Nordkapp or North Cape is Europe’s Northern-most Inhabited Point: Reaching the North Cape (Nordkapp in Norwegian), gives us a sense of achievement – not that we’ve scaled the steep cliff to get up here nor did we do it tough like the early explorers. On the contrary, our very comfortable coach from Honningsvåg deposits us […]
Hammerfest, Kingdom of the Polar Bears
Hurtigruten Norwegian Cruise – Southbound Journey: Day 8: Mehamn – Kjøllefjord – Honningsvåg – Havøysund – Hammerfest – Øksfjord – Skjervøy – Tromsø. A brief call is made in Havøysund before arriving in Hammerfest at 11.15 a.m. You are now in the northernmost town in the world – Hammerfest is the first town in Norway […]
Kirkenes – the End of the Journey for Some
Kirkenes, a Town Near the Russian Border: Day 7: Båtsfjord – Vardø – Vadsø – Kirkenes – Vardø – Båtsfjord – Berlevåg. The ship sails into Kirkenes where you will have the opportunity to go ashore. You may wish to participate in a shore excursion from Kirkenes to Storskog the Norwegian/Russian border station or you […]
Crossing the 71st Parallel to the North Cape
Making it to Nordkapp or the North Cape: Day 6: Øksfjord – Hammerfest – Havøysund – Honningsvåg – Kjøllefjord – Mehamn – Berlevåg. In Finnmark, icebergs, wind and weather have created a harsher, more dramatic landscape. You will see both abandoned fishing stations and lively fishing ports bustling with activity.Havøysund is the next port of […]
Shopping On Your Tromsø Travel
Where to Shop in Tromsø Town Centre: Storgata is Tromsø’s main pedestrian street and its downtown shopping precinct. Along this street are many shops selling local and international products. You’ll find boutiques and fashion shops, gifts and souvenir stores, bookshops,chemists and most other shops that a modern city would have, including electronics and cellphones. If […]
Tromsø – Hunting the Northern Lights
Tromsø has Many Northernmost Claims: Tromsø is a town that can boast of many things. This capital of Arctic Norway is the gateway to the Arctic Ocean and is the largest town in the polar region of Scandinavia. Tromsø is a very important research town and at Polaria, the national centre for research and information, […]
Tromsø – Capital of Arctic Norway
This Gateway to the Arctic is also known as the “Paris of the North”: DAY 5: Stokmarknes – Sortland – Risøyhamn – Harstad – Finnsnes – Tromsø – Skjervøy. You awake to find the ship sailing between Norway’s two largest islands, Hinnoya and Senja. Or perhaps, earlier still, in Harstad. Finnsnes is reached late morning, […]
Making it to the Arctic Circle!
Hurtigruten Norwegian Cruise – Arctic Circle, Norway: DAY 4: Brønøysund – Sandnessjøen – Nesna – Ørnes – Bodø – Stamsund – Svolvaer. You will have passed the Arctic Circle before the whole ship is fully awake. The ship will follow the mighty Borvasstindene Mountains before arriving into Bodo, North Norway’s second largest city at 12.30 […]
So What’s a Trollfjord Drink?
A Hurtigruten Tradition on Crossing the Arctic Circle: We reached the Arctic Circle this morning and as we pass the entrance of the Trollfjord, it is a tradition on a Hurtigruten cruise that you have a Trollfjord drink. Our invitation says to put on warm clothes and to be out on the deck at 23:30 […]
Trondheim, a Viking town and Norway’s Coronation City
Hurtigruten Norwegian Cruise – Trondheim Visit, Norway: DAY 3: Trondheim – Rørvik. Arrive Trondheim at 6.00 a.m. Trondheim, Norway’s third largest city, founded by Olav Tryggvasson in 977 AD, has a strong academic flavour and can boast the country’s oldest school, first official theatre and one of the first national newspapers.. (B, L, D) 06:00 – […]