Baltic Cruise - Copenhagen to Amsterdam

8 August - Cruising the Baltic

After departing Stockholm we enjoyed a quiet night at sea. Early in the cruise our headwaiter chose to complain to our table in a rather gratuitous manner.  While we weren't the catalyst for his diatribe, those at our table who were the focus of his unnecessary outburst were quite uncomfortable. I reached out to Royal Caribbean that evening and the next morning I had a request from the Restaurant Manager for a meeting. We shared a coffee and had an excellent conversation as I explained that my concern was the display of behavior from a member of management that I'd never experienced in over 20 cruises, which indicated to me that perhaps this individual was facing a situation that he wasn't handling well and needed some support. The result of that conversation was a complimentary visit to Chops, which is how we spent our evening. While I'm partial to the steaks I cook at home, the staff at Chops is a good bit nicer than having to rely on self-service.

9 August - Copenhagen, Denmark 

Rosenborg Castle

Looking for an overview of a new city, we chose the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus to survey Copenhagen. The route provided several opportunities to "Hop Off" and walk several blocks before a "Hop On" to get closer to another area. Our first stop provided a pleasant walk through the gardens and grounds of Rosenborg Castle. Entry lines were quite long, so we didn't take a tour of the castle or see the crown jewels due to the limited amount of time we had in-port. We were able to enjoy the sculptures and gardens, which were in full bloom. The longest part of our walk was along a shaded esplanade and there was just enough breeze to make the park benches exceptionally tempting. I'm certain a conveniently placed hammock would have been irresistible. The weather was spectacular and a bit warmer than expected, so after our walk through the gardens we located a grocery store on Google Maps along our route to the next bus stop. We ventured through a generally tidy residential area, located the store without incident, and navigated a successful beverage purchase without use of English (or Danish, for that matter!) thanks to a large digital cash-register display. 

Nyhavn

Sufficiently rehydrated, we continued on to Nyhavn, which fulfilled the promise of a bustling tourist area. The sidewalks were filled with restaurant seating, overlooked by friendly and attentive servers. Umbrellas and tents provided ample shade for a comfortable meal. Nyhavn was once a bustling port and the commercial center of the city. The colorful buildings and boat-filled canal remain as the backdrop of a bustling modern commercial center, albeit focused on tourism and restaurants instead of the import and export of goods.

Lunch

For reasons unknown, I was overcome with a strong urge to try a traditional Danish lunch ofcured/smoked/pickled fish. This was even more unusual considering I'm not known as an "adventurous" eater, but none the less I held course and ordered a sampler platter of sorts, consisting of several types of fish with an assortment of cheeses, breads, picked vegetables, and crackers. Some of the fish selections were a bit challenging in both texture and flavor profile, but everything was, from a technical standpoint "good." (This distinction is important to me, as I make an effort to distinguish between things I don't care for and things that are truly "bad.") The experience was interesting, even enlightening, but not one I think I'll ever repeat. A delightful local beer, rich and malty, definitely improved the overall dining experience.

After we finished our lunch we walked a few blocks to a Ho-Ho stop, cutting off a loop of the tour, to make our way back to the ship. Our bus ride took us past Christiana, a district established by squatters on an abandoned military base in 1971. The area first gained notoriety as the center for open cannabis trade along "Pusher Street" – which was only recently shut down by residents with the assistance of law enforcement after a surge in gang violence. It was getting late in the day so we opted to stay on the bus and just observe from a distance, but the aroma of the "Green Light District" was quite noticeable, even at a distance. The ride back to the port was relaxing, thanks to having ample time, comfortable temperatures, and smooth roads. Just down from the ship we visited the iconic Little Mermaid statue. The initial impression is a bit underwhelming, but after having a moment to take it all in, the elegant simplicity of the sculpture really brings it to life. In my opinion this is definitely one site that should be on your "must see" list when in Copenhagen.

The Little Mermaid

8/10 - Cruising

North Sea

Leaving Copenhagen we headed north, towards the North Sea. We woke to some rather "nautical" conditions, which persisted until late in the day. The pool was a whirlpool and the solarium deck was awash with water splashing out. A few brave(?) souls ventured a swim throughout the day, at the risk of life and limb. 

We spent the day at a table in the Solarium, sipping drinks, reading, napping, listening to music, and snacking while we watched the world roll by.

Late afternoon was occupied with the worst part of any cruise, the packing. Somehow we managed to get everything in suitcases and, miraculously, kept them all under the airline limits!

Deserted Dining

The dining room was a ghost town in the evening, thanks to the sea conditions. With the light load of diners the staff was milling about for most of the meal and many had tables reset for the next meal.

We enjoyed a great meal, with as much as we wanted of whatever we wanted, served by staff who were nearly dedicated to our table.

As is our tradition on the last night of a cruise we found a spot in a lounge with good music and enjoyed our last drinks. 

Without any idea of what to expect at disembarkation the next morning we turned in early and put our suitcases in the hallway.

8/11 - Disembark

Our flight from Amsterdam to London was late enough that we opted for the RCCL provided airport shuttle. One last breakfast in the dining room (Eggs Benedict, in case you were curious) and we were off the ship, luggage collected, and on the bus in a matter of a few minutes.