Nordkapp – Feeling on Top of the World at the North Cape!

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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 … [Read more...]

Hammerfest, Kingdom of the Polar Bears

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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 … [Read more...]

Kirkenes – the End of the Journey for Some

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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 … [Read more...]

Crossing the 71st Parallel to the North Cape

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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 … [Read more...]

Tromsø – Hunting the Northern Lights

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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 … [Read more...]

Tromsø – Capital of Arctic Norway

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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 … [Read more...]

Making it to the Arctic Circle!

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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 … [Read more...]

So What’s a Trollfjord Drink?

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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 … [Read more...]

Trondheim, a Viking town and Norway’s Coronation City

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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 … [Read more...]

Visiting Alesund and Molde on our Norwegian Cruise

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Hurtigruten Norwegian Cruise - Alesund and Molde Visits, Norway: DAY 2:  Floro - Maloy - Torvik - Alesund - Molde - Kristiansund. Early arrival at Maloy at 06:45 The ship rounds the Cape of Stadt, Norway's westernmost point. You will pass the bird rock of Runde where 32 species of birds are … [Read more...]