Author Archives: Serene

This is where Ålesund is on a map. This is what it looked like as we approached by ship on August 12.  We were in different parts of Norway about eighteen months ago on our winter Northern Lights cruise. It … Continue reading →

Departing for our 10 o’clock food tour, we got caught up with the last of 1500-ish people disembarking the ship in Rotterdam. That was poor planning on my part as we had to go through the same lines and try … Continue reading →

Our sea day, August 8, was a calm one on the North Sea. We’ve missed ports and had excitement on previous sailings through the North Sea. On a previous cruise, we had to learn that ginger and green apples are … Continue reading →

As we arrived in Edinburgh by tender on August 7, we were greeted by a lone bagpipe player.   We began our first of three tours,  learning a few things as we rode on the coach to the old city. … Continue reading →

After six port days in a row, we had a scheduled sea day on August 4, 2025. And then we had an unscheduled sea day. Storm Floris delivered high winds and rough seas across and around Scotland.  We missed out … Continue reading →

In preparation for visiting Liverpool, I gathered our British pounds left from a previous trip to London.  My goal, after the next few weeks, was to have no pounds or euros left. We always tried to tip tour guides in … Continue reading →

The Isle of Man is one of three self-governing British island territories.  It sits in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland.  The United Kingdom is responsible for the island’s defense and representation abroad, but the Isle of Man … Continue reading →

This was our first view coming into Galway, Ireland on the morning of July 31st.  It was early because we had a 7:00 am meet-up due to the need to tender into the port.  If tendering is required it means … Continue reading →

July 30 was the first visit of Nieuw Statendam to Kellybegs, Ireland.  Our ship was one of 24  ships that has, or will, arrive this season. Killybegs has a deepwater harbor that opens into Donegal Bay. It boasts Ireland’s largest … Continue reading →

We started this cruise where we will end it, in Rotterdam, shown at #12. We had a sea day through the North Sea enroute to the Isle of Lewis, north of the Scottish mainland, depicted by #2.  We received instructions … Continue reading →