Workers Strike in Norway May Impact Vision OTS

State Workers in Norway Strike

May Impact Sailings

Schools, day care centers, and other public institutions are closed in Norway due to an indefinite strike called Thursday.  Striking workers include port pilots which would impact sailings.

Norway is currently experiencing a period of economic growth, and state workers are looking for their share of the pie.   Their wages have lagged behind that of the private sector triggering the work stoppage as talks broke down.

Must Have Port Pilot to Enter Harbor

According to Maritime law, a cruise ship must have a pilot onboard the vessel as they enter the port. If the strike continues, ships would not be able to dock in Norway ports, including Oslo.

Pilots & Pilot Boat Skippers Strike Over

According to Norwegian Coast Guard Web site Kystverket, the pilots reached an agreement Friday night, June 2nd, ending a week long strike which had impacted cruise line itineraries.

• Brilliance of the Seas, which departs Amsterdam today, will sail its original schedule
• Vision of the Seas is still turning around in Gothenburg today, instead of Oslo as was originally planned
• No word yet on Fred. Olsen Balmoral's altered itinerary

This is excellent news as the popular Norwegian Fjords cruise season is just getting into full swing.  Cruises typically combine the British Isles and Fjords.  Another option includes a cruise to North Cape and the Arctic Circle.

If you've never sailed to Norwegian Fjords, we highly recommend adding that to your bucket list.

Cruise Destination: 
Norwegian Fjords

Impact of Strike Widens

With all 42 of the Port of Oslo's pilots on strike, a number of cruise ships were turned away or forced to cancel calls.

These include Emerald Princess, which was forced to turn away from the port last Friday, Star Clippers' Star Flyer which cancelled a call on Saturday and Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas which was diverted to Gothenburg on Sunday.  

Upcoming calls in Tromsø or Alesund in the next week include:   P&O Cruises's Adonia, Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas, MSC Cruises' Magnifica and two Holland America Line  Eurodam and Rotterdam.   

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral will sail to Kiel Canal, Warnemunde, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, will be at sea on June 4, visit Zeebrugge June 5 and return to Southampton on June 6.

The only line that has ships in the region that isn't impacted is Hurtigruten, which sails the coastal waters year-round between Bergen and Kirkenes.  They are not required to carry a pilot.

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas June 2 Sailing

UPDATE:

Since the port pilots are on strike, and they are required to enter and leave the port, Vision of the Seas will be unable to dock in Oslo on Saturday, June 2, as originally planned. Because of this, it is necessary to modify Vision of the Seas’ boarding and debarking process. On Saturday, Vision of the Seas will arrive in Gothenburg, Sweden, and guests will be transported to and from Oslo via motor coach. Guests on the Saturday, June 2, sailing of Vision of the Seas should proceed to Oslo as originally scheduled.

Additional Cruise Ship Impact

Should the strike continue and include all port pilots in Norway, Brilliance of the Seas’ next sailing will be unable to call to any of the Norwegian ports of call on its itinerary. Royal Caribbean has been diligently working to prepare an alternative itinerary should the strike continue, which will include port calls to Copenhagen and Aarhus, Demark, and Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany.

We encourage guests on the Saturday, June 2, sailing of Brilliance of the Seas monitor this website for any additional updates. 

Royal Caribbean Updates:   IMPORTANT UPDATES

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas May 27 Sailing

Royal Caribbean International has issued an advisory that Vision of the Seas, which is currently scheduled to conclude its sailing in Oslo on Sunday, May 27, may be unable to enter the port.  RCI is currently preparing contingency plans in the event the strike continues and Vision of the Seas is unable to dock in Oslo.

They encourage guests on the Sunday, May 27, sailing of Vision of the Seas to monitor the website for any additional updates. 

Since the port pilots in Oslo are on strike, and they are required to be onboard in order for us to enter the port, if the strike continues Vision of the Seas will be unable to dock in Oslo on Sunday, May 27, as originally planned. Because of this, it will be necessary to modify Vision of the Seas’ boarding and debarking process on Sunday. Vision of the Seas will arrive in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Sunday, and guests will be transported to and from Oslo via motor coach. 

Princess British Isles - Iceland - Canary Islands 2012

Tower of London Bridge

British Isles, Iceland & Canary Islands cruises

The British Isles, Iceland and Greenland beckon adventurous travelers with the promise of welcoming shores, fascinating cultures and awe-inspiring landscapes. Sail with Princess Cruises on a journey to the storied cities and natural wonders you’ve always wanted to see.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

• Our popular 12-day British Isles sailing offers the best of England, Ireland and Scotland with a visit to dazzling Paris.
• 7-day Interlude Cruises on large and small ships explore charming ports in England, Ireland and Scotland.
• Sailings of 18 days or longer to remote Iceland and Greenland, some including a transatlantic crossing.
• Ring of Kerry cruisetours pairing a 12-day British Isles cruise with Ireland's most famous attractions.

If you are interested in this article, also see: 

Princess Cruises 2012-13 Europe Deployment 

Princess Mediterranean - Greek Isles - Holy Land 2012 

Princess Scandinavia - Russia - Norway 2012 

Itinerary	Itinerary Highlights†	Ship	2012 Dates
Western Europe Sampler	3 Nights London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton)	Grand	Sep 1
Ireland & Scotland Interlude	8 Nights London (Dover), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Waterford, Dublin, Glasgow (Greenock), Edinburgh (Rosyth), London (Dover) Note: These departures will offer an Optional Shore Excursion in Edinburgh to see the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo	Ocean	Aug 2, 17
Canary Islands	11 Nights London (Southampton), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Madeira (Funchal), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), London (Southampton)	Grand	Apr 21
Canary Islands	12 Nights London (Southampton), Lisbon, Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Madeira (Funchal), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), London (Southampton)	Grand	Oct 22
British Isles	12 Nights London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Dublin, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton) Note: 8/1 departure will offer an Optional Shore Excursion from Glasgow (Greenock) to see the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo	Caribbean	May 26; Jun 7; Jul 8; Aug 1
British Isles	12 Nights London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Holyhead, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton) Note: 8/13 departure will offer an Optional Shore Excursion from Glasgow (Greenock) to see the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo	Caribbean	May 14; Aug 13
Iceland & Norway	12 Nights London (Southampton), Bergen, Olden/Nordfjord, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Ålesund, Akureyri, Reykjavik, London (Southampton)	Caribbean	Jul 20
Iceland, Greenland & British Isles Explorer	14 Nights London (Southampton), Cornwall (Falmouth), Dublin, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), St. John’s (Newfoundland), New York (Brooklyn)	Caribbean	Aug 25
British Isles Passage	14 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton)	Grand	Apr 7
Western Europe Passage	14 Nights London (Southampton), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Bermuda (West End), Ft. Lauderdale	Grand	Nov 3
Passage to Europe	11 or 15 Nights San Juan, New York (Brooklyn), Halifax, Dublin, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), London (Southampton) Note: This voyage may be booked at 11 days from New York, departing May 3 or 15 days from San Juan, departing Apr 29 Apr 29 (15 days)	Caribbean	Apr 29 (15 days) May 3 (11 days)
Iceland, Greenland & Norway Explorer	16 Nights Copenhagen, Oslo, Kristiansand, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Belfast, Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), New York (Brooklyn)	Emerald	Sep 10
Northern Europe Passage	16 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Dover), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Oslo, Copenhagen	Emerald	Apr 26
British Isles & Canary Islands Grand Adventure®	25 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Madeira (Funchal), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), London (Southampton)	Grand	Apr 7
Canary Islands & Western Europe Grand Adventure®	26 Nights London (Southampton), Lisbon, Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Lanzarote (Arrecife), Madeira (Funchal), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), London (Southampton), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Bermuda (West End), Ft. Lauderdale	Grand	Oct 22
Iceland, Greenland & British Isles Grand Adventure®	26 Nights London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Holyhead, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton), Cornwall (Falmouth), Dublin, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), St. John’s (Newfoundland), New York (Brooklyn) Note: This departure will offer an Optional Shore Excursion from Glasgow (Greenock) to see the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo	Caribbean	Aug 13
Northern Europe & British Isles Grand Adventure®	23 or 27 Nights San Juan, New York (Brooklyn), Halifax, Dublin, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), London (Southampton), Guernsey (St. Peter Port), Holyhead, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Southampton) Note: This voyage may be booked at 23 days from New York departing May 3 or 27 days from San Juan, departing Apr 29	Caribbean	Apr 29 (27 days) May 3 (23 days)

†Port order and content for all itineraries may vary.

Princess Scandinavia - Russia - Norway 2012

Norwegian Fjords

Scandinavia, Russia & Norway cruises


From the glorious spires of St. Petersburg and the idyllic waterfront of Stockholm to the fjords of the Norwegian coast, Princess Cruises can show you all the inspiring sights of this breathtaking region on a wide selection of enticing cruise vacation options.

• See the best of the region on a Scandinavia & Russia cruise and longer sailings that reach the remote lands of North Cape.
• 7-day Interlude Cruises on large and small ships that visit the stunning coast of Norway or Scandinavia
• 2-Day Experiences in regal St. Petersburg to see all the palaces, museums and the city by night.
• Imperial Europe cruisetours pairing a 11-day cruise with visits to the cities of Berlin, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague.

If you are interested in this article, also see: 

Princess Cruises 2012-13 Europe Deployment 

Princess Mediterranean - Greek Isles - Holy Land 2012
Princess British Isles - Iceland - Canary Islands 2012

Itinerary	Itinerary Highlights†	Ship	2012 Dates
Norwegian Fjords Interlude	7 Nights London (Southampton or Dover), Stavanger, Olden/Nordfjord, Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, London (Southampton or Dover)	Grand Ocean	Jul 21 Aug 10
Scandinavia	7 Nights London (Southampton), Brussels/Bruges (Zeebrugge), Copenhagen, Helsingborg, Oslo, London (Southampton)	Grand Caribbean	Jun 2; Aug 25 Jul 1
Scandinavia & Russia	11 Nights Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen	Emerald	May 12, 23; Jun 3, 14, 25; Jul 6, 17, 28; Aug 8, 19, 30
North Cape & Norwegian Fjords	12 Nights London (Southampton), Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Tromsø, Lofoten Islands (Gravdal), Flåm/Sognefjord, Stavanger, London (Southampton)	Caribbean	Jun 19
Scandinavia & Russia Collection	14 Nights London (Dover), Copenhagen, Klaipeda, Riga, Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Kiel Canal Transit, Amsterdam, London (Dover)	Ocean	Jun 3; Jul 3
Baltic Heritage	14 Nights London (Southampton), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Tallinn, Gdansk (Gdynia), Oslo, London (Southampton)	Grand	Jul 7
Spitsbergen & North Cape	14 Nights London (Southampton), Stavanger, Lofoten Islands (Gravdal), Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen), Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Tromsø, Hellysylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Bergen, London (Southampton)	Grand	Jun 23
Land of the Midnight Sun	16 Nights London (Dover), Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Tromsø, Magdalenafjord scenic cruising (Spitsbergen), Ny Ålesund (Spitsbergen), Murmansk (Russia), Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Flåm/Sognefjord, London (Dover)	Ocean	Jun 17; Jul 17
Scandinavia & Russia Grand Adventure	27 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Dover), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Oslo, Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen	Emerald	Apr 26
Northern Europe Grand Adventure®	27 Nights Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Kristiansand, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Belfast, Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), New York (Brooklyn)	Emerald	Aug 30

†Port order and content for all itineraries may vary.