A Visit To Finnmarken

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.

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).

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.

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.

Food is Scandinavian - fish, fish, and more fish, with lots of breads and cold hams etc.

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.

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.

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.

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

Review And Photographs Francis Beaumont

For further information on Finnmarken click here