vickiebypass

Very interesting to hear about your trip since I just booked the northbound trip on Jan. 20 on the Nordkapp. I'm looking forward to snow, Northern Lights and the slower pace of these ships. Am prefacing the trip with 2 days in Trondheim and adding a day at Kirkenes to stay overnight in the Snow Hotel (and do their dog sledding trek).

I'm fine with the "limited - or none" entertainment onboard and will happily go on deck, read a book and chat with the other passengers. I'll go ashore in the ports, even if it's just to wander around the immediate port area, buy a post card, etc. Have been to Alesund and Bergen, but the more nothern ports will be new to me. I'm not doing any excursions since I like to walk around on my own and will do some advance research.

The meals will be challenge since I don't like fish but bread and cheese go a long way! Plus, they told me that when the day's dinner menu is posted, I can let them know if I'd like something else and basic chicken is fine w/me. Plus, I may bring some peanut butter with me for a good old PB&J sandwich. Instead of coffee/tea, I enjoy a Diet Coke so won't buy the coffee mug but I gather there's a water bottle plan of some sort so will probably buy that.

Clousie

Vickie

There are plenty of choices besides fish at lunch. Always a soup, lots of cured meats, salads, hot dishes that aren't all fish. Can't remember if there's peanut butter out. Know there's Nutella in small tubes and several wonderful kinds of jelly that you put into cordial size plastic cups. Don't remember seeing or having any chicken, but it was probably there.

At breakfast there are lots of different beverages out, but was a bit disappointed that at lunch it was only water, tea or coffee. I don't see a need to buy a water plan. I thought the plain tap water was very good and cold. Always lots of ice water at meals and you could fill a bottle. Plus the cafe has a water dispenser available. We also discovered on our last night after buying a bottle of champagne in town that the cafe will supply you with an ice bucket, wine glasses or just ice. That was after we had been drinking almost room temp wine all week. Oh well, it made drinking in our cabins feel much more secretive.

Enjoy a wonderful trip.

vickiebypass

Clousie-good to know about water being so available - why spend money on the water plan if I don't need to! Between Nutella, peanut butter and unusual jellies, I'll be all set (not to mention the cheeses and cold meats). I'm not worried - not a foodie and food doesn't "make" a trip for me.

Thanks for the tips!

hetismij2

Tell the restaurant staff you don't eat fish, and they will give you a card to place on your table so you don't have to keep telling them.
I don't eat shellfish and had a card for that.
The water in the cabin is also drinking water, so you don't have to keep heading for the cafeteria to refill your bottle.
At meals just ask for water, it is never a problem. Soft drinks, like alcohol, are expensive on board, but you could buy some ashore to drink in your cabin.

menachem

I did Kirkenes - Bergen in 2010 on Nordlys and used it to do a lot of work: I had to put together a soundtrack for an exhibition later in the year and it got finished alright. I loved the utility aspect of Hurtigruten, for instance from Lofoten to Tromsø a guy traveled on board who slept in the lounge in a sleeping bag, traveling to university in Tromsø. When we docked there at midnight, his friends came to meet him at the dock, bringing balloons and playing songs on the harmonica. From Tromsø a choir traveled with us for two days: they rehearsed in the self service restaurant. At another stop a couple got of long enough to embrace and briefly chat with friends who lived near the island port where we docked, then rushed back on board. I was up at night a lot, and these brief stops were the most memorable to me.