Looking for a unique winter cruise? The travel industry now offers everything from climbing walls and water parks to bingo, karaoke and dancing girls on their cruises. Then there is Norway’s Hurtigruten line. None of that here! These are working ships which ply the magnificent craggy western coast of Norway. They pride themselves on being "the anti-cruise ship" line. These ships haul things like refrigerators, dryers, lumber and electronics north to tiny coastal communities. Going south, they pick up pallets of fish or maybe equiupment which needs repair. Oil and gas workers, college students, retirees and families are transported in both directions along with cars, bikes and strollers.
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Ships can arrive and depart from these little
ports in the middle of meals or the middle of night, however it happens. Tourists are allowed to leave the ship to see the sights, but if they don't get back before their ship leaves again, they've literally "missed the boat". Some of these little hamlets have bus or train connections, others not. Best option may be to wait for the next Hurtigruten boat though it will not be able to catch up with the one they are b
ooked on.
-------------------------------People must understand the ship’s route doesn’t revolve around them and this is not the trip for them if they can’t stomach fish. It was noted that one buffet included 14 varieties of fish.
-----------------------------------So why would anyone be interested in this cruise? The scenery !!! The experience of seeing beautiful Norwegian fjords, the Arctic Circle, Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun, playful killer whales riding the ship’s bow wave as it leaves a fjord... There is the fun of tossing fish in the air to be snatched by sea eagles and being greeted by Sami herders and their reindeer en route to Nordkapp, a plunging cliff at the top of Europe.
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If you go: The weather is rough and relatively wild year round so dress accordingly. Twelve-day voyages through fjords cost from $1502 per person. Most popular departures are in winter to see the northern lights, with February being the busiest month.
Looking for a unique winter cruise? The travel industry now offers everything from climbing walls and water parks to bingo, karaoke and dancing girls on their cruises. Then there is Norway’s Hurtigruten line. None of that here! These are working ships which ply the magnificent craggy western coast of Norway. They pride themselves on being "the anti-cruise ship" line. These ships haul things like refrigerators, dryers, lumber and electronics north to tiny coastal communities. Going south, they pick up pallets of fish or maybe equiupment which needs repair. Oil and gas workers, college students, retirees and families are transported in both directions along with cars, bikes and strollers.
----------------------------
Ships can arrive and depart from these little
ports in the middle of meals or the middle of night, however it happens. Tourists are allowed to leave the ship to see the sights, but if they don't get back before their ship leaves again, they've literally "missed the boat". Some of these little hamlets have bus or train connections, others not. Best option may be to wait for the next Hurtigruten boat though it will not be able to catch up with the one they are b
ooked on.
-------------------------------People must understand the ship’s route doesn’t revolve around them and this is not the trip for them if they can’t stomach fish. It was noted that one buffet included 14 varieties of fish.
-----------------------------------So why would anyone be interested in this cruise? The scenery !!! The experience of seeing beautiful Norwegian fjords, the Arctic Circle, Northern Lights, the Midnight Sun, playful killer whales riding the ship’s bow wave as it leaves a fjord... There is the fun of tossing fish in the air to be snatched by sea eagles and being greeted by Sami herders and their reindeer en route to Nordkapp, a plunging cliff at the top of Europe.
--------------------------------------------------
If you go: The weather is rough and relatively wild year round so dress accordingly. Twelve-day voyages through fjords cost from $1502 per person. Most popular departures are in winter to see the northern lights, with February being the busiest month.
oooh, I think I'll have to pass on this boat trip. Cathy~
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