I am presently on the Hurtigruten Nordlys heading south. Advice and info: (1) The ship is registered in Norway and its crew is Norwegian - so that helps explain costs - but I think this is the way all cruises should be. Great people. (2) You can book port to port to give yourself time in some ports if you wish (I use apt. rentals). My trip up and down is 4 different bookings. You can also choose not to have "full board" when you book port to port, maybe breakfast only, etc. The a la carte food on board is expensive (this is Norway), but it also is cheaper than the full board meals. You can eat the regular 3 meals when you want, paid separately also. If you like indoor activities or much "action", or sun & warm weather, this may not be for you. I have never cruised before, but I have done many overnight ferries around the world, and this is like that, but so much better. I have spent hours watching the scenery go by out on deck all bundled up and also from the jacuzzi. I think this experience is amazing and I have spent almost a decade out of the US wandering everywhere (60+ countries and 300+ cities and towns). Few things in life are as beautiful as this. Norway is super civilized and I always love that when I am here. Top 3 great countries: Switzerland, Japan and Norway. Easy call ;))
This looks amazing. Thank you for sharing. Now I get why it is hard for Paul to crack a smile...he is part Norwegian! This looks like a great way to see a beautiful country. Thank you for taking us on the journey. Looking forward to part 2!
Thanks for your detailed video. We booked for 2 weeks in late Dec cruising with MS Nordkapp including Norway in a Nutshell and chasing the lights. There will be 3 of us: hubby, 13 y.o son and me staying in Deck 3 with bunkers. I chose Deck 3 as it's bigger than the upper deck which is newly refurbished. I worry about the bathroom, it's so tiny with the clingy shower curtain. There's definitely no space in the room for us to hang around. So hopefully there's plenty of seating in the ship for us to sit in.
Sounds like a fun trip. We did Norway in a Nutshell several years ago and it was wonderful and well-organized. Don't worry about room on the ship, there are several places to hang out. Late December should be an adventure and a terrific experience. Here's a tip: you might want to pick up some easy slip-on ice grippers for your shoes when your'e there. Very helpful. You can get them at a drug store there.
Um, word of warning, the weather of the Norwegian coast can be rough in the autumn. That's when most of the autumn storms arrive. And the weather might be bad enough for the ship to be forced to cancel certain destinations because it's simply too dangerous to sail on. And even if it's not expect to use those seasickness bags then. Definitely invest in medication against seasickness etc, just in case, and perhaps other measures too. Visibility might be low as well. The tourist seasons are there for a reason and it's cheaper during this period because of the greater risk of a bad experience. Don't get me wrong, you might be lucky. Just, you know, make a informed decision. That said, this ship will make good use of the islands and skerries to avoid the worst weather, something that's possible for most of the route. So it's not as bad as sailing on the open Atlantic.
Hurtigruten actually have a ship leaving Bergen every day. It used to be 11 vesssels doing the round-trip. With the Havila company also sailing the route it is a lot more vessels now.
Thx! Nice info, I’m torn between going Bergen to Svalbard or starting out with the coastal express going Bergen-Kirkenes then back down to Trondheim then train down to Oslo- exploring along the way.
Thanks for your comment. We'll be in Svalbard later this month for 3 weeks but we're flying up to Longyearbyen to meet our ship there rather than sailing all the way from Bergen. Our ship goes back down to Tromsø along the route so then I would be able to give you a better answer. In any case, you can't go wrong with the coastal express.
Always enjoy your videos. I'm sure it may have been suggested to you a few times, heck maybe you've been on one or more, but I highly recommend a European river cruise. We have done 3 of these, all with Viking. Excellent way to tour "slowly", great docking places, great tours and exceptional food.
Thanks for the comment Ralph. We’ve never gone on a river cruise, although we did a Nile cruise for 4 days. I know they’re very popular and relaxing. We just haven’t gone on one yet. I hear Viking is superb.
"The Norwegian Mail boat" is a bit misleading since there is an entire fleet of boats that carry mail. But, I get it. It's a really nice experience. I took the two night trip from Tromso to Bodo a few years ago.
Thanks for the comment, Roy. I think the term, "mail boat" is kind of a left over from years past. But, it's kind of fun way to refer to it this way. Glad you enjoyed your trip and thank you for posting.
Oh boy, good questions. For gratuities, I honestly don't remember but I don't think they were expected. Housekeeping is pretty minimal, if at all, and you don't develop the kind of service relationship you usually do on a regular cruise. We only went on one excursion, to the Russian border in Kirkenes, and it was reasonable. You really don't need to go on excursions at most of these little towns. Drinks are comparable to off-shore Norwegian prices, that is, expensive by US standards. We didn't go to the specialty restaurant so I can't tell you the cost. Sorry, this wasn't more helpful. Have fun!
11:27 I appreciate that you pronounced the "e" at the end, it's a common mistake English speakers make to ignore those sounds, and it's *really* driving me nuts when they do as treating the "e" at the end of words as silent is not really done in other Germanic languages other then English. If you want to improve your pronounciation the "e" sound you made is represented by "i" in Norwegian however and the "u" in Norwegian is a far sharper sound where the tongue essentially forms the letter, while the sound you made for it is represented by the letter "o" in Norwegian. Mind you, this is nitpicking, and I think most Norwegians would be able to guess what you meant. "Multe" is the Norwegian word for cloudberries. They're really hard to store or transport without damaging them and can't be grown commercially. So you pretty much can only taste them in the Nordic region and elsewhere where they grow (like in Canada)
Norwegians dont use honorifics like sir or ma’am. Not even a desrved one like «doctor». The T/V-distinction was done away with in the 70s. All people, even the prime minister is refered to by first or last name. The only people excempt from this are members of the Royal Family who are adressed as Majesty or Royal Highness. When speaking to them directly one speaks to them in the third person. «What dose The King think about that?», «What dose The Crown Princess believe?»
I am presently on the Hurtigruten Nordlys heading south. Advice and info: (1) The ship is registered in Norway and its crew is Norwegian - so that helps explain costs - but I think this is the way all cruises should be. Great people. (2) You can book port to port to give yourself time in some ports if you wish (I use apt. rentals). My trip up and down is 4 different bookings. You can also choose not to have "full board" when you book port to port, maybe breakfast only, etc. The a la carte food on board is expensive (this is Norway), but it also is cheaper than the full board meals. You can eat the regular 3 meals when you want, paid separately also. If you like indoor activities or much "action", or sun & warm weather, this may not be for you. I have never cruised before, but I have done many overnight ferries around the world, and this is like that, but so much better. I have spent hours watching the scenery go by out on deck all bundled up and also from the jacuzzi. I think this experience is amazing and I have spent almost a decade out of the US wandering everywhere (60+ countries and 300+ cities and towns). Few things in life are as beautiful as this. Norway is super civilized and I always love that when I am here. Top 3 great countries: Switzerland, Japan and Norway. Easy call ;))
Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment. Glad you're enjoying your travel experiences.
I went on Nordlys 8 years ago and thought it was a great and comfortable ship.
On hurtigruten..... As you said..... Just have smile on your face.... And you will have the best trip in your live....
You're right! A positive attitude when traveling is essential for a great time. Thanks for commenting.
Great video with good information.
Thank you.
Thanks. Very informative. We're from Australia, and it's on our bucket list!
Glad you liked the video. You'll enjoy your trip. We're heading to Australia next spring!
We are going in October & found both of your films to be very informative & helpful . Many thanks
Thank you so much. You'll have a great time!
This looks amazing. Thank you for sharing. Now I get why it is hard for Paul to crack a smile...he is part Norwegian! This looks like a great way to see a beautiful country. Thank you for taking us on the journey. Looking forward to part 2!
Thanks, Cheryl. Actually, compared to many Norwegians, Paul's expressions are actually hilarious.
Thanks for your detailed video. We booked for 2 weeks in late Dec cruising with MS Nordkapp including Norway in a Nutshell and chasing the lights. There will be 3 of us: hubby, 13 y.o son and me staying in Deck 3 with bunkers. I chose Deck 3 as it's bigger than the upper deck which is newly refurbished. I worry about the bathroom, it's so tiny with the clingy shower curtain. There's definitely no space in the room for us to hang around. So hopefully there's plenty of seating in the ship for us to sit in.
Sounds like a fun trip. We did Norway in a Nutshell several years ago and it was wonderful and well-organized. Don't worry about room on the ship, there are several places to hang out. Late December should be an adventure and a terrific experience. Here's a tip: you might want to pick up some easy slip-on ice grippers for your shoes when your'e there. Very helpful. You can get them at a drug store there.
We’re booked for this autumn, so thank you for the heads up.
You're certainly welcome. Enjoy your trip!
Um, word of warning, the weather of the Norwegian coast can be rough in the autumn.
That's when most of the autumn storms arrive.
And the weather might be bad enough for the ship to be forced to cancel certain destinations because it's simply too dangerous to sail on.
And even if it's not expect to use those seasickness bags then.
Definitely invest in medication against seasickness etc, just in case, and perhaps other measures too.
Visibility might be low as well.
The tourist seasons are there for a reason and it's cheaper during this period because of the greater risk of a bad experience.
Don't get me wrong, you might be lucky.
Just, you know, make a informed decision.
That said, this ship will make good use of the islands and skerries to avoid the worst weather, something that's possible for most of the route.
So it's not as bad as sailing on the open Atlantic.
Outstanding video
Thank you very much.
Hurtigruten actually have a ship leaving Bergen every day. It used to be 11 vesssels doing the round-trip. With the Havila company also sailing the route it is a lot more vessels now.
Good information. Thanks for the comment.
Thx! Nice info,
I’m torn between going Bergen to Svalbard or starting out with the coastal express going Bergen-Kirkenes then back down to Trondheim then train down to Oslo- exploring along the way.
Thanks for your comment. We'll be in Svalbard later this month for 3 weeks but we're flying up to Longyearbyen to meet our ship there rather than sailing all the way from Bergen. Our ship goes back down to Tromsø along the route so then I would be able to give you a better answer. In any case, you can't go wrong with the coastal express.
Always enjoy your videos. I'm sure it may have been suggested to you a few times, heck maybe you've been on one or more, but I highly recommend a European river cruise. We have done 3 of these, all with Viking. Excellent way to tour "slowly", great docking places, great tours and exceptional food.
Thanks for the comment Ralph. We’ve never gone on a river cruise, although we did a Nile cruise for 4 days. I know they’re very popular and relaxing. We just haven’t gone on one yet. I hear Viking is superb.
We're going to book this for fall 2025 but only do it one way (to save $$$). Fly from Oslo to Kirkenes. Already bought the wool thermal underwear.
Good for you! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!
"The Norwegian Mail boat" is a bit misleading since there is an entire fleet of boats that carry mail. But, I get it. It's a really nice experience. I took the two night trip from Tromso to Bodo a few years ago.
Thanks for the comment, Roy. I think the term, "mail boat" is kind of a left over from years past. But, it's kind of fun way to refer to it this way. Glad you enjoyed your trip and thank you for posting.
I just saw this is affordable for singles!! Finally ..... 😂
Oh, that's good news! Better take a trip! Enjoy!
Thank you
You're certainly welcome. Hope it was helpful.
Are gratuities included or expected? What was the price of excursions, drinks on board, and the one up charge restaurant? thanks
Oh boy, good questions. For gratuities, I honestly don't remember but I don't think they were expected. Housekeeping is pretty minimal, if at all, and you don't develop the kind of service relationship you usually do on a regular cruise. We only went on one excursion, to the Russian border in Kirkenes, and it was reasonable. You really don't need to go on excursions at most of these little towns. Drinks are comparable to off-shore Norwegian prices, that is, expensive by US standards. We didn't go to the specialty restaurant so I can't tell you the cost. Sorry, this wasn't more helpful. Have fun!
Perhaps nice to mention, the ships are informal with clothing requirements. No formal diners 😊.
Good point. I like to think of Hurtigruten as more of an upscale ferry than a cruise ship. Thanks for commenting.
I'm going with Havila 🤩
I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Their ships look very nice. Thanks for commenting.
11:27
I appreciate that you pronounced the "e" at the end, it's a common mistake English speakers make to ignore those sounds, and it's *really* driving me nuts when they do as treating the "e" at the end of words as silent is not really done in other Germanic languages other then English.
If you want to improve your pronounciation the "e" sound you made is represented by "i" in Norwegian however and the "u" in Norwegian is a far sharper sound where the tongue essentially forms the letter, while the sound you made for it is represented by the letter "o" in Norwegian.
Mind you, this is nitpicking, and I think most Norwegians would be able to guess what you meant.
"Multe" is the Norwegian word for cloudberries.
They're really hard to store or transport without damaging them and can't be grown commercially.
So you pretty much can only taste them in the Nordic region and elsewhere where they grow (like in Canada)
Thanks again for you comments on correct Norwegian pronunciation. Thanks for watching.
Norwegians dont use honorifics like sir or ma’am. Not even a desrved one like «doctor». The T/V-distinction was done away with in the 70s. All people, even the prime minister is refered to by first or last name. The only people excempt from this are members of the Royal Family who are adressed as Majesty or Royal Highness. When speaking to them directly one speaks to them in the third person. «What dose The King think about that?», «What dose The Crown Princess believe?»
Thank you so much for your comment. This information is good to know. And, thank you for watching.