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A
Visit To Finnmarken
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Click on images to enlarge
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Finnmarken
is NOT a cruise ship. This point is made clear at the earliest
opportunity. Don't think that you're going to have a ten-course
meal before sinking into your bed and awaking to the Pyramids
smiling at you the next morning. No, she's a cargo ship that
makes daily trips around Norway and carries passengers who
can come along for the ride, enjoy the views (and of course,
offset the expenses of the shipping company!). She carries
up to 50 cars and no more than 600 passengers.
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| Finnmarken
actually looks like a ship and not a floating hotel, and very
fetching she is, too. She's only 15,000 tonnes, so you won't
get lost (and there's no massive casino or shopping mall). |
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| You
make your own way to Bergen, and then join she ship for a merry
tour along the coast of Norway, where the ship will call at
34 different ports (you heard correctly) before starting the
circuit again. Can you believe this - Norwegian Coastal Voyage
have 11 ships, and as the journey takes 11 days, the trip starts
every day in an ongoing round. Some of the vessels are older
than others, and Finnmarken is certainly the most lavish and
the biggest. |
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| Don't
think that the passengers play second fiddle to the cargo on
board, though, as Finnmarken is every inch a lavish, well-furnished
piece of modern Norwegian architecture, although it's not a
five-star floating hotel. Cabins are fairly basic, although
the pricier ones are roomy and pleasant. All have en-suite facilities,
and some have a balcony and jacuzzi. TV is in the cabins for
the first time. |
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| Food
is Scandinavian - fish, fish, and more fish, with lots of breads
and cold hams etc. |
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| What
about calling at all those ports? They're quite honest and point
out that there will be some banging about and noise when they're
loading though everyone is used to it very quickly. Here's the
good bit - you can witness the Northern Lights, the midnight
sun, the Arctic winter, fjords - wildlife and nature, without
any hint of package deal. You won't get the Taj Mahal or Sydney
Opera House but you'll get raw Norway with optional trips to
the towns and islands where she calls. You can do all 11 days
or 5 or 6 out of them. |
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There's
a restaurant, a bar, an outdoor swimming pool (that'll be
nice in Norway in the middle of January! - though summers
over there are actually very hot), and the ship is fitted
with stabilisers. The local waters off Norway are quite friendly,
thanks to the Gulf Stream, and you're never more than a few
hours from your next docking.
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| What
about children? There's a tiny play area which suggests they're
welcome, but unless they're mature in mind and appreciative
of life's finer points, they might be bored out of their skull.
Mind you, it could be a good opportunity to point out that there's
more to Planet Earth than computer games and pop music. |
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FOR:
Smart interior
No-nonsense approach
Norway at its most ethnic
Good class of fellow passengers
Themed trips (art etc), packages for the retired
AGAINST:
Fairly basic on-board
Norway only
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Review
and photographs by Francis Beaumont of 'Ship
City'
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For
further information on Finnmarken click
here:
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Further
information on Ship City and Francis Beaumont can be found at:
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