Norway and the Cape and north

Have you checked out Hurtigruten? I'm not advocating ... we haven't sailed on them. It?

 

But Hurtigruten seems to be the successor to the Bergen Lines that we used in 1975, but now it has "modern" ships. I don't know their itineraries other than that we ran into them in ports (not literally!) when we did our Oceania cruise in 2010. (I don't know if they go further north ... on our O cruise we did get up to the edge of the arctic shore which I gather Oceania is no longer doing.)

 

I always enjoy receiving their emails because it gives me a chance to imitate a Scandinavian accent. (Well, my mother's family came from Norway so I have somewhat of a justification.)

 

Not to complicate the issue ... well, not deliberately!

 

Mura

Mura.....I have done a lot ofand input from many like yourself. Here is what I discovered Hurtigruten departs from from really only Bergen and is not easy and expensive to get to . Second the ship only does 10-11 day rt "mail" runs primarily for cargo/mail and hits as many portsas 5 a day..... They are basically a up-scale cargo ferry. Finally they don't go past mainland Norway

Holland America has a bunch of Norway-Iceland 20-28day trips from AMS but they don't go past NorthCape.

Oceania Which is my favorite goes to super great spots,except Murmask and 2days in some former gulag islands...

That left Princess.... they have 2 cruises July and August.. one hits Iceland which is not interesting to me, and the other hits Edinburgh for a2 day over night with the tattoo, and I will have time to visit old friends there.

Departing and Returning to UK it is 60% cheaper to get there in terms of milage. AND no language problem. Finaly the ship is a 650 passenger R ship and the sister of the Regatta and then the only ship that is going there in2016 !!!

I discount Natl Geo and Lindbad, Silver seas because I wanted a overall big picture of the region, wanted quality creature comforts and variety for a good price. The explorer ships charge obscene prices and are minimal on the comfort scale. Too, passengers on those lines can be a little too intense in the nature loving sense , harping how we are ruining the earth etc. I want more mellow folks.

Surprising .I am using this trip to be a regional introduction and I am not the least interested in wild life...rather geology !

Again all,thanks for yourca

It sounds like Hurtigruten is doing exactly what the old Bergen lines did in 1975. Actually, we enjoyed it very much, even with all the stops. Some were for no longer than 10-15 minutes, obviously very small towns. Locals used the ship for transportation up and down the coast. It was a very different way to "cruise", not that we'd done much cruising in those days.

Then again, when we were in one of the bigger ports -- possibly Hammerfest -- a Hurtigruten ship was there all day.

However, I do get why you are crossing them off your list! This kind of trip isn't what you want to do.

It's interesting that their Norway itineraries are just Bergen-North Cape (exactly what we did in 1975) because I know they are doing itineraries in other parts of the world these days.

Mura

and look at some of Oceania's other voyages.

We are leaving Montreal and stopping at Iceland, Greenland & 3 Norway ports, end in London. It's oversold for 2015, part of the Insignia's 180 day July cruise.

I've been looking at Regent in 2017 for this trip. They still show going to Spitbergen for the 2016 trip, someplace I want to go.

Outside of Lyn, the Russia part of this cruise seems to be a loser from everyone I've talked to thus far having taken the trip. Wonder if O will get the word and make changes?

 

Outside of Lyn, the Russia part of this cruise seems to be a loser from everyone I've talked to thus far having taken the trip. Wonder if O will get the word and make changes?

Maybe people were expecting the place to be like SPB which it is not

We tend to enjoy places for the non touristy aspect ;)

To each his own

Lyn

I am not too keen on visiting Russia, had a taste in 1979 with a diplomatic visa...( The Russians were so kind...they even assigned 2 KGB agents to follow me along so I would not have any problems......but that's another story)

Ha ha -- have a similar tale. but we had the honor to be taken into custody ... but that us another long story :D

Since I suggested Hurtigruten up above I thought I'd mention something I just read in International Travel News' July 2015 issue -- which for me would be a deal breaker.

A couple booked a cruise with "full board" but once on board discovered that they had to buy ALL liquids served at meals ... even water. Tap water was not available, bottled water was available at $4. It's always been true that alcohol in Scandiania is very expensive ... when we did our 1975 cruise on Bergen Lines (predecessor to Hurtigruten) we didn't have ANY alcohol on board, even beer was too expensive. But as I recall water WAS available.

The ship has its defense as printed in the ITN article ... but it doesn't work for me.

They DO allow you to bring on some alcohol for consumption in your room, the same as O does. I don't recall if that was the policy in 1975 but we had no intention of bringing liquor on back then so maybe I just didn't notice.

What bothered the letter writer was that he also had to have a tea/coffee package! That NO liquids could be brought to the dining room, and no liquids were provided free of charge.

I can send you the article if you wish, just email me. Otherwise go to http://www.intltravelnews.com/ You may have to sign up to access the article, I'm not sure. But it is featured in the "Latest Articles" section.

Sorry to have hijacked Oceania questions ...

Mura

Ha ha -- have a similar tale. but we had the honor to be taken into custody ... but that us another long story :D

The one and only time I was ever issued a diplomatic passport saved my bacon back in 79.....I remember leaving from Warsaw and having to go through "special" customs..... a stark room with 2 Russian officers one of whomwas playing with his pistol...as they pressed..."why are you really here" and "who are you" ..... Don't want to go back its not a niceplace when you look underthe rug............pretty scary

You can also look at Viking Oceans, they do a Bergen to London that gets up to Northcape.

No Russia

My wife informed me that we are doing this trip in 2017. We received the Viking Cruises info book in the mail today, by chance. Just really hesitant with them. Early reviews of the ocean cruise line has been poor. Good news is, if we took them, they will have 2 years to get their ducks in a row. I was not a fan of their food on our river cruise, and the reviews of their food on the ocean liner is worst than that of the river cruises!:eek: So that is turning me off quick. However, they do have a great itinerary, which leaves out Russia, and are $1000s less expensive than O. :( Still looking at Regent as an option, but can't dismiss Viking yet. We'll see if they improve over the next year. It will be between O, Regent, and Viking; a real apple to oranges comparison!:eek:

I am booking Viking Oceans 7/1/2017 London to Bergen.

We were on the Viking Star from Istanbul, we were the first passengers to board.

The ship is outstanding, the food is fine, their optional excursions cost a fraction of O's. The included tours leave a lot to be desired, but you get what you pay for.

My wife informed me that we are doing this trip in 2017. We received the Viking Cruises info book in the mail today, by chance. Just really hesitant with them. Early reviews of the ocean cruise line has been poor. Good news is, if we took them, they will have 2 years to get their ducks in a row. I was not a fan of their food on our river cruise, and the reviews of their food on the ocean liner is worst than that of the river cruises!:eek: So that is turning me off quick. However, they do have a great itinerary, which leaves out Russia, and are $1000s less expensive than O. :( Still looking at Regent as an option, but can't dismiss Viking yet. We'll see if they improve over the next year. It will be between O, Regent, and Viking; a real apple to oranges comparison!:eek:

Just be aware that Viking's chairman is on record that they don't aspire to be a luxury cruise line -- "good enough" is their goal. So the price difference from O is likely to be reflected in the quality you receive from shore-side customer service to the onboard experience. "You get what you pay for."

My wife informed me that we are doing this trip in 2017. We received the Viking Cruises info book in the mail today, by chance. Just really hesitant with them. Early reviews of the ocean cruise line has been poor. Good news is, if we took them, they will have 2 years to get their ducks in a row. I was not a fan of their food on our river cruise, and the reviews of their food on the ocean liner is worst than that of the river cruises!:eek: So that is turning me off quick. However, they do have a great itinerary, which leaves out Russia, and are $1000s less expensive than O. :( Still looking at Regent as an option, but can't dismiss Viking yet. We'll see if they improve over the next year. It will be between O, Regent, and Viking; a real apple to oranges comparison!:eek:

Does the Viking price include the airfare in the total fare??

I know the banks are not paying much interest but paying in full at the time of booking puts me off Viking especially if you book 1 yr out

It is the principle

JMO

Lyn

Viking doesn't include airfare, for 2017 my airfare is under $1,000. PP

round trip. They do include transfers. We were happy with their arrangements in 2015.

Does the Viking price include the airfare in the total fare??

 

I know the banks are not paying much interest but paying in full at the time of booking puts me off Viking especially if you book 1 yr out

It is the principle

 

JMO

 

Lyn

Paying in full a year out a HUGE breaker....while banks don't pay much interest, some of us who use investment/stocks to pay for a cruise would loose 30 to 40%

That in makes Viking a minimum of 30% more expensive for us

THeir ports are just the same old carbon copies of what Holland,NCL,Princess,are doing for a heck of a lot less.....

In all my research I could NOT find any other ship other than Pacific Princess an R ship going north of the Arctic Circle to Spitzenberg / Longyearbren in 2016

Yes NAtl geo goes there....BUT sail from Honnangsfang and thecost for8 days is like $15-25,000 per person!!!!

Paying in full a year out a HUGE breaker....while banks don't pay much interest, some of us who use investment/stocks to pay for a cruise would loose 30 to 40%

That in makes Viking a minimum of 30% more expensive for us

 

THeir ports are just the same old carbon copies of what Holland,NCL,Princess,are doing for a heck of a lot less.....

In all my research I could NOT find any other ship other than Pacific Princess an R ship going north of the Arctic Circle to Spitzenberg / Longyearbren in 2016

Yes NAtl geo goes there....BUT sail from Honnangsfang and thecost for8 days is like $15-25,000 per person!!!!

Hard to believe you are making 30 to 40% in one year?? You might also lose 30 to 40% in one year thus paying early could actually save you money. If you are making that much, please let the rest of us in on your secret before the next market crash!!

r....while banks don't pay much interest, some of us who use investment/stocks to pay for a cruise would loose 30 to 40%

Thirty to forty percent in a one or two year period?? Really?

Is your banker or broker named Houdini or Madoff?

Lyn

Remember you cancelled a cruise because the

Canadian Dollar tanked.

Although you said you were not interested in a ferry/freighter type cruise ship, I would not rule out Hurtigruten. Yes, some small ports are only visited for 15 minutes, but just I did the 11 day round trip from Bergen and included 5 shore excursions which met my needs very well (there were many other trips I did not take). In many ports you can walk around the port area and see what there is to see. The real beauty of this route is the scenery you see from the ship, not the land excursions. I found the ship very solo-friendly, met a lot of really nice people, ate some excellent food, and relaxed.

Thirty to forty percent in a one or two year period?? Really?

Is your banker or broker named Houdini or Madoff?

First the 40 is the best year out of the last 5..the remaining average is 30. in the last 2 it was 61.9 How...WaltDisney DIS. and use simple Ameritrade I don't use brokers except to keep a record and accounting... Iam not a cash person... and don't want to give it to someone. I Buy equity stock, I do my own research I listen to everyone however. My research 5 yearsago from personal trips to disneys major sectors of which there are 6 indicated that the quality of the company the world wide diversification and ethical, moral and organic past present and future history of its products and exceptional management gave me more than enough confidence to liquidate my entire portfolio and with those funds and50% of the profit from the.sale of my Hawaii home, allowed me to purchase many-many thousands of shares overa 2 month period... To make real money, long term money you need to really buy as much as possible. No risk Reward No guts no glory ,However in my opinion the reward has been constant for the past 5 years.. and will continue to at least 2018 when iGER RETIRES . Natural the,stock will do a dip and get back on line.. However I have setupa25 year plan to withdraw inequal annual stock sales to liquidate what in essence is play money.

It isn't acute or dot com like face book which has tome a seedy history and amoral behavior.. Disney has the strength and experience to weather,better than any other company and recover if it goes down much. With a moat and products that regenerate decade after decade with an entire new set of customers I know the company and have for 70 years and put my money where mymouth is... Isleep just fine not abit orremotely by theway DIS is at 115, MroganStanleyforcasts aconserative 130 to145 in 7 months

Ball's inyour court

Now, I have 3 other retirements that if I lost 100% ofDIS I would be infine shape.. You might laugh but this is my travel account...fun or beer money

Hurtigruten DOES run some special cruises other than just their coast Norway trips. Check out their website for information on trips to Svalbard, Antarctica, etc.

Yes, it is true they do not provide free water at meals, but I had no problem bringing my coffee/tea package mug with me into the MDR, and also managed to purchase one bottle of their water and then refill it and bring it back to the MDR multiple days without any problem.

The newer ships are beautiful, but if you need a casino, show room, bingo, art auctions, or lots of entertainment this is probably not the trip for you. For me, the only entertainment I needed was looking out the windows at the beautiful scenery and the midnight sun with light 24/7 above the Arctic Circle. The food was excellent, the crew friendly, and the shore excursions interesting and fun.

Hurtigruten DOES run some special cruises other than just their coast Norway trips. Check out their website for information on trips to Svalbard, Antarctica, etc.

 

Yes, it is true they do not provide free water at meals, but I had no problem bringing my coffee/tea package mug with me into the MDR, and also managed to purchase one bottle of their water and then refill it and bring it back to the MDR multiple days without any problem.

 

The newer ships are beautiful, but if you need a casino, show room, bingo, art auctions, or lots of entertainment this is probably not the trip for you. For me, the only entertainment I needed was looking out the windows at the beautiful scenery and the midnight sun with light 24/7 above the Arctic Circle. The food was excellent, the crew friendly, and the shore excursions interesting and fun.

Getting to Honnisfang or even Bergen for me is thousands upon thousand's of dollars more and my carrier of choice Star Alliance, doesn't fly there. Then the extreme cost of hotel, meals inNorway.... makes it further impact

Getting to places like London, Ams, CDG FRA etc is easy and easy to do for less than $150 rt from LAX..Business class and ending the trip in Dover, getting to overnight to see the Tatoo in Edinburgh.

Getting to Honnisfang or even Bergen for me is thousands upon thousand's of dollars more and my carrier of choice Star Alliance, doesn't fly there.

I am currently watching both the Viking Ocean ships and Azamara for a cruise to the Norweign fjords for June or July 2017

13 nights on Viking :London to Bergen or the other way around

Azamara is 14 nights :Beginning in Hamburg and ending in Copenhagen.

Both are similar in price point for a veranda.

Both stop at many of same ports along Norway's coast.

Leaning towards Viking, there excursions sound awesome. But I know Azamara will have some sales and I have onlys alied Celebrity so my CaptainClub tier will transfer.

Need to do some more research and read reviews of these ports from others cruisers and read more on this fourm.

I suggest that you search for the thread on the problems Viking Oceans had a couple of months ago whereby their new ship became inoperable and the cruise ended early. It's not so much that a new ship had problems as that it was passengers were extremely unhappy with the lack of assistance from Customer Service.

Considering that the cruise ended early, some passengers got transferred to Bergen and had hotel and some tours included whereas other passengers were just shipped home ... well, the compensation of a 50% refund and 50% discount on a future cruise was not appreciated by most posters.

This might not be the case when you are contemplating your cruise but unhappiness with Viking's customer service has been a pattern.

I'll see if I can find the thread for you.

Mura