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!
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?
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
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
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...]
Alesund – Norway’s Art Nouveau Town
A Fairytale Town of Towers, Turrets and Ornaments: If you didn't know better, you'd think that this is a beautiful picture of model buildings assembled from a modelling kit, but this is Ålesund , Norway's Art Nouveau town. In January 1904 a devastating fire raged through Ålesund , burning … [Read more...]
Shopping in Norway
What to shop in Norway All the major towns like Alesund, Bergen, Trondheim, Kristiansand, Tromso, Stavanger and Oslo have their town squares, around which you'll find department stores, shops and markets. Norway is an expensive country for most visitors outside of the Scandinavian region, so … [Read more...]