Review: Hurtigruten Expeditions in the Galapagos Islands

I can’t vouch for any of the excursions other than the two my husband took, but I assume they are indicative. In Tromsø, take this short whisky distillery tour or this private city tour. The best parts of the trip, if I have to choose, were the two fjords we traveled down.

Iconic Wildlife & Sublime Scenery Plus Machu Picchu (Western Route)

You could do a similar excursion in other longer stops as well, particularly Tromsø. The excursions range from short city walking tours to all-day expeditions. The longer ones involve getting off the ship at one port and boarding again at another port; all transportation is provided for, of course. The prices matched what we’d seen on shore, so it wasn’t surprising.

while you are on the Hurtigruten ship

My expedition was the first in 2023 to collect samples in the Arctic. First, thegroup was transferred by tender boat to the shore and put on a bus. In this case,there were three buses, one for English speakers, one for German speakers andone for French speakers.

I Sailed on Hurtigruten's Inaugural Galapagos Cruise—Here's What It Was Like

Small farms and homes huddle picturesquely into the hills. We traveled on the MS Nordnorge, which was built in 1997 and refurbished in 2016. The oldest ship is the MS Lofoten, built in 1964 and carrying only about 100 passengers, due to be retired in 2020. The next smallest is the MS Nordstjernen at 149 passengers. The largest is the MS Midnatsol, holding a maximum of 970 passengers.

How much does it cost to cruise the Danube?

I was enjoying being on the ship so much that I was kind of glad that I didn’t take any excursions. The main draw in Bergen is Bryggen, the area of historical warehouses built by the German “Hanseats” who came here to take part in the trade in fish. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the area was crawling with tourists when we were there, enjoying the sun at the outdoor cafes on the quayside in front of the buildings. If you go, make sure to explore the alleyways between and among the warehouses, and to visit the museum that explains the history of the Germans who made this their temporary home. The original Hurtigruten ships were purely mail and cargo steamships.

In our cabin, the window looked out on the 5th level walkway, which means people walked from time to time right by our window and could look in. We realized that during the day it didn’t matter; in the sunlight our window just reflected the glare. In the few hours of darkness, though, people could see in very easily, so we had to close the shade. I imagine that on cruises in the winter, this might get annoying, but for us it was no problem. The shade did quite a good job of blocking out the late and early sun when we wanted to sleep.

Boarding

There were several days where even loading my e-mail was impossible. The ship, which belonged to Hurtigruten's partner, Metropolitan Touring, could only reach a Wi-Fi connection in Norway, which made internet reception almost non-existent. Because it was the ship's inaugural sail, we were told the Wi-Fi was included free of charge for all passengers but typically would cost $14 a day as an internet package—much too steep a price for its incredibly slow speeds. Upon landing in Quito, my CDC card and test results were checked at customs, and I was on my way.

Hurtigruten Nordnorge Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - CruiseCritic.co.uk

Hurtigruten Nordnorge Cruise: Expert Review ( .

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:10:58 GMT [source]

Booking direct with Hurtigruten was very easy, their customer service is wonderful. Please note though this is not a cruise, it's a ferry with wonderful benefits. With my only prior cruise experience on large ships, I found my time aboard the MS Santa Cruz II expedition ship refreshing. The three floors were a lot less overwhelming; no need to use a map to try and find your way back to your room. Our disembarkations each day were quick and organized, with passengers asked to board zodiac boats in small groups named after Galapagos animals.

Hurtigruten Cruises Tips, Activities, and Overview

Hurtigruten appeals to well-traveled folk that want to marvel at the Norwegian scenery, mix with locals, eat traditional cuisine and have the option to participate in outdoor adventures and activities along the way. Both Hurtigruten and HX are wholly owned by the Hurtigruten Group which also includes Hurtigruten Svalbard, which operates hotels, restaurants and land-based activities. The parent company also has a 25 percent stake in Ecuador-based Metropolitan Touring, which offers sustainable travel in the Galapagos. Its banks are lined with dramatic, unspoiled landscapes, postcard-perfect towns and villages, and grand, opulent cities. Take a river cruise down this majestic river and you’ll encounter some of the world’s most stunning countryside, including the UNESCO-protected Wachau Valley, along with an array of fascinating cultures.

Some were part of larger tour groups and had a tour group leaderwith them; I was aware of one French group and one American group, but they didnot overwhelm the atmosphere in any way. Which weobediently did, kneeling on a cushion and receiving a splash of ice water downour backs. There were squeals of laughter and we all looked like we’d peed ourpants. We were compensated with a shot of some sort of sweet liqueur. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews. We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation.

This first activity was a good introduction to how excursions would work throughout the trip. Guests are broken into smaller groups and accompanied onshore by an accredited guide (a requirement for visiting Galapagos National Park). Zodiacs ferry travelers to shore, where we were always the only visitors around. From there, the extremely knowledgeable guides would lead us on our activity, pointing out local plant life, spotting wildlife with an eagle eye and sharing a wealth of information about the Galapagos’ history and landscapes. The ship is powered by four engines and two large battery units, which reduce its fuel consumption by approximately 20 percent and cut CO2 discharge by more than 3,000 tons a year.

Hurtigruten tries as much as possible to source their ingredients locally, and that means wonderfully fresh-tasting food, particularly the fish dishes. A printed card at each table gives details of each dish, including where it comes from. We only ate at the main restaurant, since it was included in our fare.