12 Aug. 2016; Eidfjord, Norway.

Today we observed Norway in the rain. Not with heavy down pours but with steady rain and drizzle. For Eidfjord that is not really a challenge. You either go out on tour and sit dry in the coach or you have a quick walk around, count all 530 inhabitants of the town and come back and stay on board and are dry as well.   And that is what most Guests did today.  A lot of guests went on tour and that is here a good idea anyway as the area has a lot of old Norwegian history. Those who did not discovered like I did today, that the town has a Tjuk-Tjuk train. One of these little road trains that takes you around the town and past the nearby sights worth seeing. I had not seen it in port during my last visit on the ms Rotterdam but now it was there and it was doing a roaring trade. I was caught up on the ship all day so I could not find out what the route exactly was but it must have been worthwhile. I saw it coming by three times and there was never an empty seat. Maybe they did go around all the houses so you could count all 530 inhabitants. (2013 census)

A Tjuk tjuk Train. After the Big Red Bus my favourite sightseeing form of transport.

The ones who got a real workout today were the Dive In and the New York Deli & Pizza. As most guests went ashore for only half of the day, the other half was spent on family bonding. I have learned by now that a good family bonding involves food, preferably fast food, and the Koningsdam offers the best.  I always like to beat the drum for Holland America but even without doing that the Dive Inn hamburgers and hotdogs are the best I have tasted anywhere.  Same for the pizza’s as long as you like the flat version and not the deep pan. Everything is cooked to order and everywhere there were people with a pager in the hand, waiting to be called to collect their order. So the whole upper level of the Lido pool area was one happy pizza party.

Part of the Kitchen staff of the ms Koningsdam. Pizza, Hamburgers, Lobster, you name it; perfect cooking and service with a smile.

Today the ship exercised the monthly Abandon ship routine: the full drill. Starting with the First Stage Emergency Response drill (also known as Fire drill) organized by yours truly by putting a part of the Engine Room on fire. That was simulated to go beyond control and then we went to Crew Alert, which means all the crew is going to battle stations ready to guide the guests to wherever the captain wants them to go. Once that is accomplished the final stage of “Abandon ship” arrives whereby all guests and crew assemble at the muster stations ready to embark into the lifeboats and life rafts. The funny part is always to hear these serious announcements and then to see the guests looking. The Cruise director announces that the ship is being abandoned and the guest thinks…………….. me as well, but I just walked on board…………..  I saw one gentleman getting confused while waiting for the elevator but he was assured by his wife: “Henry, it is only the captain; he is just doing his thing”

There are about 50 support staff to get 4 firefighting teams safely into a danger zone. The gentlemen in yellow are Dressers. ensuring that the fire fighting suits are worn correctly.

Doing “his thing” meant in this case lowering all the portside lifeboats, all going for a nice drive near the ship. Luckily the ms Koningsdam has covered lifeboats and thus none of the crew was the worse for the weather. That kept all crew happily occupied until noon time. What I find so amazing is that with all the crew on deck, the Executive chef still manages to open the Lido on time for lunch time service. I find that truly amazing as I already have a challenge with cooking rice on schedule.

Eidfjord has for the crew the great advantage that it has excellent cell phone connections so nobody is really bothered much by the lack of excitement Eidfjord has to offer, or the high prices in Norway; no it is a great opportunity to catch up with email and to call home.

You seldom see a spring line of 400 feet in length but that was what we had today.

We will sail this evening at 6 pm. and for the deck crew is means starting very early with taking in the lines. The Koningsdam overhangs the dock on both sides for a very long distance and the result is very long lines – extremely long lines. Even longer than yesterday in Bergen. So with the thrusters keeping the ship alongside, nearly all the lines are taken in much earlier than would be the case in ports where there are bollards everywhere.  This evening we will do some sightseeing by passing under the Hardanger bridge (the longest one in Norway) and then later on past one of the nicest waterfalls of Norway.

Tomorrow we are at sea, heading southbound on our way back to Amsterdam. Once there we will start a 14 day cruise leading over the top of the British Isles all the way to Iceland.