Awesome 12-day Bergen to Bergen trip in December. I booked on the MS Trollfjord. Outside cabin with…read morean obstructed view on Deck 6. If you are looking to experience the polar nights and the Northern Lights, in a casual cruise experience, this is one fabulous way to do it.
TIP #1: Don't expect night-time entertainment...no movies no dancing no casino no live musical acts. JUST MAGNIFICENT VISTAS and QUAINT TOWNS, many stops (about 67 total), but only short opportunities to get out on land. This is a trip focused on taking outdoor excursions and hikes, and seeing the dancing lights. BRING YOUR OLD SLR or download a cell phone APP that lets you take nighttime photos at a slow shutter speed....this trip, for me, was about experiencing the AURORA BOREALIS.
TIP #1: Upgraded to the window at the last minute while checking in at the Hurtigruten Terminal in Bergen at a great discount! Only $200 USD. Even with the bottoms of the lifeboats in the line-of-sight, I was still able to see out to shore. The view might be more problematic on Dec 7, but on Deck 6, no worries.
FOOD: Local sourced foods, so you eat like Norwegians. Dinners are the usual seatings just like on other cruises, but dress is casual. Except for the Captain's Farewell Dinner...though only the crew seemed to be dressed fancy for the occasion. Otherwise, it's a lovely buffet at breakfast and lunch also highlighting local ingredients. The chefs are very inventive and all the meals are beautifully presented. The desserts are inspired and pretty to look at, especially the wide variety of mousse; loved the smoothie shots at breakfasts, the bread is amazing, and there's a wide variety of it and crackers, and while I normally don't slather butter on anything, don't miss out on the butter, it's amazing; there IS fresh fruit but don't expect a wide variety. I changed my dinner meals to VEGETARIAN, and was pleased, as I wasn't so keen on reindeer and steak and cod or lamb. But I tried bites of them, and they were all good. Vegetarians/Vegans can find plenty to eat and the kitchen often offered a vegetarian entree at the buffet. No ice sculptures, just great food.
SUGGESTION TO HURTIGRUTEN: The Asian passengers I met really missed their white rice...and, to be honest, me too. Maybe add some Asian flair to your buffet, because even I missed white and/or brown rice.
EXCURSIONS: They are for the hearty because the hikes are a fast pace due to the time constraints. But ALL the excursions I took -- The Arctic Coastal Walk, the dogsledding in Tromso, the Russian Border trip in Kirkenes, the Marble Mine near Kristiansund, the Vesteralen Trondenes Church bus and ferry trip were all amazing and worth your time and your dime.
TIP#3: Don't miss out on Lofoten By Horse in Gimsoy, Lofoten. Riding Icelandic horses with a view of the Northern Lights on a sandy beach AND on great trails under a mountain (and apparently alongside a links golf course...it was dark!)...JUST WAS MAGICAL!!! Highly recommend the horseback riding...beautiful horses...lovely clean stables, beautiful barn turned restaurant!!!
SUGGESTION TO HURTIGRUTEN: Offer year-round golf excursion at Lofoten Links!!!
OVERALL: As long as you don't expect a fancy dressy cruise experience, you will LOVE the nice people on the ships of the Hurtigruten....it used to be a boat delivering mail, and it still acts as a ferry for the locals (and their cars). But that's part of the charm. You get to meet locals going about their commute. The food is great. The excursions are too. I had intended to visit Iceland, but when I found the Hurtigruten cruise, I changed my mind and took a chance on Norway. It didn't disappoint.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.