TRAVEL TIPS & GUIDES FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO CRUISE, WALK & EXPLORE THEIR SURROUNDINGS .......LIFE IS BETTER OUT THERE …..SOMEWHERE!
Time is precious so we fill it with fun, adventure and exploring. Not much point being called Cook if you dont like exploring!
We like to cruise and post about the ports we visit.. The sights and culture. We go back and holiday in places we like for a deeper experience.
We are keen ramblers too and use our feet to get deep into the countryside. We like to navigate marked long distance paths and trails. Living in middle England we are spoilt for choice on trails to follow.
Owning scooters and a couple of 45 year old mopeds we also like to ride through the winding lanes and beautiful English countryside. The wind in our face and the smells from the fields … life is good when you are OUT THERE…. SOMEWHERE!
I'm really glad to have found your video. We were recently on a P&O cruise that stopped in Haugesund as our last port. We'd already visited, and hiked, Stavanger, Alesund and Olden, so by the time we'd walked the coastal route to Rising Tide, we were exhausted! We didn't give the Town Center much attention at all and didn't plan any excursions but instead got back on Iona. I'm going to save your video in my favorites so that when we return next year, we can get more out of a Haugesund visit.
Thank you so much for watching and the lovely comments too. We quite like Haugesund to be honest .. lots of people don’t be we do .. It’s no Olden but it does make a decent port stop for shopping , walking and some nice excursions too. We’ve just done the trip to Skudeneshavn on our most recent trip there .. What a lovely excursion that was too ..Thx again .. Appreciate your support
Which company do you use for your excursions when visiting Haugesund? We used shore based companies in Alesund and Olden because P&O were double their prices.
In Haugesund we’ve actually used cruise line excursions… Cost savings were possible booking direct, using sites like Viator, Fjord Norway or Visit Norway site.. but they were not that significant at the time we were looking … Thx again
Some lovely scenery and pubs! Can't believe the path is not that well walked. Glad the bees didn't get you. Looking forward to you starting a geocaching channel! 😀
Thank you guys … Now there’s an idea for a new channel…. We didn’t realise how popular geocaching was until Chris explained it… it’s a thing .. Thx again for watching our rambles
Morning both. Enjoying this with a cuppa in bed. Good to see Matt’s on the mend!! Too much lager and sun, yep, that’ll do it! It looks really pretty there. Love the white timber houses. The museum looks really cool. Norway’s most scenic town, we can see why. The open air church looks a lovely area too, our kind of adventure that. Wow, beautiful sail away, so glad Matt is much better. We enjoyed that and lovely to watch the Iona. Happy Sunday guys, we’d better go and finish today’s video 😂. Cheers
Thank you Guys.. We’d done Haugesund twice previously so wanted something different to do.. Skudenshavn is such a pretty place… Would recommend this… and the Viking village and museum too.. Matt was gutted he missed out but beer and sun ☀️ can trash your plans as he found out … Cheers 🍻
Sorry we've had the busiest week ever! Playing cooks catch up tonight. Alesund was one of my fav ports when I worked on ships. Loved your walk up! You guys are so much fitter than us!! Mango ipa??? Sounds vile!!!
Thx Guys - You two have the busiest schedule ! Next cruise soon ??? Ålesund was a real nice place.. lots to offer … That Mango IPA 🍺… Netty says Yay!!! Si says … No No No !!
Some lovely footage in this video. Iona still looks great. For a big ship she never felt too busy. Glad that Matt enjoyed his first cruise. We are already looking forward to your next adventures!
Hello there Lady & Lord Cruise 🙋🏻♀️ great shots of you in the infinity pool/hot tub that looks incredible (think Rach and Wills have been in there too 🤣) Quick question is there just one Iona or is there a fleet of Iona’s? Have you and Postcard and a Pint frequented the same ship!? Great you brought the sun back with you!we feel we have done that this week coming back from Spain! The cocktails looked good! The Epicurean did look amazing! Did that guy have a Union Jack hat on? Ooo are Iona’s lifts dodgy? Oorr how nice them waving you off ! Great review guys as always! Have a lovely weekend enjoying this sunshine we brought back from Spain 🇪🇸 😂❤
Thank you Nick and Jill .. Your Spain trip looked amazing .. can’t wait for the videos… Yes this was the same Iona as Wills and Rach went on and the lifts were shall we say temperamental 🤣… It was a plastic Norway flag hat from memory - A fair few passengers bought these ..🤨.. Thanks for bringing the sun back to Blighty … Have a fab weekend 🤘
Sorry for not watching the videos in order, but we’re playing catch up but this just popped up and we can’t pass on a Christmas market vlog…we’ll go back to the others. Not familiar with Mainz but it looks beautiful. We can almost smell and taste that food, mmm. Glad you went back at night, it looks incredible. Got to love a German Christmas market!! Really enjoyed that both 🍻
Thank you Guys. This was an unexpected re-issue of an old video from our trip down the Rhine at Christmas. Mainz really was beautiful at Christmas and had a brilliant atmosphere. Really buzzing …… And that food ……Ne we say more ??? Sooooooo Tasty 🤤?.. Thx again
Great vlog guys. Lots of useful information for me as I will be there in a couple of weeks' time without Giles!! I think I will be doing that walk too. What amazing weather you had. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow 😀
Im a local and if you’re interested in some history there are accessable bunkers on the aksla mountain, not far away from the viewpoint. Bunkers aswell near the Atlantic ochean park. Enjoy your trip!
Hi Lord & Lady Cruise what a gorgeous area love you chose the cafe instead of the climb but then still did the climb 🤣 steps never get easier however many times you do them young or old! Oxygen tank should be staple at the top of every flight of stairs 😂 great views up there Oo drink and a cake allowed after walking up those steps 👍 followed by and ice cream while the ships sounded their horns that must have been special! Guessing you guys are sweet rather than savoury? Another fabulous video guys have a lovely weekend! Love from 🇪🇸❤️
Aah Thank You Guys .. Yes Si has the sweet tooth 🦷 and I am more savoury but those cakes looked irresistible and were delicious. This place reminded us that we needed to walk more again and get back to our walking trails back home. Watching you guys climb those mountain trails is also an inspiration. Enjoy your latest trip and we’ll look forward to the videos. Lord & Lady Cruise 😂😂😂
Honestly, am I the only one to think that there is nothing much to see / do here? I mean, compared to other cruise ports, this seems to be least interesting.
Thx for watching and commenting too .. Yes it is a port with few headline attractions but we thought it was a lovely place with a really nice atmosphere and vibe. We really liked it and enjoyed our time there. Sometimes it’s nice just to be there and soak it up. Thx again
Great video, we were looking at doing the Norwegian Fjords on Iona. We are new to your channel and look forward to watching the rest of the series and your other videos 👏
Hi and thank you for watching our video and checking out our channel too.. Really appreciate that. This Norwegian Fjords cruise on Iona was our best P&O experience yet. Norway is beautiful and the Iona is a fun and well run ship. Hope you get the inspiration and ideas you are after from our channel and please pop over any questions.. We’d be more than happy to help if we can.. Thx again
Hey both, wow, how stunning was that sail in??!!! Really good info about tours and facilities, it looks beautiful. Rach has been here but I never have, it’s on our list! Those views are gorgeous, shame about the queues though, that’s quite boring, but good call on walking into the village, it’s really pretty. That timber church is very cool. The other church looks nice too, sad about the funeral though. We love that bridge over the river, I’m sure I saw the troll hiding under there. We really do need to do this cruise. Wow, the views from the cable car!!!! I’d have been in my element in the snow…rubbish snow ball throw though Si, very similar to my attempt in Munich 😂. Mmm fish and chips. Ah man, those views off the ship are incredible, love how the locals have adopted the ship and wave with flags and a bit of Status Quo. That sail out is our perfect day, views, beers, perfect!! Haha Schhhh….enough said!! Children’s birthday party…harsh 😂😂. Really enjoyed that both x
Thank you and extra thanks for helping us avoid the Schh cocktail too … Olden is simply lovely and that snowball was a diplomatic one 😂.. Thx for all the support guys ..
Thank you that’s very kind of you…Norway is just beautiful and the people are friendly, helpful and kind.. This cruise is a great way to see the Fjords. Really pleased you found our video helpful. Hope you decide to take the plunge ..
Really making me excited for my trip here in August, thankyou! What time did you do the skylift? Would you be able to fit it in the afternoon around 1/2ish?
Thank you.. Sure you’ll have an amazing time in August. Such a brilliant cruise in such a beautiful place. We did the sky lift around 12:30 for 1 - and we had plenty of time on the mountain and were back onboard well before sail away.. Hope this helps .. we did meet people who did both the glacier and the sky lift .. it does seem possible
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts and experiences. Stavanger is indeed a beautiful place but we kinda liked Haugesund too. It’s not a chocolate box place but does have a good shopping district and quayside and is a good gateway to explore the surrounding Fjords … stacks of attractions and good history too.. people there are great and we’ve enjoyed each of our three visits there. Thx again for watching our video. It’s appreciated
@@CooksExplore Its a fantastic country in general, I've lived here 18 months and even though I'm a bit down on Haugesund, it's still miles better than a lot of cities in the UK.
We watched this and didn't comment! Bad Rachel and Wills! You're getting a 2nd watch from us now! I always loved stavanger when I worked on the ships. Chilli nuts = Ring of fire!! Nice beer for Keith! Nice touch. Mmm greatest days!!! Not for us! Looks like a great day. Loving being on the Iona with you! Cheers 🍻
Thank you and Thank you for a 2nd time…. The 1st handful of Chilli nuts was one of the many great comedy moments on this cruise 😂…Better call maintenance… Cheers Guys … Iona was as good as you said it was..🍻
Thank you for watching - There are good options for a Rib Safari from Haugesund via the Viator and Getyourguide web sites …www.viator.com or www.getyourguide.co.uk .. hope this helps.. Thx
Thank you Guys - The skylift was brilliant and it was such fun in the snow too. The Olden residents were brilliant and it’s a lovely touch to wave off the ships. Thx again for watching ..
Just back from Explorer cruise having been on Disvovery 2 last year. On balance agree Explorer just takes it although it is a bit harder to find your way about 😎
Thank you for watching and taking time to comment too - Appreciated! Glad you agree with our assessment and yes the Discovery ships do revolve around the central atrium which does aid finding you way around we found. But the Explorer ships do have the Mediterranean bar aft and we just loved that .. Thx again
Hi new sub here! 👋. We did this cruise last year and we loved Stavanger too, so pretty. We are taking the same cruise again in August to explore more. We want to take the bus out to the 3 swords ourselves and ive already downloaded the app however i have no idea on the bus stop names or where to get the bus from....i believe its the number 16? Can you remember at all? Your channel looks fab, going to watch a few videos today, esp your Alaskan ones....a dream cruise for me. 😊
Hi and a massive thank you for subscribing to our channel. That’s really appreciated and we hope you find more useful content. Happy to answer any questions you have … Please do ask.. Alaska was an amazing trip for us and very early in our RU-vid journey. Hopefully our videos have improved a little since then. So Stavanger - Three Swords (Sverd I Fjell) - Yes head to Olsen Vs Gate bus stop by the central lake - queue at Stop M.. Take bus 16 to Madlaleiren Bus Stop. It’s about 10-15 mins ride and the walk from the bus stop to the swords is down the road with the monument on your right - less than 5 mins walk away.. Hope this helps and happy to answer any other questions.. Have a great time there in August - we are very jealous.. Si and Netty
Thanks for some great info guys. I will be picking your brains about that bus app when we meet up. We love using local transport to get around. Much cheaper than cruise excursions and more opportunities to spend longer at places. We loved Stavanger and did a very similar itinerary to you. Looking forward to more of your Norwegian adventures.
Thank you and really looking forward to our catch up.. Stavanger really surprised us after we’d seen so many videos run it down as a cruise .. How wrong they are
Hi guys glad you weren’t sheep and followed everyone to the souvenir shops! What a stunning place with Banksy art and fountains! The giant swords and the storey was super interesting after you have navigated the travel options 😳 everything has an app now 🤷🏻♀️ how cool do they look giant on the coast! The shopping looked good and some good stuff, Norwegians sound very friendly! Few good beers you had there in the sunshine viewing the ship! Oh no you didn’t forget the fridge magnet! (You guys must have a massive fridge 😂) phew you got the fridge magnet! This was most enjoyable have a great weekend 👍❤️
Thank you ! And yes Netty is trying to turn our fridge into a Flux capacitor … It also detects aircraft approaching from miles away.. Stavanger really surprised us as we’d do many videos run it down but it was a brilliant place to visit. Thx again and have a great weekend !
We booked up last Saturday for this cruise on the Iona for April 2026! My wife and I are 60 in Feb& march 26 and it's our wedding anniversary the week after we're back. Absolutely can't wait!!! Recommend it? 👍👍👍
Wow ! What a special way to celebrate two very special events ! We are sure you’ll have an amazing time.. Would we recommend it?? Oh Yes it’s brilliant and Norway is spectacular!
Thank you for watching our video .. it’s appreciated…. You’ll have a great time and hopefully the lights will shine bright for you. Dress codes onboard are stipulated by P&O . They are generally well adhered to on this adults only ship. So you’ll have at least one formal night onboard. Evening casual codes are fairly flexible. Dress for the weather when you go ashore … layers are important especially as you head towards Narvik and Tromso .. warm clothing essential if you want to have fun outdoors in the snow . Restaurants in Norway are pricey compared to the Uk but you can enjoy coffee and cake in the charming cafes without breaking the bank and not too much more than prices in London. Beer and alcohol ashore can be pricey . Expect to pay £8-10 per pint or 400 ml .. but the beer is some of the most refreshing we’ve ever tasted .. Hope this helps and happy to answer other questions if you have any …We have another video “Things to consider when booking a Northern Lights Cruise” which has other tips .. Thx again
Your stateroom looks nice. Don't like cheese on my burger. Don't like having to book everything in advance. Am subscribed and already hit the like button.
Does P&O Cruises have a 24-hour restaurant? Not called formal night anymore? A glass of Prosecco sounds good. Do P&O Cruises have a casino onboard? Not a fan of discos. Would rather be in the casino. The old town looks very nice. My mobile phone would not work out of the US. The shopping looks nice. Going to visit historic buildings is good. Don't like cable cars. Coffee with a pastry or a doughnut is good. Since this is a British ship, do they have afternoon tea? They spell Kaiser different. Climbing to the top is one thing. Getting back down is another story. That looks good. He did something amazing. Like to try local products when in foreign countries. The Tomato Soup seems good as the Vegetable and Bean Chili. Prime Roast Beef looks good too. Have seen a few of your videos and decided to subscribe.
Wow - Thank you so much for watching and also for subscribing! It means a lot and we never take such things for granted … It’s appreciated.. Wow loads of questions here so we’ll do our best - - you can get food from the buffet after 11pm.. it’s a limited choice but is available until past our bedtime in any case - Dint think it’s 24 hrs though - Yes P&O have a casino onboard - It’s next to the Brodie’s pub on most of their ships - shame about your phone ?? Would an ESim or mobile data sim work? They are a godsend when we travel far and wide - There is definitely afternoon tea ! It’s part of being a Brit .. We had a great time and if you’ve watch our other videos you’ll know we like to get out and about and explore the places we dock … trying local food and especially cake is a favourite… Thank you again
Loved your T Shirt! Brought back memories for us, but the shows seem to have changed a lot. We also can't remember having to book for everything. Looking forward to seeing more 😀 👍
Thank you guys - That shirt is a personal favourite 😂..in every sense … Booking was essential or you couldn’t do a lot of the events/shows etc ..I guess if you have 5200 all turning up it could be chaotic ? That said it was a great cruise and Iona was the best P&O ship we’ve sailed on so far.
Don't really like going outside that much on a cruise ship. Food and drink are very important on a cruise. Don't know that much about Marella Cruise Line. P&O Cruises is part of the Carnival Corp. the world's largest cruise line. Maybe one day try both.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave a comment.. Appreciated.. Totally agree on the importance of having good food on a cruise as demonstrated by our recent MSC cruise..P&O have been inconsistent for us on the food front. Our recent Iona trip was really good but others have let us down. Marella have been consistent. It’s never the finest dining but never bad and we’ve always found something to enjoy. Thx again
Oo we've been looking forward to this! This cruise is on our bucket list for sure. Oo the weather on your sail out was stunning! Your brother looked like he really took to cruising. I love stavanger! That's a port from my dancer days. I've never seen the 3 swords monument though! Yep I used to drink a Norwegian beer there too. You're very kind to the greatest day!! Our review was 'that's an hour of our life we'll never get back!!' Yep Si's review for us!! Olden is just stunning. Man, you bad people are making us want to book this for next year! Oh no - the schhh show!! Glad you swerved it! Alesund is also beautiful! Oh no poor Matt. I've never been to Haguesund. Looks pretty. Glad Matt was feeling better. Glad you got some Rotterdam weather in out last day!! We didn't do the Epicurian, that's on the list for next time! Loved your week! We want to do this!! Cheers 🍻
Thank you again. This is a brilliant itinerary on a great ship. We agree with you that Iona excels. Apart from Schh and Take That of course…. Hope you get to book this … Just do it !
Thanks for watching our video - Appreciated… We really enjoyed the Epicurean every time we’ve dined there. It’s a great meal and dining experience. Thx again
I haven't cruised on Iona yet, so delighted to find both your channel today, and also this video - will keep an eye for more content from this ship. Thanks for taking us with you!
Thank you - That’s really kind of you and we are really pleased that a well established cruise Vlogger such as yourself has found our little channel. Iona was our best P&O experience yet.
