15. Life on board, part two

It has been interesting to see how the locals use Hurtigruten as a kind of traveling hotel. At most ports, there always seems to be a few people, young and old waiting at the gate or terminal, suitcase in hand and ready to board whilst a few disembark into the arms of waiting friends or loved ones. Likewise, there are always boxes and containers being loaded into, or out of, the hold. The ship's carry mail too...indeed, one of the waiters told us that a few years ago when the north of the country was cut off from the road network by heavy snow, Hurtigruten carried absolutely everything to the coastal communities.

During the stops, the locals are allowed to come on board and stop of a coffee and a sandwich. After all, it must be like having a new cafe open up in port every day.

This being Norway, everything is expensive. I have already mentioned the cost of beer, but there are other examples. A children's souvenir tee shirt was £34, the ship's excursions are eye-wateringly expensive too, £150 for a couple of hours coach trip to over £600 for a skidooing experience. The on board premium wine package for the 12 day trip is over £1,000.

The food has been excellent, especially if you like fish. Everything is fresh and taken on board in each stop and then prepared and cooked within a few hours....there is nothing packaged or processed here. Furthermore, Hurtigruten pride themselves on using local ingredients to produce regional specialties for each area where they stop.

The waiting staff are helpful and efficient and although courteous, don't seem to smile often. Perhaps they are just frazzled and busy....or just a Norwegian reserve. There is also one table on the restaurant reserved for the ship's officers and at every meal the captain and one or two other departmental heads or captains of other ships will be eating and no doubt discussing matters of importance. 

As the voyage has progressed we have come to realise just how many nations are represented amongst the passengers. We have spoken to people from : England, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria, Israel, South Africa, Australia, Holland, Norway and even Guernsey!

There is no denying that it is cold here (-2 to -5) is about average but with a couple of layers, a hat a scarf and gloves it really isn't too bad at all. The wind has been very light and the air is generally dry, so that all helps. In the larger towns, the pavements are clear and/or well gritted whilst in the smaller ports, our slip on crampons have been brilliant. 

For 80% of the trip we are only 100 metres or so from the shore and the sea is flat calm. On the few occasions where there are stretches of open sea, they only last for an hour or two and it's not uncomfortable at all.