Again. Brilliant video. I’m about to sail on the Iona so am very grateful for your views. Love your approach 😊
@NarrativeEscapesКүн бұрын
You'll enjoy it. I still say the biggest negative but not to the extent it's bad are a small number of other guests and the buffet is just...whatever, basically competent.😁
@davem3925Күн бұрын
I’m about to do this cruise. Can’t thank you enough for making this video. Superb advice- simple, informative and humorous 😊
@NarrativeEscapesКүн бұрын
Thanks a lot. It was a question that was coming up a lot on various Iona FB groups and the like. Sadly, it seems they don't like me posting it directly so I'm glad you found it .
@danielferguson37843 күн бұрын
But the Bay is all Filey Bay, from the Brig to Speeton cliffs. That's where it turns white with chalk. The 'Butlins' bit is near Hunmanby Gap, half way along the Bay.
@user-yn8wi3ey3x17 күн бұрын
Really informative thanks
@redfive9273Ай бұрын
Great video and content. Helped me a lot to plan my route . Thank you
@lexieadr579Ай бұрын
How long is the hike fr KS to Wengen?
@NarrativeEscapesАй бұрын
That is a good question as there is a lot of personal ability involved. I'd say 2-3 hours. Not sure how long it took me as I probably didn't do it at the fastest pace and was filming, etc.
@sandybrown4764Ай бұрын
I'm really glad you went to the top of Pea Soup Mountain, despite the mist. You would have forever been kicking yourself, for a possible missed adventure. Sweet, majestic, views be danged. Adventures don't have to be perfect--or picture perfect--to be worthwhile! Thanks for sharing everything with us!
@NarrativeEscapesАй бұрын
Yeah it was worth it..atmospheric of nothing else.
@sandybrown4764Ай бұрын
Thanks for showing us your methodical method of packing. I've never been exposed to the compression cubes before. Makes perfect sense! Being a woman person, though, I can't image packing so little!
@NarrativeEscapesАй бұрын
Yeah, I do realise male status really helps in this regard. At the same time there are women going around with carry on and clothes with multi-purposess and the like but they tend to not be people cruising.
@rgruenhausАй бұрын
I'll never be interested in going to cold regions on a cruise, but this was a good info video.
@susanwhittaker8652 ай бұрын
I just walked that route today. It was a lovely day but my Pedometer said I had done 49.14 miles ! 🤔
@NarrativeEscapes2 ай бұрын
If it was actually that far I'd have died on the attempt 😀
@vomg52042 ай бұрын
I've been coming here for over 40 years. Dont know what planet he's on. Bude and Widemouth is beautiful
@tinysmallfryskitchen86102 ай бұрын
We did the P&O guided excursion and regretted it as we had less than 15 minutes at the top and were rushed back down again onto the coach to the next location and were rushed there too, £200 wasted. I will know next time.😊
@NarrativeEscapesАй бұрын
Yeah, excursions get better a bit rapid. Sometimes it feels like you get to see something but not experience something on these excursions. On the recent Iceland cruise I found all the excursions very good but no matter how good they are they still have that see rather than experience factor as you're not under you're own timescale.
@atomicrancher37452 ай бұрын
So, the solo studios usually are priced a little more than Solo Inside cabins for several reasons…..1. Studios are in that private area of the ship and within steps of the solo lounge. Solo Inside and Solo oceanview which do get you access to the solo lounge are located far below on deck 5 of Bliss and Encore. That means walking up 7 decks to the lounge or waiting for an elevator. There is a trade off here….a larger cabin on deck 5 not in prime solo territory and potentially noisy or a smaller studio in a private enclave closer to everything. I’ve done all three. If I can get good price on solo oceanview I usually take that on deck 5, but they sell out FAST. Otherwise, a cozy studio on decks 10-12 is where you’ll find me.
@sal84542 ай бұрын
Do it! Either first thing in the morning or later in the day. There were two ships in when we did it. It only takes 5 mins up and 5 mins down. Plenty of time
@Squirrelnutter2 ай бұрын
Is there snow at the top all year round? I also want to experience the ice cave.
@NarrativeEscapes2 ай бұрын
That I am not sure on. I was intrigued finding snow when I went!
@thekurtlover2 ай бұрын
Hi ! Absolutely amazing views and so well shot !! Could you please tell me around what dates did you find weather this good ?
@NarrativeEscapes2 ай бұрын
I believe it was July. It's a mountain location though so even on some of the great days it might have been raining just over the valley or the cable car up was covered in fog but it receded when I hiked. There is a video I did on the apps I used - the weather app was amazing allowing you to dodge the weather.
@christineharmon59963 ай бұрын
Great video. Thank you for the information!!!!
@GhettoGirlTravels3 ай бұрын
Use the seat under the desk as a bedside table, by moving it to the head of the bed.
@thomassalazar083 ай бұрын
the vid would be a lot better is there was less of your face and Moore mountain
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
It was more my personal journey of doing it. But I have thought of doing b-roll 100% scenery versions of some of these things.
@Railwaylass3 ай бұрын
Great video! My husband and I are booking with Airtime in June and I can't wait. I've wanted to do this for nearly 40 years and can't believe I'm finally going to get the opportunity!
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
You'll love it. It was a fantastic experience.
@sandybrown47643 ай бұрын
What a dichotomous vacation! I can understand your simultaneous thumbs up and down. I love your expression “Time was absorbed.” And it sounds like it was, in a good way, unless your sole purpose of the trip was to curl up inside yourself and have a good think. But that’s not going to happen on an Alaskan cruise, is it, LOL! I love that you were subjected to “brilliant conversations.” That alone must have been a shocker, for you. But you were not among the hordes of Caribbean island goers, so prevalent here in the States, where that would not be a possibility, let alone a probability. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and feelings about your trip. I appreciate that you laid it all out there, for us to pick through. Always nice to hear from someone with a working brain!
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
It's interesting. I think on these scenic cruising ones you might get people similar to who you'd meet in the Swiss Alps or Canadian Rockies.. ..while cruises to places like the Caribbean or the Canary Islands get a sort of beach holiday crowd.
@krishnar11823 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing. Have you ever considered “themed” cruises, such as sci-fi themed, anime, Star Wars?
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
I have briefly thought of it. I am just not sure I am in the market for that sort of thing anymore. I am not fully sure how I'd engage with it .
@DiscoLiz3 ай бұрын
Good to see you back, although I wish it were under different circumstances. I know all too well the struggles of being the parent of an aging dog. Foster and Ash are both approaching 14, and with Ash being a large breed - he's starting to show a lot of the signs. He has terminal cancer, so we know we only have a limited time left. But beyond that - he's also lost his hearing. He's slower to get up. He seems more tired. Etc. The slow decline is hard to watch, when they've been such loyal companions and family members. The time goes by far too quickly. I can only imagine that bond is even more intense when it's just you and your pup in daily life together. Here's to hoping Daisy keeps on joining you adventures for a while to come!
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
The challenge is I don't know how old she actually is. They guessed six around 2014. That seems wrong now as it would mean she would be 16! If she is actually that age she is doing well! She seems happier since the painkillers.
@DiscoLiz3 ай бұрын
@@NarrativeEscapes Smaller breeds can live quite a while, so it is possible! But maybe she was a little younger than they thought. I'm glad the painkillers are making life a little better for her! Ash is on a low dose as well.
@glasgowharleyrider3 ай бұрын
If theres 2 ships in olden Do NOT bother with this as you will have to hope you make it up down and back to your ship.
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
There was P&O Iona and Norwegian Star in when I did it, albeit Norwegian Star is a smaller ship. I did go first thing in the morning though.
@sal84542 ай бұрын
Do it. Don’t listen to anyone that says don’t do it
@sandybrown47643 ай бұрын
Such a treat, that you're back! Such a blessing to know you're okay! The aging of Daisy Dog is not a burden, just as you've alluded to. You can see her through to the end, like we would an aging parent. I can imagine you opening a packet of crisps, one day, and wondering why she wasn't at your feet; then the realization that her hearing wasn't what it used to be. No, Ian, she isn't human, but she has certainly been your companion and your silent sounding board, as you went through something emotionally traumatic, which bonds you. Why didn't your wife take Daisy Dog, when she left? (Rhetorical.) I was picturing you cycling, with Daisy Dog either being towed in one of those tot buggies or in a front basket, a la Toto, in The Wizard of Oz. But perhaps sleeping is her new hobby and she will still be glad to see you come home, from one of your own adventures. When the time comes and you have made the worse decision ever, then the even worse part--taking her to the vet. And when your heart has stopped bleeding from that, you will go on to new adventures, remembering her and knowing what a helpmeet she has been! Looking forward to more videos. Take care.
@krishnar11823 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing. I'm sorry to hear that about Daisy but also glad to see you back on KZbin again. I have a somewhat similar situation with a nearly 11 year old rabbit who's been with me through so much, and seeing him decline fairly quickly has been harder on me than I care to admit to most.
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
We also had two Guinea Pigs and the trauma those put us through in the final days of their lives was...significant. It is a hard time for sure. Thankfully she seems to be on the up currently. Hopefully it will hold out for a bit.
@Grimalkins3 ай бұрын
I’m sorry, this was heart-wrenching and I know this feeling all too well. As things progress, if you get to a point where her pain is managed but mobility still decreases, I found a company called Dog Quality (I’m not affiliated in any way, I’m just a disabled woman who had a disabled dog, and was struggling to cope with his mobility being even worse than my own) - I bought their Dogger and my little Mo loved it. It gave us the adventures outside long after he was capable of walking or I was capable of carrying him. The grippy socks for hard floors, too, and the belly band…. They just make quality stuff that they’ve thought hard about, and I wish I’d found them sooner and not bought a load of rubbish first. He passed away seven and a half years ago now, and the end was hard, but I’m grateful for that time. Wishing you both many happy days in the sun left together.
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
Yeah, I've thought of trying the grippy socks. I may give them a go. At the moment I've sort of 'old dog proofed' the house - like putting down a track of carpet across her usual route across the non-carpted floor.
@no1videogal3 ай бұрын
How long does it take the lift to get to the top? Is there facilities like toilets at the top?
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
It's a rapid ascent. So minutes not even ten minutes. There is a restaurant, shop and toilet facilities at the arrival point.
@no1videogal3 ай бұрын
@@NarrativeEscapesthanks so much. Great review
@alexhenderson76003 ай бұрын
Not a fan of the hard sell tactics of the spa staff. They make you feel like you have to buy something after your treatment. Beware.
@NarrativeEscapes3 ай бұрын
I've not tried the Spa yet. I might give the one a go on NCL Prima. We shall see.
@karencancino12464 ай бұрын
Hi, what time of year did you hike this route ? I will be making the same trip solo in May and i'm wondering if this is the same time of year. You are inspiring me , thanks for the video. Cheers
@NarrativeEscapes4 ай бұрын
That is a good question. I was on the first train up to Top of Europe so it was probably around 11 - Midday that ai started
@karencancino12464 ай бұрын
@@NarrativeEscapes thanks, I meant the month. I will be there May 21-22 and I am so disappointed to find that the gondolas won’t start operating till 2 days after I leave 😞. And I’m wondering if I attempt the hike down solo if the weather is not optimum 😬😬
@karencancino12464 ай бұрын
Looks like you did it maybe in June or September?
@NarrativeEscapes4 ай бұрын
@@karencancino1246 It was June or July.
@karencancino12464 ай бұрын
@@NarrativeEscapes thx, I will hope for one great weather day May 21-25 and hopefully’go for it’ as you say. cheers!
@Mezmo19754 ай бұрын
thats me! solo introvert lol love cruising
@NarrativeEscapes4 ай бұрын
Yeah I only started in 2019 due to a strange obsession with the Norwegian Bliss - I think I recognised it was introvert friendly. Will do more but it tends to be across different travel things. Need to get my Alaska videos up as they was solo introvert heaven for entirely different reasons.
@Mezmo19754 ай бұрын
@@NarrativeEscapes yes I had a solo on NCL escape
@beachmom194 ай бұрын
Loving your videos. We are going in September for the first time and also staying in Wengen. I am curious, isn't there a gondola in Wengen that you can take to Grindelwald instead of takin the train? Or you just wanted to take the train. Great videos of First. Thanks.
@NarrativeEscapes4 ай бұрын
There is a gondola across to the Grindelwald valley - not specifically Grindelwald the village so you'd then need a short hop on another train. The trouble was it wasn't available due to maintenance. So you could get up from Wengen but then not across. Funny thing is one of the videos later in the series is me going up from Wengen with the intention of walking one way but I ended up almost walking right across to the Grindelwald valley. An epic mistake.
@abrahamclott56044 ай бұрын
Brilliant! I'm a loner and went on my first cruise this past Oct--solo on Princess to Canada/NE from NYC. Loved it for all the reasons you say. You really captured my experience. Going solo again on Princess in May to Alaska. Princess seems great for solo travellers. They have many sailings with lower solo supplements. You just have to check. Really good itineraries. From what I can tell from reading and videos, more relaxed than NCL--no slides, amusement park rides, etc. And Princess prices very well--good value.
@NarrativeEscapes4 ай бұрын
Are you in the US? I find Princess are often quoted as having great deals by US citizens but the UK website is terrible and Princess are rarely a cost-effective option. It's a pity as I would like to try a Princess cruise and have the deals available like the US seems to get. I like NCL but I'm not devoted as such, it's just the deals seem to exist on there from the UK perspective. Oddly.
@abrahamclott56044 ай бұрын
@NarrativeEscapes Yes, I am in the US. Strange that prices would be different for UK travellers. Have you checked Cruise Plum? That will show you actual price per day. The price will be shown in US dollars if you check travelling from US or Canadian dollars if you check travelling from Canada. Won't show the price in pounds.
@anastasiarene66175 ай бұрын
You haven’t posted for a while, but thanks for this. I’ve been pent up in my house taking care of my mum for 4 going on 5 years by myself day in and out and it looks like I’m finally going to get some help and respite. I’m still not sure how room service might work on some of the ships might work on the days that I just can’t leave my room. But going on a cruise just for some peace, sun and scenery seemed impossible to me without having to interact with lots of other people, thanks to you, I ‘m almost sold.
@NarrativeEscapes5 ай бұрын
I've never had days where I just couldn't leave my room but I have had days when I stayed in it a lot. They work like hotel rooms and you can just place do not disturb on the door. You have a consistent cabin steward so if it stayed like that for days he / she may politely knock (they are friendly and respectful.of your space) but other than that leave you to get on with it.
@margaretsims43445 ай бұрын
Coming down the side of the hill from Hollins cross was the hardest bit. So slippery and muddy! Take a walking stick for balance.
@blueoctopus66 ай бұрын
Dump those fun sponges asap! 😅. We had a couple latch on to us that moaned about every single thing on one cruise ( not p and o) we avoided them like the plague but often saw them melting other peoples ears with their whinging. What is it with Brits and moaning? 😂
@IRMOHD7 ай бұрын
Great video and commentary. I really appreciate the efforts you made in showing different perspectives of the cabin, and your points about how something that might seem to be a negative turned out to be a positive (i.e., the shower location).
@NarrativeEscapes7 ай бұрын
Thanks. You going on a solo cruise?
@IRMOHD7 ай бұрын
@@NarrativeEscapes No, we are sending our son and DIL on a birthday-anniversary-birthday cruise to Alaska, and I’m going too, but in a solo cabin. They’ll be in a balcony:-)
@NarrativeEscapes7 ай бұрын
Got it. Yeah there were quite a few people doing that.
@elizabethrukmanis92277 ай бұрын
Very helpful thank you
@Tkrtomm7 ай бұрын
I booked my paraglide adventure after watching your video. June 4th can't come soon enough. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
@NarrativeEscapes7 ай бұрын
That's amazing. You'll love it. Truly is astounding.
@dzung196910 ай бұрын
You get what you paid for! That’s why their prices are cheaper than other cruise lines.
@kpnut00710 ай бұрын
A helpful review but as we couldn't see you in full, making statements about personal size and whether a larger person would still fit, seems a bit lost.
@adele639010 ай бұрын
This is really helpful, thank you. Hoping to do this at the weekend. Will have to start the walk at Edale though as I believe it’s the nearest train station from Manchester.
@riricielo8 ай бұрын
hey i'm going to start from edale station as well, how did you get to mam tor?
@NarrativeEscapes8 ай бұрын
I'm not sure. I'll have a look. I assume you arrive without transport?
@NarrativeEscapes8 ай бұрын
You can do a circular which is 7.4km in length. www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/england/derbyshire/edale-to-mam-tor-easy-loop
@Buz45111 ай бұрын
stay up north fella
@rwest5386 Жыл бұрын
I like your review approach and it's been ~20 years since my last cruise but I think ready, again. I have mainly narrowed it down to two cruise lines, Virgin and Norwegian. At ~70, 6'3" and 210lbs I'm not sure I'm a good candidate for a studio room but am both single and ready to mingle. I drink very little alcohol, I probably wouldn't have have more than 6-8 drinks total, just being sociable and wouldn't care if I had zero, I do however drink a lot of water. I'm not sure what the water situation is, out and about the ship, would a drink package or the "Free at Sea" package even make any since, for me, here in the USA? Do you have any recommendations, for me?
@NarrativeEscapes Жыл бұрын
I don't normally go for drinks packages because they cost so much and I don't really drink. Outside of a cruise I don't drink at all and then on the cruise it's only the frozen ones. So for me they make zero sense really and I don't really go for them for soda alone. Free at Sea can be different though as I get $50 shore excursion discount (even if you take multiple ones per day), a speciality dining slot per week and a level of free internet. This can make it borderline worth it even if I am not drinking much - for example on my Alaska cruise it was nice to have for the shore excursion discount and the internet the drinks part was sort of a rider. I think the challenge with giving advice on this I am not sure if Free at Sea is priced differently in the US and the UK. As an example when I pay for Free at Sea that is it...period, yet I think the in the US you pay for Free at Sea then also get hit with gratuity per drink.
@jgfiseth3332 Жыл бұрын
Walking in the mountains the whole day, often ends at some place like this. The top, asphalt, garbage and people dragging around it. Absolutly the top spot for some, end of the day for me.
@brentwightman9367 Жыл бұрын
my family used to go to butlins in may and september skeggy and filey and i ended up working at filey in 81 i remember climbing up those cliffs in74 and finding a concrete pillbox that hadslipped down as that coast erodes at some pace we werent the first there as we encountered a few and they were a bit stinky iwas into fossils then and found many in the rockier parts in 81it was just a party and a very special time with some great people that i will always fondly remember
@carolinejoy00 Жыл бұрын
Thank you after googling and reading lots of stuff this is the BEST explanation I found including pics... Brilliant thank you. 💙 Xx
@NarrativeEscapes Жыл бұрын
Thanks. The video was inspired by people wondering around Castleton confused. I even had two cars stop and ask me how to get to it from their window!
@carolinejoy00 Жыл бұрын
@@NarrativeEscapes i was one of those 😂 thank you... Look how many people you have helped with it 😍 thank you xx
@jimbsjaunts5352 Жыл бұрын
I wish they had a refrigerator. I am booked on the Bliss to Alaska June 2024 in a solo cabin.
@NarrativeEscapes Жыл бұрын
Yeah that would be handy for sure. I went on Norwegian Jewel from Vancouver to Alaska this May and it was awesome. I then got off and travelled independently for a week or so to Denali and back. Loved it.
@9cageyt Жыл бұрын
We will rent a car in Nordfjordeid and the Leon lift is on our route. We will decide on the weather situation. There is also an option to just drive up to the Dalsnibba Utsiktspunkt "Geiranger Skywalk" for 300NOK.