Visiting the North Cape Hall or Nordkapphallen Day 6 of our Hurtigruten cruise and our coach from Honningsvåg drops us off at the North Cape Hall or Nordkapphallen, a visitor centre with very modern facilities. The North Cape Hall was built inside the mountain and from here you have a panoramic view of the coast. […]
Kjeungskjær Lighthouse – One of the Most Beautiful
Hurtigruten Cruise: 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 […]
Merry Christmas from Norway – God Jul
Christmas in Norway: 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 […]
Crossing the Arctic Circle at 66°33' North
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!
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
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
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Visiting Alesund and Molde on our Norwegian Cruise
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 present during the […]