bookman

We fly to Oslo for 1 night then fly on to Kirkenes where we join Hurtigruten 6 day voyage to Bergen. Can we take alcohol from UK? What are the prices for a g&t/ whisky on board? Any tips for this trip please.

hetismij2

Your best bet is to buy duty free at Oslo airport.
Norway is not in the EU so you are limited in what you can take.
Hurtigruten allows you to take booze onboard, to be consumed in your cabin only. You can't take it into meals or the lounges.

I didn't buy anything more than wine onboard so I can't help with those prices I'm afraid. Wine was 69NOK a glass, but I ended up sharing a bottle with two table mates - 335NOK, which was cheaper

If you enjoy tea or coffee during the day it is worth buying the coffee arrangement so you have them free all day in your special mug. that was 209NOK last year, it may have gone up this year.
Also make sure you arrange for a ship's card - you do that at reception. Your boarding card is then used to pay for things onboard, and it gets charged to your CC at the end of the trip. The bill is put under your door on the last morning - you check it and ignore it if everything is fine on it.
While at reception also ask them to wake you if the Northern Lights are seen!
One piece of advice is to get up early and enjoy the dawn - it is truly spectacular and lasts for a couple of hours.

We are going on March 5th again for the round trip.
Which boat are you going on?

bookman

Thanks for that, very useful indeed. We are on the Nordkapp in a junior suite. We land at mid day and are staying at the Radisson Airport for 1 night before we fly to Kirkenes. Do you suggest we go into Oslo for the afternoon evening?

hetismij2

Sorry haven't been to Oslo yet - we're doing that this trip. Since you have all afternoon and evening I would head in on the train if the weather is up to it.

At Bergen airport I know landing passengers can go through duty-free and buy there on showing their boarding pass, to prove they have arrived from outside Norway. I assume it is the same at Oslo.
Have a wonderful trip. I loved it last February on the Vesterålen (we're going on it again this year). The Nordkapp looks great!

Frances

We are also travelling on the Hurtigruten in May- having wanted to do it for years. We are on the Vesteralen and I'm glad to hear what you say about it.
Can you tell me hetismij2 whether the stops in port ever allow for you to do something by yourself or is your only option bearing in mind the length of time you have, to take the excursions?

hetismij2

Frances - you can certainly do things yourself. In some ports there is not much time, but in others you can go off on your own - do make sure you are back in time though - they don't wait! If an excursion is late back they ensure you will get your boat - at the next port if need be, but for individuals it is up to you to get back in time.
Even at ports where there is only a short stop you can go off and have a quick look around.
Depending on the tour leader you may get a few walks offered in the evening for free. The tour leader we had (coincidentally a Dutchman) had three evening walks which people were welcome to join him on.

My trip report is under my old name of hetismij if you are interested.