Cruising Talk - View Single Post - NCL Jewel Transatlantic

**Norman** · 08-17-2008, 07:23 AM

Just over a month to go before we embark on our fifth transatlantic cruise. Unlike Middy who’s Greek cruise starts two days before ours; we are not expecting weather like in Greece, but more like our wonderful British Summer, perhaps slightly worse. Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are both subjected in being shrouded in fog, our main hopes are both are clear for our visits.

Our holiday starts in our hometown where one coach a day departs to London where we change coaches and travel to Dover, the day before our cruise. Should arrive in Dover at 03:00 pm in the afternoon.

The North Sea we have cruised from Newcastle to Imuiden Holland and back aboard the Queen of Scandinavia, also from Hull a return trip to Rotterdam on the Pride of Rotterdam. Each way the sea was calm, yet when we did a Baltic cruise aboard the Arcadia, both journeys were in very rough seas.

The itinerary is one that excites and extremely interests us and if we can have nice crisp clear days then we will be happy. Norwegian Jewel if she can berth at Lerwick in the Outer Hebrides of the British Isles, will be the largest ship to visit the island. Next year the cruise program for Lerwick includes larger vessels. A few weeks ago on the Boudicca we could not berth in the Orkney due to bad weather, so am keeping fingers crosses our fortunes will be more rewarded in the Shetlands. Like the Orkneys we have booked a sightseeing tour, hopefully this one will be started.

Iceland we are doing a full day Grand Circle tour, which should enlighten our knowledge of the island that is close to us but never ventured to.

Whale watching naturally will be an onboard activity, but the timing of our cruise, it has been reported the Northern Lights can be seen in the vicinity of the area we are cruising. A sighting of one of these would be rewarding, both would be a tremendous bonus. Another bonus would be the dread of the Titanic, an iceberg.

St Johns Newfoundland and Halifax Nova Scotia we are arranging our day after leaving the ship. Suggestions would be most welcome, for activities in our two Canadian ports.

Our final port is New York, where we are spending two nights. We have been to New York many times, and apart from a water taxi ride, which we won around the new waterfall attractions we will decide our activities when we are there.

Our return flight is from JFK to Heathrow with Air India. Should be a new experience. Been watching the arrival times of our flight, scheduled time is 07:30 am, but it has been arriving early and sometimes very late, so we will purchase National Express tickets at the airport,

We intend to enjoy our vacation, and anyone that is away the same time as us, hopefully have a good time.

Norman