hallasm

I have now completed the Hurtigruten Northbound review including 15 videos  - also added some 'food pictures'

Just back from a 'niche' cruise - Hurtigruten northbound journey from Bergen to Kirkenes - six days where we experienced Northern Lights, Arctic Circle Crossing, Polar Night, North Cape, dog sledding and Kirkenes Snowhotel.

Link to blog with review and videos.

Photo: Bryggen Wharf in Bergen

VLOG - Hurtigruten  Northbound voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes.

Along the Coast, Trondheim sail away - Polar Circle Crossing & celebration, Sailing into the polar night - Northern Lights and Trollfjord illuminated by night.
Excursions: Dog Sledding in Tromsø, North Cape and Snowhotel in Kirkenes.

All my videos from the journey at this link.

VLOG The Northbound voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes.

Along the Coast, Trondheim sail away - Polar Circle Crossing & celebration, Sailing into the polar night - Northern Lights and Trollfjord illuminated by night.
Excursions: Dog Sledding in Tromsø, North Cape and Snowhotel in Kirkenes.

All my videos from the journey at this link

Can you tell us a little about what precautions you take in case of a storm. How strong must the storm be before you cannot sail and what do the ships actually do if they are to pass a hurricane on the planned route?

29 minutes ago, AnnTique said:

How easy is it to find an excursion when you get there?  What would you recommend?  Are there any that you suggest would be better to book beforehand to avoid queues eg the Funicular in Bergen?

Unfortunately not that easy for most Norwegian ports- excursions are Not sold at the pier - for Flåm the train might be sold out.

Some ports does offer HoHo busses. Some tour boats available.

For Olden there are scheduled shuttle bus to Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift. Do not know if the Briksdal tours does sell out while the Loen Skylift does have high capacity and very close to the port.

One option could be to rent bikes - distance is 10 miles - alternative is public bus. 

Timetable will depend on week day - also your arrival and departure time.

Trollfjord sailing is one of the highlights of a Norwegian coastal journey (I know sailings are weather permitting).
Is it a specific period of  time when the ships are sailing into the fjord or only for the mouth?
If set time - during which times do the ships sail into Trollfjord and during which times only for the mouth?

14 minutes ago, Elka said:

My sailing on the Trollfjord did go into the Trollfjord in October. Only it was really dark when we went in. 

Thank you for the update - did only sail to the mouth of Trollfjord in January. 

Should Not be a problem to catch 09:45 even if tendered - only 5 minutes walk from pier to train.

you can check This link  for Cruise Ship arrivals.

Looks like Norwegian Air has got some more Air under the wings, Link to Oslo Børs press release

The Board of Directors of Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (the "Company") has resolved to propose that the Company carries out a capital increase through a fully underwritten rights issue with proceeds of approximately NOK 3 billion (the "Rights Issue"). The background for the proposal is a need to strengthen the Company’s balance sheet, to increase its financial flexibility and create headroom to the covenants of its outstanding bonds compared with what follows from the Company’s business plan.

11 hours ago, Sallyandtex said:

I couldnt seem to get to the Norwegian website probably geoblocked or something, and weird I delected AUD but it bounced me back to Euros

Euro is probably at global.hurtigruten.com - but likely geoblocking in Australia - I have access to all sites - there is a ban on geoblocking in Europe.

22 minutes ago, roadmaster said:

concerned about the northern sector with Oceania and the opportunity to get into fjords

Only Fjord sailing is for Flåm where you are sailing through Sognefjord.

From Ålesund you might be able to do an excursion  to Storefjord and from Stavanger an excursion to Lysefjord.

Crystal, Silverstein and Viking are all Sailing Geiranger Fjord.

in addition Viking is Sailing Eidfjord.

The only Oceania scenic sailing for the cruise ship is Sognefjord to Flåm.

8 hours ago, Sallyandtex said:

Also, is it worth a balcony?

For the answer in the post above I assumed Norway Coastal Voyage.

Only balconies at some of the suite cabins at the Coastal Voyage Ships and not all ships. Coastal Ships are working ships rather than cruise ships and all ships very different. The new expedition ships have more balconies.
Not much use of a Balcony in March along the Norwegian coast.

8 hours ago, Sallyandtex said:

are the expedition/ice-breaker ships less "comforable" than the others?

I have not sailed the expedition ships however my understanding is that the expedition ships are comfortable but primarily sailing expedition cruises - not common on the Coastal Voyages along the Norwegian Coast , however some Norwegian Coast expeditions. Not quite an icebreaker - rather a ice-strengthend Hull 

8 hours ago, Sallyandtex said:

iIs it possible to book on the Norwegen website to save that 25% someone mentioned, and still be able to book add-on shore trips too

That’s my understanding- I do book at the Norwegian site in NOK - only problem for you might be Norwegian Language- Google translate might assist. You can always add excursions - either at the booking or later by contacting sales support via email.

Hope I got answered all you questions. Hope others can add regarding expedition ships.

6 hours ago, Sallyandtex said:

1) daylight (not in account of Northern Lights which i believe will not guaranteed to be around at those months)

2) access to fjords

3) scenery eg wildlfie

4) weather (rainy/storm

1) daylight will be fine for both March and September - March will be a good month for Northern Lights - Lights are never guaranteed, but March is on of the ‘better months’.

2) Hurtigruten is only sailing Geirangerfjord during summer. Not sure if they still are sailing into Trollfjord in September - anyway depending on weather. No difference for other Fjords. Apart from Geiranger and Trollfjord as well as Raftsundet, Hurtigruten doesn’t sail the ‘other spectacular Norwegian Fjords’. However, still spectacular sceneries.

3) More seabirds in September than March - in March still a lot of snow on the mountains and at North Cape and in Kirkenes.

4) Weather might not be a big difference - September might be more calm and warmer than March.

I would prefer March over September - good chances for Northern Lights and snow on the mountains.

1 hour ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

In July we are doing a Norway intensive cruise on the Azamara Journey. We have been doing lots of research and have lots planned - Flam railway, Geiranger bus, Lofoten Sea explorer Tour to see Sea Eagles, Lake Loen Cruise & see Briksdal glacier from Olden, Rodne cruise from Bergen, North Cape Tour from Honningsvag etc but haven’t been able to find out much about stops at Bodo and Molde. If you have any information and advice about these two ports I’d be very grateful.

Looks like you already have some exciting excursions planned - the Highlights are for sure Geiranger, Flåm, Lofoten, Bergen and Olden. Also the midnight sun north of the Arctic Circle in July.

Maybe Bodø and Molde are Not that exciting or at least ir Will require longer excursions.

Bodø is located just north of the Arctic Circle -  10 kilometers north of Bodø lies the area Geitvågen with a large number of White-tailed Eagles.
Possible excursion by boat to Saltstraumen  - a small strait with one of the strongest tidal currents in the world - depending on time of the day.

Molde is a small town located at the northern coast of Midfjorden. In the town the viewpoint Varden with panoramic views over fjords.
You’ll need excursion or rental car.

The Atlantic Road running across bridges and islands One of the National Tourist Roads in Norway. Norwegian Structure of the Century and the world’s most beautiful road trip! 
Marble caves at Naas! The caves are a result of mining, active from 1938 - 1987.
Other possible longer excursions are Rauma Railway or Trollstigen and Trollveggen, however quite long excursions- both easier accessible from Åndalsnes.

Excellent review and amazing pictures. I do have that cruise on my list. Thank you for sharing.

Your question is not clear but as I read it you have a chip and pin card. If pin and chip it will work with European terminals. For many terminals in shops a chip and sign card will work but not for terminals at automated ticket machines.

My advice will be to have a chip and pin card when traveling in Europe.

3 hours ago, SoccerMom#3 said:

Our flight gets into Bergen at 10:00 AM.  My plan is to get to the ship, drop our stuff off (it's Viking so they will let us do that) , and then walk to the Floibanen Funicular.  Is that doable?  Ship doesn't leave till the next day.

Is round 30 minutes from airport to the terminal by taxi. Assuming The Cruise terminal it’s a 0.7 miles walk to Fløy banan - 15 minutes - from the terminal. plenty of time.

1 hour ago, CanEcosse said:

Comparing Oceania and Azamara for Norway in 2020. O goes as far north as Bodo while Azamara goes all the way to the North Cape. How many of the iconic, "can't miss" fjords will I not see if I choose Oceania. Note, the question is about locations, not a request for alternate cruises.

You need to include the ports of call for the two cruises - many scenic fjords are south of Bodø - however, answer will depending on the itinerary - Going above the Arctic Circle (Bodø ) is just above the  Arctic Circle) you may experience midnight sun (depending on which dates) - so please include dates as well.

In this post you can get a list of scenic fjords

At 11 pm as MS Trollfjord entered the 100m-wide mouth of Trollfjord. While spotlights picked out the 1,000m-high cliffs that soared into the Arctic darkness.

Sailing Trollfjord during June

14 hours ago, MeHeartCruising said:

Several years ago (so it may no longer be this way), we did not dock within what I would call walking distance of the core Bergen sites.

Most cruise ships does dock at Bergen Cruise Terminal  or  Festningskaien which is close to the city centre. If many ships in port or  larger ships,  also Jekteviken is used - a bit further away - if OP want to know location just post ship name and date.

1 hour ago, Tranquility Base said:

Thanks for all the info.

 

If I want to use cash ( I know there will be places which are card only ) are there usually money changers or banks where I can get local currency in ports.

Thinking Norway, Sweden & Denmark.

Yes, In Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. In  small ports maybe not -  and some places extremely expensive - a debit card for ATM might be possible. Some shops will accept Euro or US$ - not a favorable rate, however might be better than fee on Credit Card if using ATM.

You might even find shops not accepting cash at all. What is the problem using a credit card? Or a Mobil Phone payment solution.

Short and easy walk to all the sights - first the UNESCO Bryggen wharf, then Fløy Banan (funicular) to mount Fløyen, the Fish market and the center of Bergen.

44 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Not on the continent, but I think Iceland gets the prize for letting you use a debit or credit card for their public toilets.

 

 

(photo by turtles06)

Not only Iceland - also widely used in Scandinavia.