Longyearbyen, Norway

A Visit To Svalbard, Norway

Last evening, we happily dined at Umi Uma for the first time on this cruise! Umi Uma, formerly known as Silk Road, made its spectacular debut with Crystal when the Crystal Serenity first set sail in 2003. Our initial encounter with this incredible dining venue was during our 2005 voyage on Crystal Serenity, and we absolutely adored it from the get-go. This fantastic Japanese restaurant was crafted by the renowned Master Chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa and showcases many of the delightful dishes you'd find at one of his famous land-based restaurants.

​Nobu has gained fame for his exciting Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, a style he crafted while working in Lima, Peru. It was in this vibrant city that he brilliantly adapted traditional Japanese dishes by infusing them with unique Peruvian ingredients! It's been a great day.

While reservations are needed for the tables sitting at the Sushi Bar does not require reservations and seating is based on the order of arrival. Often those wanting to sit at the sushi bar arrive early. This was the case last evening and the first six people who wanted to dine there were confirmed a few minutes prior to the opening of Umi Uma.  

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We were escorted to our table by Headwaiter Richie. Richie was recently promoted, and we are very proud of him.  For many years Richie worked primarily on the Lido Deck before becoming a waiter in Umi Uma. In Richie’s new position when Headwaiter Sigi is on Holiday, Richie swings up to take his position and if they are both on board at the same time then Richie swings to the waiter position. Most recently, Ruel who was in the position now occupied by Richie moved over to Umi Uma at Crystal Symphony. Over the years it has been wonderful to see many members of Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity progress to higher levels of responsibility

We were taken excellent care of by Waiter Renato and Sommelier Jay.  Many others from Umi Uma checked up on us along with Specialty Restaurant Maitre d’ Mario and Restaurant Manager Paolo.
 
Everything was wonderful. The cuisine. The service. The dining venue. The entire experience. Bravo.

Last night most of guests dining at Umi Uma arrived sometime between 6:30 pm when it opened and 7:00 PM. Very few guests dined after that. The waitstaff team did an extraordinary job taking care of everyone and the service was as personable as it can be. The waitstaff team is truly a team, and it showed throughout the meal. We have known several members of the team for many years, and they are part of our extended family. They remember so many details whether that is a favorite appetizer or the wine that we enjoy.  While Nobu was on-board he made a few minor tweaks just showing attention to detail just like the crew observes along with those from Crysal on land. 

Once again the only downer for the evening was setting the clocks forward one additional hour before going to sleep. 

We also moved around quite a bit last night.  This included the ship and if the ship was moving around, we were too.  You knew you were at sea. After all we are LOL. We think of this as an all-inclusive roller coaster.  
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Todays Daily Reflections Program follows.

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A view from inside the ship at 5:00 AM from Deck 6, Seas were still choppy but lots calmer from a few hours earlier.

Also, while walking Keith took a photo of the Crystal Harmony located in the lounge. We were introduced to Crystal on the Harmony when we took a R/T cruise of Alaska in July of 2002 celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. This is when we introduced our two children and our daughter’s future husband to Crystal.  Eight years later we introduced our future daughter in law to Crystal and fifteen years after our first Crystal Cruise we introduced three of our five grandchildren to Crystal as the final two were not yet born. We have plans on taking the entire family on a future Crytal Cruise.

​More North Than Northwest Passage
 
We were fortunate to have sailed the first Crystal Northwest Passage Cruise in 2016. It was an epic voyage and one we will never forget.
 
Today we are in Longyearbyen which is the most northmost settlement. Although its popular is a mere 2,000+ residents, it is a vibrant town combining modern amenities with its Arctic roots. This town is known for its views of the Northern Lights. Longyearbyen also has residents from over 50 countries.
 
Some little-known facts about this town.
They have one grocery store.
They live right next door to reindeer.
They (not the reindeer but the local residents) take off their shoes when entering hotels and restaurants which is a tradition dating back to the time with coal dust.
The old mining infrastructure can be seen around the town reminding locals and visitors of its past.
The streets of this town have numbers rather than street names.
There is a university accommodating three hundred students. A course requirement is that students must learn how to use firearms.
It is not uncommon to see whales swimming in the fjord from lounge windows.

By 9:00 am we were cleared to go ashore in Longyearbyen and did. They offered a shuttle to/from town.
 
As usual Anne Marie was right.  Keith wanted to walk into town which would have been about twenty minutes, but Anne Marie said there was no sidewalk. Right she was.  Keith didn’t want to wear four layers of clothing (shirt, fleece, and two North Face jackets and lining) but Anne Marie said I should. She was right. We took wooly hat and gloves.  It was windy so with the wind chill quite cold but we were prepared. 
 
The bus driver and the tour guide were great. She is from India and has been here five years and will leave after summer with a doctorate in hand. She studied plants in the sea and their importance for food and oxygen. She told us all about the town and answered our questions.
 
Crystal advised to not go beyond the signs marked polar bear and she spoke about that. In the town there are four signs one on each side of the town noting where it is unsafe to be on your own without a rifle. What I wonder is do the Polar Bears read the signs but let’s not think about that.
 
After being dropped off we walked with friend Nancy for a little while and then Nancy went in one direction, and we went in another direction. 
 
People who didn’t go ashore asked what the town is like. We it is a town and like most towns they come in different sizes and look different than one another. It does have a church, museums, university, shopping mall (well not the way we think of malls), restaurants, a couple of places serving coffee one which has dogs, food market, two sporting goods stores, and some other businesses.

The downtown area has thirty-five public buildings. Looks like a similar number of private buildings.

From the town we could see the glaciers.  Today another reminder about the diversity of the world and the importance of realizing much of the world is unique from where each of us live.

Today was another reminder about the diversity of the world and the importance of realizing much of the world is unique from where each of us live. Yes, what a wonderful world it is.

Upon arrival back to the port we asked how to get to a few places by foot and also whether it was safe from the polar bears. The guide said it was but pointed to an area outside the port where one of the polar bear signs was located.  Keith walked over to it was and took a photo and sure enough some man was way beyond that sign. Hopefully, he won't end up being a meal for a polar bear.
 
 
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Cheer,

Anne Marie & Keith