So last year one of my best friends got married at Sea on a Royal Caribbean cruise between Hamburg and Norway.
Due to my work commitments in a new job, I couldn’t get the entire trip off but I did manage to negotiate a few days off work, just enough to see my beautiful friend get married.
I flew to Hamburg in Germany met up with the wedding party an enjoyed a day of wandering around the city before boarding the ship (I would just like to point out up until this trip I have never been on a cruise, or even considered a cruise for a holiday or to do some travelling).
Table of Contents
My First Time on a Cruise – The Royal Carribean
My First Experience On Board A Cruise Ship
Now this ship was huge and although I don’t know much about cruises or have anything to compare it too I’ve spend years funding my travels and studies (in sport and fitness, which is my day job) by working in backpackers, luxury independent hotels, 5 star active resorts and come from a seaside town which relies on the tourism industry.
Why was I on a cruise?
You may be thinking, why would someone who loves to explore the mountains and national parks, and who really hates crowds be on a cruise ship of all places. Well the answer is – My friends wedding.
My friends likely don’t get my holidays as they generally go on a few cruises a year. So it made absolute sense that they would choose to get married at sea. This wedding was unbelievably perfect for my friends and whilst they don’t mind the close knit environment of a cruise, it still felt intimate and not at all what I expected.
The captain married my friends (Tom and Amy) in a small ceremony with 20 of us. My friend’s father walked her down the promenade of the ship whilst everyone watched in awe. Now I should point out my friend was very nervous about this and self-conscious (as would most people be walking through a ship in a wedding dress whilst passing strangers) but the way Royal Caribbean handled this was amazing; any detail that needed changing wasn’t too much.
In the end, the bridesmaids (including me) got to walk down the promenade with our friend and her father whilst the groom and rest of the wedding party waited for the entrance of the bride. The reaction from other guests was also incredibly sweet with them complimenting her as she passed and telling us to pass on the congratulations.
Following this, we had a fantastic 3-course meal in the great hall and then went to join in the entertainment on board with the bride. Later in the evening, there was a storm so we went to watch (and take part in) Karaoke and then to the sports bar to play snooker and have drinks. Before the evening had finished a few of us decided to go on the top deck and watch the storm from the top deck jacuzzi’s, then finally went for a pizza (who knew 24-hour pizzeria feels like something I need in my life everywhere I go).
The best things about being on a cruise
So back to the cruise and what was it that I liked about the cruise.
The Service – Everywhere from the housekeeping (who went above and beyond), the front desks, the wedding team, the entertainment, the leisure and hospitality staff on board.
The Choice Of Facilities – I honestly had this idea in my head that being on a cruise would be like a prison at sea. As someone who tends to steer clear of package holidays, all inclusives or just large hotels. This was a combination of all those things I don’t normally like, yet became very appealing. The pool, the gym, the spa, the different shows and entertainment are all free to use there is a really fun atmosphere on board.
Other facilities onboard that I didn’t have time to try out but heard everyone raving about was the cinema, ice rink, climbing wall, and flo-rider (surfing machine).
The special occasion – Just seeing how the staff and the cruise went out of their way to make my friends and all of their wedding party feel special was just amazing. I feel like a cruise ship (though not my taste for my own wedding because I will want to be outdoors or somewhere in europe no doubt) is the perfect place to host a celebration – an anniversary, wedding, big birthday or something else; this is the ideal way to have people around you who you care about the most, whilst not having to have every person you know turn up. And you will be made to feel special.
The worst things about being on a cruise
I couldn’t say that there was a worst thing to being on a cruise, but I think the only thing I dislike is the limited time in each port. I didn’t stay for the full cruise obviously due to work but if I did this whole route or any other whole cruise, I would have been frustrated at spending so much money and only being able to spend a day in one place.
So overall I can’t say I dislike cruises, but I don’t think I’ll be booking another anytime too soon (but this is only due to the fact I love my climbing, kayaking and mountaineering too much).
I think they are a great way to see new places briefly and scope out future spots to revisit, I feel the service and facilities match any good hotel and they are a brilliant option for families and groups. They are also great for accessibility too (which can sometimes be limiting in hotels and resorts in foreign countries).
First Impression Hamburg
It was beautiful, relaxed and very clean. I’ve been to Germany quite a few times and every time I have loved it and been amazed. There were plenty of museums, lots of gorgeous cafes and restaurants to eat at and plenty to see and do.
One thing I really liked about Hamburg was the canals and waterways (above), We walked along the canals and mostly peered at the architecture and shops. It was glorious sunshine outside, so no one had a set plan of what they wanted to do other than this. Instead we wandered around and just explored the city by foot. I would love to head back to Hamburg for a few days at some point. There are so many things to see and do in Hamburg that would be fun from river cruises to exploring one of the many museums.
We dined at BlockBrau which is along the waterfront next to Landungsbrücken on the waterfront. The food was lovely and lots of seafood dishes to chose from. It was decorated in a nautical style with a modern twist (but not tacky). We all really enjoyed it and were recommended by my friend’s uncle who regularly visits the area. They also brew their own beer on site.
Something I’d like to do next time I visit (and obviously for longer than a day) is the Haunted Tour at night. With all the lovely architecture and historical monuments around the city, I imagine it will be fun (even if I am creeped out easily).
Another place I would love to dine when I go back with my partner is Literaturhauscafe. It is designed in with neoclassical architecture. I read a travel magazine during my teens that had the most romantic restaurants to enjoy dinner and it has been stuck in my mind since then.
With my fascination for architecture I had hoped to get to the Hamburg Fischmarkt, but that is on my next to do list.
First Impression Of Oslo
The next morning we woke up with this view (Above) outside of our cabin, and I was so sad to go. I disembarked at Oslo but luckily had a full day to explore before my evening flight. We didn’t do anything amazing or visit any tourist attractions during the day, we just decided to explore the city and wander around. The weather was cool and clouded so we headed to a cafe for some light lunch.
Now I know you will have heard this before from many others who have visited Norway but be prepared to pay a little extra here. It certainly isn’t a cheap place to visit or be but it is worth it. Oslo is a beautiful city and this is definitely a place I want to visit and stay for at least a few days next time before moving on to another place, but unfortunately, I had to go home and back to work. The next time I head to Oslo I am hoping to do a road trip around other areas of Norway and possibly elsewhere.
There is a lot of stuff to see and do in the city. I spotted a couple of things i’d like to do when I come back. One being a hike, another a walking tour of myths and legends (I mean who doesn’t want hear more about nordic tales) and another would be a cruise to the fiords. I’ve popped the links below for these.
Please note these are affiliate links that should you chose to book I do receive a small commission. To find out more about my affiliate links Click here.
My top tip for Oslo when limited on time
Rent an electric scooter, we rented from Voi Scooters but some of the group rented from other ones. You can pick them up and leave them where ever when you are done, you just need to download there app and it will charge you for the time you use it. Make sure you log out once you are done. I’ve popped some pictures below from exploring around the city.
Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to Royal Caribbean for an amazing experience and for making my friends have such a magical time.
