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   Cruise Travel - Reader Reviews

Welcome to Your Favorites, where you have the opportunity to share your travel experiences with fellow Internet Travelers around the world.


Norwegian Coastal Voyage

MS Polarlys

Your Rating:Four Stars
Reviewed by:Odd Hoyholm
# previous cruises: 31 to 40
Date of Trip: April 29, 2006
Itinerary: Scandinavia

Overview
With a considerable number of cruises behind me I do not hesitate to state that the HURTIGRUTEN roundtrip is one of - if not THE one- best "cruises" I have ever made. I did it is 2001 and again in 2005, and plan a third one in a year or two. Do I need to say more...?

Public Areas
The POLARLYS is a very comfortable ship with tasteful and top-quality interiors. The Panorama Lounge is of course a favourite spot for everyone, and apart from several other lounge areas the lovely dining-room is inviting. There are a cafi, a library, a disco/night club, shop, conference facilities etc. etc. plus a sauna. The only problem is that you won't have much time to enjoy it all since you'll have your hands full (of cameras and binoculars) watching the breathtaking landscape, which you won't find anywhere else on this globe.

Food and Service
The food side is excellent, to say the least. A vast breakfast buffet and a no less sumptuous luncheon buffet cater for every taste and include Norwegian culinary treasures and specialities. So watch your buttonholes... The set 3-course dinner is also good, but not gourmet. That does not mean that it is of poor quality, rather the contrary, but the choice is limited. However, you leave the ship with fond memories of the food! The smaller dining area at the stern is the loveliest. The center area around the buffet i rather noisy at times.

Cabins
Standard cabins are nice, inviting and adequate. There is all you need, including a nice shower/WC room. But remember, this is not a cruise ship - even if you quickly forget that fact. We had enough closet space to 2 persons for 12 days, the beds were very OK, and the day bed/sofa arrangement worked perfectly. Cabins are not vast, but the layout makes it all seem larger than it is. Suites - I did not see any of them.

Entertainment
There IS no entertainment! Who needs entertainment with that itinerary and all those breathtaking landscapes? However, on some nights there was a band playing in the bar/disco om Main Deck for those who wanted to move their legs.

Activities
This express costal cargo/passenger service cover a distance of appr. 2.400 miles and visits 34 towns/villages/spots along the coast and present Norway on a silver tray for you. Many stops last only 15-30 minutes, but in the larger cities there are longer stays of several hours enabling you to go on organized excursions. There is an excelled tour desk/guide service on board.

Who Goes
There are two categories of passengers: the round-trip ones, and the locals. The "cruise" passengers are mostly Europeans, mainly Germans and Englishmen, with a few Americans and Australians thrown in. Otherwise there are the regular ones travelling from A to B for a few hours or days. That allows you to meet all sorts of people. Everyone talks to each other - they are all "in the same boat" so to speak...

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