Packing list for Northern Lights

[KyOh]

In a January roll call there has been mention of a packing/equipment list for the Northern Lights cruise that was just sent by Viking - and yes, it is a little late for those folks.  Since we don't leave until early March, I guess we won't get it until late February.  Could someone on an earlier cruise please post this list for us?  It would really help as we get things organized.  Thanks.

[twodjs]

We received the email for our January Norway trip from Viking. Viking is working with a company called Ship to Shore Traveler that can provide clothing and equipment for purchase and some items for rent. Advantage is that all can be delivered directly to the ship. Interesting site that lists essentials for the trip. Hope the following link works

https://viking.shiptoshoretraveler.com/destination/81

[Haworth]

4 hours ago, KyOh said:

In a January roll call there has been mention of a packing/equipment list for the Northern Lights cruise that was just sent by Viking - and yes, it is a little late for those folks.  Since we don't leave until early March, I guess we won't get it until late February.  Could someone on an earlier cruise please post this list for us?  It would really help as we get things organized.  Thanks.

 

We got the email and we go in March, it links to a US Company even though we are British, the packing list/check list is very useful, in fact we are checking items off right now but the rental costs seem very high to us.

Edited December 23, 2018 by Haworth

[KyOh]

Many thanks, twodjs.  The link worked perfectly.  I think we're in good shape for the trip.

[Parsley Cruises]

Ok, if you are travelling to the north of Norway or Iceland in the early part of the year, here is a rough outline of what may be needed (bearing in mind that we have been there before in the early part of the year, both flying and cruising).

 

Layers - plenty of base layers, you can't beat it.  

Try and get shoes (preferably boots) with waterproof soles, and ski socks should be fine, just one layer on the feet.

Fleece type hat,

Buff

Good waterproof gloves, and maybe possibly inner gloves (silk) if you can.  If you are seriously into photography, then gloves which have flip-up finger tips are great.  If you are truly serious about photography, then possibly consider getting some narrow elastic and 'tie' the gloves together, and thread them through your jacket sleeves - saves time when you are trying to get a special shot and you don't lose your gloves then.

Ski type jacket, but try and get one which is sort of hip-length and has a hood.

 

As they say in Iceland - no such thing as cold weather, simply wrong clothing.  If you are in the UK, try and get to Mountain Warehouse.

 

Good luck.

[cruzzzinma]

I did not realize it, but we also got the email several days ago. I thought it was more Viking spam...

[Parsley Cruises]

I can remember having advice from VO about packing just before out last VO cruise - and we completely ignored it and continued as per normal with packing.  

 

The advice was quite different to how we usually pack for a trip, and as our method is tried and tested and more than satisfactory, we were quite unwilling to experiment and cause ourselves extra work and worry.

[peasmith]

Has any one checked the temperatures for this week for the Northern Lights cruise - it's more like summer in the UK temperatures! Just checking as we are doing it for January 2020

[Parsley Cruises]

Hi Peasmith,,

 

I think you disembarked in Venice as we embarked - and our cruise was superb.

 

Having spent quite a bit of time 'up north' I would heartily and sincerely recommend (however I am a bit unsure of your itinerary at the moment) a trip to Mountain Warehouse in the next couple of months and take advantage of their sales of 'ski and cold weather stuff'. 

 

We usually take ski socks, and then it's cold weather/ski type long johns and vests with long sleeves from MW, ski trousers and then just a fleece top (preferably with a tallish neck) and a ski jacket or cold weather jacket.  Our jackets from MW are guaranteed down to -40c.  Then it's just a case of getting a POLAR BUFF (extremely versatile and useful), a fleece hat and some gloves.  

 

As we are both into photography, we have thermal gloves which have flip-tops on some of the fingers, and then we get photographic type silk undergloves (allowing us to control the screens both on our cameras and mobile phones/watches etc). 

 

Have a great cruise - and remember the old saying 'no such thing as cold weather, just wrong clothing'.

 

January is the best time to go, with maybe February as next best.