Leland22 Loc: Texas

I am seriously considering going on this cruise next summer around July 1. I would like basic information from Hoggers such as travel to Bergen, must do points on the trip, how to get from Kirkenes back to fly back to the US and any other suggestions. This appears to be a once in a lifetime trip with very little sleep and lots of photography.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

I have not taken a Hurtigruten cruise--this definitely is on my bucket list. Oslo is the main airport in Norway--I flew from Newark to Oslo on United. Oslo is well worth a stop for a couple of days. I took the train from Oslo to Bergen with stunning scenery. I interrupted the ride at Myrdal to take the train to Flåm where I stayed for a couple of days and took a ferry ride on the fjord. The train ride is about 8 hours, so interrupting it is a good idea. Bergen is a lovely city as well. You could fly back to Oslo from Kirkenes. Bergen has an international airport--I flew from Bergen to Frankfurt. Here is my album from my Norway trip.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zug55/albums/72157634082526552

You will get a lot of daylight in July as well as a lot of twilight. It will never get completely dark. The midnight light is magical, so you should bring a camera that can handle low-light situations. Be prepared for bad and even stormy weather. Bring protective gear for your camera and yourself. The weather can be chilly even in July.

Enjoy your trip--Norway is stunningly beautiful.

PhotobobII

This a spectacular trip. We did it 7 years ago. I would suggest flying to Tromso,
spending a day or two there. Then take ship to Kirkennes and continuing back to Trondheim. It too is a city worth at least two days. From Trondheim it is easy to get flights to Oslo - and I believe- to Bergen. We took this trip in early March. The snow was beautiful, the boat was not full, there were few tourists in the towns, and the cost was considerably less.

Jodevoy

My husband and I took the Hurtigruten back in 2019 - pre Covid. We flew from WNY through NYC to Amsterdam to Bergen. Flights were not as bad as I feared, were able to get around Amsterdam without difficulty. We did a roundtrip cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes. I have to say Kirkenes was one of the most memorable of MANY amazing cities. If they have a tour of the underground bomb shelters, I highly recommend that. You are literally on the Russian border. I heard stories about the “real” relationships between the local Norwegians and Russians - not what you’d expect - like for a few hours a day they can cross the border to take care of business, mutual cooperation. Left quite an impression on me. The purpose of our trip in February was to see the Aurora. Caught it for literally 2 minutes one night on the return route just past the Arctic Circle - in July with so much daylight that will not be an option. Go and have a great time. My husband said he’d like to go back when the landscape is green instead of all white! It seems there should be airports closer to Kirkenes - perhaps Hertigruten could give some direction.

Jodevoy

I forgot to add…the rooms are incredibly tight. Take the upgrade if you can!

petego4it Loc: NY

wonderful trip. not a cruise but a "life as it was" observation amid spectacular scenery! Go and enjoy!!

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

My wife and I did the Hurtigruten Norway (from Bergen) to Iceland trip (with stops in the Faroe, Orkney and Shetland islands) in 2015. Spent three days touring Norway (mainly Oslo) before the cruise and a week touring Iceland at the end of the cruise. The cruise ship was small enough that the cruise felt very personal and the service was superb. Hurtigruten did a great job!

Remember it is 220 volt power in most places. Take lots of memory cards for your camera (and/or a good external backup drive).

Have fun!

bwa

Rick0747

Scandinavia is a beautiful place with many many sites to see and capture. I was in Bergen 40 years ago and again this past June. It has become very touristy. And remember it rains a lot. Bergen gets rain 300 days a year - not all day but parts of it. However, it is a very worthwhile trip.

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

Our trip was from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. You will stop at different spots on the way back so there is no repetition. That's nicer than flying back from Kirkenes. And we stayed in Bergen for two days after the trip.

I recommend getting off the boat whenever you can, even if it's just to walk around the place -- and have a beer at a dockside tap. There are many excursions offered; all cost plenty and some aren't really worth it (such as the packed speedboats to look at the whirlpools). The eagle feeding excursion was worth it.

You'll get plenty of sleep, with lots of photography. You will be tempted to take way too many shots; on the other hand you can always delete them. But think before you press the shutter.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

In the summer of 2019, my wife and I traveled southbound from Svolvaer in the Lofoten Islands to Bergen. Had a great trip. Not sure how to get in and out of Kirgenes. You might want to take the ferry back to Svolvaer, take another ferry to Bodo and then the train to Oslo. The Norwegian train system is a great way to see Norway, especially the Bergen to Oslo route.

Leland22 Loc: Texas

Thanks Hoggers. More to consider.