Wyzle on the Road: HURTIGRUTEN TRIP

Hurtigruten is a name of a daily shipping service along norwegian coast (between Bergen and Kirkenes). It has it's long tradition (since 1893). Originally it was built up to improve the communication along the long jagged coastline. In those times it was a breakthrough for norwegian cities. "Mail from central Norway to Hammerfest, which had taken three weeks in summer and five months in winter, could now be delivered in seven days."

Hurtigruten Route

Nowdays it serves both to turism and to transport of goods. The old boats have been replaced by luxurious cruise ships. The tour of each boat starts in Kirkenes (Bergen) and ends up in Bergen (Kirkenes). The whole trip takes 134 hours. It is described as the "World's Most Beautiful Sea Voyage."

In Norway, there is a speciality of live broadcasting of one of these tours in summer. The national TV transmits the whole 134 hours non-stop. It is one of the most popular "reality shows" here in Norway :-)

MS Nordkapp in Molde

I was so lucky I could be a passenger on one of these boats. I felt like in a dream (or like on Titanic when I saw all the interior of saloons, jacuzzi at the backside of the boat...). Stunning. Really. (I highly recommend. Moreover if you are a student you get an incredible discount of 50%, so in the end it can be a low budget tour...as long as you don't buy a cabin).

Jacuzzi on MS Nordkapp

In front of Saloons

Cabins MS Nordkapp

Dried Fish on the Sun Deck

At the entrance of the boat there is a reception (looks like in a hotel). You will get your personal card you use for all the services on the boat. It is nice to sit in one of the saloons, to watch the fjords and to relax, you can get the "real feel" of the nature when you are standing outside on one of the decks.