Arctic Highlights Voyage to Norway with Hurtigruten
On arrival at Newcastle Airport I spent the night at the Doubletree by Hilton which is just across the road from departures. Lovely to be greeted with a warm cookie on arrival!
In the morning I met my group and we were flying with Fly Germania. This was a direct charter flight from Newcastle to Tromso. The service we received on board our flight was good, with hot food, tea/coffee or alcohol being an extra cost.
On arrival in Tromso, we enjoyed a walking excursion and visited the Polar Museum, Polaria and also passed by the Mack Brewery which is the northernmost brewery in the world!
We boarded our ship the MS Midnatsol and settled into our cabins which are basic (no TV’s or tea/coffee making facilities in the lead in cabins) with two single beds and a shower room. We had a porthole to view the spectacular scenery (even though from 21st November to 21st January the sun does not rise in this part of the world). I would recommend upgrading your cabin to one of the 23 Suites which have a double bed, separate lounge area, tea/coffee and TV with bath and shower. On deck nine there is a Jacuzzi hot tub along with a sauna and a gym. There is a large, two-storey panorama lounge above the bow, two bars, a cafe and a library. Four ships within the fleet are being refurbished in 2016 to include enhanced cabins with double beds and a beautiful new interior with a modern Scandinavian flavour. These are MS Polarlys, MS Kong Harald, MS Nordkapp and MS Nordnorge.
On our first night, we dined in the a la carte restaurant on board. The crayfish soup was spectacular and the main course of reindeer was apparently beautiful however I chose the cod which was also wonderful. The meal was accompanied by wine chosen by the Restaurant Manager and we were looked after like royalty.
Day two and breakfast is served in the Midnatsol Restaurant located on deck five. Breakfast and lunch are both buffet style with a fantastic choice. For breakfast we had cereals, fruit, yoghurt, cheese, ham, smoked salmon, toast, croissants, pancakes, eggs, bacon, beans and more. Tea, coffee, apple and orange juice are included. We arrived in Honningsvag to join the North Cape Excursion. A 45 minute coach journey along breath-taking scenery, bleak and desolate but beautiful in the polar twilight. Nordcapp is the northernmost point of Europe before you meet the North Pole and the steep mountain cliff rises 307 metres above the Arctic Ocean. Blasted into the mountain cliff is a spectacular panoramic film theatre, historical exhibition, post office, an exclusive gift shop, museum, chapel and a restaurant.
We had a ‘Seminar at Sea’ where we learnt more about the Hurtigruten fleet and plans for the future. This evening we passed Finnkirka, a rock formation that is sacred to the indigenous Sami people and now also the site of an impressive light show. After dinner we headed to the bar for a night cap. As we were sitting chatting, the tannoy announced that the Northern Lights were making an appearance. Everyone rushed out on deck and I couldn't believe my eyes. I was sailing down the Norwegian Fjords looking up at the Northern Lights. It was magical and the atmosphere out on deck was wonderful. Everyone was staring up at the sky with huge smiles on their faces. The lights faded in and out and were constantly dancing and changing colour.
Day three and onto Kirkenes - as far east as Cairo, further east than most of Finland, a mere 15km from the border with Russia – which we visited for the inevitable photographs. Then onto the famous Snow Hotel. They have 20 bedrooms, an Ice Bar, Gabba Restaurant along with a sauna and also Gamme log cabins if the cold hotel does not appeal! The complex also offers husky dog sledding and snowmobiling in winter along with king crab fishing and midnight sun rafting in the summer months.
Another super dinner – I have really been impressed with the food on board, always fresh and tasty. The service is second to none with all of the staff very professional and helpful. Again, luckily for us, the Northern Lights were out and perhaps brighter and more impressive than before!
Day four was spent sailing back south to Hammerfest where we visited the Polar Bear Museum and learnt about the history of fishing in Norway. We then had a ship tour which was very interesting and I even found out there is a jail cell on board (perhaps for people who don’t pay their bar bill!) After the switch on of the Christmas lights with mulled wine, we disembarked at midnight in Tromso staying at the Radisson Blu for the next two nights.
Early next morning we walked down to the Tromso harbour and joined the local boat which took us out along the fjord to see the amazing sight of orcas and humpback whales in their wild habitat. A fantastic experience and definitely recommended. Included in this excursion is unlimited tea/coffee/fruit and also freshly cooked waffles. This afternoon we visited MS Polarlys - she was docked in Tromso so we had a show round – another lovely ship and I would love to go back on board once she is refurbished. Back for a final group dinner at the Radisson – once again fantastic food and service!
Up early and away to the Villmarkssenter on the outskirts of Tromso. Here, we visited the Husky Centre, where we learnt about how much they love to work the sleds. Unfortunately, there was not enough snow for us to go out dog sledding. We were given a light snack of traditional Norwegian reindeer stew, with tea/coffee and a slice of delicious chocolate cake which was being served in a warm and cosy wooden Sami Lavvo (tent) with a roaring fire in the centre. Finally, we had to make our way back to the airport.
With its fleet of iconic ships, Hurtigruten has made it possible to visit every nook and cranny of the coastline, from Bergen to Kirkenes, in the pampered confines of its working ships. For most settlements Hurtigruten is the only lifeline, with a 120-year history as a postal, delivery and transport service. The joy of a voyage like this is that you can choose whether you hop on and off, do a five-day cruise or go all the way to the last port. Wi-Fi is available but chargeable – at £10 for 3 days it is good value for money. There is also a wine and beer package on offer as the drinks on board are very expensive as in Norway in general.
If you are thinking about taking a voyage to the Norwegian Fjords I urge you to consider Hurtigruten. You will have such a wonderful, unique experience with an authentic Norwegian atmosphere. Please contact me for more information!