Fjords Cruise

69Bonni

69Bonni

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Steve
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Hi Folks

I'm lucky enough to find myself on a cruise to Norway and up around the North Cape later this year. I'm just contemplating the pros and cons of shooting from the ship as we travel up through the Fjords. Does anyone have any tips on what works well and what doesnt?
For example i was wondering how much vibration would be transmitted up through a tripod on the deck, or would hand held be better?
All comments on any aspects appreciated.
Cheers
 
You are both in for a treat. Went from Southampton to Svalbard via the usual Fjords in 2012 onboard the Crown Princess, it was an amazing trip - scenery overload! There will be times when you don't know which way to point your camera.

There was no noticeable vibration on the ship we were on and I used a tripod whilst taking some "slow water" shots of the wake.

The deck provides an excellent vantage point for the fjords. If you are due in port in a morning, get up early, there is often some lovely scenery as the ship arrives in port, the sleepy ones miss it!

Gerainger Fjord is perhaps the most spectacular. If you get chance to take a trip to the summit of Dalsnibba, take it, the views over the Fjord are superb, I found it frustrating being ushered along on an organised trip, but being restricted to the ship's schedule made it difficult to go freelance.

Have a great trip, the scenery is stunning - take plenty of batteries and memory cards!

Chris
 
Hi Chris
Nice one! Thanks for the reply, looks like freon warrior is off before me (so you better update me freon .... Same line but different ship, btw). I guess that's gonna be the issue, need 4 cameras fwd, aft, port and stbd. I'm always up early so will make the most of that.

Dalsnibba I've made a note of that too, yes I always get moaned at by SWIMBO for dragging behind, have been lost on more than one occasion ( I'm sure she's trying to loose me on purpose).
Got plenty of batteries .... Can you ever have enough memory cards??

Looking forward to it now.... Tripod huggers heaven I guess, right up my ally

Thanks Chris
 
Im touring scandinavia and there is a fjord cruise included so thanks for asking the question!!!!! Hope you get to Tromsø as went there and saw the Northern Lights, beautiful, romantic place!
 
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I have no advice to offer. But am ever so slightly jealous. Such a cruise would be my dream holiday. Hope you enjoy it and look forward to seeing the results in the future.
 
Also going on a Fjords cruise - 1st June - P&O Azura.
 
If you want an idea of what you'll see, Norwegian broadcaster NRK did a 134 hour broadcast from a Hurtigruten ship.
 
Excellent! Looking forward to it even more now, better treble check my gear before I go, nothing more frustrating that forgetting that item that's still in 'the other' camera bag! Not that I've ever done that you'll understand...
 
Look forward to seeing yours shots, don't forget to give us some tips and let us know what excursions you take ... I'm not off until July .... Have a great trip both of you! We'll all have to compare notes when were all back and post a guide for the rest if the forum...

All the best Steve
 
Hi 69Bonni, did you have a good time? I am off on the 8th of August. Any tips? Advice?
 
Hi Dylan / Paul...
Just a quick reply... Not long back and some PP to do!
Paul took all the Arty shots i should have took! 8¬)

Will post again soon (Tomorrow)

All the best
Steve
 
Hi Paul, Dylan.

I went on Oriana. I have some tips for Dylan... obviously it depends on where your going just looked 8-) Arcadia!

Bregen, Geiranger, Flaam and Stavanger

Bergen, if your not on an excursion and you want to get to the viewpoint up the Mountain get to the funicular ASAP before the queues get long, its easy to find.
When you get back down you can check out old wharf "Bryggen" (you will probabaly pass this on left on the way to the funicular). Then the fish market is quite colourful.
If your luck you might catch the reflections on the waterfront. (I didnt). Also check out the Tall ships race it was due to start this week. Bregen was Rammed while we were there and the visitors died down later in the old wharf so i could get some un obstructed Photos (just).

Geiranger, not sure about this... if you go to Ålesund you can go up through the town and up to the viewpoint (some of Pauls pictures were taken from the top of here. About 400 steps but pleanty of stopping points if you want a break. I walked along the top to a Transmitter tower and there are various opportunities along the ridge for some shots. At the end just before you get to the tower there are paths leading down, past some man made lakes/ponds. In the town cracking reflections in the harbour of the coloured wooden houses. If you want to get to Alnes Lighthouse (in Pauls Pictures) you'll probabaly need to book a trip.

Flaam, Theres a Rail trip that goes up through the Mountain very pretty, Difficult to get pictures as you need to be both sides at once. If you get on the right hand side going up and you can change over thats the best method. There is a stop at the Waterfall for about 5 Mins so make sure you sit by a Door! Also its a good idea to be by a window that opens, if you sit on the Left hand side on the way up thats the platform side for the waterfall. So out and shoot, no time for Grads, Stoppers or Tripods! So you get the scenery etc mainly on the Right, and Exit of the Waterfall on the Left. It stops at the waterfall on the way down and up.
We got back and to Flaam and yomped up the valley back through the village past the church to another waterfall it was a hell of a yomp in the blistering heat (bit to much if i were honest) but there is another waterfall nearer the village, on the left hand side, unless your up for a big hike.

Stavanger, cant help on this one, as we did'nt call here...

Other advice, well if you have not cruised before i generally find everything is on a limit for time (Not to mention SWMBO moaning for me to catch up as i'm always behind taking pictures). Theres a lot to fit in, in a short space of time ashore. I took most of my Kit. In retrospect i probably wouldnt bother with my tripod (unless you have a travel pod). I used a 24-70 mostly, the longer lens didnt come out at all. Take any filters you have....

The scenery is stunning, you might want to get up early going down the Fjords especially Flaam so at least you get some good light. When we were there it was really hot only one wet day, the light wasnt always the best as by the time you were ashore the sun was well up.

Hope this helps!

Paul, Hi i've got some pictures to go through but have been very busy at home and work since i have been back with no time for PP
Hopefully i will get time for some processing soon

Post some stuff soon
Cheers
Steve
 
Sorry I have not replied, I have been sorting out lots this end.

Thank you Steve for that wonderful breakdown. We have booked a excursions with some of the ports, however the Flamsbana has been a nightmare to organise. Originally when we looked at the trips this was one that we were considering to do as everyone said that it was excellent. We didn't know if we wanted to do the train tour or the train and down hill biking on the way back. To cut a long story short, P and O sold out; luckily we have booked it with the NSB direct so we have saved a bit of cash.

Just a quick one about kit - did you use a polarizer ? I'm half tempted to get a cheap one. I bought an expensive one for my 17-85 a few years ago and never really used it. I haven't bothered since but i'm thinking that there is going to be a lot of water on this trip so one may be worth it.
 
Hi Dylan was worried you hadn't got my post! Ment to say I used a circular polariser A LOT! Marumi Super DHG which is excellent. In fact I nearly didn't use it, as coming out of one of the fjords it came unscrewed an fell on the deck! ( I really can't believe how lucky I was it didn't damage it ).

I think it's imperative you have one, as like you say there's a lot of water and when we were there nice clouds and blue sky. Watch out you don't get one that gives you nasty patchy blobs and colour casts an keep an eye on the sky that you don't get any dark patches.

One tip re excursions we often do a mix between excursions and our own thing, this time at the last minute they added additional excursions, so the railway trip doubled.
Another thing you might wish to consider. (If your not cycling back down) is on the way back down you can request to get off halfway back and walking back. As I didn't know about that I couldn't arrange it, and I would have done that! There are several small stations one the way.

Also as a matter of interest talking of excursions, while on board we went to the excursion office to see if there was anything left for the Lofoton Islands (as we found out there wasn't much in the port) and the said they could put us on a waiting list, as we were there the next day I thought fat chance so I didn't bother with the waiting list. Anyhow after a discussion with SWMBO I said on second thoughts we have nothing to loose so went back and asked to go on the list. We blow me down someone had just cancelled on the trip we wanted!! So moral of the story is its worth a punt!

BTW I have just started a new business (in fact 30seconds ago) it's a free Butler and Photographic equipment carrying service for holidays, particularly cruises, so what time shall me and Paul meet you in Southampton ;).

I know your gonna have a great time, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it one of my most favourite places!
Have a GREAT time

Paul sorry I have failed miserably on posting images just been snowed since got back, hopefully will get some time soon.
 
Yep I can assist with the new business venture! ;-)

I do not have any filters just LR....

Have fun on Arcadia Dylan, adult only I believe, watch out for 'whispering death' AKA Motorised scooters! Lethal things! LOL.

No probs Steve, as and when.

Paul.

PS as Steve says always worth going on the waiting list, if there are enough peeps they will quite often put on an extra coach.
 
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We have put ourselves on a waiting list, however as I have booked it now I don't think there's much need to buy through P and O. The one that that I wouldn't mind doing is Kayaking; i'm not sure if they are going to do it on our cruise though.

At the moment i'm looking for a cheap filter. Cheapest I have found is a local shop selling them through Ebay for £13.99. Wish me luck.
 
im doing a fjord cruise later in the year so really looking forward to it - i did a cruise before and did tours but this time have not booked tours as my best times were actually when i was NOT on a tour, just doing my own thing as i hate being herded like sheep or bussed about!
 
:agree:
It's almost as bad as being herded about by SWMBO;)

Don't do that many excursions, normally do lots of research on the area first, prefer doing my own thing.
Adrian you will enjoy it fantastic scenery.
Dylan good luck with the filter and enjoy the cruise.

Cheers Steve
 
Thinking of you all!

14860211992_e8b5d31166_c.jpg
 
Usually we have an inside portal or picture window, however this time we are celebrating two events, my NQT year and my girlfriend has become a sister in an ITU unit. There was only around £100 ish difference in price. A suite was far more we dismissed that.
 
Only just seen this. I'm off on a 12 nighter to Iceland and then Norway on Adventure Of The Seas. Can't wait!

Going to:

Southampton, England; Reykjavik, Iceland; Akureyri, Iceland; Trondheim, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Olden, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Southampton, England
 
I will try and post some updates to this thread as I go, but I'm thinking of creating another thread about this trip. Don't know how much I'll be able to update although I am on three's mobile contract so I should get free roaming in Norway.
 
Dylanlewis2000 said:
I will try and post some updates to this thread as I go, but I'm thinking of creating another thread about this trip. Don't know how much I'll be able to update although I am on three's mobile contract so I should get free roaming in Norway.
Click to expand...
That's the only problem with cruising - the way you are "cut off" from the outside world due to no connectivity when on the high sea! At least Norway is part of the "EU zone" for roaming so pretty cheap compared with some places. They need to develop satellite internet and make it affordable. Just been looking through my pics of my last cruise (in 2006) and one of my favourite moments was hearing bumping noises in the night and looking out and seeing lumps of ice bumping against the hull - it was late June so the sun would set at just before midnight and rise just after midnight.
 
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boliston said:
That's the only problem with cruising - the way you are "cut off" from the outside world due to no connectivity when on the high sea! At least Norway is part of the "EU zone" for roaming so pretty cheap compared with some places. They need to develop satellite internet and make it affordable. Just been looking through my pics of my last cruise (in 2006) and one of my favourite moments was hearing bumping noises in the night and looking out and seeing lumps of ice bumping against the hull - it was late June so the sun would set at just before midnight and rise just after midnight.
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Not sure I'd like that, I'd be thinking 'Titanic'....
 
davekiddle said:
Only just seen this. I'm off on a 12 nighter to Iceland and then Norway on Adventure Of The Seas. Can't wait!

Going to:

Southampton, England; Reykjavik, Iceland; Akureyri, Iceland; Trondheim, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Olden, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Southampton, England
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You'll love it you won't know which way to point your camera mate, have a fantastic cruise! I loved it. I looked at that cruise in fact considering it for next year I loved the place so much.... Enjoy!!
 
boliston said:
pretty envious! i can only usually afford budget internal cabins but i did luckily get a free upgrade to a cabin with a porthole for my fjord cruise later this year so looking forward to it.
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Yea ok balcony and or porthole might be nice, but personally it has never ever worried me, at the end of the day only ever in the room to get changed or sleep! (Maybe that might be a spin off from the RN, there wasn't many balcony rooms on the Ark Royal :)).
Better to be aboard eh and not worry about it.... The food and drink is enough to balance it ;):beer:.

I'm sure you will have a great time mate it's a photographers heaven IMHO. Enjoy!

PS life preservers are in your room in the wardrobe and remember Women, Children and Photographers go first;).
 
Dylanlewis2000 said:
I will try and post some updates to this thread as I go, but I'm thinking of creating another thread about this trip. Don't know how much I'll be able to update although I am on three's mobile contract so I should get free roaming in Norway.
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Dylan, have a fantastic cruise mate! We found the web access on the Oriana was carp but it varies from ship to ship. Never had problems before. Anyhow don't try and upload from the ship mate, it's painfully slow and bl99dy expensive. Wait until your ashore ( see below ). Start another thread mate else people might not see your work on this old thread.

****MAJOR TIP**** for all those cruising follow ( or watch out for ) the ships company when ashore they know where all the free WiFi places are in nearly every country in the world. If you see a group of them ashore on the street with there phones or IPads that's where it's at. In nearly all the main city's and towns there was free wifi.

There was some discussion regarding cruises as to which would be the first company to provide Free Wifi I think it's a way off yet though as they still have you over the proverbial barrel.
 
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