hallasm

6 hours ago, Sallyandtex said:

1) daylight (not in account of Northern Lights which i believe will not guaranteed to be around at those months)

2) access to fjords

3) scenery eg wildlfie

4) weather (rainy/storm

1) daylight will be fine for both March and September - March will be a good month for Northern Lights - Lights are never guaranteed, but March is on of the ‘better months’.

2) Hurtigruten is only sailing Geirangerfjord during summer. Not sure if they still are sailing into Trollfjord in September - anyway depending on weather. No difference for other Fjords. Apart from Geiranger and Trollfjord as well as Raftsundet, Hurtigruten doesn’t sail the ‘other spectacular Norwegian Fjords’. However, still spectacular sceneries.

3) More seabirds in September than March - in March still a lot of snow on the mountains and at North Cape and in Kirkenes.

4) Weather might not be a big difference - September might be more calm and warmer than March.

I would prefer March over September - good chances for Northern Lights and snow on the mountains.

1 hour ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

In July we are doing a Norway intensive cruise on the Azamara Journey. We have been doing lots of research and have lots planned - Flam railway, Geiranger bus, Lofoten Sea explorer Tour to see Sea Eagles, Lake Loen Cruise & see Briksdal glacier from Olden, Rodne cruise from Bergen, North Cape Tour from Honningsvag etc but haven’t been able to find out much about stops at Bodo and Molde. If you have any information and advice about these two ports I’d be very grateful.

Looks like you already have some exciting excursions planned - the Highlights are for sure Geiranger, Flåm, Lofoten, Bergen and Olden. Also the midnight sun north of the Arctic Circle in July.

Maybe Bodø and Molde are Not that exciting or at least ir Will require longer excursions.

Bodø is located just north of the Arctic Circle -  10 kilometers north of Bodø lies the area Geitvågen with a large number of White-tailed Eagles.
Possible excursion by boat to Saltstraumen  - a small strait with one of the strongest tidal currents in the world - depending on time of the day.

Molde is a small town located at the northern coast of Midfjorden. In the town the viewpoint Varden with panoramic views over fjords.
You’ll need excursion or rental car.

The Atlantic Road running across bridges and islands One of the National Tourist Roads in Norway. Norwegian Structure of the Century and the world’s most beautiful road trip! 
Marble caves at Naas! The caves are a result of mining, active from 1938 - 1987.
Other possible longer excursions are Rauma Railway or Trollstigen and Trollveggen, however quite long excursions- both easier accessible from Åndalsnes.

Excellent review and amazing pictures. I do have that cruise on my list. Thank you for sharing.

Your question is not clear but as I read it you have a chip and pin card. If pin and chip it will work with European terminals. For many terminals in shops a chip and sign card will work but not for terminals at automated ticket machines.

My advice will be to have a chip and pin card when traveling in Europe.

3 hours ago, SoccerMom#3 said:

Our flight gets into Bergen at 10:00 AM.  My plan is to get to the ship, drop our stuff off (it's Viking so they will let us do that) , and then walk to the Floibanen Funicular.  Is that doable?  Ship doesn't leave till the next day.

Is round 30 minutes from airport to the terminal by taxi. Assuming The Cruise terminal it’s a 0.7 miles walk to Fløy banan - 15 minutes - from the terminal. plenty of time.

1 hour ago, CanEcosse said:

Comparing Oceania and Azamara for Norway in 2020. O goes as far north as Bodo while Azamara goes all the way to the North Cape. How many of the iconic, "can't miss" fjords will I not see if I choose Oceania. Note, the question is about locations, not a request for alternate cruises.

You need to include the ports of call for the two cruises - many scenic fjords are south of Bodø - however, answer will depending on the itinerary - Going above the Arctic Circle (Bodø ) is just above the  Arctic Circle) you may experience midnight sun (depending on which dates) - so please include dates as well.

In this post you can get a list of scenic fjords

At 11 pm as MS Trollfjord entered the 100m-wide mouth of Trollfjord. While spotlights picked out the 1,000m-high cliffs that soared into the Arctic darkness.

Sailing Trollfjord during June

14 hours ago, MeHeartCruising said:

Several years ago (so it may no longer be this way), we did not dock within what I would call walking distance of the core Bergen sites.

Most cruise ships does dock at Bergen Cruise Terminal  or  Festningskaien which is close to the city centre. If many ships in port or  larger ships,  also Jekteviken is used - a bit further away - if OP want to know location just post ship name and date.

1 hour ago, Tranquility Base said:

Thanks for all the info.

 

If I want to use cash ( I know there will be places which are card only ) are there usually money changers or banks where I can get local currency in ports.

Thinking Norway, Sweden & Denmark.

Yes, In Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. In  small ports maybe not -  and some places extremely expensive - a debit card for ATM might be possible. Some shops will accept Euro or US$ - not a favorable rate, however might be better than fee on Credit Card if using ATM.

You might even find shops not accepting cash at all. What is the problem using a credit card? Or a Mobil Phone payment solution.

Short and easy walk to all the sights - first the UNESCO Bryggen wharf, then Fløy Banan (funicular) to mount Fløyen, the Fish market and the center of Bergen.

44 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Not on the continent, but I think Iceland gets the prize for letting you use a debit or credit card for their public toilets.

 

 

(photo by turtles06)

Not only Iceland - also widely used in Scandinavia.

A tour of MS Trollfjord and my cabin Q2-691

I’m just back from a Cruise in Norway - 10 days - did not bring cash at all - everything paid by credit card.

Sailing into the Polar night.
The polar night occurs in the northernmost and southernmost regions of the Earth when the night lasts for more than 24 hours. This occurs only inside the polar circle.

I’ll vote for June. Do not know the itinerary but in a June you’ll for sure have late sunset and if going above the Arctic Circle chances for midnight sun.

Septamber weather can be fair but I’ll expect weather in a June to be better.

... and some inspiration for Olden

A ten minutes walk from the quay will bring you to the centre of Olden - from here busses to the two main attractions the Cable Car Loen Skylift and a 4 hours Journey through the Olden Valley up to the  Briksdal Glacier.

12 hours ago, Danish viking said:

Because of track works in preparing for the Fehmarn Bent tunnel the line is closed so you have to take a replacement bus from København H to Nykøbing F from where the train to Hamburg departs. 

 

Thank you for the update - then the connection at 8:20 or 12:20 via Fredericia might be a nettet option - still only one change but avoiding the bus and changes. Those trains will depart from Oesterport.

You are allowed to take rupees into India (there is however a limit) - also be aware that India in currently changing all their bank notes - old notes are invalid - you might get invalid notes when exchanging at ‘unofficial sources’ - you might also get these invalid notes as change in India.

in Denmark it’s possible to exchange to INR in Forex Bank - might also be possible in Scotland. I did exchange to Rupees here in Denmark before my cruise stops in India.

Some research for Cochin

SelectSys and Globaliser - Thank you for sharing - indeed interesting reading!

interesting to follow those airlines in First Quarter and how it will impact airfare prices.

Is the Stad Ship Tunnel fiction or will the tunnel be build to avoid crossing Stadthavet Sea. Would be great, crossing Stadthavet Sea was definitely the least pleasant experience at my last MS Trollfjord sailing.

Probably not possible to avoid Hustadvika.

I trust you’re committed to reducing the food waste primarily from the buffets. Can you tell about procedures and measures you have in place to minimize the food wast? Any differences from the Costal and expedition voyages?

Hunting the Northern Lights

At Lofoten the Aurora Borealis was visible from 9:00 pm in 40 minutes while we were docked in Svolvær and again two hours later when sailing in the northern part of Raftsundet over Hinnøya.
Two day later for 45 minutes when we approached Berlevåg.

The footage in the video is still photos from the bow and upper deck of MS Trollfjord.

January 15  excursion from Honningsvåg  to North Cape (Norwegian: Nordkapp) -  a 307 m high cliff (1,007 ft) with a large flat plateau on top, on the northern coast of the island of Magerøya in Norway, and views of the Barents Sea to the north
At the plateau you will fine the Globe at North Cape, Children of the World sculpture and the North Cape Hall.

North Cape Hall, a visitor centre, was built in 1988 includes a café, restaurant, post office, souvenir shop, a small museum, and video cinema.

The European route E69 highway has its northern terminus at North Cape, which makes it the northernmost point in Europe that can be accessed by car.
It is possible to visit North Cape during winter, but when there is heavy snow and wind, the last stretch of road is only open for convoy driving at certain times.

January 13, 2019 at 07:10 am MS Trollfjord crossed the Arctic Circle.
The position of the Arctic Circle is not fixed; as of 13 January 2019, it runs 66°33′47″ north of the Equator.
Njord, Ruler of the sea and winds in Norse mythology blessed the passengers "May good luck and happiness follow you on the voyage and forever after".
This tradition involves the captain of the ship ladles ice water down the back of the passengers.

I assume that you’ll stay some days at Lofoten. I would disembark in Svolvær due to the arrival time  - then you’ll be at a hotel at a reasonable time. Drive from Svolvær to Stamsund is an hour (weather depending). My suggestion for flying out of Bodø was  to either drive or take bus/ferry from Lofoten  to Bodø - diffetent alternatives.