Kjeungskjær Lighthouse – One of the Most Beautiful

Kjeungskjær Lighthouse, Norway

Kjeungskjær is One of the Most Distinctive Lighthouses: Two hours forty minutes after our cruise departs Trondheim, we come across Kjeungskjær Lighthouse which is located on a small rock beyond Ørlandet. This lighthouse, or “fyr” in Norwegian, is considered to be one of the most beautiful ones along the Norwegian coast and having seen a [...]

Back in Trondheim on Boxing Day

Bryggen on the Nidelva River, Trondheim..

Stranded in Trondheim – but for Three Hours Only: Day 12: Trondheim – Kristiansund – Molde – Ålesund. At 6.30 a.m. the ship arrives into Trondheim where you are able to visit the 12th Century Nidaros Cathedral, Norway’s largest medieval church. After a few hours in Trondheim the ship will depart Trondheim at 10:00 am [...]

Merry Christmas from Norway – God Jul

A Beautiful White Christmas..

It is a White Christmas: Day 11: Sandnessjøen – Brønnøysund – Rørvik. Today, you have the option to go on an excursion to the Petter Dass Museum and Alstahaug. Please see your cruise director to book if you are interested. Enjoy a special Christmas Day Brunch served in the restaurant during the day. Depart Sandnessjøen [...]

Crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33' North

Arctic Circle Globe, Vikingen

Crossing into the Land of the Midnight Sun: Travel in Norway has many highlight moments and crossing the Arctic Circle is one of them. This imaginary geographic border circles the earth at 66°33′ north and marks the border with the Land of the Midnight Sun. When one crosses the Arctic Circle on a northbound Hurtigruten [...]

Northern Lights – We See the Lights!

Northern Lights, Norway

On a Mission to See the Northern Lights: It’s 2:30 a.m. when the phone rings. It’s the Reception informing us that the Northern Lights have been sighted. Half asleep, I’m not sure if I’m hearing correctly or if this a practical joke?  By this stage of our return Hurtigruten cruise, I was beginning to give [...]

Christmas Eve in Sandnessjøen

Christmas Eve Dinner - Santa Arrives..

Stopping in Sandnessjøen for Christmas Eve Celebrations: Day 10: Bodø – Ørnes – Nesna – Sandnessjøen. After leaving Ørnes, the voyage continues through exciting and colourful waters, sailing through narrow straits bordered by lush farmland along the shores of Helgeland. Nearly every peak of the towering mountains in the background is associated with a local [...]

Svolvær – Capital of the Lofoten Islands

Hurtigruten leaving port

A Gateway for Tourism on the Lofoten Islands: Day 9: Tromsø – Finnsnes – Harstad – Risoyhamn – Sortland – Stokmarknes – Svolvær – Stamsund. Today traditional Norwegian “Julegrot” – Christmas porridge will be served and in the bar. Find the almond in the porridge and you win a prize! Together with fellow passengers and [...]

North Cape – Feeling on Top of the World!

Globe Monument - North Cape

Europe’s Northernmost 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 at the Nordkapphallen (the North Cape [...]

Hammerfest, Kingdom of the Polar Bears

Hammerfest, Norway's Northernmost Town..

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 to [...]

Kirkenes – the End of the Journey for Some

A Reindeer Farm, Kirkenes..

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 [...]