Our last port in Norway, where we have to say goodbye to the Fjords.   We have a proper docked birth today, but at least with the Tender Required stops we knew that lifeboats were working, and the crew know how to launch them.   Oslo harbour is right at the end of this long fjord, but with all the islands scattered about in the bay, and the deep water, it must have been good for fishing originally.   Maybe we will find out how it came to be established here, so far from the main seas.   With London, the reason it is so far up the river, is that in Roman times it was the first place that the Thames could be easily bridged.

So with such an interesting bay to explore, we are taking the "Scenic Oslofjord by Vintage Norwegian Sailing Ship" excursion".   Two places mentioned in the HAL description are Hovedoya Island and Huk bay, both of which I managed to find on Google Earth.   I have never eaten shrimps or prawns where they have not already been taken from their shells, but I hope after a bit of tuition from Carol I shall manage.   The other places mentioned in HAL's description are marked on the fjord map linked above.

This unique tour of Oslofjord commences with a short walk along the pier to one of the beautiful old sailing vessels of Norway. Fully restored to its former glory, the tall ship also features modern amenities to ensure your safety and comfort. Setting out from the pier under engine power (the ship’s sails are not used), you will head for the highlights of the fjord, including the ruins of an 1147 monastery on the island of Hovedøya, and the nearby Dyna Lighthouse. You will see the Bygdøy Peninsula, where many maritime museums are located, and the beaches of Oslo including Huk Bay. During your cruise, a buffet of shrimp, bread, butter, mayonnaise and a glass of wine or beer per person will be served. Following the coastline of the Nesodden Peninsula, you will see the suburbs where many people who work in Oslo live, just a short commute from town by ferry. At the end of the tour, you will return to Oslo and walk back to the ship. Notes: A small snack is included. The shrimp are served with their shells on and are eaten with fingers.

To our dismay we found that our excursion had been cancelled due to lack of interest.   We saw a ship like this motoring past empty just after breakfast, perhaps it was the one we should have been on.   However we did see them with people on several times during the day, so I think they were still running a service all day long, with two ships at least.   So we probably could have still done this, just on our own, and probably cheaper.   Frank did say there were lots of boat options available here.

We decided to look round the town, as it was a nice sunny day it was good for photography.   As we progressed round the harbour we spotted a kiosk offering scenic fjord cruises by boat and decided to take one.   We joined a short queue, to wait for our boat, which got longer and longer.   The cruises didn't start until 10:00 so we had to fidget on our feet for 20 minutes.   It would have been nice if they had let us on the boat so that we could have sat down while we waited.   Apart from this, I think the cruise was an excellent substitute. We didn't get a sea food snack but there were refreshments available to purchase.   The side windows had water splashes at first but these soon evaporated once we got going.   The trip was only two hours, but this was enough.   It was much cheaper.   So unless you a serious photographer, I would recommend doing your own excursion from the harbour, but get there early before the queues start.

You can see the route we took on this satellite image of the bay.   I think we covered more or less the same ground, perhaps a little faster being a small boat.   There was an excellent commentary by a young girl dressed in national costume.   She had an impeccable English accent, so was very easy to understand.   We saw a sister ship from the Cunard line, the Victoria coming in on our way out, and again on the way back when she had docked.

After departing the dock, no tug today, we will want to be on deck to see what we can of the fjord on the way out, since the early arrivals mean we miss the best of the scenic viewing.   So we needed either a hearty lunch, or a late sitting for dinner.   I am not sure that a snack on shrimps would have done it, however we were back in time from our morning boat trip to eat in La Fontaine and stock up.   This was perhaps the most scenic of our sail-aways, as the fjord is so long, and the weather nice and sunny.   We had a commentary by Frank, though he had to have breaks now and then so his voice would last the journey.   After having passed the Nessodden peninsula and turned left to go down the fjord we met a Stenna ferry coming the other way.   The pilots must have known each other as, in addition to the hooter signals to indicate which side they intended to pass, there was a horn duet as they each seemed to want to get the last toot in.

Captain Albert's Blog: Oslo, Norway.