marthag

We are planning to visit Norway in early June,2008. We definitely will spend time exploring Bergen, the Sognefjord and Geirangerfjord, and will end our trip with a few days in Oslo. Will we be missing different scenery and a special experience if we do not take a few days cruise on the Hurtigruten?

I was thinking of joining the Hurtigrute in Alesund and sailing for one night to Bodo.or I could extend for another night and get off at Tromso. We really don't want to devote the time and money to the Hurtigruten experience if it ends up being similar to day cruises on the Sognefjord and Geirangerfjord.

I would appreciate hearing pros and cons of us taking the Hurtigruten for one or two days.

mom1emac

How are you getting to the Geirangerfjord? We took the Hurtigruten for 2 nights from Bergen and did the side trip to the Geirangerfjord on that trip and got off the ship in Trondheim. We also spent 3 nights in Oslo and my daughter who was 21 at the time, still remembers Oslo as her favorite city and she's been to about 8 different countries.

Viajero2

We drove around and took ferries to cross over to some towns. We did not take a formal cruise, but feel that I do not miss a thing. Bergen and the Sognefjord area were spectacular as well as the Handargervida Park. If you can get to Vik and Undredal stave churches, DO IT. We also spent time in Oslo. Norway is a magical place, it is out of this world, I swear.

marthag

Hi Mom 1 emac...We probably would fly to Alesund and spend one night there. Then we'd take the Hurtigrute from Alesund to Geiranger, as deck passengers, and spend one night in Geiranger. Then we'd have two options: a) Get onboard Hurtigrute as cabin-passengers for a one or two night trip northwards, or b) Get onboard Hurtigrute as deck passengers and travel back to Alesund, from where we would fly to Oslo.

Am I reasonably correct in describing my options?

wasleys

Ålesund to Bodø is two nights, not one.

In June Hurtigruten sailings go into Geirangerfjord. The ship calls at Ålesund before and after Geirangerfjord. Whether you can board before going up the fjord or only on the return I don't know.

The stretch between Bodø and Tromsø is good with the sail across Vestfjord towards the Lofoten Wall then along and through the islands.

The scenery is different to the fjords and impressive in a different sort of way.

mom1emac

I'm not sure about the Hurtigruten from Alesund to Geiranger. What happened with our trip, the ship left Bergen about 5 p.m. and the following day we cruised throught the fjord and around noonish the ship had arrived as close as it could to Geiranger and since we had paid for the Geirangerfjord trip (which is really the bus/dinner trip) we were transfered from the ship to a tender in Geiranger and then we got on land and took a WONDERFUL bus trip thru the "land of the Trolls" and wound up in Molde (about 8:30 p.m.) where a dinner at a hotel was arranged for everybody and then we were brought to the ship. Passengers not going on the trip stayed on the ship and it turned around (cause you're now at a dead end in the fjord)and went out the Geirangerfjord and then on to Molde. Geiranger looked lovely, but there's not much to the town (sizewise)

tower

Marthag:

Perhaps you'd like to think about this combination of train, boat, bus and car.
We did this a few years ago and loved every mile of it.

Oslo, much-mailgned, but we found that it had several fine attributes...3 nights.(Flew Lufthansa from L.A. to Frankfurt, connected to Oslo)

Take the NIN from Oslo, leaves at 8:11 am and is a fascinating full day to Bergen, via Flam and the notable "downhill train ride", cruising on both the Aurlandfjord and the very narrow Naeroyfjiord, meeting the bus at Gudvangen and an unforgettable ride into the steep range of mountains (with a deligthful stop at the superscenic Stalheim Hotel (you could, if you wish stay overnight here or at any mumber of other places along the way)

The bus takes you on to Voss where you continue on by train to Bergen by 6 pm..a world class city!

We stayed three nights in Bergen..lots to see and do. Then boarded the Hurtigruten which we had reserved for two nights, from Bergen to Trondheim, where we stayed a day and overnight...and then boarded the next Hurtigruten from Trondheim to Bodo (which included a visit to the "Black Ice" Glacier...Svartsisen...and bus into Bodo where we retrieved our luggage from the boat, stayed overnight and rented a car for our visit to the magnificent Lofotens, by ferry the next morning...drove the Lofotens and ferried to the mainland and continued on to Tromso by car..beautiful scenic countryside...in our case, we delivered the car back as far as Narvik and boarded the overnight train to Stockholm.

In this way, we got a very full taste of Norway..and loved every bite. I highly recommend a similar trip for you.

(We did the above part of the trip in 13 days...then spent another five in Stockholm and four in Copenhagen).

Stu T.

NeoPatrick

WE took the Hurtigruten from the very northern point at Kirkenes to Bodo. The section from Tromso to Bodo was probably the most spectacular. From Bodo we flew to Trondheim, then spent a good week driving to Alesund and the fjords you mention. I'm not sure that taking the Hurtigruten from Bergen to Alesund would be all that much, and I really can't speak for the section between Alesund and Bodo, but north of that was just breathtaking.

marthag

Thanks so very much,all of you. The information you provided is extremely helpful. I just spoke to a Hurtigruten rep in New York who said that I would have no problem getting reserved passage as a port-to-port passenger from Alesund to Geiranger, so that part is settled.

Patrick, I may fly to Tromso and sail south from there, per your suggestions and also from viewing Wasleys' comprehensive photo gallery.Stu,what a comprehensive trip you took. We will definitely do a one day Norway in a Nutshell while we're still in Bergen, and then fly to Alesund and work our way north.

EPC

I only have 5-6 days in Norway. Stu what would you do and not do on your trip? We are planning on starting in Bergen (1 night?) doing the NIN trip with 1 night (or 2???) in Stalheim. That is as far as I get. What would you absolutely add? Is oslo necessary? We are then going on to Stockholm for a couple of days. Any help would be appreciated!!We are doing this end of August

tower

EPC:

The above was our fourth visit to Norway, but had not done the coastal voyage before...other times we only drove. I would spend more than a day in Bergen...a world-class city with gorgeous scenes...visitng the Grieg country home, short bus ride and walk from downtown Bergen. The old city (Bryggen)is interesting/...certainly enough to warrant two nights at least. One night at the Stalheim, very isolated hotel (but dynamite views of the valley below)is plenty.

Call me crazy, but we like the feeling in Oslo...stayed in the embassy district at the wonderful old Gabelshus Hotel...the Resistance Museum is very intriguing, and the museums on Bygdoy peninsula are very good...the Kon Tiki, the folk Museum ,etc. It's a great walking town as is Bergen. Frogner Park and the Munch Museum are two "musts": also. Be sure to take the optional Svartisen (Black Ice Glacier) trip while en route via the Hurtigruten to Bodo...
stu t.

Stu T.

EPC

Thanks so much Stu...Our plan is to spend:
2 nites Bergen
NIN tour via Flam,Voss,Gudvangen,Stalheim staying 1 nite in Stalheim and then continue on to Olso for 1 nite. I assume this will be the 5 days we have and then on to Stockholm. Is there any way to add in Balestrand that you know of?

tower

martha:

I'm not sure, but you can probably stay overnight in Balestrand and continue the NIN the next day. Check it out with the NYC rep for the Coastal Voyage. I would try to do at least the two nights in Bergen...
stu