The less said about the epic train journey with two big suitcases the better, but when we arrived at the Port of Southampton check-in was a breeze and we were on board within 15 minutes and sitting poolside with a beer!
Day 1: At Sea
Our first full day was spent at sea which gave us the opportunity to further explore the ship and while Debra had a massage in the spa, I tried my hand at shuffleboard out on deck. I turned out to be not too shabby at shuffleboard but unfortunately I was paired with another first-timer who was useless and we lost both our matches. The sea state had been forecast as moderate which was fine but by mid-afternoon the movement had made us pretty tired, and come dinner time I felt too sick to go to the restaurant and Debra went by herself. When she returned our waiter had sent a plate of cheese & biscuits with her for me, how did he know! We found out the next day that the seas that afternoon had been much rougher than expected, a force 8 gale with waves up to 25ft!
Day 2: Stavanger
Gamle Stavanger
Thankfully the sea was much calmer as we sailed into our first port of call, Stavanger, Norway's 4th largest city. Our activity of the day is a walking tour of the city which begins in the Gamle (Old Town) area which is populated by pretty whitewashed wooden houses on steep narrow cobbled streets. Our guide is an American woman called Kerri whose husband is stationed in the NATO Stavanger base, the tour takes in the Cathedral, Fire Tower, Oil Museum and the colourful Fargegaten street.
Tea in the Hansson House
Tour over the rest of the day is ours and we start with tea & cake in the Hansson House, the oldest house in Stavanger which is now a teashop, before visiting a small Viking museum on the harbour front. We then visited the Oil Museum, which is far more interesting than it sounds, which looks at the geology and technology and environmental issues behind the industry that is fuelling Stavanger & Norway's economy. Back on board and after dinner we stopped for drinks in the Malabar and took in the entertainment on offer, Deal or No Deal that night as we looked forward to our first day in the fjords.
Day 3: Skjolden & Sognefjord
The Azura docked at Skjolden
Waking up to the smooth like glass waters of the fjords made us very glad we had a balcony cabin, no words can do justice to the to the steep fir covered mountains that tower over you shrouded in early morning mist. Skjolden is a tiny village at the end of the Sognefjord, dwarfed by our huge ship, the Azura, so our excursion today took us out by coach along the narrow roads that cling to the side of the fjord and through tunnels to the village of Solvorn where, after a short walk around we board the ferry that will take us to the other side.
The Solvorn to Urnes Ferry, Sognefjord
Once there it's back on the coach and up a hair raising series of hairpin turns to the Urnes Stave Church, the oldest Stave Church in Norway. The wooden church is ornately carved inside and out and sits on a hill overlooking the fjord, as we return to the ship on the coach our guide Harald an ex-teacher continues his commentary about the history and way of life of the people that live here and even tries to teach us some Norwegian.
Urnes Stave Church
Aboard the Azura Debra take a night away from our regular restaurant to eat in Seventeen, the gourmet restaurant on board which has to be one of the best meals I've ever had with fantastic service and palate cleansers. After dinner we go up to the Planet bar for cocktails before hitting the casino and losing £10 in the slots in record time before one final cocktail and bed.
Day 4: Olden & The Briksdal Glacier
Floen, on the way to the Briksdal Glacier
Our third port of call was the village of Olden located at the end of Nordfjord, and we were very excited as today we were going to see a glacier. After a short coach ride inland following the river that flows from under the glacier, we then hiked 45 minutes uphill past spectacular waterfalls, past signs showing where the front of the glacier used to reach (no such thing as global warming, my arse) until we reached the Briksdal Glacier itself.
The Briksdal Glacier
The next part of our excursion was going out onto the lake in a small 11 man dingy to get up close to the glacier, and paddling against the current was alot of hard work but well worth it as we got to within 250m and witnessed a (thankfully) small amount of ice calve off of the glacier and fall into the lake. In the evening we returned to our regular table in the peninsular restaurant and afterwards went to see comedian Mark Walker in the theatre, who was a bit middle of the road, but then he has to entertain everyone.
Day 5: Bergen
Bergen
Our last stop was in Norway's 2nd biggest city, Bergen, our planned excursion up Mount Ulriken by cable car was cancelled due to high winds so instead we were taken up Mount Floyen on the popular funicular railway and the top does offer spectacular views of Bergen. After a short coach tour the rest of the day is ours, so we walk around Bergen's famous fish market which has whale meat on sale, along with live crabs & lobsters, and big pots of mussels being cooked. Next we explore the Hanseatic quarter where german merchants used to trade, now the crooked wooden buildings and narrow alleyways are home to art & craft shops, and it's an area I quickly fall in love with.
Hanseatic Quarter
While in the centre of Bergen I come across SK Brann's club shop, Bergen's football team, and go for a look inside, they certainly could teach Southend a thing or two about merchandising and I leave with an SK Brann hat & t-shirt and a new second team. Having missed the first Black Tie night when I was seasick earlier in the week it's great that I am able to go tonight's event and after dinner we go back to the Planet Bar which is now our favourite bar for the views of America shown on it's video wall.
Black Tie Night
Day 6: At Sea II
Our last full day on board is a relaxed one, and we finally make use of the gym & swimming pool and try the Atul Kocha restaurant, Sindhu, for lunch which is lovely. In the afternoon we got to the chocolate buffet in the Oriental restaurant, which is a pretty spectacular array of desserts and treats before taking the tour of the galley, a very impressive operation that serves food for the ship's 3,000+ passengers every day.
After a brilliant week away, it was sad to leave the Azura but it did feel good to head home, although it was only a matter of days before we started discussing where we might like to go on our next cruise!
