I eschew cruises unless it is the only way to get to see a place. I am not into thousands of fellow cruises consuming massive amounts of smorgasbord food herded like cattle onto organised shore tours. I am all for independent exploration and the adventures that entails.
Norwegian fjords are one such area. On land road infrastructure is often suboptimal and the view from the sea is spectacular. My interest was further piqued when I researched the area and discovered that this route cannot be covered by mega cruise ships. The original route was licensed to Hurtigruten in 1893 to provide vital transport and communication links to Norway’s rugged coastline. More recently a new player in Havila has entered the arena and we have paid to go on the Havila Polaris the newest ship in the fleet.
We are heading south from Kirkenes to Bergen and every spot on the map is a stop. Most are short stops to drop off ferry passengers and supplies. We cruise passengers number around 150 and are free to leave the ship on the longer stopovers which go from 1 to 3 hours.
We board our ship ahead of schedule to check in. The pretty little blond behind the counter gets our details and then serves up a surprise. She offers us an upgrade, not for free but she has the best suite on the ship available for a $2000 discount. It is still another $3000 extra charge. I turn to the right my eyes meet with my life partner and I knew there could only be one answer. It is the top floor lighthouse suite for us.
We go upstairs and open the door. As young people today say OMG! The suite is massive and luxurious with a separate living room, dining room, bedroom and bathroom with shower and bath. The coup de gras is the long balcony with our own private jacuzzi!
We finally leave Kirkenes as the arctic islets on either side pass us by.
