Reset search
Arctic & The Midnight Sun 2018
  • Randy and Rose
  • Randy and Rose

Arctic & The Midnight Sun 2018

An open-ended adventure by Randy and Rose Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Trip start
    June 15, 2018
    Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    We are going to the Arctic!

    June 15, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    We are going to Spitsbergen, one of the highest points in the Northern Hemisphere that can be reached by a cruise ship. Packing for the North Pole in June is challenging when you live in Arizona and the temperature is 110 degrees. Our Arctic clothes are ready and we are on our way to the airport.Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    First Class to Coach

    June 15, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    On the way to the airport we kept getting notified that our flight to Dallas would be delayed several hours. We were on a 7 PM flight. We arrived at the ticket counter at 4:10. The agent said that she could get us on the 4:55 flight if we exchanged our first class seats for 2 opposite aisles in coach. We were very nervous but accepted.
    Luckily there was no security line at Pre-Check. The plane was boarding when we got to the gate.
    For us to arrive at the airport, change flights, check in, go through security and board the plane in 45 minutes was quite stressful. However, it was a great decision as we arrived 5 hours before our original flight. Landing at 9 PM is a lot better than landing at 2 AM😀    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    London for a day

    June 17, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We are relaxing today at the Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel. Tomorrow, our private car picks us up for our 2 hour drive to the Port of Dover.

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Bon Voyage

    June 18, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    We are traveling on the smallest Princess ship. The Pacific Princess carries only 670 passengers. It was refurbished, and newly decorated in 2017 and is used exclusively for the Princess World Cruise. We are in a Club Class Mini-Suite so there is plenty of space and a private dining room. An unexpected surprise was the greeting we received from the royals as we boarded.Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose
    11

    Captains Gala Evening

    June 19, 2018 in Norway ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    We started our first day at sea with 2 great lectures, ship activities and some relaxation.
    Tonight was a formal evening. We began with pre-dinner music and cocktails. After dinner we celebrated at the Captain’s Gala which included a champagne waterfall. Our Captain is quite handsome and young. The production show of singers and dancers was fantastic. Our next stop was the martini bar with the very talented “Piano Man” Nano.
    The entertainment quality and choices has been excellent.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    WHAT? NO INTERNET!!

    June 20, 2018 in Norway ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    We are sailing to the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the geographical location we have been advised that we will have poor to no internet connection from 6/25 to 6/29. We truly are at the top of the world!
    Rest assured the Penguins are working behind the scenes and will return🐧    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Stavanger, Norway

    June 20, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    We toured Stavanger on our own today. We walked along the harbor and through the city center to Old Stavanger.
    The winding cobbled streets contain many 18th, and 19th century wooden buildings believed to be one of Europe’s largest collection. Stavanger began as a mercantile and fishing village and has claimed to be the cradle of the Vikings. Today it is one of the largest oil exporters and is called the Petroleum Capital of Norway.
    Stavanger is on the southwestern coast of Norway. Although they boast to have the best weather in Norway we did not have the chance to experience it. Today was cold and rainy, but good preparation for what’s to come.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Flam, Norway

    June 21, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    Our tour today began with a catamaran cruise on the Nærøyfjord which is one of the world’s narrowest. It measures only 11 miles long and 1600 feet wide. Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    We have seen fjords all over the world but this was the most beautiful. From its narrow size, snowcapped mountains and huge waterfalls it was a total WOW!
    After our 2 hour cruise we boarded a bus and drove to a mountain top hotel. Here we had an aerial view of the magnificent fjords from above. We drove down the mountain on a narrow road with hairpin turns as we held our breath.
    This day totally exceeded our expectations.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose
    1

    Our Anniversary

    June 21, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Today we celebrated our 48th anniversary.
    Although we are getting older, our life keeps getting better.

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Alesund, Norway

    June 22, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Ålesund is known as the Venice of Norway. Our tour gave us a view of ancient and modern Alesund. After a major fire in 1904, the city was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau period.
    We traveled to the city mountain of Mt. Aksla where we had incredible views of the archipelago, town center and Sunnmore Alps.
    Along the way we saw ladders on the roofs of homes leading to the chimney. Heat is critical in Norway so chimney sweeps need access for maintenance.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose
    2

    Trondheim, Norway

    June 23, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    We are on our own today and took the ship’s shuttle into town. We walked in the cold rain to the city center. We viewed the Gothic style Nidaros Cathedral founded in 1152. Next door was the Archbishop’s Palace. Built in the 12th century it is the oldest secular building in Scandinavia.
    The first bicycle lift in the world: A resident of Trondheim invented the bicycle lift because he was getting tired and sweaty riding up a hill to work. You attach your bicycle or baby carriage and a cable pulls you up.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Honningsvag (For North Cape), Norway

    June 25, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Honningsvåg is the Northernmost city in Europe. Located in the Arctic Circle this area was entirely in ice 10,000 years ago. The glaciers carved out spectacular cliffs and beautiful fjords.
    Though inhabited for thousands of years it only became a city in 1996 and is just 1300 miles from the North Pole. Due to its wind swept location in the Arctic Circle trees rarely grow here.
    Our tour began with a 50 minute bus ride to Nordkapp. Along the way we stopped at an outpost of the indigenous Sami people. North Cape is the point where the Norwegian Sea meets the Barents Sea.
    North Cape Hall, located on top of North Cape Cliffs (which are 1000 feet tall) gave us amazing views of the Arctic Ocean. A 180 degree panoramic film about the ever changing North Cape seasons depicted how much snow they receive in winter and how they live with it. We saw children bundled up in snow bound playgrounds and people commuting on their snow mobiles.
    It takes a hearty person to live in this rugged remote part of the world.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose
    1

    Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen), Norway

    June 27, 2018 in Svalbard and Jan Mayen ⋅ 🌬 4 °C

    We arrived in Spitsbergen, also known as Longyearbyen. It is the largest island in Norway but only has a population of 2700. Spitsbergen is part of the Svalbard Archipelago and is located only 90 miles from the Polar Cap at the top of the world. It is the northernmost inhabited place on the globe. This chain of windy islands gave us incredible views of glacier topped mountains. Sixty percent of Svalbard is covered in Glaciers.
    It began as a whaling village ultimately developing as a center for coal mining and tourism.
    There are only 4 mammals that inhabit the island of Spitsbergen: Arctic fox, reindeer, southern vole and polar bears. Polar bears are the iconic symbol of Spitsbergen and one of the main tourist attractions. People going outside settlements are required to carry a rifle. We hope that our tour guide is prepared.
    With the wind the real feel temperature was 27 degrees making this our coldest port. Randy wore six layers of clothing, not including his long johns, thermal socks, hat and gloves.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Pyramiden, Norway

    June 27, 2018 in Svalbard and Jan Mayen ⋅ 🌬 5 °C

    Today we took a full day catamaran tour further north in the Arctic Circle.
    During our two hour trip to Pyramiden we passed the Nordenskiold Glacier with its massive walls of calving ice.
    Pyramiden is named for the pyramid shaped mountain that is next to it.
    This lost Arctic City was created in 1910 by the Swedes as a coal mining station but was soon abandoned because of it harsh climate. It was sold to the Soviets 17 years later. It is a mystery why the Soviets turned it into a settlement in the 1940s. Was it the potential for coal or was it to maintain a foot in the west? This Soviet ice colony was abandoned in 1998 and today has a population of only 3 people while still under Russian control.
    This forgotten city at the end of the world consists of vacant concrete buildings and monuments. It was quite eerie walking through the deserted town. We toured the inside of the Social Hall, Canteen, and Hotel. We viewed the separate dormitories for men, women, and families. A statue of Lenin is located in the town square where many celebrations and ceremonies were held.
    This was a long day but an Arctic adventure we will not forget.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Tromso, Norway

    June 29, 2018 in Norway ⋅ 🌧 6 °C

    Tromso, the largest city of Northern Norway is located 190 miles north of the Arctic Circle. We sailed through the Malangan Fjord surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
    Our tour included a visit to the Polaria Arctic Center. We viewed a panoramic film on Arctic wildlife, saw exhibits on the Arctic Circle, and visited the bearded seals in the Arctic Aquarium at feeding time. The exterior of the building looks like sheets of ice and snow.
    We then went to the Arctic Cathedral which is designed in glass, steel, and concrete resembling a giant glacier resting at the base of mountains. Inside the stained glass window and crystal chandeliers were magnificent.
    Tromso is known for getting a lot of snow in winter. Our guide said Tromso has two seasons: The white winter and the green winter.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose
    1

    Hellesylt, Norway

    July 1, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    This morning we sailed along Storfjorden, the fifth largest fjord in Norway. The dramatic landscape of snow-capped mountains and sparkling waterfalls were so close we felt we could touch them. This fjord branched off to the Geirangerfjord which is known as the most beautiful one in the world. The 2000 foot tall cliffs rise above it’s deep, narrow passageway.
    We also viewed abandoned mountain farms and the impressive Seven Sisters Waterfalls (only four were visible today) with an average drop of 820 feet.
    We have seen fjords throughout the world but the most beautiful are in northern Norway.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Geiranger, Norway

    July 1, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We docked in the tiny, charming village of Geiranger. Our tour this afternoon took us to the summit of Mount Dalsnibba which gave us a spectacular view of Geirangerfjord. Our bus climbed 5000 feet on the narrow, winding road offering amazing views of lakes and glaciers. Geirangerfjord is surrounded by the steepest and most unusual mountains on the entire west coast of Norway.
    We then drove along the Eagle Road, which was also narrow with hair pin turns, to view the Seven Sisters Waterfalls and the majestic mountains.
    This was a day filled with excitement and breath taking views.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Bergen, Norway

    July 2, 2018 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    The town of Bergen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    We walked its winding, cobblestone streets and viewed the painted wooden houses with gabled facades. The town has many medieval buildings located around the wharf. The quaint two story warehouses are now shops and art galleries. It has a beautiful harbor and a lively market. In the fish market we sampled caviar that they put on top of your hand to taste.
    Bergen was a charming last port to end our voyage.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Dover, United Kindom

    July 4, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Overnight we entered the Dover Straits, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. It connects the Atlantic and English Channels to the North and Baltic Seas.
    We disembarked the ship and met our private driver. It took us almost 3 hours to get to Heathrow Airport because of traffic.Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    London, United Kingdom

    July 4, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Business Class Fast Track got us through security quickly and we enjoyed some time in the British Airways Club Lounge.
    As we began to board, Rose was stopped for additional intense screening which took over 30 minutes to complete. There were about 35 passengers subject to this who were on a list sent by the TSA. This made no sense since Rose has Precheck and Global Entry.
    She was still able to board and have a glass of champagne before take off.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    Peoria, Arizona

    July 4, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 38 °C

    We are back in Arizona and the intense heat does not feel so bad after the cold weather experience we had in the Arctic.
    The Pacific Princess surprised us in many ways: Although a small ship there was a large variety of entertainment venues and high quality production shows. Club Class, besides a larger suite, gave us a dedicated wait staff, no fixed dining hours, and unique menu items.
    We sailed 4400 nautical miles to the top of the world. This trip was a scenic journey which took us deep into the Arctic Circle with never ending daylight. We experienced spectacular fjords, magnificent cliffs, majestic waterfalls, and quant villages.
    This was a vacation that we will always remember.    Read more

  • Randy and RoseArctic & The Midnight Sun 2018Randy and Rose

    The World Travels of Randy and Rose

    July 5, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 41 °C

    This exotic adventure has now brought our travels to 100 countries from the top of the world to the bottom.
    We have cruised around the world twice, visited all 7 continents and experienced all The Wonders of the World.Read more

  • 2026© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice