Review of: Hurtigruten coastal cruises, Norway

5/5 (minimum 1)

by hockeyshooter on 04 Sep 2007

The Hurtigruten (direct translation 'fast route') is a fantastic way to see the coast of Norway, and all the major towns along it, from the sea. They are basically a fleet of ferries that travel along the coast, collecting and dropping off supplies, people and their vehicles, sailing daily, year round.

I travelled with them in September 2003 on the entire voyage, from Bergen in the South, way past the Arctic Circle and North Cape (the most northerly part of Europe) to Vadso. You can complete the return leg of your journey by air, rail, or rent a car.

If you are lucky, you might get to meet some Sami (who have incredibly blue eyes) and their reindeer. During the tourist season, you may get invited to a Crossing The Line ceremony when the ship crosses the Arctic Circle.

My trip was organised through Canon Cameras, but anyone can book a trip directly. There are discounts available for low-season travel (although the weather can be a bit dire) and you can usually get a single cabin then without paying extra. The on-board buffet/restaurant provides three meals a day (may not do during off-season) and the quality of the food is excellent. Given they always travel within spitting distance of the coast, the ride is mostly smooth, so they can be a good introduction to cruising for those who don't like being away from sight of land!

The same company also offers cruises to Spitsbergen (where you can see wild polar bears), Greenland and Antarctica.

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Hurtigruten coastal cruises, Norway

Tags: coast cruise norway
Homepage: http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/
See Also: http://www.hockeyphotos.com/norway_2003/