Discovery - Oslo and the Magic of Norway

Discovery - Oslo and the Magic of Norway

Despite the heating in the room being on full, it was still freezing so we reported it. The safe was also a pain in the bum. A maintenance man came to look at the heating, said he'd be back while we were at dinner then buggered off. We were second seating in the Seven Continents Restaurant and our waiters were Raffie, Reagan and head waiter Eric, who our table companions, Trish and Alan, had a year before as their waiter. He called himself 'Doctor' Eric as he was tending to our dietary requirements, which, like Cunard, was a pen to tick what you wanted. The wine waiter was Anthony. It's always a worry who you'll get on your table, especially on a ship with mainly old people, but Voyages of Discovery paired us well. Those on the next table were a bit stuck up and one kept staring when we were all laughing or talking about many things. No after dinner mints. You took them outside and very nice they were too.

We went to the Discovery Lounge with Alan and trish for the quiz after they told us how much fun it had been during their last cruise and it wasn't taken seriously. That would be different from usual when serial quizzers (usually old people) think it's their right to win EVERY one! They were right. It was a great laugh. Assistant cruise director Paul came and chatted to us afterwards. Alan and Trish went to the show in the Carousel Lounge at the other end of the ship while we stayed there a while then went out for deck photos. Disappointingly, the funnel was off. Grrr! It was a little windy so we didn't stay out long. The Carousel Lounge was empty by the time we got back to that deck. We had a pillow chocolate but it was Milka. Shame! But at least there was one.

The cabin was STILL freezing when we returned and the safe locked so back down to reception. This is where they got a minus point because the bloke behind the desk didn't give a toss. It seems any maintenance to your cabin shuts down after a certain time. I told him I suffer sinus headaches caused by cold air on one of my teeth and was offered a blanket! He made a note for someone to call after 9am as well as making many excuses for no one looking at the safe, including embarkation. He shut up when we told him it was reported at 8.20pm. Well we had no choice but to go back and freeze. As the blanket turned up, the phone rang saying someone would look at the heating tomorrow. Really not impressed.

Got up late and no phone call from anyone to say they were coming to look at either the heating or safe. After lunch I went for a wander around the deck and saw AIDAluna in the distance going in the opposite direction. Getting back to the room, I found a fan heater had been left and just burst out laughing at the ludicrousness of the situation. Here we were, freezing, in a force whatever pitching and rolling and they put one of the most dangerous things you can have on a ship on the table which could easy fall onto the bed, setting the blanket they gave on fire!

We watched the port lecture on Stavanger but I started feeling sick, not from the motion, but my sinus headache was coming on thanks to them thinking we deserved to freeze. I just had to get out of there, hoping it would clear up out of the cold. The heater was good but it would make it hot too fast so would have to be turned off again. I decided to try and connect to the internet and make use of this marvellous £21 bargain! Why can't other lines offer it so cheap???? However, unlike other lines where you can sign up anywhere there is wifi, the instructions in the internet place didn't say you had to buy your package at reception where they give you a username and password and neither did the Daily Programme. In fact, after signing up, he gave me the same info sheet as in the internet cafe! I didn't return to the card room but went below to the Discovery Lounge instead. I was really starting to feel ill with this headache and hungry. The weather was getting rougher and sick bags everywhere while medical staff had to attend on old lady on the deck who was feeling unwell.

Once back in the cabin, I called room service then dashed to the toilet. My headache was much better after that and room service was much appreciated! If the bloody heating was working I'd have been okay. My dentist has been trying to fix the tooth, which had become aggravated during hygiene treatment, but was unfortunately going through a process of elimination meaning I had to keep suffering sick headaches. Had a kip after that. About 7.20pm it was announced that the second sitting Captain's booze up was cancelled due to the pitching and rolling and we'd have a glass of champagne at dinner instead. It was formal night and at around 8.10pm, just as I was starting to get ready, the phone rang. It was the Chief Housekeeper saying he had another cabin for us and he would come and take me to see it. Well why not? We knew the ship wasn't full so it would be interesting to see what they offered instead of a freezer. He took me to have a look at 5382, which was the G grade window we'd been trying to upgrade to! Seems like the ship was giving us a helping hand. Sold! We would be moving after dinner. Well it was practically empty but Raffie said more were there than for first sitting. It ended up being my and my phone for the duration but at least I was served fast.

Back to the cabin and moving time! Our new steward was called Arjay but we'd miss Tony. The Chief Housekeeper appeared and asked if we'd from Eddie Johnson, the Hotel Director, who told him to move us. We hadn't so I'd pop along tomorrow and find him since no one had said why were we being moved, especially since they were more than happy for us to freeze until then. We had to hand our old card in and get the new one but Rob couldn't find his. The girl behind the desk at reception said it didn't matter and, since she just threw mine in the bin, I asked if I could keep it and she handed it back without question. Midnight buffet time! Well technically 11pm-midnight in Palm Court with Doctor Eric carefully supervising everything.

Bed and it was much calmer as the night progressed. It was Oslo in the morning, so up at 7am for breakfast in the Lido then went to find MSC Poesia, who had been behind us on the AIS. We were due for 9am with her an hour later. Somewhere between looking and going on deck, she'd overtaken! We were being stalked by two ferries anyway. It was far too windy, even in that Fjord, as the Captain announced we would be forty-five minutes late due to weather. Doesn't explain how Poesia went ahead, especially since she was docking by the Fortress and we went by the Opera House. I went back in until we were closer and by then the wind had dropped a lot. Some people were fascinated by Poesia's movie screen - bless. Wind Surf was also in, having arrived the day before and would be sailing at 11am, and also Norge, the yacht belonging to the Norwegian royal family.

I spoke to eddie Johnson, the Hotel Director, while Rob headed ashore. He told me passengers from three cabins complained about the cold aircon, ourselves included, so he moved us. Then I went back to bed. The beds seems to be aggravating my back because each morning thus far, I woke up in pain. We went for lunch after he got back and we saw Alan and Trish, who were feeling better after the previous day's bumpiness. Trish said they pushed the advance menu under the door so she could choose her food for her dietary requirement, which is really good. On shore and Rob showed me how to get to the Opera House before looking for the Hard Rock Cafe to do internet, while I took pics of my shippy then headed round to Poesia. There was so much maintenance works going on, roads and pavements, it was a good job I knew the way! It seemed to take far longer due to the path diversions. Since Poesia was about to go at 3pm, I waited - so were they, for late passengers. They gave up and left about fifteen minutes late. It was odd seeing her there, having been at the same berth in June on MSC Opera. Poesia was Opera on steroids. Back to my girly and it wasn't half as long for some reason.

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