hallasm

Correct - if you want to travel longer than 90 days, you must apply for a visa (residency permit) at the embassy or consulate in the US for the main country you want to visit. Once you have a visa, you can travel freely within the Schengen area. Citizens of the United States with a valid US passport can travel to 26 European member countries of the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days without having to apply or obtain a Schengen visa for short-term tourism or a business trip. You can stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. If you need to remain longer than 90 days in Europe, then you must apply for a residency permit as described above.

welcome to Cruise Critic - the right Forum for qualified answers to your questions. Interesting cruise with many interesting ports of call. There is also a good forum with answers to questions about Copenhagen - fly to Copenhagen a few days before your cruise. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/116-northern-europe-amp-baltic-sea/

Yes, you are leaving the United States and entering the Kingdom of Denmark. In addition, if you are a citizen of a country (but not USA) from which a visa to Denmark is required, a visa is also required to travel to Greenland.

Thanks for sharing your interesting story. I don't think that the problem is only that 26 Schengen countries have different implementations - rather an “unintentional error” in the system when it comes to cruise ships. As a starting point, all passports are stamped upon entry/exit in a Schengen country, but not on cruise ships. At present, there is also no full control over the 90-day rule. ETIAS, which is expected to be operational in November 2023, should solve the problem, but I am curious to see how the system is initially handled when traveling in/out og Schengen by cruise ship.

Which waters you pass through is secondary - you only need visas for the ports you actually call at. In your case Tenerife and therefore you must apply at the Spanish consulate.

The color intensity of the northern lights depends on the intensity of the solar storm. The intensity of solar storms changes on an 11 year cycle and is expected to peak in 2023/24 - so it will be a good time this winter or next. Also, the period around the equinox in September and March should give higher intensity due to the angle of the earth in relation to the sun. I'm planning a Northern Lights trip myself. Since I don't have that far to travel, I will only do the voyage from Bodø to Kirkenes. A camera lens is better at capturing colors than the human eye. However, I saw more green than gray colors, but there was also good intensity on the days we saw the northern lights. As I said, better conditions next year, so it's the right time to travel.

Yes, very memorable voyage - snowmobile King Crab safari, dogsledding and North Cape. This year there has generally been a high level of activity. The activity in the solar storms fluctuates over an 11-year cycle that peaks in 2023, so there should be good opportunities by February - of course this requires that the sky is clear. We sailed the voyage in January and saw the northern lights every night from Svolvær - each evening 45 to 60 minutes long. Also several times in one evening. Be prepared for it to be very, very cold on the open deck. At the Lofoten Islands, the light is on the horizon, but later in the trip it is high in the sky, so it will only be visible on the upper decks. Difficult to see from inside the ship.

Just make sure to read the Terms and conditions before you get too excited. The promise is only valid for 11 days Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen voyage - you’ll get a new 6 or 7-day voyage in an inside cabin (includes all meals) but no additional travel (flights). A new trip must be ordered within one month of returning from your original trip. Also it’s very unlikely at a 11 days voyage not to see the lights at all. “The ship determines whether a Northern Lights event has occurred, regardless of weather conditions and actual visibility” - and time of the night. The Havila and Hurtigruten ‘promises’ are very similar.

I have seen Northernn Lights at land tours in Iceland and Norway - but still most northern lights when sailing - if a cruise is 5 to 6 days north of Lofoten Islands/ Bodø. Many Cruise Lines has overnight stops in Alta - possible land excursions. I think a cruise is a good way to see Northern Lights - I’m planning a Hurtigruten voyage from Bodø to Kirkenes with some days pre/post cruise in Bodø and Kirkenes - have done this before - did still have the best sights when sailing.

Unfortunately not - very interesting concept - personally I find USD 600 pp for a meal excluding drinks a bit expensive - make sure to check Terms for reservation.

Really interesting itinerary but no deep Norwegian fjords included. Ålesund and Haugesund in Norway are both Coastal cities.

Just note that none of your listed cruises include the deep fjords - not much to see from a balcony. Even in June you might find it very cold - realize that you’re traveling quite far north - both cruises are Arctic cruises - northern lights in October and midnight sun in June/July. In Honningsvåg you might expect 50˚F in July and 30 ˚F in October.

Cruising Norway during winter you’ll not use a balcony - and you’ll probably not be able to see the lights from a balcony - to really answer your questions you need to post the itinerary and date . Might depend on cruising the deep fjords but not common on northern lights cruises - and it will likely also be dark- depending on time you might have polar winter and no sun over the horizon at all. Personally I would not use the balcony during winter and dark.

Most tender ports in Norway ate in sheltered fjords - not so prone to bad weather.

The scenic viewings from a cruise ship compared to a smaller boat navigating the same fjords a very similar. In general all the deep Norwegian fjords can be navigated by big bruise ships. in the ports you can visit the viewpoints, train rides, hiking or visit glaciers - depending on ports of call. I have no experience with kayaking in Norway but I will assume that kayaking will be an experience in itself.

Welcome to Iceland - and it will be ISK 145,000 in 'Islandsk króna'

Good point. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is currently not in operation. ETIAS is expected to be operational in November 2023.

1 hour 40 min is sufficient time for transfer in AMS. You’ll pass immigration in AMS and customs will be BCN. Just make sure your luggage is checked thought to BCN. No need for panic. Enjoy your flight and cruise.

Planning depends on what and how. How many days? A few days based in Reykjavik, a little longer with a few more nights in the north of Iceland or a week-long tour with overnight stays in cities along the route. It is possible with organized excursions from Reykjavik, but the best is to rent a car. Book hotels and plan your days - lots of information on the internet. Navigating Iceland is easy. However, there are roads where not all rental cars are allowed to drive (Due to the accessibility of the road). When planning, it is also important to check accessibility of the roads. Most roads are very fine, but on smaller roads you can only drive very slowly (or need a 4x4 wheel drive) It is also quite expensive to rent cars in Iceland. I have visited Iceland several times and have mostly only stayed at hotels in Reykjavik - a few times combined with a few days overnight stays in the north of Iceland. As Norway in general Iceland is very expensive.

You’re right - A new initiative- Hurtigruten ‘The North Cape Express’ 15 days from Oslo to North Caoe and back to Bergen With stops 17 ports,.

Yes, if Hurtigruten you’ll navigate Geiranger Fjord (no excursions) as well as Trollfjord - longer stops where you can explore cities like Trondheim, Bodø, and Tromsø on your own. Then the two suggested excursions at Lofoten Islands and North Cape in Honningsvåg. And then the pre/post cruise options suggested (Oslo, Train/Flåm, and Bergen). I’ll suggest July (midnight Sun when inside Polar Circle).

If you consider Hurtigruten my proposal is to fly into Oslo - take the train from Oslo to Bergen with a detour to Flåm - stay one or two nights in the Flåm area with boat tours at the fjords. Then few nights before Hurtigruten from Bergen to Kirkenes. FROM Kirkenes flight back to Oslo. I would only arrange for two excursions - one at Lofoten Islands and one to North Cape - in June July you’ll have midnight sun from Lofoten Islands to Kirkenes. And also the option to explore Oslo. Another thought. If flying Iceland Air to Oslo you might also stay few days in Reykjavik.

Yes. Excursion are expensive. In general Norway is expensive. You might find same prices if you look at cruise line excursions. Also note that all Hurtigruten prices are inclusive tax and fees. No additional tipping. Try to compare prices in NOK at the Hurtigruten Norwegian site. Tend to be lower priced.

Port stops are full day stops - in the itinerary you’ll have arrival in the morning and departure in the evening. In some ports a lot of possibilities for excursions (train rides, view points, glaciers). Other ports tiny towns with limited activities. Check the ports. Some ports are coastal cities - others located in the deep fjords where you have scenic cruising in the morning when entering and in the evening when leaving.. Times are for stops where you can leave the ship and explore the area for the day. Yes. In general the weather is fine in June, July and August. But there might be rain. For the full view at the top of the ship. I prefer the view from the top deck when entering the fjords in the morning. Cruising is a good way to see the fjords, but you can arrange train rides and boat trips and see the fjords. An option is “Norway in a Nutshell” Very good questions - preparation is key. Norway fjords itineraries are very different. Examples of ports in the deep fjords are Flåm, Geiranger and Olden. Nice coastal cities are Bergen, Ålesund and Stavanger. An alternative to the ‘mainstream cruise lines’ is Hurtigruten - this is a coastal ferry service from Bergen to Kirkenes - 34 port stops in six days. One longer stop each day - and back to Bergen. The deep fjords are in southern Norway - north of the Polar circle is the main attraction midnight sun in June and July.

I don't think the Carnival representative you spoke to knows what he was talking about when he refers to the Jones Act - If the ship has only been in Schengen ports since Barcelona, immigration should not be a problem since you have entered Schengen and remain in Schengen. However, I can immediately imagine that it could cause problems upon ship arrival in the UK if you are still on the ship's list as a passenger - therefore it is important that your disembarkation is coordinated with the ship.