We had a good breakfast at the Hotel Clarion Bergen in their restaurant which only seems to serve breakfast and no other meals. We needed to check out by midday but check in at the ship was not until 3pm and we had read how slow this is. So rather than be there at 3pm we hung around in the hotel and left there by taxi at around 3.45 pm and arrived the port ten minutes later in the slight rain and damp.
Yep, there was quite a big line of people with their cases waiting to be checked in by ONE STAFF member and it was taking her approx 5-6 minutes per time. So with about 25 guest waiting to check in we just had to wait. Eventually a further two staff members arrived but it still took us nearly 45 minutes to do a simple check in task. The signs overhead the check desk said that the ship would be open to board after 4pm and as it was now 4.30 we went to watch the safety video and organise a our dinner table for the duration of the trip. The sign had also said the cabins would not be available until 6pm and so we waited in the café and the server said they always announce when the cabins were ready, only they did not do it this time and so we hung around till 6.15 pm and then noticed there were guests arriving for dinner uncluttered by baggage and so check again.
Whilst waiting we had struck up a conversation with an Australian couple from Adelaide who were both retired schoolteachers and we chatted to them for a while , they are nice couple but they are doing a few days on the ship and not the round trip before heading to Helsinki and they leave there for Adelaide. Anyway at 6.20 we headed to find our cabin and our baggage was already there and so we threw all out stuff in the room and then headed off for dinner.
It was restricted dinner for the first evening and limited choice by Jen had the lamb and Noel the salmon with appropriate vegetable to to accompany. After dinner we stopped for a coffee and then returned to the cabin to unpack all out stuff . The cabin is very nice and of a good standard as the ship is only about one year old.
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Unfortunately Noel has picked up a cold and has a slight temp and so went to bed early for what turned out to be restless night . However he did listen to the commentary on the Chelsea vs Manchester United game and it started out with CFC being two goals up but they gave it way at which point I thought here we go again only to be surprised to find out they won 4-3 at the very end.
I think a quiet day for Noel tomorrow.
