On Monday I'm going on the Hurtigruten ship Vesteralen from Bergen to Kirkenes. I've done this before (just amazing!) but not during the Polar Night. Has anyone got experience of this? Will it be dark most of the time? Is there a lot of snow on the ground? And is there any chance of being able to take photos with my simple digital camera?
Thanks,
Sue.

That's funny. I'm booked on the Vesteralen leaving Bergen on Wednesday. It can't be leaving on Monday and Wednesday!

It is no longer polar night now - there is some real daylight, though not much, even in Kirkenes.

I said that, simply because I'm leaving home on Monday so in my head that's when the holiday starts. In fact, I'm sailing on Wednesday night. We'll be neighbours! How far are you going?

Ah ha!
I'm doing the round trip. I leave Wednesday so no time for sightseeing before the trip. I'm looking forward to it though.

sueinfal, I was on the Finnmarken in March. It got dark about 6pm and there was snow on the ground in many places. All the mountains were white. Don't forget to tell reception to phone you if and when the Aurora makes their presence shown.

I used my digital camera and got brilliant photographs but sadly my camera was not good enough to capture the Northern Lights.

You might be interested in my trip report.

I loved it and hope to go back again in winter.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ern-lights.cfm

cambe - your trip report was one of the things which convinced me to go on the trip

Seetheworld helped convince me too .

hetismij, I hope you enjoy your trip, I can honestly say it was one of the best holidays I have ever had.

I don't know if you are interested in dog sledging - I loved it and highly recommend it. I was only doing the trip Bergen to Kirkenes and had to do the dog sledging excursion in Tromso. As you are doing the round trip the one in Kirkenes is supposed to be better and you then have the day free to wander around Tromso (the Venice of the north) which sadly I missed.

Have a wonderful trip on the most Beautiful Voyage in the World.

Thanks Cambe, I will read your report in a minute. I did the round trip last April and it is without doubt the most wonderful thing I have ever done. Such unremitting beauty all the way. Interestingly, I did the husky excursion at Kirkenes and wasn't that impressed, while some folk on the same boat did it in Tromso and had a great time. But that may just be me - it wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped for. I'm off to read your trip report now. Bye.

I have booked some excursions already. When I was debating going it was suggested I book the excursions since I am not used to solo travel, and am a worrier. I'd be terrified I'd miss the boat if I went off on my own lol.

I decided to book the Kirkenes dogsledding trip as I want to see Tromso, and may not get the chance again.

Have a good trip tomorrow Sue - see you on board .

We were on the Hurtigruten in Dec just for one night from Trondheim to Bergen but most of the others had done the entire trip. they mentioned that although there was light for a few hours each day they missed seeing the actual sun in the sky.

We had light everyday, as I said the polar night was over. The days were short the further north we went, but we had light. Sue jumped ship in Kirkenes and missed the sun and the aurora though.

Note to self - write a trip report this weekend .

I'm wAiTing....tick...tick...

I'm working on it. Promise.

hetismij and sueinfal, I am also waiting for your trip report. I hope you enjoyed the Hurtigruten as much as I did.