COVER STORY
“What makes this trip sO sPeCIal is watching the bReatHtakINg sCeNeRy and LOCAL LIFE UNFOLD AROUND YOU”
can’t send attachments and you are limited to sending text-only emails, although you can still interact with social networking sites. The biggest problem you will have is packing
ECO-CRUISE PIONEERS
Hurtigruten are one of the most
there are also several covered viewing areas where you can sit protected from the elements. Hurtigruten also do the excursion side of cruising extremely well and they cover a range of sightseeing, historical, cultural and wildlife options. These are planned purposely to get under the skin of this amazing country. We toured the cities of Trondheim and Tromso, went out in a rubber dinghy to see incredible whirlpools and currents, and visited the North Cape, mainland Europe’s most northerly point. At some of the smaller ports of call, you still get
time to walk around and explore under your own steam – although, as this is a working service, the ship will not wait. If you get stranded, it’s up to you rejoin the ship at your own expense! Nordlys has four public area computers, and Internet access was free throughout the voyage via a password obtained from reception. However, you
dedicated opera- tors when it comes to preserving the environment. Everywhere you go on the ship there are four brightly- coloured recycling containers, one each for plastic, metal, paper and glass. These are kept in a hold and stored until being properly disposed of at the end of the voyage. All black and
grey water is also stored on board and fresh water is brought on from ports of call.
before you go and deciding what clothes to take. Do definitely take sun cream with a high protection factor. I thought I wouldn’t need anything of the sort but ended up having to buy some locally.
a good waterproof are all definitely recommended. However, the weather can also catch you out as this whole stretch of coastline is warmed by the Gulf Stream. On one occasion while walking around Trondheim with the requisite three layers on, I sud- denly realised I was perspiring profusely while the locals were all cool in shorts and polo shirts! A few hours later while watching the midnight sun on deck, the reduced temperature combined with the wind was REALLY cold, and we were soon wrapped up like Arctic explorers. In other words, take both sets of clothes and let your body and fellow passengers tell you what to wear. Do not expect entertainment and all the mod
R
cons you get on the bigger ships, but, in reality, you don’t need them. The library has a large selection of fiction and non fiction books, plus board games from chess to trivial Pursuit, and I saw many seasoned Hurtigruteners with cards and other games. What makes this trip so special is watching the breathtaking scenery and local life unfold around you. At one point, it appears there is a solid wall
Autumn 2010 I WORLD OF CRUISING 21
emember that Norway is on the same latitude as Alaska and Greenland, hence a warm fleece, hat, gloves and – most importantly –
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