Travel Tips for Cruising the Arctic Circle Cruises

Cruising Altitude Above the Arctic Circle

Trym Ivar Bergsmo The Midnatsol cruising along the coast of Norway. The sun was finally setting at 10 p.m. over this stretch of coastal Norway, 200 miles above the Arctic Circle. We'd just met up, this mild August night, with a trawler carrying shrimp plucked from these waters and cooked by the fishermen themselves. Now about 60 of us—Norwegian and international passengers, the Norwegian captain and his officers—were gathered on the deck, talking and laughing as we peeled shrimp and popped them into our mouths. The craggy, snow-capped Lyngen Alps glowed pink and mauve in the distance. 2016 Cruise Guide: Travel moments don't come more magical than this. I have to admit that when I boarded the Midnatsol in Kirkenes, Norway, I was mostly drawn by the promise of the ship itself, a well-appointed tourist vessel boasting a remarkable collection of contemporary Norwegian art, a five-deck-high atrium with glass elevators, fluffy European duvets on its beds and succulent king crab, berries and other Norwegian delicacies in its restaurant. I planned to lounge by the window in my cabin, bubble in the outdoor hot tub and happily sweat in a sauna fitted with a window. But it wasn't long before those delectable accoutrements were overshadowed. Whether you sail on a six-day southbound run, a seven-day northbound run or a round trip, it's easy to see why seasoned travelers call the Midnatsol's route the world's most beautiful voyage. We rarely crossed open sea and instead hugged the coastline as landscapes scrolled by like the scenes of a movie. I watched as we glided past forests and glaciers, sheer granite cliffs and barn-red cabins that dotted islets floating on turquoise waters. The top deck quickly became my preferred vantage point, and it was there that I gaped in awe one afternoon as our ship entered the impossibly narrow Trollfjord, pivoted like one of the graceful hippo ballerinas in Fantasia and steamed back out past silvery threads of water tumbling from moss-covered mountainsides. It wasn't just the scenery, though, that made this trip feel different from a standard or . On the Hurtigruten vessels (Midnatsol is one of the line's largest, with 638 berths spread among 321 cabins and suites, and a total capacity of 1,000 passengers), jazzy, big-ship amenities such as casinos and nightly floor shows are missing. Dress is decidedly casual—no tuxedos or gowns needed, even during usually formal events such as the captain's dinner. Port calls are far more frequent—and briefer, too. But what passengers give up in time to tour ashore, they gain in serendipitous adventures. On a walk through the tiny, remote fishing village of Vardø, I spied "Cod Is Great" neatly painted on a harbor wall. The three-and-a-half-hour stop in Trondheim gave me plenty of time to enjoy a cup of tea and warm apple cake at a koselig ("cozy") cafe housed in a 1791 inn, and to visit the solemn Gothic cathedral, Nidaros, where for centuries Norwegian kings were crowned. One time, just after arriving on the Lofoten Islands, five fellow passengers and I took a van to a seaside riding center and, astride sturdy Icelandic horses, we clip-clopped through an ancient Viking site and along a crescent of pearly white beach. Although it was hours after leaving the ship, the van had dropped us off in time for us to board at the next port of call. Perhaps the best part of a Hurtigruten cruise is how local it can feel. One warm, sunny morning, as we left the Arctic Circle, I fell into conversation with a young Norwegian mother who was knitting a cap for the newborn dozing in a pram beside her. They had just had a nice visit with her in-laws up north, she told me, her needles clicking, but it would be good to get home. Just another day along the coast of Norway, I thought, and I'm part of it.

Cruise Details

SHIP: Hurtigruten's Midnatsol HOME PORT: Bergen or Kirkenes, Norway DURATION: 6,7,11 or 12 days; one way or round trip COST: From $1,170 per person, double

Also of Interest

AARP Travel Center Call: 1.800.675.4318 Search Flights Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: search Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: search Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: Flight 2 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 3 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 4 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Flight 5 Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Add Another Flight search Search Hotels Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Room 4 Room 5 Room 6 Room 7 Room 8 search Search Packages Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date You didn't specify child's age Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats: Room 1 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 2 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 3 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 4 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age Room 5 There are children in rooms without an adult You didn't specify child's age You didn't specify child's age You have more than 6 people total Please select a trip duration less than 28 days search Search Cars Enter a valid location Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date search Search Cruises Select a valid location Select a month search Search Things to Do Enter a valid location Enter a valid date Enter a valid date search × Let's Go Reset Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Car Rentals offers > See more Travel offers > See more Hotels & Resorts offers > See more Gas & Auto Services offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.