Norwegian Coastal Cruise

I was so excited for this trip to Norway. I have been on expedition cruises before and knew this was going to offer a truly special experience, outstanding natural beauty, wildlife spotting and a chance to see the Northern Lights! We started the trip arriving in Bergen, a city surrounded by stunning mountains and fjords, for a one-night pre-cruise stay. Colourful wooden houses line the Old Wharf that make up Bryggen, which has been placed on the UNESCO world heritage site, and our first glimpse of it was at night whilst all lit up.

The next day seeing it against the back drop of the mountains was equally as impressive and dotted up the mountains we could see the track for the Funicular railway. Much of the architecture in Bryggen is preserved and strolling through the alleyways and crooked buildings takes you back to the middle ages. We took the Funicular railway up to Flubonen, which was a pleasant ten minutes ride up the side of the mountain, to be met by amazing views at the top, looking over the city and the surrounding Fjordlands, despite the mist creeping in. Over our 24 hours in Bergen we also made it around several museums, the Aquarium, and a trip to the ice bar so by the time we went to board the ship I already felt like I had been away for several days!

Our ship, MS Nordnorge, is one of the more modern ships (having just undergone a complete refurb in 2016) of the 15 Hurtigruten ships. The fleet are all very different and, as well as taking tourist passengers, the ships are also a vital part of the Norwegian community delivering supplies and acting as transportation for the locals. Our ship was very comfortable with a great sized Explorer lounge and excellent viewing areas for the passing scenery. With three restaurants, a bar, fitness room and jacuzzi, to name just a few of the facilities to make your journey an enjoyable one. A leisurely buffet was included with a vast variety of food focusing on local traditional dishes for dinner.

The next morning, we were up early for a great breakfast followed by some super fresh air out on deck admiring the spectacular scenery sailing through the Fjordlands. It really is an absolutely stunning place to be, and the air really is incredibly fresh. We then stopped in Hjorundfjorden, where we were transferred from the ship to the zodiacs that ran us onto the mainland, before one of the locals took us on a bus tour of the area. One of the highlights was the town of Urke, with a population of around 53 people, that like to remain self-sufficient from the resources available to them.

The little wooden houses are like something out of The Hobbit and fit into the surrounding countryside so perfectly. Quite amazing to see that people can live off the land here all within their own community amongst unspoilt scenery. Back on board we had time to have a dip in the jacuzzi before a fantastic à la carte dinner. Super excited again that we had the good fortune of clear skies, but alas no sign of those Northern Lights.

I know that the fjords are impressive at any time of year, but personally I can’t wait to go back in Spring to see the incredible scenery during the bright, crisp days, and embark on another Winter journey to take on the Northern Lights. Typically, the more Northern towns offer a better chance of seeing this amazing phenomenon so, I will definitely be planning a longer voyage.

I recommend everyone should take a cruise in this spectacular part of the world, if you would like to discuss Norwegian Coastal Voyages please give me a call.