linderbelle

Terry--I'm into photography also and debating on which lens to bring. You keep mentioning your 10-20. Is it a sigma lens? I love my 24-70 but contemplating even a wider one. When lenses did you use besides your 10-20?

Apparently prices have gone down to our advantage. I just booked through Travelocity but is Europcar and the price was $156.00 which includes the $11.00 insurance charge. It was so helpful for you to tell to pick up at Verksveien12. I appreciate the help Terry--you have helped me in more than one port. Now on to Tromso. lol. Thanks!!

Linda

I did wake up to emails from two different other agencies and one wanting more information and the other stating they did have a car. It is reserved and they will be us at the tourist office at the port. What a relief. What did people do without the internet. I do remember that but we never went out of the country. lol

Thanks TLC. Now to book the bird island tour. Can't wait to see the puffins!!

Linda

Also, hope to see some reindeer!!

You're welcome Lars. You truly are such an asset to this site and its so awesome to have somebody posting to people's questions. Is there a bakery close to the pier? I might want to see if their lefse is as good as mine. lol I'd love to have a photo of every bakery in every port and city we go to. :-) My Mom raised us with norwegian culture and I'm excited to see some of my heritage.

Linda

Linda

Thanks for the quick reply TLC. I did see where you aren't allowed on the island etc. I haven't given up totally yet--have found two unofficial agencies that rent cars so there's still hope and have emailed them. Hopefully hear from them by the time I get up in the morning.

We'll figure out something!!!

Linda

Well there are no car rentals for the day we are there. Have tried everything unless somebody has some ideas. :)

Linda

Terry: When you did the bird island adventure was it strictly on the boat or did you get off on an island etc?

Linda

Wow I have spent the last 24 hours going through 64 pages of posts. I-Cruiser your help is downright amazing and so appreciated. There are so many others and too many to mention. We are in port 9-6 which I have discovered is enough time to do the Troll Road which was a must. I am into landscape photography and pray we have enough time to get down to the waterfront and also up to Mtn. Aksla. I wish the car could be located right when we step off the pier to save time. I have copied and pasted posts from this thread amounting to 26 pages in a Word document. It's just not posts about Alesund but also other ports we will be visiting. I am 100% norwegian but american made lol. I so wish there was a way to see the Atlantic Highway but unfortunately I just don't see a way. There aren't words enough to thank you for all your help for all of us visiting your beautiful country.

Linda

Read that Avis is the only car rental near where the ships dock. Unfortunately, we are coming in there on a Saturday and of course it's not open on Saturday. Any other agencies by the port or is airport the only option? If that is the case, are there taxis when you get off?

Linda

Ok I see that Alesund to Trollstigen is about 75 miles. I can't find any tour fr om Alesund so I'm thinking maybe the only way is to rent a car. Is it doable to do this and also have time to go to Aksla and have a bit of time around Alesund?

Linda

I did see where TLC posted that he saw puffins at Bird Island while in Honningsvag so I'm thinking we'll do that instead of Runde.

My head is spinning. lol. We are in port from 9-6 on a Saturday. I'd love to see the Trollstigen, Aksla, lighthouse and even Runde. Is there any possible way to do this in the time allowed. Also, time to walk around a bit.

Linda

TLC did you go on a tour in Bergen or off on your own?

Linda

Heard back from the car rental place. Hope the attached files helps somebody.

Eidfjord Utleige AS leigevilkår ENG.pdf

Eidfjord Utleige AS Prisar bilutleige engelsk (ny).pdf

It will probably be fly from oslo to Alesund in the evening and will probably only have one full day there and then not sure but might even have to fly out that night to UK and spend night and board plane to go home. Have to figure it out a bit yet.

I'm very pleased with that new cruise I found and after we get off in the Arctic Circle we will fly into Oslo and then over to Alesund.

Linda

Most of the tours come free from the cruise line--just don't have the information yet--too early. Some places we just may do our own thing. I think we will in Kristiansund--want a front seat birdseye view and yes be able to stop when we want.

Linda

Convinced me!!! :D I've been pinning stuff onto Pinterest and went in there and looked after I posted and saw lots of stuff I had pinned. Saw this for one https://www.pinterest.com/pin/222857881536248744/ Thanks for your input. I so appreciate it!!!! I can't wait!!!! Sooooo excited. Some people aren't into the beauty that surrounds us daily.

Linda

Thanks!! That's what I was thinking too Lars. Ok I just noticed you live in Alesund. I was telling a gal online that I know from a FB group that we were thinking about flying into Alesund for a day and asked her if she had ever been there (she lives in Oslo) and she had and she said not much there. Tell me Lars about your home town why we should fly into there. I'm also into landscape photography. :):D

Linda

I-Cruiser--is it better to rent a car so you get a front site view of the Atlantic Highway or is a tour sufficient as I'm sure it will be provided on the ship we are and paid for but I'm willing to rent a car to get the experience.

Linda

Thanks and yep have posted a few things on here trying to find the ideal one. I'm excited. It wasn't easy to find--lol. How I found it was going into Lofoten cruise port schedule and going to the days and looking which ships were in port and going from there. This one is within our price range (can't get the balcony-but that's ok).

Thanks for the support.

Linda

Thanks Terry--we are going with the itinerary which I will have no regrets with and that means the Minerva. The positives far outweigh the negatives. :) Thanks for everybody's help.

Linda

With this one the deposit is non-refundable so the hunt is over thank goodness. Now to dream about seeing my heritage. I am 100% Norwegian and can't wait to see where my ancestors came from. Boss just approved me going for this time frame so now to hear from agent on a price.

Linda

Oh Lars you are a blessing and such a reassurance as this truly has been getting on my nerves and I've been researching ALOT for 6 months and even before that. Thank you so much!!!!!!!

This has been a tough one and all my friends and family when I bounce around just don't understand my craziness because they aren't researching it. :eek:

Linda

Thank you so much!!!! Great choices here. I appreciate your help.

Linda

Thanks.

Linda

I work for a medical college so June-August 2016. Holland America is sailing out of Amsterdam and we have been there but as I love photography there is always something new and we were only there one day before. I'm really tending to go with the itinerary below as it really is a great itinerary. If I don't see the Lofoten Islands or the arctic highway I will always wonder and I truly doubt we will ever go back.

Linda

good point on the perfect and what you're willing to give up I guess. It seems funny that not many cruises even go to the Lofoten Islands.

Linda

Thanks for your help.