jacket at the same time.

As for shoes, I just wore tennis shoes if I was not going to be on streets, otherwise normal comfortable shoes.

The deap sea rafting is probably similiar to riding in zodiacs?

Yes, Leslie, it says rubber dinghies that seat up to 18 people. Should be fun!

Our excursions: Ice-Bar, Stalheim & Village of Undredal (Tony saw it on TV and loved it)and Flam Railway - of course "Dag's Day" - Tony interesed in sea kayak trip (Geiranger) but we'll wait he can decide once onboard - total $518 not bad - hopefully we'll just play it by ear in other places - Lee: I got some comfy combo walking/tennis shoes for Rome - lightweight they are great - sturdier than tennis shoes with tread on bottom - this has probably been discussed but since Tony is next to me on his computer and I THINK I have his attention...just warm jackets right?? Scarves, gloves etc too??? I am guessing layering -

Suzanne, I am hoping that the reference to "non-alcoholic" is for the included beverage but that others of the stronger persuasion will be available at an additional charge. As we drank Amarula while in Africa, I think we are going to have to try the local Aquavit while in Scandinavia. :D

Let me know if you find out alcohol info - Tony has flask he'll be itching to use -

It sounds like Regent needs to alert that ice bar to stock up, if for no one else, the lct'ers! We are there in the midst of happy hour, after all, and will be passing the North Cape on the ship at just after midnight (full party on board, I hope, like on NINJA)

If we don't get enough to drink in the ice bar in Honningsvag, we can always take you to Ice Bar Tokyo when you visit. It is not too far away and expensive enough that we are waiting for out of town guests before we go.

Olivia: Call 1-800 ICEBAR..Sambuca????

Thanks for the clothing hints girls. My tennis shoes will have to do, although I do have a pair of short boots that may (or may not) come in handy. I'll invest in some gloves and a scarf and probably borrow a parka from my son. It's such a bore being restricted to one suitcase! As soon as I think 'winter' - I can't shut the thing! If there's one thing I don't do well, it's layering. Ugly Betty eat your heart out! Here's hoping the floatation gear is strong! I'm starting to think this might be real!!
Lee

I'm thinking this is going to be one happening excursion.

White knuckle sea "raft" adventure, (I hear the raft goes 35+ knotts).

Yep, the Ice Bar had better stock up...

This is going to be a huge LCT photo opp.

Later dinner works, because we will all be up very late that night for our North Cape Caper!!

No bar too far? Raft for the daft?

Count us in.

Cheers, Anne

Hope I will be able to say I rafted, laughed, and gaffed (Icebar only) :app:

You guys are so far ahead of me. Still haven't looked at the excursions. The ice bar sounds fun but we're sort of traveling as a group so will need to see.

Lee, think "space-saver" bags. Those things will take your son's jacket and squash it flat!

Donna, surely your MIL won't mind you leaving the ship for a few hours! I don't think she would want this excursion, but have no doubt that you and Alan would!

Donna: Brilliant suggestion - thank you! Could put myself in one and travel with Michael for free! Lee

Yeah! What fun to catch up and find all this good info. I have just booked the ice bar, and capt dag as well. We are going to check it all out tonight, over vino to make the final decisions. There is one with a brewery tour that I KNOW David will want. Hmmm ice bar, Tony's flask, Brewery tour....i believe a theme is taking shape.

FJORDers,

As Pam (cruiserPK) brought to my attention (and since I haven't seen anybody else post on this), be advised that Regent apparently has dropped the “Glacier Hike on Larsbreen” for Longyearbyen. Apparently in that it is no longer listed as an option in the on-line descriptions or in the on-line booking form. If I remember, I’ll call Regent tomorrow since there is also (maybe) the possibility that it was booked up to capacity. However, nothing indicates to me that their shore excursion reservation system is sophisticated enough to figure that out.

So, if in fact it has been cancelled, and understanding from frequent posts that the system requires a completely new full submission, we get to join the back of the line for the on-line shore excursions. A reasonable system would notify us that it was cancelled and ask us if we’d like to substitute another tour (of which, the new listing for the “Hiking to Plateau Mountain” would seem to be the closest replacement).

Also, the former “North Cape Tour” in Honningsvaag is now listed as “North Cape (transfer only)” though the description hasn’t changed one word.

To end on a positive note: 83 days ‘til we sail!

That was not a good excursion. Many on the Navigator did it and it really was not good. This is a small place and the local operators do not really have the facitities or tourist infrastructure to handle tours from a big ship.

I found it interesting to go there because it is so remote and different from our normal lives or ports of call.

I looked into this particular excursion for Marc last week and as I suspected I was told they pulled it due to negative comments from passengers.

Be VERY careful of any hikes on this port of call. These are rugged people and these are TOUGH hikes.

The "tour" to the North Cape really just takes you to the center and then you wander around once you get there. They just drive you there, leave you for a while and then you come back to the bus for the transfer back to the ship. There is a lot to see in the visitor center and it is a neat place to visit. It is more correctly described as a "transfer" rather than a tour. Maybe that is why they changed the name of the excursion.

Ngaire,

Thanks for the explanation and advice.

Scott, I don't think you need to submit all of your requests again and end up at the back of the line. On my Mariner cruise last December, I did 3 separate requests, not repeating any and received tickets for everything.

I noticed last week that the Glacier Hike had disappeared, and wrote to Marc because I knew he had chosen it also. I did go ahead and request "Hiking to Plateau Mountain", as did Leslie and Brad. It certainly does sound tough - gives me something to work toward at the gym!

I think the replacement hike will be much easier than the canceled "glacier hike" which mentioned crampons, ice picks and ropes!

I did a little searching, and it appears that Plateau Mountain is 424 meters, appx 1400 ft, above sea level (and there is a drive mentioned to the trailhead which is probably higher than sea level.)

The trail is described as "rocky" - this does not sound like a terribly difficult hike, but you should be in shape to do it.

Since "Eagle Eye Andrea" spotted the substitution and alerted us, we did put in a request for the new excursion - I didn't redo any of the others.

Ngaire - is there a way to check when we get closer to sailing what they show us as having reserved?

Leslie,

The "Hiking to Plateau Mountain" description still states "All necessary saftey equipment including an ice-axe, crampons, harnesses and ropes will be provided." That language may have been copied (without thought) from the Larsbreen Glacier tour, but perhaps not. I'm expecting it to be challenging and can deal with it if it isn't (as opposed to underestimating it).

Andrea: I'm glad separate submissions worked for you, but there have been stories, including purported statements from Regent, that the last submission is the only one that counts. I'd rather deal with 3 or 4 extra sets of tickets (my response would be: fix your system!) than only the last thing added.

It would be great if under "My Cruises" you could see and edit your submissions.