Hurtigruden

Photos can be found at:- 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fVMHt7EPNbTRgW7H9

Bergen & Oslo

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GKHFFcAvChSAkuzc9

Tuesday April 15, 2025 (mainly)

 Almost a disaster, mind you, it had a good start with two pints and a drunken pack up.

 After a damp evening fixing dock lines and fenders for the Viking went to the Spoons with Teilo & Jake. Got the 96 bus into Cardiff, just after 11pm, and had my McD and then went to the wrong bus stop. They are no longer using the School of Music. I even saw the bus go by. I had just decided to walk back to Friary Gardens and would probably have made it but a taxi turned up with someone chasing their luggage and he gave me a lift. Some woman in my seat but she woke up at Newport, so I chased her out. Slept most of the way.

  5.30am arrival and another McD except I failed to earn points due to the app not giving a clear position. It seemed like a long wait for the plane. Got more kip. Bergen Airport and Google had me purchase a bus ticket on line when I could have got light rail for half the price - don't know if line is complete. Anyway at terminal around 1.30 but they were only taking bags, so I left mine and wandered around Bergen. Tourist centre no good. I should have taken a ferry ride but there seem to be two apps one for route planning and the other to purchase a ticket but you have to know the name of the place you want to go. Boarding at 4pm - cabins not available until 6pm. But free seating for dinner and a buffet so I am full of fish and some pretty nice cheesecake.
    Attended a briefing at which the ships officers were paraded - and excursions talked up.

Wednesday 16th

Missed a photo opportunity with the reflecion of the light beacon in still waters as we came into Torvik and spent a lot of time trying to capture the spectacular scenery as we cruised up the Hjorundfjorden to Urke. We stopped here for three and a half hours as excursions went out. It was raining, so I stayed on board. Not what I expected from the post boat but I guess, since we visit Alesund twice, that another boat filled the gap.
     Food is superb, although I am beginning to feel full. Buffet again this evening. VPN refuses to connect. Alesund had a hill (pointed out at the Excurtion Briefing, and a viewpoint so I got off the ship and raced the incoming mist up the hill. Nice views and nice pictures but unable to upload.

Thursday 17th - Trondheim

Awake at 7am and an early breakfast. Have lost my water bottle so may have to get one in Trondheim.

I ignored the waving contest with what might have been a sister ship, but someone said was much bigger. Did listen to the talk on Monkisland. Walked around Trondheim, the old shipyard, kissing bridge, Cathedral, river and into town. I was seeking the supermarket which had served me on my last visit. Found it, but it was closed - no water bottle. Back on board and time passes with lecture and films. Tried to investigate Bergen boats and busses but failed miserably. Very little support from Google - even translate won't do Norwegan.

Friday 18th - Bodo

Up early - 6am breakfast at 7am and up on the aft deck by 07.30 for the celebrated crossing of the Arctic Circle. They were selling a sparkling wine from Sussex, stored underwater. Guess I missed the 10.30 celebrations - they showed it in the explorer briefing. Early lunch and into Bodo for 1300. Walked up the town, but it was closed - again! The aim will be to come back and do the Saltstraumen. Similarly surprised by the Lofoten islands - Svolvaer was pretty spectacular but it was raining, so I didn't go ashore. Hotel prices double in the summer but were very reasonable at this time of year.

Waiting to get a view of the Trollfjord and avoiding the marketing of Troll mugs and fishcakes. I did, but once again it reminded me not to use searchlights at sea - anyway, the photos came out OK.

Saturday 19th - Tromso

Getting into the habit of waking early. Finished the book I had borrowed, not a good one, but it got me to lunch, together with music. Big thrill was almost losing an earbud, panic dispair but I found it, suspect they will not last the trip as it has already had one attempt to get down the sink. Must report the sink problem, pipes are loose underneath, it had soaked a towel, now it just goes on the floor.

   Tromso is very touristy but with very few shops open this early in the season, which appears to be June 1st to sept. Visited the Arctic Museum and got a fridge magnet. Couldn't resist a visit to McD for an ice cream. Turned out to be the most northerly in the world at 69.6498°N So now I have seen the most beautiful and the most northerly, so asked on Facebook "What is next".
   Missed the snow but saw it on the bridge camera - things change so fast this far north - afternoon was beautiful - no aurora today I guess - but who knows the way the weather changes up here!

Sunday 20th - Honningsvag 

2am and the TV stops working, Didn't realise how claustrophobic the cabin could be without the bow camera view. Standard fix, the girl unplugged and re- started the device in the back.

Also told her about the sink. Snow on decks and lifeboats.
   Morning shower was interesting strong wind on the port side was causing quite a list so all the shower water gathered in the cubicle and would not flow away, a little got out onto the carpet. Anyway it prompted me to get the sink fixed.
   Honningsvag was closed, but there were a lot of people wandering around as all of the excursions were cancelled due to the strong winds and snow, plus the cold which made the roads dangerous. Nice wander and the Norwegan Church was very Norwegian.

Monday 21st - Kirkenes

    I guess I missed it last time as most was behind the hill and the boat was facing the wrong way. Anyway it was a pretty boring walk, as we keep being reminded most of the buildings, no - all, are post war.  Areas were also pretty industrial.
   This is where the boat turns south - called at Vardo and I had a short wander to get my little green bar. We have just sort of not called at Berevag. Passed the opposition on the way in, but I'm pretty sure we didn't go alongside, guess there was no one wanting to get on or off and it is pretty far out of town. Broke the TV by switching it off during the safety briefing.
   Trying to stay awake and see if the Arora happens tonight - Fat Chance. And it won't as there was still quite a bit of light at midnight.

Tuesday 22nd - Hammerfest & Tromso 

Point of interest a Natural Gas Liquification plant just outside Hammerfest. Interesting thing is the way the flames fail to show in photographs, human eye retains the image. Camera is just what is burning at that thousanth of a second.

   Then Google showed the old terminal as the depature point - attempt to show it to reception gets the response "It's not our responsibility" They don't care if their customers go to the wrong place and miss the boat. Someone needs to train them in customer relations.
   We were late into Tromso, photos taken before and after the visit with no chance of the Aroara but the light pollution from Tromso was pretty spectacular.

Wednesday 23rd - Svolvaer

Breakfast room was pretty empty as the excursions had left at 8am. Nice mornong, the dredged channel was not that exciting but it was a good morning listening to the radio. Stokmarknes stop had the Hurtigruden Museum. The ship is now thoroughly encased inside a building and practically impossible to phoptograph. Two fridge magnets purchased.
   The channel towards Trollfjord was interestingly narrow. Excursion boat came alongside and transferred passengers and attracted a couple of Sea Eagles, in fact there were a number of Sea Eagles seen, but photographing them was another issue I wonder how long before they learn to eat seagulls?
   Svolvaer went for a walk - there were suggested mountain trails - not sure how good an idea they would be in winter - spectacular horizon which again will not show in pictures.

Thursday 24th - Bronnoysund for Torghatten

Ian is losing track of days on his crossing, I am losing track here. We left the Arctic Circle in a snowstorm, 200yds further on and visibility was back and it was a lovely day.  Geology talk was pretty confused, good explanation of ice erosion but difficult to understand why the ice was so deep over Scandinavia. Did my own wander in Bronnoysund, had been considering doing the Torghatten Excursion but didn't quite get it together. No view of the hole - it must have been 1972 when I saw it, but no record in the photo albums despite my being sure I put something in there.

Friday 25th - Trondheim & Kristiansund

Trondheim was too early to be getting off the ship 6.30-09.30 Finished breakfast by 08.30 but figured there was nothing worth walking to in the time available. Attended the disembarcation briefing (Bergen Marathon happens tomorrow) and the chat on "Being Norwegan". It's a mill pond outside as I settle in for a siesta.

   Kristiansund was nice, sort of recognisable from 2019 (I was comparing views). Found out that there is a public bus that does the Atlantic Road between Kristiansund and Molde but haven't seen the cost. On leaving the ship took a sharp turn to starboard and once again had about a 10 degree heel - it was very noticable and has been when the wind is abeam. Sort of dozed to Molde and then popped out to try and get some sunset photos but it is already behind the mountains at 21.45.

Saturday 26th

Out of cabin by 10 am but not arriving in Bergen until 14.45 made for a lot of radio listening. Flat calm again and the nature of the rocks have changed - no snow, more rounded. Scenery continues to be stunning.

   Off at Bergen and problems finding hotel, turns out there are three Bugetels on this street. Thanks to some advice I found the correct one and got esconced and onto the internet, photos now backed up. Then off in search of a 1litre bottle, nothing in 7-11 so I gave up and wandered up the mountain and along forest paths - fantastic - selfie at 400m. Eschewed the Funicular, but tried to get photos of it, and was back down by 7pm. Found a supermarket and have my 1 litre of lemon juice, and a packet of biscuits. Now to do the blog.

Sunday 27th - Oslo

I slept late and only had a short while to wander around the waterfront. Breakfast at McD was not good - long wait to get it and the hot choc had not been mixed. Checkout was 11am, wandered to the station and hung around there. Train was crowded and I fell asleep. The first half is really scenic - but it gets longer and more boring for the last 3hrs. Must try a day trip to Voss from Bergen. Turns out the Comfort Hotel here is one that I have used previously. Last time the road had large holes in them, they are still barracaded off but most of the holes have been filled.

Monday 28th - Oslo

Out around 9am and breakfast as usual, came to around £10, as seems to be usual. Hiked along the Promenade to Bygdoy. Took me round new high rises, past the largest marina and then through the park around the west side of the promentory and on to the Museums. Thought about taking the ferry but decided to do The Fram Museum as an extra. It is one of the best I have been to with lots on Nansen and Amundsen but not ignoring others. Back by ferry (at senior rate) for a 2hr Fjord cruise (with no senior rate). Quick visit to the Nobel Centre lab before the 15.30 cruise and chat to woman from Dublin. Back at hotel by 6pm and a train booked to the airport (at senior rate) and checked in for what turned out to be an SAS flight.

Tuesday 29th to UK

Flight at 1300 so leisurely breakfst and inevitably catching an earlier then planned train to the airport.

Plane was delayed by 45 minutes and didn't leave till 2pm and then got stacked over Heathrow, so I missed the bus I had booked back to Wales. Managed to re-book on the 6pm bus for 17.69. Took the Elizabeth line using Senior Discount £10.50 and walked from Paddington to Victorria Coach Station through Hyde Park and past the Sepentine and via McD. Bus got to Cardiff at 10.30 and I was home at midnight.