Review of a Norway cruise on the Emerald Princess in June 2025 (1) (page 4 of 7)

Thursday, June 26, at sea

The sea is calm and the sun is hit-or-miss.

A little issue will keep us busy for part of the morning.

On embarkation day, the servers tried to sell us a drink package, which we clearly declined, explaining that we don’t drink enough to make it worth it.

Today, while checking our bill, we notice two packages at $1,040 each listed on our account. A quick trip to guest services to understand and cancel this drink package we’re not using. We insist we never purchased it. "Did you use the internet package?" No. We didn’t even know this package included internet.

The staff member suggests we might have bought it before boarding and wants to verify. Then she admits the package was credited onboard and asks for two days to cancel it... To be continued.

To clear our heads and stretch our legs, the best solution is a little walk on the promenade deck, even if it’s a bit chilly. A few laps and we feel better.





A view we never get tired of, cruise after cruise.



To wrap up the afternoon, we prefer the sun loungers with a blanket over an indoor lounge.

Tonight, we’re invited to the Platinum cocktail party, and we have a great time with an Australian couple and a lovely Englishwoman from Southampton who cruises often.

After dinner, we enjoy a really nice musical moment in the Atrium. The ship’s musicians, all together, form a great orchestra and play a mix of Celtic music, movie tunes, and pop hits.

hi Catherine, I got your report—I just got back from the REGAL PRINCESS yesterday😉

Hi Isa,

Hope your cruise went well and that you’ll tell us all about it. 😉 I’ll try to post the rest of mine because yesterday it wasn’t working—the system kept rejecting my photos. 🙁

Friday, June 27, Molde

The darkness of night returned for a brief moment. At 7 AM, the sun is already high in the sky. With these big clouds, the light is stunning.



Molde is a charming little town nicknamed the "City of Roses." It’s known for its many gardens and panoramic view of the 222 mountain peaks surrounding it. Founded in the Middle Ages as a trading post, it developed over the centuries thanks to the timber and textile industries.







It’s even more beautiful with a little sunshine.



To start the day, we wanted to head to Hjertoya Island (in the foreground of some of the photos above), which is very close to the port. To do that, we needed to find the right ferry, so we set off toward the terminal where they dock. The waterfront is lovely, and the view of the 222 peaks surrounding the city is breathtaking.





Ferries come and go, but at their docking spots, there’s no one around—no staff, no information, not even a QR code to find details. We won’t be going to Hjertoya Island today.

Roses are everywhere, and it must be gorgeous during full bloom. But it’s still a bit early in the season to enjoy them—only a few early flowers have opened.



to be continued...

Friday, June 27, Molde (part 1 continued)

While strolling through the town center, in the main square that slopes down to the sea, a few vendors are setting up their stalls before the tourists arrive. One stand offers excursions to cross the mountains behind Molde to see the Atlantic Road. The Atlantic Road is a famous and impressive route made up of a series of bridges that wind along more than eight kilometers of the Atlantic coastline. It connects a series of small islands and islets in a spectacular landscape.



We book this tour for an 11:30 AM departure by minibus. Prices are listed in NOK and euros, and we pay 65 € per person.



While waiting for the departure time, we continue exploring this charming little town on foot.







The meet-up time arrives just as the rain starts to fall. Once again, we’ll stay dry, and the minibus is very comfortable.

The countryside is stunning. The ever-changing weather keeps shifting the lighting, and the dramatic sky creates beautiful scenes. In just a few minutes, we go from a downpour to a ray of sunshine.









to be continued...

Hi everyone, It's still impossible to upload photos today... Maybe tomorrow...

Friday, June 27, Molde (part 2)

As we approached the Atlantic Road, the landscape changed completely, shifting from fertile countryside to rugged islets and reefs swept by the wind.





A tourist-friendly site with a pedestrian walkway lets you admire and take in the scale of these structures in this unique environment.





The aerial photo displayed on the site gives you a sense of the full scope of these works as a whole.



The bridges are anchored on rocks scattered across the sea. When one of them, more impressive than the others, suddenly rises to span a great distance, connecting all these little pieces at the edge of the world.





This next stop lets you view the structure from a different angle.





to be continued...

Friday, June 27, Molde (Part 3)

The sky puts on a show and makes the return trip beautiful.







Once again, we don’t eat before 3 PM. But since the boat is docked in the city center, it’s easy to go back ashore for one last stroll in this charming little town. We’re lucky—the rain that was supposed to arrive at 3 PM has been pushed back to 5 PM.





Back on the boat around 5 PM, the weather has once again delayed the rain—now until 3 AM. Perfect for us! We have time to enjoy a little reading on a lounge chair, half in the sun as it keeps playing hide-and-seek with the clouds.

While we’re getting ready for the evening, an announcement from the captain is broadcast throughout the ship, including the cabins, warning us that we’ll be facing a serious bout of bad weather tomorrow night. Of course, the captain assures us he’ll adjust the ship’s route to make the navigation as comfortable as possible. Still, he recommends securing anything that can be secured and clearing away anything that might fall to avoid accidents.

This is the first time we’ve been given such an advance warning—I feel bad for those who are afraid of rough seas, as this news is likely to stress them out.

Tonight, the weather is still nice, and we settle at a table in the café next to the window to enjoy the scenic navigation during dinner. The landscape passing by is stunning and constantly changing. Sometimes the coast is rugged, other times long, gentle slopes descend toward the sea, all dressed in a lovely spring green. Occasionally, small villages appear in the scenery. Unfortunately, the salt-covered windows make it impossible to take photos. We spend a long, beautiful moment admiring this incredible navigation through the fjord. Then, the coast gradually fades away into the sea—it was truly breathtaking.

Hi Catherine, Those rock bridges you followed look amazing. You’ve seen some beautiful landscapes. Thanks for the great photos! Were you "shaken up" like your Captain mentioned? Have a nice Sunday! Guylène.

Hi Guylène, Of course I’ll tell you about the storm, but we’ve still got a day before it hits... 😉

Saturday, June 28, Trondheim

Trondheim has a rich maritime history dating back to the Viking era. Founded in 997, it was Norway’s first capital until 1217. The city was an important center of trade and power. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Nidelva River and its deep fjord made it an ideal natural port. Throughout its history, the port of Trondheim played a crucial role in trade between Norway and other parts of Europe, particularly for the export of fish, timber, and minerals. In the 19th century, the city became an industrial hub with the establishment of shipyards and factories. The port was modernized to accommodate larger and more numerous ships. In the 20th century, Trondheim diversified its economy, but its port remained a key element of its development. Today, the port of Trondheim is one of the most important in Norway, serving as a hub for trade, fishing, and tourism.

The weather is pretty gloomy this morning. Rain is forecast for almost the entire day, though it should lighten up around 10 a.m., so we’ll head out then.



Well, that’s what I thought, but with a husband who’s not very patient, we end up leaving at 9:20 a.m. in heavy rain.



This beautiful yellow building, which adds a pop of color, is the train station.

The city isn’t looking its best in these conditions—pretty gloomy, dark, and deserted at this hour. Everything’s still closed. A few colorful umbrellas and the Britania Hotel add a touch of brightness.





We’re not bothered by crowds...



Nidaros Cathedral, built in the Middle Ages on the tomb of Saint Olav (King of Norway who died in 1030), made the city a major religious center. It was the main pilgrimage site for all of Northern Europe at the time. The construction and upkeep of the cathedral attracted master builders, sculptors, and glassmakers, which developed the city’s expertise and wealth. The influx of pilgrims boosted local trade. Even today, it remains a major tourist attraction.



to be continued...

Saturday, June 28, Trondheim (part 1)

We find a covered terrace in front of the magnificent Gothic façade of the cathedral where we can take shelter while waiting for the worst of the rain to pass.



With these very wet conditions the sky is offering us, we stick to the essentials. Just a short distance from the cathedral is the Gamle Bybro, or more simply the city’s historic bridge.



It was built after a devastating fire in the 17th century. It served as a checkpoint for goods entering and leaving the city, with guardhouses at each end. It also provided passage to the Kristiansten Fortress. Today, it has become a pedestrian walkway.



This oldest bridge in the city offers a magnificent view of the Nidelva River and the colorful buildings of the Bakklandet district.





We bravely continue, still in the rain, toward the Kristiansten Fortress. The climb is steep and passes through a residential neighborhood of beautiful houses, often surrounded by well-tended flower gardens. Even in the rain, they’re lovely.



The rain intensifies just as we arrive at the Kristiansten Fortress.



The site is open for a self-guided walk along the ramparts, between the bastions and barracks, and to enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Trondheim and the fjord.



to be continued…

Saturday, June 28, Trondheim (part 2)

The site must be very pleasant in good weather. It’s used in the summer for cultural events, concerts, and open-air theater performances.



The fortress also houses a small museum that tells its history and its role in defending the city through different eras.

The fortress was built on a hill to provide a strategic view of Trondheim and the Trondheim Fjord. In the 17th century, it was a crucial defense point against enemy invasions. The fortress also served as a military prison for part of its history. In the 19th century, it was used as a military hospital, and during World War II, it was occupied by German forces.

The rain wore down our resistance—we’d had enough, so we headed back. Continuing in those conditions wasn’t pleasant.

Often, barns, garden sheds, and even bus shelters are covered with green roofs. That’s the case with this garage, where the greenery is particularly beautiful and in bloom.



During our walk, the city woke up and came to life. And miraculously, the rain stopped. We crossed a very charming tourist market.



The selection of gourmet treats is vast: cheeses of all colors, crepes, waffles, and many other delicious specialties, like dried reindeer meat, reindeer sausage, and even sausages grilling on the spot.





By early afternoon, the rainy spell was over, and the clouds let through a few rays of sunshine. That was all we needed to feel like exploring the city again—we hadn’t seen much of it yet. Our clothes and umbrellas had time to dry, perfect.

With a hiking route we found on Wikiloc, we started by crossing neighborhoods with no charm—buildings, roundabouts, traffic lights... Not great.

Until we reached a footbridge crossing the fjord, leading us to a completely rehabilitated old industrial district.



to be continued…

Hi Catherine, I always enjoy following you 😎—your photos are absolutely stunning and perfectly illustrate your story. What a treat! The forecasted bad weather reminded me of my cruise in Norway twelve or thirteen years ago.

The captain had also warned us about a storm, so to avoid it, we changed our itinerary to explore an unplanned fjord where we took a new excursion: "The Elves' Road." This replaced our scheduled stop in Bergen the day after next...

I was relieved by the change, as you know I’m prone to seasickness. That evening, I was at the restaurant when the ship left the fjord and reached the open sea... And then: disaster. I didn’t have my "Mer Calme" pills on me. I was sick all evening and night, throwing up the pills I took too late back in the cabin... Still a painful memory! Since then, I always keep them in all my bags, and before every departure, I check the marine weather because you can never be too careful!

Thanks Catherine, I’m so happy to hear from you. When the captain announced the storm, you were the first person I thought of, relieved you weren’t there and that you’d be better off in the Mediterranean. It’s ideal when the captain can change the itinerary, but we were already set for two days of sailing across the North Sea to reach Edinburgh. It was hard to do anything else. Seasickness is a real nightmare when you suffer from it. It’s only happened to me twice, and not too badly, but that’s enough to understand how awful it is.

Hello, I’m sorry, once again today the site won’t let me upload photos. 🙁

The issue is still ongoing... maybe tomorrow... VF assured me they’re looking into the root cause. Have a great day, everyone.

Hi Catherine!

What a shame I’ll miss our evening reading.

I’m going on vacation next week in the Indian Ocean. Even with the time difference, I’ll keep reading on the beach between cocktails.

Can’t wait to read the next part!

Alfred

Hi Alfred, For me too, it's frustrating not being able to continue—it cuts the momentum. It won’t be unpleasant on the beach with a cocktail 😉 and it’ll be refreshing. 😏 Have a great vacation, enjoy! !

Hello everyone, How lucky! It’s working today!

Saturday, June 28, Trondheim (part 3)

The first part of this neighborhood has turned into a trendy cluster of bars and restaurants around a shopping center.





We follow a passageway that continues between renovated old industrial buildings.





Then, crossing two small bridges, we arrive in charmingly renovated old streets where the colorful houses are generously in bloom.







These streets lead us to the Bakklandet district and the historic bridge we saw this morning. Without the rain, it’s much better.





to be continued...