To find out more about this epic voyage, please contact Emma Harris in our Haywards Heath branch on 01444 473081 or Lisa Tidball from our Uckfield branch on 01825 760488
Day 1
Our flight to Tromso was with Finnair from London Heathrow via Helsinki all flights were on time the staff were all very friendly, on the Heathrow to Helsinki leg we had a lovely aircraft with individual seatback TV’s showing a variety of films, TV shows and music along with the flight map so you can keep track on where you are and you got free blueberry juice on board !!
Flying into Tromso was spectacular with its amazing views of the landscape, the airport is approximately 15 minutes from the centre of Tromso and its port where the ship docks.
Tromso is within the Arctic Circle and sees an average of 160 days a year with at least 25cm of snow on the ground. The warmest month is July with an average temperature of 15.3 ℃ The lowest temperature recorded is a chilly -20.1℃ !!
We boarded the MS Trollifjord for the last 4 nights of the 16-night Svalbard Line, Hurtigruten Signature Cruise, Bergen – Svalbard – Bergen.
From Tromso we cruised through the beautiful scenery to Finnsnes where we had a few hours to explore the town and its beautiful shoreline.
Ms Trollifjord has a capacity of 500 passengers and cabins on four of its six decks.
It has 3 restaurants Flora the main buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Brasserie Arran for lunch and dinner and Rost fine dining for lunch and dinner, passengers in the suite can dine in Rost daily.
1893 Bar is open from noon and serves a range of hot, soft and alcoholic beverages. All food served on the whole voyage is locally produced and sourced from the local communities in each of its ports.
I was allocated a U2D cabin grade – mid/upper deck outside (Cabin 492 on deck 4) a little engine noise could be heard at night but it was well appointed cabin with a large window.
Day 2 Finnsnes – Harstad
Because of an incoming storm we had to change route and visit the coastal town of Harstad located on the largest island in Norway.
We took a coastal walk to a church and a Soviet Union prisoner of war memorial – This prisoner-of-war camp was established by the German occupying forces in connection with the construction of the Theo Battery fortress on the Trondenes Peninsula. The prisoners were soldiers from the Red Army. They were captured during the summer of 1942 while they were defending their country against Hitler’s invasion forces. The prisoners were taken to Norway so that they could be exploited as Slave labour in connection with the construction of Hitler’s “Fortress Norway”.
Low food rations, poor clothing and miserable living conditions had fatal consequences for many of these prisoners during the hard winter months of 1942-1943. Several young men died each day as a result of exhaustion, illness and ill-treatment.
The Trondenes Camp was one of the largest camps set up in Norway. Up to 1200 prisoners were crowded together in simple plywood huts located behind the double barbed wire fences.
Day 3 Harstad – Bronnoysund
After a rather rough journey in open sea we arrived in the morning in Brønnøysund which lies in the exact middle of Norway.
We took an excursion and walk to the Toggatten Mountain, legend has it that a troll fired an arrow towards the mountain and he created a hole in the centre !
Day 4 – Bronnoysund – Alesund – Saebo
Arrived early in the morning for a brief stop in Ålesund, a town known for its Art Noveau buildings, most of the town centre was rebuilt in 1904 due to a fire destroying the town.
We had a meeting with the captain on the bridge of the ship then sailed on to Saebo which is only a couple of hours down the coast.
Saebo is a small village on the idyllic banks of Hjorundfjord where we had to get a tender to shore. Here we walked up the mountain path for breathtaking views on the bay and village below.
Back on board and we set sail on our way to Bergen, the weather has been warm but very overcast, however we were treated for a little and it cleared as we left Saebo and we captured the beautiful scenery.
On our final day we disembarked in Bergen, as we had a few hours to spare before our flight home we left our luggage at the port and took 15/20 minuet walk into the centre of Bergen, unfortunately the weather was very misty so we couldn’t see the spectacular scenery in all its glory. However we did visit the beautiful wooden buildings that overlook the bay Vagen, these buildings still remain from 1070 which was Bergens central meeting point.
Hurtigruten meaning “The Fast Route” has been sailing the Norwegian coast since 1893, brining isolated communities together.
The Svalbard Line travels north to the most remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, this is the last town before the North Pole. En route you will visit 14 ports, with an average of 5 hours in each and over 30 optional excursions on offer. An excellent cruise for your chance to see the spectacular Northern Lights and fantastic wildlife.
The MS Trollifjord is the flagship of The Svalbard Line and offers a panoramic sauna on the top deck excellent for relaxing after a busy day, double story observation lounge on the upper desks so you can take in the breath-taking views whilst having a cheeky G&T.
Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.
