Bergen and Hardanger

Another early start but woke up to very grey clouds, so the weather wasn't so good at all.

After breakfast we made our way to the Britannia Lounge for our disembark instructions and then made our way to where the coaches were waiting.  This is when we found out that the tour operator had added an extra destination to our eight and a half hour tour, but without taking anything out of the existing tour - we wondered just how that was going to work out!!

I'm going to use some of the text of my subsequent letter of complaint to Saga to explain what happened next!!  But, don't worry, I will intersperse it with photos so that it doesn't get too boring!!

On arrival at the coach, our Guide Anna told us that the tour had been changed to also include a visit to Voss, which she and the driver reckoned was far too ambitious, and she also voiced her concerns to the Saga Representative who was on shore checking on the coaches.  Our given time for being back on board ship was 4.30 p.m.  En route to our first stop our guide mentioned that we may not be able to have a proper visit to the Steinsdalsfossen, and reiterated again that the extra portion added on to our trip was far too ambitious.

When we arrived at the Steinsdalsfossen, we were asked not to get involved in queues at the gift shop or toilets as we were so short of time so, basically, it was a choice of looking at the gift shop and perhaps going to the toilet, or walking up to and behind the waterfall to take some photos and then getting back onto the coach!  There was certainly no time to do both.  I chose to take photos!!

Steinsdalsfossen

Going behind the falls

Behind the falls

Behind the falls

From here, we made our way to the Hardanger Boat Preservation Centre where our visit here was also rushed and cut by at least 15 minutes, and Anna had to explain to the tour guides from the boat centre that they were to keep their tour shorter than normal.  We had been split into two groups to take this tour, and one group had to miss out totally on their rope making experience as there was no time to fit it in.  Our group did have the opportunity to make ropes and to see how they are still made in the way they were many years ago. We also had time to see a rather fascinating film on life in the past, which was really interesting.  The weather was still holding out but, by the time we left, the rain had started.  I still managed to take some photos though!!

Some of the boats that have been restored

Reflections

Reflections

And more reflections

Rope ball

Rope pulling room

We were then taken on to the Steinsto Fruit Farm where we had an extremely rushed lunch and had no time at all to look round the farm (which was to be part of our itinerary) or to buy some fresh produce from the farm shop.  This lunch stop was also cut by at least 15 minutes and I felt really sorry for the owner who gave us a little talk about the history of the farm. I'm sure we all would have loved to have seen something of the farm even though it was still pouring with rain, but there was just no time.  The lunch was lovely too - all home made by the owner.

From the farm we were taken the short distance to the Peer Gynt boat which would take us for a sail into the Fyksesund.  As it was still raining, most of the tour group sat inside the boat with only a few, including me, braving the elements on deck to take a few photos!!

After this short trip, according to the original itinerary, this is when we should have then been taken back to Bergen for a short drive through the Bryggen area, and perhaps a short stop if time allowed.  However, due to the last-minute change of plan by the tour operator, we were then driven to Voss where we never even left the coach with no time even for a comfort stop!!  There was absolutely no point in taking this journey whatsoever and I still cannot understand why it had to be done. Other passengers that we spoke to were also annoyed by this change of plan.

We then very quickly realised that there was no way we were going to see the Bryggen area of Bergen and also no way that we were going to be back to the ship for 4.30 p.m. and our allocated sailing time of 5 p.m.  When we did arrive back at port around 5.15 p.m., the coach driver drove us straight to the gangplank where we all quickly boarded the ship, the ropes were cast loose and we were on our way.  We never even got to thank our tour guide and driver properly for the marvellous job they had done that day in trying to fit in all that had been asked of them.  I felt really sorry for our guide Anna as she was quite distraught at the fact that in her 28 years of service, she had never ever been late in taking people back to a cruise ship.   

We later learned that the Captain of the ship had announced that the ship would be sailing late because a coach (ours) had been caught up in traffic.  Now, I have no idea what the Captain was really told, but I can assure you that it WAS NOT because of being held up in traffic!!  In fact, we noticed by way of the illuminated speed signs that our driver was actually exceeding the speed limit in some cases in an effort to speed up our arrival at the ship – that is until a Police car pulled in behind us!

In fact, it was all so rushed, that I didn't even get a half decent photo of Bergen to post here!!

Once back on board, it was almost time to begin getting ready for our dinner with the Food and Beverage Manager, so it was again suit and bow tie time and another posh frock for me!!  Again, much the same as the Captain's cocktail party, we had champagne and canapes to start with then we went to the Pole to Pole restaurant for dinner, which I must say was just superb, with good wine and good company as well.  We all had a thoroughly super evening.  In fact, our table was LAST to leave the restaurant that night as we were having so much of a good time!!

It had been a long and tiring day so it was then off to have one last drink and off to bed before our last day sailing home to Dover the next day.