Voyage Verdict

Our last day on board ship - and back to Bergen.

First job of the day was to finish packing and quit our cabin.  It had been home for the last 11 days, and had served us well.

As a basic cabin it wasn't the roomiest, but there was plenty of storage, a small en-suite shower room, and even a tv (with access to a range of satellite channels).  Felt quite sad to leave . . .


Sad to be saying goodbye to the ship too - while not of the size or scale of a big cruise ship, it felt a good deal homier, and the public areas were still elegant enough.

We did have to make our own entertainment for the most part, but the tour director kept us amused with his stories, and calls for waving competitions with other passing Hurtigruten ships!



There was fine dining in the evening, and we even got a free glass of wine one night. (Didn't drink much otherwise - alcohol at Norwegian prices is not cheap!).

The buffets during the day were more than plentiful - lots of fish, yes, but plenty of other choices - pancakes for breakfast, and puddings galore . . .

There was always plenty to see on the ship / from the ship . . .

. . . whether we were flying the flag to say the ship was carrying the post, watching the forklift trucks unload this and that, or battling our way round the promenade deck in the wind and the snow.

And of course, there were the views . . .

All packed up then - our last day on deck, watching as we negotiated our way through a myriad of tiny islands on our way into Bergen - plenty more to see:

Before we knew it we were back in Bergen, disembarking, picking up our luggage and on our way to the airport for the flight home.

So would we do it again?


I think so, much more our style than the big cruise ship, and the scenery was something else.  We got to see Norway in the snow, and the Northern Lights (which was the whole idea), and travel the length of the Norwegian coast (there and back again!):

Bon Voyage

First real holiday of 2017- and something a bit different as part of my half-centenary year celebrations.  So we're off back to Norway, 'voyaging' (not cruising!) with Hurtigruten.

Started our travels in Bristol, where I had a couple of days sightseeing in the Spring sunshine, while Martin was still in work.

Already felt like holidays on that first day in Portishead, where after a sunny walk round the harbour, and a picnic lunch, it was time for a cider outside in the Royal Inn beer garden.



Then it was off to Bristol Airport for the flight to Bergen for the holiday 'proper'.




Arrived later on the Thursday afternoon, on a plane full of fellow 'voyagers', for our transfer from the airport to the Hurtigruten terminal in Bergen.



While the weather was a bit cooler than the UK it was by no means freezing, and we'd obviously just missed the rain!  Unfortunately there wasn't really any time to see much of Bergen, other than the view from the coach window - booking onto the ship involved quite a queue (which we were at the end of) and then it was time for dinner, by which time it was well and truly dark out.  At least we'd already toured Bergen on our last trip to Norway.

Were up in the Observation Lounge on the top deck for our 22.30 departure from Bergen - watching the lights of the city and bridges go by with a round of drinks (not something we'll be doing often at Norwegian prices!).

Then it was back to our cabin, to unpack and settle ourselves for the first night on board - time to sleep . . .

Gateway to the Fjords

Our final couple of days in Norway and the sun actually came out!


Geirangerfjord - UNESCO World Heritage site - couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day - sailing through the fjords, past the Seven Sisters waterfall, the scenery was just stunning.

Ashore at Geiranger we took a zig-zag route up to the Flydalsjuvet viewpoint, taking in some more lovely scenery along the way. From the top there was another fantastic view, with the cruise ship dominating the end of the fjord.



On the walk back down had time to take in more of the local sights, and have a look round the shops - the village was charming, but very tourist-oriented.


Next day was our final port of call, the so-called Gateway to the Fjords, Bergen - and the sun was still with us (despite it's reputation as the rainiest city in Norway).

We'd got an early start and were in the old market area of Bryggen before the rest of the tourists, so got to look round in peace and quiet.


By the time we made it to the Floibanen funicular the hordes were out and we had to queue to get our ride, but the views from the top of Floyen were worth the wait.

Had to be back at the ship by 1.30pm, but had time to take in a few more of the sights of Bergen - the market and shops - before boarding the shuttle coach back to the dock.



Then we were homeward bound, sailing under the Askoy Bridge, and back out to sea ...