3 Top Things To Do in Hellesylt Cruise Port

Hellesylt, Norway

Recall from last time that we left the Jewel of the Seas in Geiranger, Norway for an all day tour, Journey to Briksdal Glacier . Usually you begin and end your tour in the same port of call, but that isn't the case with Geiranger. The ship stayed there for most of the day so people could stay in town if they chose to. At 3:30 PM, it set sail for Hellesylt, where the majority of the passengers, who'd been on tours, would rejoin the ship.

During My Cruise Stop in Hellesylt I'd...

Photograph a Waterfall

The site of the village on the mountain sides at the end of the Sunnylvs Fiord is exceptionally picturesque. Right through the centre, 100 meters from Grand Hotel, the Hellesylt waterfall gushes down into the Fiord. This waterfall is one of the most photographed sites in Norway. Of course, we were obliged to get a few pictures of our own.

Relax & Enjoy Picturesque Views

Hellesylt is a small village in the Stranda Municipality, which is a part of the Møre and Romsdal County in the western part of Norway. Our motor coach arrived in this little town and parked near the dock where we would board a tender boat to rejoin our ship.

Hellesylt is well known for for its colorful history, and in the old street most of the old buildings are still intact.  Our tour was behind schedule, so we didn't have much time before we had to board the tender boat.

Not Miss Sail Away

Before boarding the last tender boat, we clicked a few more pictures of the waterfall and of our ship, which despite its 90,090 gross tons, was dwarfed by the fjords.  Words cannot describe the view - you must bring a camera, or at least your smart phone, with you to capture this moment in time to cherish forever.

The tender boat had an upper level, which we selected so that we could capture images of the fjord and our ship from this vantage point.  The ship grew larger as we approached, but it was still dwarfed by its surroundings.


We had late dinner plans, so we were able to relax on our aft balcony verandah, enjoying a glass of wine with friends, as we sailed away (see photo album).

From Hellesylt we sailed for our next port of call, Flåm , where we would see an even more amazing waterfall.

Our 12 Night British Isles / Norwegian Fjords cruise continued to be an exceptional cruise with wonderful memories. When updating my website, and posting to this blog, I can't help but recall those fabulous days in the Norwegian Fjords. I do hope you get to experience this magnificent country some day. 

4 Things To Help Plan Vacation in Hurricane Season

2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season Began Today

2014 Pacific Hurricane Season Began May 15th

Does that Mean we Should Not Cruise ?

Of course not !!   You won't find a ship in the middle of a hurricane - so you should be safe.

What You Need To Know Before You Book

So You Want To Cruise or Vacation at a Resort During Hurricane Season ...

What to Expect

Pros & Cons

How to Prepare

Protecting Your Investment

The kids are out of school, you've saved up enough time to take a vacation, but you find out that the only time you have available is right in the middle of Hurricane Season.   Do you throw in the towel and forget your plans?   Or, is there hope after all that you can have a vacation?

What to Expect

That's an easy one to answer.   First of all, Expect the unexpected!!  You might think that sounds a bit ominous.  Well, not really.   If you have a plan in mind for unexpected situations, you can easily adapt to whatever comes your way.  We'll talk about how to prepare a bit later.

Hurricane season runs approximately from June 1 - November 30th.   This year, the first storm came a few days ahead of schedule, helping to make our point about expecting the unexpected. 

Secondly, Expect that your plans might have to change!!  There is only so much that you have control over in your life.  You certainly have no control over the weather, and the impact it may have on your plans.  

Finally, Expect that Safety will take Precedence over your vacation itinerary!!  Regardless of whether you are staying at a vacation resort or about to get on a cruise ship, you can be certain that a tropical storm heading your way can potentially alter your original plans.

Pros & Cons

Let's assume that you have decided to go ahead with a vacation in a tropical region that has the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes.   Knowing differences between the two major categories of vacations can help you select the right vacation for you.

We are making the assumption that you have planned your vacation in advance.  This means that you aren't selecting your destination with prior knowledge of the current weather forecast.   Tropical storms often form quickly with little or no warning and can often change course.

Some of the major differences:

VACATION	PRO	CON
Land - Resort	Can select destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Selecting a location inland may lessen impact of a storm approaching the coast Everyone at the resort has the same experience in a storm (don't have to contend with rough waves for example) If the resort is part of a family of properties, they may be able to offer alternative plans if a storm is approaching Safety is of utmost concern to the resort management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	Activities may be curtailed in advance of the storm Resort might have to evacuate due to the storm, ending your vacation A previous storm may have made reaching your destination impossible, causing cancellation Vacation destination is in a fixed location which can't move to avoid a storm Majority of activities are outdoors (such as water sports) so there is little to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is highly likely that your vacation could be cancelled or terminated early due to weather
Sea - Cruise	Can select cruise destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Ships can adjust their schedule to avoid approaching tropical storms and other severe weather Even if the embarkation port is unreachable or damaged from a prior storm, alternate plans can be made to depart from a different location There are activities indoors  (often including water sports) so there is still plenty to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is unlikely that a cruise will be cancelled or terminated early due to weather  Safety is of utmost concern to the cruise line management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	You may not get to the destination(s) you planned Ports may be skipped and others substituted Embarkation and debarkation ports could be changed causing travel deviations (eg. flights) There could be rough seas causing discomfort for those that have problems with motion sickness  Depending on your cabin location on the ship, you may feel the effects of the sea more than others

Flexibility is a Must

Each of you will look at the table above and draw your own conclusions.  One thing we want to point out is that your plans should be flexible if you are traveling during hurricane season.  If you desire to get away to some tropical destination and aren't set on a particular port, a cruise could be the perfect choice.  For example: it is highly probable that an East Caribbean vacation could instantly become a Western Caribbean cruise if a tropical storm warning is posted for the other region.

In the Atlantic this season, there have been six named storms to date.  Of those, only two of them impacted cruises at all.  The most recent storm, Ernesto, was the most disruptive impacting several ships in the region.  In all those cases, there were changes to destination ports and the cruise continued providing a tropical vacation.   Resorts in the area, were drenched by heavy rains.

The Rest of the Story ...
 

Read more about preparation and taking steps to protect your vacation investment:  Preparing for Vacation During Hurricane Season

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

In Search of Best Cruise Fruit Art

Cruise + Fruit + Creativity

 = #CruiseFruitArt

Welcome aboard - your cabin is being prepared - join us in the buffet for lunch while you wait.

We've just completed our series on Hurricane Preparedness and decided that we should find something a bit lighter to talk about.  So, looking through our photo archives, we stumbled upon this image from our Celebrity Century cruise to the Arctic Circle & North Cape.  Furthermore, we decided that we'd create a new Pinterest board and start pinning more of these Fruit Art images.

Hello Come In - Welcome Aboard

When we entered the buffet, these fruit people greeted us and we definitely felt welcome.  Creations like these are made by some very talented crew members, whose only mission is to make every moment on board the ship enjoyable.  

Special Presentations

Turning back the clock a bit, besides finding fruit art in the welcome aboard buffet, it wasn't unusual for there to be an evening set aside during the cruise to showcase the work of these talented individuals.  This image was captured on Celebrity Zenith, which is no longer part of the Celebrity Cruises fleet.   One evening the late night buffet featured these fruit creations.

Grand buffets are pretty much a thing of the past, but there still are many opportunities to view the handiwork of talented crew members.

Watermelon Art

Some of our favorite fruit art was carved out of watermelons.   This image was captured during our Carnival Conquest cruise which happened to coincide with this year's Superbowl game.  Just look at the intricacy of this design.

We have many more example of watermelon fruit art in our new Pinterest board.

We are doubtful that the ship on the right is sea worthy.   However, it definitely is worthy of inclusion in our Cruise Fruit Art collection.

Help Us Find Cruise Fruit Art

Click here to visit our Pinterest board and see more of these fun fruit sculptures.   Do you have any images that you'd like to contribute?  

Two Ways to Contribute

• Follow our Pinterest Cruise Fruit Art board (Add your pins by first asking to be a contributor - follow instructions on the board)
• Follow us on Twitter  @ChrisPappinMCC (Include #CruiseFruitArt  in your Tweeted image)

Which cruise line has the best fruit art? 

We'll start things off with several images from our archives. Include information about the Cruise Line in your pin / tweet so that we can see who has the most creative artists.

Hurricane Preparedness 2014 - After the Storm

Recovering from Disaster

Final In the 2014 Series

Hurricane Preparedness Week playlist on YouTube

Rebuilding After the Storm


We conclude our coverage of the 2014 Hurricane Preparedness Week by looking at recovering from the storm.  Three organizations come to mind when you think about the aftermath of a hurricane or other natural disaster:  FEMA, Red Cross, and the National Guard.  There are many other organizations and individuals that also play a key role in providing immediate and long-term assistance to those impacted by the hazards of hurricanes and other natural disasters.


Recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process with the first concern being immediate search and recovery while keeping safety in mind.   After the area has been made safe, the recovery process can begin.  Here are some resources that are helpful after the storm:

• Health and Safety Guidelines
• Returning Home
• Seeking Disaster Assistance
• Coping with Disaster
• Helping Others
• Returning Home After a Hurricane or Flood - English | Spanish

Even with all the scientific advances in recent years, it is still impossible to predict how many storms will occur in a given year and what communities lie in their path.   Just like in sports, the best defense is a good offense.

NOW is the TIME to PREPARE

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Hurricane Preparedness 2014 - Get a Plan

In this case, Hurricane Preparedness is that secret play that can make the difference in loss of property and lives.  It is for that reason that we have participated with NOAA, FEMA and other organizations in sharing these public service announcements.   We have been covering hurricane preparedness for years, so if you still need more information, you can check out some of our other articles which can be found via links in our Hurricane Zone page.

We are reminded about some disturbing news, published by the American Red Cross, about how Despite Sandy’s Damage, U.S. Coastal Residents Still Unprepared. 

An infographic on the survey findings can be viewed here.

American Red Cross Urges People to Get Ready for Hurricanes

Hurricane Preparedness 2014 - Get a Plan

Click on this interactive image to learn more about being prepared for Hurricanes and other Disasters

NOW is the TIME to PREPARE

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Below Normal: Atlantic      

Above Normal: Central & Eastern Pacific

A normal to below normal hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin this year according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. See Related Blog Posts section below for links to NOAA outlooks for each region as well as hurricane preparedness information.

“The U.S. was spared from a hurricane last year, but that does not mean we will be as fortunate during the 2014 season,” said Rick Knabb, Ph.D., director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. "Prepare for a hurricane now before one threatens your area, and find out if you are in a hurricane evacuation zone."

The president recently designated May 26 - June 1, 2013 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. NOAA and FEMA encourage those living in hurricane-prone states to use this time to review their overall preparedness. More information on individual and family preparedness can be found at www.Ready.gov and www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.

"Preventing the loss of life and minimizing the damage to property from hurricanes are responsibilities that are shared by all"

"FEMA is working across the administration and with our state and local partners to ensure we're prepared for hurricane season," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "But we can only be as prepared as the public, so it's important that families and businesses in coastal communities take steps now to be ready. These include developing a communications plan, putting together a kit, and staying informed of the latest forecasts and local emergency plans. You can't control when a hurricane or other emergency may happen, but you can make sure you're ready."

Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance: how you will get to a safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations. Read more about Family Communication during an emergency.

Ready.gov has made it simple for you to make a family emergency plan. Download the Family Emergency Plan (FEP) (PDF - 750 Kb) and fill out the sections before printing it or emailing it to your family and friends.  ‏Learn what your family can do before, during, & after a hurricane: Know The Facts For Kids #HurricanePrep

Disaster Prevention should include:

• Developing a Family Plan
  
•  Creating a Disaster Supply Kit
•  Having a Place to Go
•  Securing your Home
•  Having a Pet Plan

Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide (pdf) - Spanish Version (pdf)

"How To" guides for protecting your property from flooding & high winds. (FEMA)

Be Red Cross Ready Are you Red Cross Ready? Click here to launch an interactive module with pictures, audio and video content. More on what to do before, during and after a hurricane can be found at: redcross.org/prepare/disaster/hurricane. An infographic on the survey findings can be viewed here.

Related Blog Posts & Links

• Hurricane Preparedness 2014 - Forecast Process
• 2014 Hurricane Preparedness - Flooding
• 2014 Hurricane Preparedness - High Winds
• Hurricane Preparedness 2014 - Storm Surge
• 2014 Hurricanes - How They Work
• 2014 Hurricane Preparedness Week
• NOAA 2014 Hurricane Season Predictions
• 2014 CSU Atlantic Hurricane Prediction
• 5 Chances to See Hurricane Hunter Aircraft 

• Colorado State University 
• Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 
• NOAA/ National Weather Service 
• WMO Severe Weather Info Centre 
• National Hurricane Center (NHC) 
• NWS Regional Offices and Centers
• Hurricane Preparedness
• Travel With Protection Against Unexpected 
• Weather

More links and information about tropical storms and other weather conditions can be found in the Weather & Hurricane Zone tabs above.


Hurricane Preparedness Week:   May 25 - May 31, 2014

During My Cruise I'd Walk On a Glacier

Have You Visited Alaska?
Wasn't It Amazing?
Want To See More Spectacular Views?

Imagine a place where you'll see fertile valleys, majestic mountains, waterfalls and glaciers. Yes, you can even get up close to a glacier like the people in this picture. Join us on our journey to Norway and the exquisite Norwegian Fjords.

Geiranger, Norway

View from Your Balcony

I've left you imagining the Norwegian Fjords long enough. I can assure you that the picture you have in your mind is about to be surpassed. To the left is a picture from our balcony as we arrived in Geiranger, Norway. The stillness of the morning was broken by the sound of rushing water. The ship doesn't dock alongside a pier in Geiranger. Instead, the ship uses its lifeboats to tender the passengers ashore.

We booked the Journey to Briksdal Glacier RCCL shore excursion so we were one of the first passengers to disembark the vessel. We boarded our motor coach and drove through the small village of Geiranger arriving at the Flydal Gorge (approximately 1,000 feet above sea level) where we had a fantastic view of the fjord and ship below as you can see in this picture. Look how small the Jewel of the Seas looks in the middle of the fjord. From this overlook, we continued our journey up the mountain to Dalsnibba which is at 4500 feet elevation.

Dalsnibba is a mountain in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. It is located above the town of Geiranger, 7 km away from Geirangerfjord. It offers very good lookout opportunities and thus is a very popular tourist destination. Dalsnibba is often covered by the snow even in the summer. It is hard to tell whether you'll have a good view until you get to the mountain top. Unfortunately, there was extensive cloud cover and fog when we arrived. It did start to clear as we descended the mountain peak. Note the hairpin curves that the motor coaches had to make. There were times when one bus had to back up to allow another one to pass. It sure makes one glad they aren't the driver. Even with the overcast sky, the view was amazing.


Our tour continued as we drove down the mountain on our way to Briksdalen Mountain. When we arrived at at the Briksdalen Glacier, we disembarked the motor coach and entered Briksdal Inn for a typical Norwegian lunch. Following lunch we had free time to explore the glacier on our own.

There are three ways to get near the glacier - walking, riding in a horse cart, or riding in a jeep. Regardless of the method you choose, you will still need to walk on rugged terrain to get close to the face of Briksdal Glacier. Since we had limited time there, we opted for transportation by jeep. There is a nominal charge for both the jeep and the horse cart, so make sure you have some cash. You will definitely want to have a good pair of hiking shoes.

Here is a closeup of the glacial ice for those of you that haven't seen a glacier before. You'll notice the telltale bluish tint to the ice. It is possible to go onto the glacier itself, but it isn't practical with the limited amount of time during this particular organized tour. You probably wouldn't guess that we weren't on the glacier when we took this closeup picture. With today's cameras, it's possible to get great photos from a distance. We have two albums with pictures from this shore excursion. See our Geiranger album and Briksdal Glacier album for some more photos of this wonderful port of call.

Our tour wasn't complete at this point in time, so next time I'll tell you about our trip back to Hellesylt where we rejoined our ship.

Hurricane Preparedness 2014 - Forecast Process

Hurricane Forecast Process

Fifth In the 2014 Series

Hurricane Preparedness Week playlist on YouTube

Update on NHC Products and Services for 2014 (PDF)

Forecast Process
We continue our coverage of the 2014 Hurricane Preparedness Week by looking at the tropical weather forecasting process.

6 Hour Forecast Cycle When a storm threatens the following occurs 0:00 A new hurricane forecast cycle begins. 0:45 Receive the location of the center of the hurricane. 1:00 Initialize or start thehurricane models with the storm's location and intensity 1:20 Receive model guidance and prepare a new hurricane forecast. 2:00 Coordinate with National Weather Service and Dept. of Defense. 3:00 Issue the full hurricane advisory package. ISSUANCE TIME: 5am EDT (4 CDT) 11am EDT (10 CDT) 5pm EDT (4 CDT) 11pm EDT (10 CDT) 3:15 Participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conference call with the affected states. 6:00 A new hurricane forecast cycle begins. ** When a Watch or a Warning is issued, intermediate advisories are initiated. MORE INFO ON FORECAST PRODUCTS Source:  NHC: Forecast Process (Learn More)

Part of the mission of the National Weather Service (NWS) Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) is to save lives and protect property by issuing watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous weather conditions in the tropics. This section provides information about the roles of those responsible for providing hurricane information to emergency managers and decision makers. The TPC is comprised of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB), and the Technical Support Branch (TSB). During hurricane season, the latter two provide support to the NHC. The local NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) in hurricane-prone areas are also important participants in the forecast process. OBSERVATION Observations including satellites, buoys, reconnaissance aircraft, and radar are the basis for all forecast and warning products issued by the NHC. Quality, quantity, and timeliness of remote sensing observations are critical for accurate and timely forecasts and warnings. ANALYSIS The various observations are checked for quality, analyzed, and put into a suite of computer models.  MODEL GUIDANCE AND INTERPRETATION The computer models take in the observations and perform millions of calculations to generate predictions of hurricane behavior and the general conditions of the atmosphere in which the hurricane is embedded. The model results are packaged as guidance for the appropriate national centers and local offices and for evaluation and use in the NWS's forecast and warning process. COORDINATION WITHIN THE NWS Forecasts and warnings are coordinated between the national centers and local forecast offices to provide consistency, which is critical during severe weather episodes.