Paid off the £31,000! BUT - still scrimping!

in_need_of_direction

Glad to hear that you’re enjoying the trip

brizzlegirl

Sounds a brilliant trip - am so pleased for you 
Brizzle x

Seasidegal58

Thanks guys!👋👋👋👋👋

@Verbatim - the ship is very comfortable - very modern, helpful friendly staff and extremely good food - whether you're a vegan or not!😀.  You are right - It is also a ferry and makes quite a few stops along the coast to drop off and load up and also Norwegians use it to get from one coastal town to another.  Sometimes it's only in a port for 15 minutes. You don't really notice this though - quite a few stops are made during the night. 

@milann and @moving_forward - you do get some relaxation time on board to surf the net and read so I decided to sort out my monthly finances!  Isn't technology wonderful!😁

Today's excursion was to the Polar Cape - the most northerly European point (only it isn't really - there's a little flat island next to it that sticks out about six feet more but you wouldn't get everyone on it!😁).  Really memorable drive up to the Cape in a convoy with a snowmobile in front in case the road up has to be cleared. Truly breathtaking Arctic landscape - we were lucky that the weather was beautifully clear when we got there but biting winds!  Then a blizzard set in so we went inside the Visitor Centre to see a short film about the Cape. Was gobsmacked - the cinema was like IMAX with a fantastic wraparound screen - who would have known all the way up there!  

Back on ship now with a nice hot coffee!😁

moving_forward

Big Green Jealous Monster eyes here! Sounds right up my street.  We aren't holidaying this year partly to hammer the debt payments but mainly as we lost one dog and one cat in the last few years and don't want to leave the other cat and dog on own in kennels without each other for company.  Its also a useful excuse when we don't want to incur further debt but don't want to state this, its "love to but cant leave the dog, cat, pet spider etc etc).  To be honest I'm not missing being away (I get home sick 3 days into a holiday) but loving hearing about your jaunts.

Cherryfudge

Your cruise is sounding marvellous. I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights. Maybe I will one day and a cruise sounds so tempting...

Seasidegal58

Hi @Cherryfudge and @moving_forward 👋👋

For years cruising didn't appeal to me at all as I always thought of it as rather old-fogeyish or a bit too hi-di-hi like - if you get what I mean.  This cruise has been wonderful though - I think you have to find something that would appeal to you and also do your homework as on speaking to friends etc who have cruised before, you have to pick your cruise companies carefully - the line I'm travelling with has had consistently excellent reviews. I never thought that DD would stomach a cruise as she likes to be very active, but she has really enjoyed the excursions she has taken so far. 

I understand what you mean about leaving your animals moving_forward. I haven't got any pets at the moment but DD's feline hated being put in a cattery - she would sulk for days on her return and wouldn't speak to anyone!😾!  Now one of DD's stepsons lives with them so luckily he looks after her whenever her and her OH are away.  😺😺😺😺

Sun_Addict

Sounds like you’re having a fabulous time. One plus for me with DD still living with us is that we have an in house pet sitter when we go on holiday. 

Seasidegal58

Thanks SA - having somebody living in to pet-sit is certainly better for the animal's mental health!  DD's cat also hates travelling so she invariably threw up in her carrier before she arrived at the cattery!🙀.  Live in pet-sitters also save on the pricey cattery/kennel bills!

Just relaxing now before we go out on deck to see how the sky is.  Although the really clear skies are expected in the very early hours and I don't think I can stay up that late as we've an early start tomorrow morning as we're off on a husky sled trip!🐺

Also had a bit of an expensive purchase today - the hand sanitiser that we're asked to use before going in and out of the restaurant has reacted on my hands quite badly and they're very dry and red now. I've unfortunately forgotten my Aveeno hand cream and had to buy hand cream from the ship's shop. The only sort they had is some rather posh type that's not as good as Aveeno and has cost a bomb!  Just under £20 when I worked out the rate!😠

milann

Husky sled trip sounds amazing - bet you’ll have some amazing photos to help you remember your trip. 

Ouch to the cost of hand cream but better than having sore hands.

beanielou

Enjoy yourself