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LoginThe first Hurtigruten ship to bear this name was introduced in 1912 and her worthy successor has been designed to reflect the elegance of the past.
Her Art Nouveau style interior is complemented by modern panorama lounges, bars and bistro, conference facilities, hairdresser and beauty treatment room. A swimming pool, fitness room, sauna, solarium and outside Jacuzzis are also on board.
Year build: | 2002 |
Place built: | Ulsteinvik, Ulstein, Norway |
Passengers: | 1000 |
Berths: | 628 |
Car spaces: | 47 |
Gross tonnage: | 15530 |
Length: | 138.5 |
Beam: | 21.5 |
Speed: | 15 |
We booked the Hurtigruten Expedition from Hamburg to the North Cape on Otto Sverdrup. It was an exciting trip under stormy conditions along the Norwegian coast. However, the captain made us f...
We took this cruise because it offered the opportunity to see the Northern Lights which we did on several occasions. Without seeing the lights, my rating would have been lower. The ship through i...
We chose this cruise to see the northern lights and to experience the winter darkness and both of these expectations were fully met. The views were wonderful, particularly when we sailed into the T...
Before the cruise we stayed in a Scandic hotel near the terminal of Hurtigruten. The embarkation went very smoothly and relaxed, no stress at all. You will receive good information before going on ...
The location of this cruise was the determining factor for me as I wanted specifically to visit Norway whilst not having to repack continually. We were a little concerned about the quality of the ...
If a cruise along the coast of Norway is on your bucket list, there's no better line to sail with than Hurtigruten. Norwegian to the core, it started out as a line that carried people and freight between various ports in Norway, but it has since evolved into a type of cruising hybrid that an increasing number of Americans find downright intriguing.
Although it's one of just four vessels in the Hurtigruten fleet to be built after the turn of the 21st century, Finnmarken is still a working ship, carrying cruisers, cargo, mail, cars, daytripping backpackers and other passengers who might only be onboard for a couple of days (or hours) as they travel between ports along Norway's coast -- both northbound and southbound. There are constant comings and goings, with several port calls taking place in the dead of night, sometimes for as little as 15 minutes until something (or someone) is brought onboard or offloaded.
You won't find a spa to pamper you, a kids club to keep your children occupied or enough entertainment options to make your head spin. (In fact, there are no entertainment options at all.) But a sailing on Finnmarken will leave you feeling like you've explored a fair portion of Norway in elegant surroundings, at a reasonable price, without exhausting yourself. (After all, what's the point of needing a vacation after your vacation?) Food onboard is excellent -- even if the offerings are limited and somewhat repetitive -- and the line's new Coastal Kitchen menu provides a great way to get a taste of fresh, local fare.
You'll pay a hefty sum for a cruise on Finnmarken, and you'll receive fewer onboard bells and whistles for the price. But, overall, the cost is nothing compared to what you'd pay for a land-based stay in Norway, which is one of the priciest countries to visit. If it's a peek at breathtaking scenery you're after, you'll get it in spades, along with exciting cuisine, elegant accommodations and a friendly environment where nearly everyone speaks English.
The passenger mix is an international one, with the largest contingent hailing from Germany, followed by Scandinavia, the Netherlands, the U.K., America, France and Japan. The overall makeup varies by season, however. Because of the cost of cruising with Hurtigruten, passengers are generally affluent, and they fall within the 50-and-older age bracket. We also saw several multigenerational family groups onboard; we found that generally, they were English-speakers with Norwegian roots.
The dress code is casual. There are no sea days on Finnmarken's itinerary, which means much time is spent ashore. Because the weather in Norway can be fickle, even from port to port on the same day, it's best to dress in comfortable layers that make it easy to adjust to varying temperatures and conditions. During the day, that means jeans or other outdoor-appropriate pants or shorts with basic shirts layered under sweatshirts and some sort of outerwear (fleece, windbreaker, etc.). It's also helpful to pack an umbrella or poncho in case of rain, and bring at least one pair of sturdy shoes for exploring in port or going on shore excursions.
At night, many passengers opt to stay in the same clothes they wore ashore, which is perfectly acceptable, even in the dining room. More common, however, are dress pants (rather than jeans) and slightly more dressy shirts, with or without blazers. We didn't see a single person dressed to the nines, though, so definitely leave your formalwear at home if you don't want to feel out of place. (There are no formal nights onboard.)
All gratuities are included in the cruise fare. You're allowed to tip specific crewmembers at your discretion, but it's neither expected nor encouraged.
Currency on Finnmarken is the Norwegian Kroner (NOK); dollars can be changed into kroner at the reception desk on Deck 3. Purchases onboard can be made with cash or by setting up an onboard expense account backed by cash or a credit card (similar to those used by other cruise lines).
Cabins on Finnmarken are well appointed with artwork on the walls and elegant decor in shades of blue, orange and green with tan accents. All offer hair dryers, in-closet safes, 220-volt European plugs (bring your own adapters and converters) and televisions. Although the TVs show mostly Norwegian programming, there are also ship info channels and a couple of English-language stations, including CNN and MAX (not the same MAX -- or Cinemax -- we have in the States). Cabins offer plenty of storage space in closets and drawers and below the beds (which is the ideal spot for storing empty luggage), as well as a ton of in-mirror shelf space in the bathroom for toiletries.
Standard cabins include 38 insides (21 that accommodate two people, three for three people and 14 for four people). Of the 211 outsides, 183 sleep two people, four sleep three people, 18 sleep four people, three offer no carpeting for passengers with allergies, and three are accessible cabins that accommodate passengers with wheelchairs. Inside cabins and oceanviews are similar in size at 54 to 140 square feet, and each offers at least two beds -- one standard twin and one in the form of a sofa bed. Cabins may be small, but they are remarkably well laid out to take advantage of every available inch of space. A plush chair sits in front of the desk area, and additional shelf and storage space is afforded by a dresser on the opposite side of the room. In staterooms that accommodate more than two people, extra berths come in the form of either sofa beds or Pullmans that come down from the ceiling.
Bathrooms are on the small side, but they're functional -- and they have heated floors, which is a nice touch. They've all got clingy shower curtains and dispensers of multipurpose soap near the sink and in the shower. (If you're picky about hair care, you'll want to bring your own shampoo and conditioner.) We noticed that although water pressure was steady, the temperature changed erratically.
Two things missing from the bathrooms onboard were tissues and washcloths. If you need either one, ask your room steward, but it might be a good idea to bring a loofah that you can throw away when your cruise is over. A word of warning: If you take long showers, close the bathroom door, or you might set off the smoke alarm in your cabin. (Unfortunately, we know this from firsthand experience.)
The 18 minisuites are slightly larger (161 to 215 square feet) and offer amenities like hot pots (for use with provided coffee and tea packets), Illi toiletries (shampoo, shower gel and lotion), bathrobes, and sparkling wine with fresh fruit at embarkation. They also feature storage space in the form of bedside tables instead of dressers, and a small glass-topped table accompanies the in-cabin couch. Minifridges offer a selection of soda, bottled water and alcohol, as well as candy bars; snacks available are chips and nuts -- all for a fee.
The 14 suites provide the same amenities as minisuites, but they offer far more interior square footage (301 to 323 square feet), as well as sizeable balconies. Two of the suites, located at the front of the ship, are Grand Suites (377 to 398 square feet), which each have two rooms and a Jacuzzi.
If views are important to you, be sure to check the specific cabin you're booking, as some have windows that are obstructed by lifeboats. If you want to enjoy the view while traveling north, you'll want to be on the starboard side (heading south, on the port side). If you want to enjoy the dockside cargo activity, choose a stateroom on the opposite side.
A word of warning -- we found the cabins had a near-total lack of soundproofing. We were able to hear our neighbors talking, watching TV and -- ahem -- doing other things with astounding clarity. Additionally, excessive announcements are made onboard, and even if you have your cabin's speakers turned off, you'll still hear almost every word. We also were disturbed when two maintenance men barged into our cabin unannounced to change the showerhead in our cabin's bathroom. Because it's a working ship with little turnaround time in each port, a lot of work that's usually done behind the scenes with other cruise lines is done on an everyday basis on Finnmarken; that also explains why our cabin smelled strongly of paint for a large portion of our sailing. (Crewmembers were painting the railings on the deck immediately below while we were sailing, and the fumes wafted inside almost constantly.)
Cruise travel with Hurtigruten doesn't come cheap, and you'll end up paying extra for lots of things that many other less expensive cruise lines include in the price -- like room service, round-the-clock access to food, and even water.
With the purchase of "full board" cruise fare, you're entitled to breakfast, lunch and dinner in Deck 4's Restaurant Finnmarken at no extra cost. Breakfast (usually 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. with variations depending on the itinerary) and lunch (usually 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., also with variations) are both buffets with open seating; they can be a bit repetitive, offering items like eggs and bacon, cereal, yogurt, cold cuts, cheeses, breads, fish, caviar, fruit, and a variety of soups and cold salads each day.
It's definitely quality over quantity when it comes to dinner, which is set seating (at either 6:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.) with waiter service. (Exceptions on the northbound journey are the first and sixth nights, which are buffets with open seating.) Thanks to Hurtigruten's new Coastal Kitchen initiative, each night's meal is prepared using fresh ingredients sourced from local farms and fishermen in the ports the ship visits. The presentation is phenomenal to boot, but picky eaters won't be happy that there's only one set appetizer, entree and dessert each day. Examples include Hitra crab cocktail with salad, toast and Norwegian-style cocktail sauce; halibut with steamed cabbage, pickled onion, baked potatoes, carrots and butter sauce; and Tjukkmolkspudding (thick milk pudding) with sea buckthorn (a berry) and aquavit ice cream. On another night, the menu might feature Aaland Gard cheese with salad and cloudberry syrup; beer-braised beef with pearl barley, root vegetables and potatoes; and nyr cheese with berry compote. (Special dietary needs -- gluten-free, vegetarian, etc. -- can easily be accommodated with advance notice.)
Staff in the dining room are friendly but not the most attentive. Those used to cruising with other lines might be surprised at the amount of time it takes for drink orders to be taken and plates to be cleared between courses or trips to the buffet.
If you're craving something different or something after hours, other options are available for a fee at the 24-hour Morestuen Cafe, midship on Deck 4. You'll pay for the privilege of choice, however, and it's expensive. Ham, chicken and salmon sandwiches range in price from about $10 to $13, a meal of beef with baked potatoes and sauteed veggies will set you back more than $36, a hamburger costs about $25, and a half-liter bottle of water runs nearly $7.
For those with a sweet tooth, additional snacks can be procured at Deck 7's Babettes Cafe. Choose from berry tarts, giant chocolate chip cookies, meringues, cupcakes, ice cream, specialty coffee beverages, and other indulgent items that change daily. Prices aren't cheap, but they also won't break the bank. For reference, all coffee items hover around the $6 mark. One evening, after returning from the North Cape, the staff at Babettes offered hot chocolate and waffles with berries and cream. It came with a price tag of about $8.50, but it was certainly delicious. This venue is open every day, but there are no set hours.
The biggest gripe for every fellow passenger we asked is that drinks aren't included with dinner. If you want even so much as a swig of water, you'll have to shell out more than $4 for a bottle or purchase a $40 package that entitles you to one bottle at both lunch and dinner each day. (Or bring your own bottle.) Machines for free water are provided throughout the rest of the day (including mealtimes), but they're put away for dinner.
Room service is available for breakfast daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; menu items include orange juice, cheeses, meats, boiled eggs, bread, butter, jam and fruit for a fee of about $8.50. You can order via doorknob-hanger menus found in your cabin. Just be sure to hang them outside before 3 a.m. for delivery the following morning.
Three main lounges can be found aboard Finnmarken. The largest is the Brotoppen Panorama Lounge, forward on Deck 8. There, you'll find lots of sofas and chairs with tables for sitting and enjoying panoramic views (hence, the name) of the passing scenery. There's also bar service, so it's a great place to enjoy a quiet drink in a relaxing atmosphere. You'll also find a small dance floor (never used on our sailing) and a tiny selection of books, with very few in English.
Another nice place to relax with your libation of choice is the purple, orange and tan Stiftsstaden Bar on Deck 7, midship. Right next to Babettes Cafe, it offers plenty of seating and a quiet atmosphere in which to read or unwind. Don't get too excited about the views, though, as lifeboats block much of the prime window real estate.
Floybaren, a bar on Deck 4, near the front of the ship, throws off more of an upscale vibe with dark woods and burgundy couches and chairs. The space also boasts a bar, a dance floor (even though there was no dancing on our sailing) and large picture windows on both the port and starboard sides. This is the place to be for after-dinner cocktails, coffee and tea.
Because there are no sea days on Finnmarken itineraries, passengers have plenty of time to leave the ship and explore various Norwegian ports. As such, onboard entertainment and activities are practically nonexistent. You won't find casinos, trivia, production shows, bingo, comedians, karaoke or any of the other typical cruise ship diversions. A handful of talks and films are offered about Norway, its culture and the surrounding scenery, wildlife and natural phenomena like the Northern Lights. These presentations take place in the ship's conference rooms, forward on Deck 4, and they're given in a few different languages.
On the fourth day of our northbound sailing, after crossing the Arctic Circle, an "Arctic Circle baptism" ceremony was held outside on Deck 8. Allow a crewmember in a creepy Neptune costume to dump a ladle full of ice water down the back of your shirt, and you'll get a free shot to warm you up.
On the last night, Finnmarken docked near Berlevag for about 15 minutes to challenge fleetmate Nordkapp to a friendly competition. Armed with balloons, streamers, banners, Norwegian flags and all manner of decorations, each ship assembled its crew and passengers on deck to scream, shout, wave, and cheer to see which vessel could be the loudest. As far as we know, there was no official winner, but it was a lot of fun, complete with music, dancing, and crewmembers banging pots and pans while dressed as Vikings -- an interesting display, to say the least.
Otherwise, you're expected to make your own fun by reading, relaxing and taking in the passing scenery.
Deck 3 is where to find the reception desk (and usually the gangway when disembarking), a couple small banks of tables and chairs, and the luggage storage area for short-term non-cruise passengers. Follow the signs to the car lift, and on your way you'll find the laundry room. It's free to wash and dry your clothes in any of five washers and five dryers. Even soap is included. A couple of ironing boards and irons are available, too. Additional laundry or dry-cleaning services are not available.
On Deck 4, you'll find the Fiinstuen Library on the port side, just outside of the Floybaren bar. It's tiny, but it's an ideal escape for anyone looking for a tucked-away spot to read or play board games. The book selection is painfully small, and most of it isn't in English, so we recommend bringing some reading material with you. Likewise with board games, as we saw just one lone checkers set available for use.
Other public areas on Deck 4 include four conference rooms forward; restrooms on either side of midship (two each for men and women); and an info desk next to the library, where passengers can book shore excursions and grab a copy of each day's schedule. A hole-in-the-wall shop sells Norwegian sweaters and other apparel, jewelry, postcards, stuffed animals and other souvenirs, as well as extremely limited toiletries.
An Internet station on this deck is basically just empty tables with some jacks for attaching personal laptops via Ethernet cables (not provided). In the Brotoppen Panorama Lounge on Deck 8, there's what can loosely be called an "Internet cafe." It consists of just two desktop computers with Internet access. We found teens monopolizing them on our sailing, but the Internet connection was horribly slow anyway, so we weren't missing much. Free Wi-Fi is available shipwide, but the signal and speed are abysmal unless you're in port. There's also nobody to help with tech issues onboard, so if you have problems getting connected, you're out of luck.
Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas of the ship. It's permitted on outer decks and cabin balconies.
Finnmarken has no spa or salon facilities. However, there is a small two-room gym on Deck 8, aft. Open 6 a.m. to midnight, it features one step machine, one elliptical, two treadmills, two rowers, three exercise bikes, free weights up to 66 pounds, medicine balls up to 18 pounds and a variety of weight machines, yoga mats and step boxes. It also has men's and women's locker rooms with showers, saunas and lockers (locks provided). No organized fitness classes are offered.
Just below the fitness center, aft on Deck 7, you'll find the ship's only pool, flanked by a hot tub on each side. The area was used regularly on our sailing, but it was rarely crowded. Plenty of sun loungers and tables with chairs can be found near the pool and on the outer decks surrounding it. Chair hogs weren't an issue -- probably due to the chilly weather along Norway's coast, even during summer sailings -- so there was never a seating shortage.
Because Finnmarken also acts as a means of transportation for locals, there's no minimum age for children to travel. However, the ship offers neither organized activities for kids nor babysitting services. A ridiculously small playroom can be found midship on Deck 4 in the corridor that leads to Restaurant Finnmarken, the ship's dining room. All you'll find in the playroom are a table and chairs, some random blocks and a tiny selection of other toys. If you're traveling with young children, you might want to bring board games or other toys from home, as there's not much else onboard to keep them occupied. Teens interested in history and nature, however, would probably enjoy a sailing aboard this ship.
Baltic Sea Itinerary: Finnmarken sails Baltic Sea voyages year round, roundtrip from Bergen, open jaw from Bergen to Trondheim, and between Bergen and Kirkenes.
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