Stavanger (27.06. / June 27)

Two sea days are now behind us, as is the last port of this cruise. Tomorrow it's time to cast off towards Kiel. It’s hard to believe how quickly these two weeks have passed.

Our last shore excursion took us to Stavanger yesterday. The city was literally bursting at the seams because a street food festival had been taking place since Wednesday, drawing a large number of visitors. In the afternoon we had booked a catamaran tour through the Lysefjord – and it was the perfect conclusion to our journey. For almost three hours, we glided through a landscape that left us in awe time and again. During the trip, we made a cozy stop where freshly baked waffles and a cup of coffee were served. A small break couldn't look better.

You simply couldn't get enough of the steep rock walls, the waterfalls, and the deep blue fjord. We took countless photos. At some points, I felt a bit reminded of Yosemite National Park in California – only with considerably more water. To be honest: I could easily stay here for quite a while.

The warm weather had also finally caught up with us. Admittedly, at around 25 degrees it was still much more pleasant than the temperatures that Germany is currently experiencing. However, it was surprisingly muggy well into the afternoon, making it feel significantly hotter.

In the evening, the big 'Northern White Nights' party was scheduled on the pool deck. Unfortunately, I had been hit by a rather stubborn cold by then. While others danced the night away in white, I made myself comfortable in the cabin with tissues and a blanket. Not exactly the party I had planned – but probably the more sensible decision.

And so, a wonderful cruise comes to an end. We saw breathtaking landscapes, discovered fascinating places, and gathered countless unforgettable impressions. We laughed, enjoyed excellent food, sampled countless delicious cocktails, and relished the first-class service on board.

It was two weeks full of beautiful memories – and one thing is certain: the wanderlust has already begun again. ❤️

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Two relaxing sea days are now behind us, as is the final port of this cruise. Tomorrow it's time to cast off for Kiel. It's hard to believe how quickly these two weeks have flown by.

Our last stop ashore took us to Stavanger yesterday, where the city was absolutely bursting at the seams. A street food festival had been running since Wednesday, drawing huge crowds and filling every corner with people and delicious aromas. In the afternoon, we had booked a catamaran cruise through the Lysefjord—and it turned out to be the perfect grand finale to our journey. For almost three hours, we glided through scenery so spectacular that it left us speechless time and time again. Halfway through, we stopped for a cozy break, complete with freshly baked waffles and a cup of coffee. Honestly, it's hard to imagine a more perfect coffee break.

The towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and deep-blue fjord were simply impossible to get enough of. We took countless photos, trying to capture at least a fraction of the beauty around us. In a few places, I was genuinely reminded of the Yosemite National Park—just with considerably more water. I have to admit, I could happily spend quite a while here.

By now, summer had finally caught up with us. At around 25°C (77°F), the weather was still far more pleasant than the temperatures currently roasting Germany, but the air was surprisingly humid until well into the afternoon, making it feel much warmer than the thermometer suggested.

That evening, the big Northern White Nights party was held on the pool deck. Unfortunately, by then I had been thoroughly defeated by a rather stubborn cold. So while everyone else was dressed in white and dancing the night away, I spent the evening wrapped in a blanket in the cabin, surrounded by tissues. Not exactly the party I'd imagined—but probably the wiser choice.

And with that, this wonderful cruise came to an end. We experienced breathtaking landscapes, discovered fascinating places, and collected countless unforgettable memories. We laughed, enjoyed outstanding food, sampled more delicious cocktails than we probably should have, and were thoroughly spoiled by the exceptional service on board.

These two weeks have given us memories we'll treasure for a long time—and one thing is already certain: the travel bug has returned, and it's wasting no time reminding us that there are still plenty of adventures waiting out there. ❤️