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hallasm

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Posts posted by hallasm

  1. 4 hours ago, 2cruisecats said:

    Question for HALLSAM -- Hope I'm asking this in the right thread. We will be in Bergen on September 13th, pre-cruise.  Last year we did the Viking Homelands cruise and enjoyed a few days post cruise in Bergen (wonderful, esp May 17th celebrations) before travelling to Oslo.  This year, I'm wondering about a Norwegian coastal experience previous to our transAtlantic sailing. As flights are not yet booked, we have flexibility, probably 6 or 7 days.  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

    Certainly the right place - hope that others also will add their thoughts and ideas.

    One obvious possibility is a Hurtigruten 7 days northbound voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes - departure each day. You can also do the 6 days southbound from Kirkenes to Bergen - or part of the journe. More details in the CC Hurtigruten Board.

    i have just done a northbound voyage in January -  My review.

    September is still a quite nice month - not any snow but chance for Northern Lights.

    - another option might be ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ from Bergen by boat, bus, train and overnight stay at hotel  - visits to Hardangerfjord, Eidfjord, Sognefjord,  Aurlandsfjord and the narrow Nærøyfjord -including Flåm and Bergen Railway.
    - it will require however require a lot of preparation to organize hotels trains, boats and busses - check This site for inspiration.

    • Like 1
  2. 2 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

    Fortunately, there were TV's that *did* have a Bridge Cam view.

    Not all the cabin does have TV - only suites and Arctic Superior- all TV does have the same channels. In addition to the bridge camera also the actual route was on one of the channels.

    The ship also has a port side camera, but not on the the TV set.

    I have added the bow and port side camera to my blog - not live - picture updated every two minutes - Lint to web cam and route at my review

  3. Can be a long discussion if northbound excursions are better than southbound or..

    You’ll also have have Lofoten Islands northbound as well as Hjørundfjorden, Geiranger and Trollstigen Pass, Svartisen Glacier and Birdwatching safari at Gjesvær.

    Also you’ll sail to Geiranger northbound. (During summer)

  4. Are you sure about the two different terminals in ARN (Arlanda). I would expect terminal 5 for both arrival and departure if flying SAS to CPH - might be different concourses (arrival F gates).

    Customs will be in CPH. In ARN luggage will automatically be transferred to the CPH flight and should be picked-up at CPH.

    However immigration and passport control is in ARN where you’ll enter the Schengen Area. There might also be additional security check in ARN.

     

  5. 3 hours ago, Sallyandtex said:

    Thanks everyone, Sept sounds perfect, just also wondering if the round trip is better or should we dedicate the extra days on land?

     

    There are very different personal preferences - IMO a round trip is too much of the same and I think northbound is the best choice - however, others will mean that you will experience different views and ports back and forth as many places passed by at night one way are passed on the day of the opposite trip.
    My suggestion is a few days in Oslo - trains from Oslo to Bergen with stops and some days in the Flåm area  - sort of 'Norway in a Nutshell' followed by some days in Bergen - and possibly a few days in Kirkenes.
     
  6. Daniel - thank you for the update and correcting information on your web - however still not clear on this:

    On 1/20/2019 at 7:40 PM, hallasm said:

    also terms and condition at one page does refer to "Offer is not valid for port-to-port, group travel, or packages sold by a tour operator.". 

    Is it only for cruises purchased through Hurtigruten or does it apply to all qualifying cruises wherever purchased?

  7. Thank you for the update. Looks like a great trip. 

    7 minutes ago, Bella0714 said:

    Sorry if I'm thinking out loud. The more I research, the more our plans change

    It’s important to plan the travel well and do a proper research. This will be a onvpce in a life time experience.

     

  8. I have never sailed MS Nordstjernen and I doubt that many CC members have sailed that ship. But hope you’ll get some responses and answers to you very valid questions

    Total of  76 cabins, of which 24 only have a washbasin and shared bathroom facilities. Most have upper and lower berths.
    As I understand the deck plan no shared bathroom located on Deck A (lower deck) - only located on deck B (middle deck) - and only one shared bathroom area for the 24 cabins. So guests at deck A might go to bathroom at deck B - but do not know for sure and do not know details.

    I’ll suggest you do ask for more detailed information by emailing Hurtigruten at booking@hurtigruten.com, or by calling the office in Norway at +47 81 03 00 00 - press 9 for English!

    you might also want to check the price in NOK - I just checked - lowest price is NOK 9,975 which is USD 1,160  - cabin with private bath does start at USD 1,700 - let me have the dates you want to travel and I can check the price if you can’t access Hurtigruten.no - might be savings if booking in Norway rather than US.

    The best time to see polar bears is between May and september.

  9. 13 hours ago, hallasm said:

    RIP boat Fjord Safar

     

    11 hours ago, Capt_BJ said:

    RIB (rigid inflatable boat) tours ... fast boats 

     

    10 hours ago, hallasm said:

    Captain - Thank you so much for the correction:classic_blush:

    I did refer to my 'RIP* and missing 'i'

  10. 43 minutes ago, readingfast said:

    Hoping to do the Flam railway independently as I hear ship's tours are very expensive. My brother who has walking difficulties will be with me.

    Can anyone tell me how to get from the dock after tendering, to the station where the railway departs from?

    Also, is this very expensive?

    Any information would be very welcome.

    Thanks

    Price is NOK 590 per person for a return. Book return ticket online from Flåm to Myrdal - no need to spend time in Myrdal - trains are sold out if many ships in port. 

    It is a 5 minutes easy walk from the pier to the train station. Station nemt to the pier

    Time table and Booking.

    - at 0:40 In the video you can see the Cruise ship just behind the train platforms. Enjoy you Cruise and Flåm Railway,

     

    • Like 3
  11. Can you tell us a little about what precautions you take in case of a storm. How strong must the storm be before you cannot sail and what do the ships actually do if they are to pass a hurricane on the planned route?

  12. 29 minutes ago, AnnTique said:

    How easy is it to find an excursion when you get there?  What would you recommend?  Are there any that you suggest would be better to book beforehand to avoid queues eg the Funicular in Bergen?

    Unfortunately not that easy for most Norwegian ports- excursions are Not sold at the pier - for Flåm the train might be sold out.

    Some ports does offer HoHo busses. Some tour boats available.

    For Olden there are scheduled shuttle bus to Briksdal Glacier and Loen Skylift. Do not know if the Briksdal tours does sell out while the Loen Skylift does have high capacity and very close to the port.

    • Like 1
  13. Trollfjord sailing is one of the highlights of a Norwegian coastal journey (I know sailings are weather permitting).
    Is it a specific period of  time when the ships are sailing into the fjord or only for the mouth?
    If set time - during which times do the ships sail into Trollfjord and during which times only for the mouth?

    • Thanks 1
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