After news that our ship the MS Nordnorge couldn't make it to Bergen due to bad weather, Hurtigruten were extremely organised in putting us up in a lovely airport hotel for the night, with dinner included, so after a short flight from Gatwick we arrived at Bergen airport, met by a Hurtigruten representative and taken to bus stop A4, the dedicated Hurtigruten bus stop, where a coach waited for us to take us to the Comfort Hotel, just a 5 minute ride away.
After checking in we headed off into Bergen for a look around - it was raining hard so it was brolly and waterproof time! After a couple of hours looking round, we headed back to the coach and back to our hotel where a lovely buffet dinner awaited us.
Despite the delay Hurtigruten always had a staff member and updated information board in the lobby with information of when we would fly to Trondheim the following day to board the ship.
In the morning we headed into Bergen to take a trip on the Fioinanen - the funicular railway, this is one of Bergen's best know attractions and is located in the heart of the city, it offers stunning mountain walks and spectacular city views, the line is 844m long and covers a height of 302m and has been running since the early 1900's. Once we reached the top the views were amazing, but the weather was not one our side so we didn't stay too long. But if the weather was OK I could have spent a lot more time doing a mountain walk as there were mountain goats and red squirrels, a shop and a café.
Once down we returned to the hotel where a packed lunch was waiting for us, we then hopped on a coach with our luggage, and went on a 2 hour guided city tour on the coach listening to lots of facts and information about Bergen and Norway from our guide. This was really interesting and took us to the main areas of the city.
After the city tour, we were taken back to the airport for a 50 minute flight to Trondheim where at 7.30pm we eventually boarded the Ms Nordnorge. The check in process was very efficient and I was allocated a N grade Polar outside cabin which was small and basic but had all the things I needed for this short break. I really loved the picture window though, I love to be looking outside at every opportunity!. We then had a lovely buffet dinner, followed by an information session by the onboard expedition team telling us all we needed to know for our voyage.
We stayed alongside in Trondheim overnight and in the morning we took one of the excursions 'Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral' and this included a guide in the cathedral telling you all about it - very interesting.
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Then it was back to the ship for a buffet lunch and we set sail at 13.15. Then it was time to explore the ship, hot tubs, sauna, gym the relaxing explorers lounge and bar reception area, shop and lecture areas. I went in the hot tub on the back of the ship, and then a lecture from the expedition guides about where were the wildlife and lots of other facts - this was not only informative but fun as well.
When something interesting was to be seen outside, this was a POINT OF INTEREST, a guide and lots of guests, gathered outside on deck 7 to see and hear about these and there were a few on these during our time onboard.
After this is was time for dinner, a sit down meal, being waited on and all dishes sourced and made from local ingredients.
Today was an early start as I was on deck at 7.30am waiting to cross into the Artic Circle - how amazing and something I had never thought I would do! And after the crossing we celebrated with a glass of bubbles, we continued sailing through the stunning fjords spotting sea eagles, and salmon farms along the way.
Hurtigruten's ships are not only cruise ships but working ships so we often stopped at small ports - some for only 10 minutes - and people got on and off, cars on and off and deliveries made and received. I loved watching this as it was seamless! Before you knew it, we were off again!
In the afternoon we arrived in Bodo and I chose to take part in one of Hurti's excursions a level 4 hike with Natasha from the expedition team, this was fast paced, but so worth it as there were amazing views as we got higher and awesome once we reached the top! So worthwhile and I absolutely loved it.
In the evening we arrived in Stamsund on the beautiful Lofoten Islands and we left the ship to do another excursion - Meet the Vikings - we were taken to the Viking longhouse where we were greeted and invited in, after a welcoming ceremony by the chieftain, we sat and enjoyed a meal with them, sang a song and did a little dance and them time to go back to the ship.
This morning we sailed from Bodo to Tromso, our final destination, so on the way I took time to 'drink in' the stunning scenery both outside and inside of the ship.
We docked after lunch and immediately left the ship for the 'Scenery and Huskie' excursion, and after a 30 minute coach ride we arrived at Norway's biggest husky farm where there were approx 250 husky dogs. People who wanted to could go and meet some huskies - they were tethered up and after this we watched a short film about a mother and son who's life is huskie sledding and taking part in competitions. After that we had a winter walk in the snow taking in the stunning scenery. After that we warmed up by the log fire with a cup of tea a slice of cake.
We then headed back to the ship to collect our luggage, and it was a short walk to our hotel - the Scandic Ishavishotel, a lovely clean comfy room for the night. After a sit down dinner we got the thermals on and headed outside hoping to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights, we walked around Tromso for a while stopping often to look up at the sky. It was a lovely clear crisp night so we were keeping our fingers crossed. Gradually the lights came, at first faded white lines in the sky they gradually turned green moving and constantly changing directions and shape, they danced across a big part of the sky and it was totally mesmerising. I totally loved it and an awesome experience for me, what an amazing was to finish out time in Norway.
In the morning we had a walk across the big bridge to see the Tromso's artic cathedral and then it was check out time and back to Tromso airport.
The absolute highlights for me was the arctic circle crossing, the hike and of course the Northern Lights. Hurtigurten were absolutely brilliant in keeping us up to date with the changes at the beginning of the trip for me it was a taster and I will be back!
