The Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten provides cruises to destinations seldom visited by traditional cruise lines. The route travels the fjords and shoreline of Norway from Bergen in the South to 240 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Kirkenes on the border of Russia and Finland. There are approximately 34 ports in between; however only a few are long enough for excursions on shore. The Hurtigruten line, which means “fast route”, also delivers cargo and mail to each port along the way.
A cruise on a Hurtigruten ship like the MS Finnmark may consist of typical cruisers on holiday, or people journeying from port to port along route. Because of the diversity of travellers on board, the Hurtigruten ships don’t have some of the amenities such as entertainment and casinos that the more luxurious cruise lines have. They rely on the beauty of the ocean and land around them to provide the diversion and activities for their passengers. The cruises are extremely casual and “evening attire” is never required. All of this attracts a different sort of cruiser – older, well-travelled people. You will find very few families with children among the passengers.
Among the stops made where passengers may go ashore to explore are:
• Alesund where from the Aksla viewpoint you can see the archipelago and the Sunnmore Alps.
• After heading up one of the many fjords along the coast, another stop is Trondheim where you can see Scandinavia’s largest medieval building, the Nidaros Cathedral. Trondheim is a colourful, busy fishing village and a great place for shopping.
• Bodo, north of the Arctic Circle has a gorgeous background of mountains.
• The Lofoten Islands are another port of call along the route offering brilliant view of mountain peaks that were carved by glaciers.
Before the ship reaches Kirkenes, it is liable to travese some icey waters since the temperatures this far above the Arctic Circle can drop as low as 28 below freezing and even lower with the help of the wind chill. Hurtigruten are a unique cruise line and if you fancy something different, they are worth a try.